title: Label-free dendrimer-like silica nanohybrids for traceable and controlled gene delivery.
abstract: To create advanced functional nanocarriers for achieving excellent gene delivery performance, fluorescence label-free hybridized dendrimer-like silica nanocarriers (HPSNs-AC-PEI) were developed by using the endosomal pH and cytoplasmic glutathione (GSH) responsive autofluorescent acetaldehyde-modified-cystine (AC) to link non-toxic low molecular weight branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) onto amino-functionalized dendrimer-like silica nanoparticles with hierarchical pores (HPSNs-NH2). The specific microstructure of this hybridized nanocarrier makes it not only show low cytotoxicity and high gene loading capability, but also display high gene transfection efficiency. The cleavage of disulfide bonds caused by GSH facilitates plasmid DNA (pDNA) release. Moreover, the pH and GSH controlled gene delivery profile can be real-time tracked using the autofluorescence of HPSNs-AC-PEI.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
authors.forename: Bingyang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nano Scale Science and Technology, School of Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia.
authors.forename: Youhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. Electronic address: s.dai@adelaide.edu.au.
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. Electronic address: s.qiao@adelaide.edu.au.
authors.forename: Shi Zhang
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Qiao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D003412:Cricetulus; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008970:Molecular Weight; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D050091:Dendrimers; D004337:Drug Carriers; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D011094:Polyethyleneimine; D004247:DNA; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Dendrimer-like; Fluorescence; GSH; Gene delivery; Mesoporous silica; Responsive