title: Physicochemical features and transfection properties of chitosan/poloxamer 188/poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoplexes.
abstract: The aim of this study was the evaluation of the effects of two emulsifiers on the physicochemical and technological properties of low molecular weight chitosan/poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoplexes and their transfection efficiency. Nanospheres were prepared using the nanoprecipitation method of the preformed polymer. The mean diameter and surface charge of the nanospheres were investigated by photocorrelation spectroscopy. The degree of binding of the plasmid with the nanoplexes was qualitatively and quantitatively determined. MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) testing was performed using HeLa, RPMI8226, and SKMM1 cell lines. Flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy were used to determine the degree of cellular transfection and internalization of the nanoplexes into cells, respectively. The nanoplexes had a positive zeta potential, and low amounts of PLGA and poloxamer 188 showed a mean colloidal size of ~200 nm with a polydispersity index of ~0.14. The nanoplexes had suitable entrapment efficiency (80%). In vitro experiments showed that the colloidal nanodevices did not induce significant cytotoxicity. The nanoplexes investigated in this study could represent efficient and useful nonviral devices for gene delivery. Use of low amounts of PLGA and poloxamer 188 enabled development of a nanosphere able to transfect cells efficiently. These nanosystems are a helpful platform for delivery of genetic material while preserving therapeutic efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy ; Interregional Research Center for Food Safety and Health, University of Catanzaro "Magna Græcia", Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Donato
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cosco
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy ; Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Federico
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maiuolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bulotta
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy ; Department of NanoMedicine, The Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Molinaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy ; Interregional Research Center for Food Safety and Health, University of Catanzaro "Magna Græcia", Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paolino
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy ; Medical Oncology, Tommaso Campanella Cancer Center, Viale S Venuta, Germaneto, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierfrancesco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tassone
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy ; Interregional Research Center for Food Safety and Health, University of Catanzaro "Magna Græcia", Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fresta
mesh_terms: D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics*; D004655:Emulsions / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020442:Poloxamer / Q000737:chemistry*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D053769:Nanocapsules; D020442:Poloxamer; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D004247:DNA; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: chitosan; gene delivery; nanoplexes; poloxamer 188; poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)