title: Linear poly(ethylenimine) cross-linked by methyl-β-cyclodextrin for gene delivery.
abstract: Poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) is a cationic polymer extensively exploited for non-viral gene delivery; however, its wide application has been impeded by its cytotoxicity. PEI can assume either a branched or linear configuration. Whereas branched PEI (bPEI) is more chemically reactive and can form smaller complexes with DNA under salt-containing conditions, lPEI is generally less toxic and exhibits higher transfection efficiency. In this study, we cross-linked low-molecularweight lPEI with methyl β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) to form MβCD-lPEI (MLP). The structure of MLP was successfully characterized by NMR, FT-IR, MALDI-TOF and elemental analysis. In the standard serum-free transfection environment, MLP could effectively transfect glioblastoma, melanoma and hepatocarcinoma cells. A high transfection efficiency was maintained in the presence of serum. Apart from its high transfection efficiency, MLP was found to have negligible cytotoxicity over a wide range of concentrations and to exhibit a low membrane disruptive capacity ex vivo. MLP warrants further development as a promising gene delivery system for future research.
authors.forename: Wing-Fu
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Division in Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemoon-Gu, Seoul, 120-752, Korea. hsjung@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Han-Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D060326:Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D015394:Molecular Structure; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods; D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins; C108732:methyl-beta-cyclodextrin; D011094:Polyethyleneimine