Folate-conjugated chitosan-poly(ethylenimine) copolymer as an efficient and safe vector for gene delivery in cancer cells.
Folic acid (FA) has high affinity to folate receptors (FRs), which have three isoforms: FRα, FRβ and FRγ. Among them, FRα is a tumor specific receptor, as it is frequently over-expressed in diverse malignancies but not in normal tissues. In this study, we have conjugated FA to a chitosan-poly(ethylenimine) copolymer, and have confirmed the low cytotoxicity of the product (namely "CP1.3K-FA") in cancer cells. The transfection efficiency of CP1.3K-FA has been shown by the EGFP transfection assay to be higher than that of the unmodified chitosan-poly(ethylenimine) copolymer under optimal conditions. Results of the luciferase activity assay have also indicated that the transfection efficiency of CP1.3K-FA is comparable to that of Fugene HD in B16 and U87 cells. Our results have suggested that CP1.3K-FA warrants further development as a vector for gene delivery in cancer cells.
Wing-Fu
WF
Lai
School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China. mcmlin@163.com.
Marie C
MC
Lin
D000818:Animals; D001388:Aziridines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D048271:Chitosan / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D058973:Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored / Q000378:metabolism; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods
D001388:Aziridines; D058973:Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored; D011108:Polymers; C033132:aziridine; D048271:Chitosan; D005492:Folic Acid