title: Folic acid-decorated polyamidoamine dendrimer mediates selective uptake and high expression of genes in head and neck cancer cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Folic acid (FA)-decorated polyamidoamine dendrimer G4 (G4-FA) was synthesized and studied for targeted delivery of genes to head and neck cancer cells expressing high levels of folate receptors (FRs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cellular uptake, targeting specificity, cytocompatibility and transfection efficiency were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  G4-FA competes with free FA for the same binding site. G4-FA facilitates the cellular uptake of DNA plasmids in a FR-dependent manner and selectively delivers plasmids to FR-high cells, leading to enhanced gene expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  G4-FA is a suitable vector to deliver genes selectively to head and neck cancer cells. The fundamental understandings of G4-FA as a vector and its encouraging transfection results for head and neck cancer cells provided support for its further testing in vivo.
authors: Department of Chemical & Life Science Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA.|Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA.|Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
authors: Leyuan
authors: L
authors: Xu
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
authors: Shannon
authors: S
authors: Kittrell
authors: Department of Oral Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.|Molecular Oncology & Biomarkers Program, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
authors: W Andrew
authors: WA
authors: Yeudall
authors: Department of Chemical & Life Science Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA.|Department of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.|Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
authors: Hu
authors: H
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D058975:Folate Receptor 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D011073:Polyamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D050091:Dendrimers; D058975:Folate Receptor 1; C531249:Poly(amidoamine); D011073:Polyamines; D005492:Folic Acid
keywords: PAMAM dendrimer; folate receptor targeting; gene therapy; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma