Enhanced gene transfection performance and biocompatibility of polyethylenimine through pseudopolyrotaxane formation with α-cyclodextrin.
Polyethylenimine (PEI), a commercially available gene transfection reagent, is a promising nonviral vector due to its inherent ability to efficiently condense genetic materials and its successful transfection performance in vitro. However, its low transfection efficiency in vivo, along with its high cytotoxicity, limit any further applications in gene therapy. To enhance the gene transfection performance and reduce the cytotoxicity of linear polyethylenimine, pseudopolyrotaxane PEI25k/CD and the polyrotaxanes PEI25k/CD-PA and PEI25k/CD-PB were prepared and their transfection efficiencies were then evaluated. The pseudopolyrotaxane PEI25k/CD exhibited better transfection efficiency and lower cytotoxicity than the transfection reagent linear PEI25k, even in the presence of serum. It also showed a remarkably higher cell viability, similar DNA protecting capability, and better DNA decondensation and release ability, and could be useful for the development of novel and safe nonviral gene delivery vectors for gene therapy.
Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, People's Republic of China.
Li-Zhong
LZ
Hu
Ning
N
Wan
Xi-Xi
XX
Ma
Zi-Wei
ZW
Jing
Ya-Xuan
YX
Zhang
Chen
C
Li
Si-Yuan
SY
Zhou
Bang-Le
BL
Zhang
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002470:Cell Survival; D003505:Cyclodextrins / Q000737:chemistry*; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D010316:Particle Size; D020442:Poloxamer / Q000737:chemistry*; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry*; D043862:Rotaxanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D044967:Serum / Q000378:metabolism; D055672:Static Electricity; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*; D047391:alpha-Cyclodextrins / Q000737:chemistry*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003505:Cyclodextrins; D043862:Rotaxanes; D047391:alpha-Cyclodextrins; C475674:pseudopolyrotaxane; D020442:Poloxamer; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D011094:Polyethyleneimine; D004247:DNA; C032613:alpha-cyclodextrin