title: Polyethyleneimine-coated quantum dots for miRNA delivery and its enhanced suppression in HepG2 cells.
abstract: Quantum dots (QDs) have been intensively investigated for bioimaging, drug delivery, and labeling probes because of their unique optical properties. In this study, CdSe/ZnS QDs-based nonviral vectors with the dual functions of delivering miR-26a plasmid and bioimaging were formulated by capping the surface of CdSe/ZnS QDs with polyethyleneimine (PEI). The PEI-coated QDs were capable of condensing miR-26a expression vector into nanocomplexes that can emit strong red luminescence when loaded with CdSe/ZnS QDs. Further results showed that PEI-modified nanoparticles (NPs) could transfect miR-26a plasmid into HepG2 cells in vitro. Meanwhile, imaging of living cells could be achieved based on the CdSe/ZnS QDs. Further study suggested that miR-26a transfection up-regulated miR-26a expression, induced cycle arrest, and triggered proliferation inhibition in HepG2 cells. The results indicated that PEI-coated QD NPs possess the capability of bioimaging and gene delivery and could be a promising vehicle with the engineering of QD NPs for gene therapy in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medical Technology & Engineering.
authors.forename: Gaofeng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medical Technology & Engineering.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medical Technology & Engineering.
authors.forename: Wenpo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Henan University of Science & Technology, Luoyang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xinshuai
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medical Technology & Engineering.
authors.forename: Aihua
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medical Technology & Engineering.
authors.forename: Jinghua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medical Technology & Engineering.
authors.forename: Kaiwang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D019187:Cadmium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D002453:Cell Cycle; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D053758:Nanoparticles; D010957:Plasmids; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry*; D045663:Quantum Dots; D014162:Transfection; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D035683:MicroRNAs; D011094:Polyethyleneimine; C528163:MIRN26 microRNA, human
keywords: HepG2; PEI/QDs; bioimaging; gene delivery; miR-26a