title: Transfection and structural properties of phytanyl substituted gemini surfactant-based vectors for gene delivery.
abstract: In this study, the transfection ability and cytotoxicity of a series of phytanyl substituted gemini surfactants, rationally designed and synthesized in an attempt to create cationic surfactants that will improve transfection efficiencies of non-viral vectors was evaluated in OVCAR-3 cells at the charge ratios (N(+)/P(-)) of 2:1, 5:1, and 10:1. Particle sizes, zeta potentials, and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) profiles were also determined. For each gemini surfactant complex, the transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity are observed to go through a more or less well-evidenced maximum, occurring at different values of the charge ratio (N(+)/P(-)), depending on the surfactant structure. Considering both results of in vitro transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity, the optimal charge ratio to formulate the complexes containing phy-3-m was found to be 5:1. The particle size decreased, while zeta potential increased with increasing N(+)/P(-). Comparing particle size and zeta potential with transfection efficiency, no correlation between size/zeta potential and transfection ability was observed. Analysis of SAXS profiles indicates that the ability of phy-3-m delivery system to adopt multiple phases correlated well with their higher transfection efficiency in OVCAR-3 cells.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Ontario, 10 Victoria Str. S. Kitchener, ON, Canada. wettig@uwaterloo.ca.
authors.forename: Haitang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tranum
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: Naser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tavakoli
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wettig
mesh_terms: D002412:Cations / Q000737:chemistry; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010316:Particle Size; D053838:Scattering, Small Angle; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D014162:Transfection; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D004224:Diterpenes; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; C008906:phytane