title: Promising gene delivery system based on polyethylenimine-modified silica nanoparticles.
abstract: This article reports on the synthesis and full characterization of innovative silica-based nanoparticle composed of fumed silica as a core decorated with polyethylenimine (PEI) with different molecular weights (25, 10 and 1.8 kDa). Wide range of analytical, spectroscopic, and microscopic methods (TEM, DLS, ζ potential, elemental analysis (EA), TNBS and FTIR) were used to characterize the nanoparticles. Furthermore, transfection efficiency of these nanoparticles as non-viral vector was examined. The silica-PEI conjugates retained both the ability of PEI to fully condense plasmid DNA at low N/P ratios and suitable buffering capacity at the endosomal pH range. PEI-functionalized silica remarkably enhanced EGFP-N1 gene expression in murine neuroblastoma (Neuro-2A) cells up to 38 folds compared to PEI 25 kDa. Meanwhile the results of the cytotoxicity assays indicated that these silica-PEI conjugates have acceptable level of viability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Babaei
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eshghi
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Kh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abnous
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahimizadeh
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramezani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D011992:Endosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D051379:Mice; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D010957:Plasmids / Q000737:chemistry*; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D011094:Polyethyleneimine