title: Multifunctional nanoparticles for gene delivery and spinal cord injury.
abstract: Methylprednisolone (MP) is a glucocorticoid that is used as an anti-inflammatory agent to the treat spinal cord injury (SCI). A low molecular weight chitosan was used to synthesize chitosan-MP conjugate, which was used to evaluate the gene therapy, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of MP. The cytotoxicity of chitosan-MP nanoparticles and the transfection efficiency of plasmid DNA were evaluated by MTT and luciferase assays. A chitosan-MP/pDNA complexes was injected into injured spinal cord to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of these complexes using terminal deoxynucleotide transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and ED1 staining, respectively. In addition, to evaluate the distribution of chitosan-MP/pDNA complexes, pβ-gal encapsulated chitosan-MP was injected into the injected site. Cell survival was similar in cells treated with chitosan-MP conjugate and untreated cells. Luciferase expression was higher in cells treated with the chitosan-MP/pDNA than cells treated with the chitosan/pDNA. The chitosan-MP/pDNA complexes also reduced apoptosis and inflammation at the injury site. These results suggest that chitosan-MP conjugation is an effective gene delivery system to treat SCI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Spinal Cord Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Shinchon-dong, Seodaemoon-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: So-Jung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Gwak
authors.affiliation: Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hwarangno 14-Gil 6, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, 136-791, South Korea.
authors.forename: Heebeom
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Spinal Cord Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Shinchon-dong, Seodaemoon-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yeomin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hwarangno 14-Gil 6, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, 136-791, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yhee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Spinal Cord Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Shinchon-dong, Seodaemoon-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Yeong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Spinal Cord Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Shinchon-dong, Seodaemoon-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Do Heum
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hwarangno 14-Gil 6, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, 136-791, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kwangmeyung
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Spinal Cord Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Shinchon-dong, Seodaemoon-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D048271:Chitosan / Q000494:pharmacology; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D066244:Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D014162:Transfection; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D048271:Chitosan; D008156:Luciferases; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D008775:Methylprednisolone
keywords: chitosan; gene delivery; methylprednisolone; spinal cord injury