The development of polymers with low toxicity and efficient gene delivery remains a significant barrier of nonviral gene therapy. Modification and tuning of chemical structures of carriers is an attractive strategy for efficient nucleic acid delivery. Here, polyplexes consisting of plasmid DNA (pDNA) and dodecylated or non-dodecylated polysuccinimide (PSI)-based polycations are designed, and their transfection ability into HeLa cells is investigated by green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressing cells quantification. All cationic polymers show lower cytotoxicity than those of branched polyethyleneimine (bPEI). PSI and bPEI-based polyplexes have comparable physicochemical properties such as size and charge. Interestingly, a strong interaction between dodecylated polycations and pDNA caused by the hydrophobic moiety is observed in dodecylated PSI derivatives. Moreover, the decrease of GFP expression is associated with lower dissociation of pDNA from polyplexes according to the heparin displacement assay. Besides, a hydrophobization of PSI cationic derivatives with dodecyl side chains can modulate the integrity of polyplexes by hydrophobic interactions, increasing the binding between the polymer and the DNA. These results provide useful information for designing polyplexes with lower toxicity and greater stability and transfection performance.

Kravicz, M., Balogh, D., Kar, M., Wedepohl, S., Bentley, M., Calderón, M. (2019). Influence of Alkyl Chains of Modified Polysuccinimide-Based Polycationic Polymers on Polyplex Formation and Transfection. MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE, 19(10), 1-14 [10.1002/mabi.201900117].

Influence of Alkyl Chains of Modified Polysuccinimide-Based Polycationic Polymers on Polyplex Formation and Transfection

Kravicz, Marcelo H
Primo
;
2019

Abstract

The development of polymers with low toxicity and efficient gene delivery remains a significant barrier of nonviral gene therapy. Modification and tuning of chemical structures of carriers is an attractive strategy for efficient nucleic acid delivery. Here, polyplexes consisting of plasmid DNA (pDNA) and dodecylated or non-dodecylated polysuccinimide (PSI)-based polycations are designed, and their transfection ability into HeLa cells is investigated by green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressing cells quantification. All cationic polymers show lower cytotoxicity than those of branched polyethyleneimine (bPEI). PSI and bPEI-based polyplexes have comparable physicochemical properties such as size and charge. Interestingly, a strong interaction between dodecylated polycations and pDNA caused by the hydrophobic moiety is observed in dodecylated PSI derivatives. Moreover, the decrease of GFP expression is associated with lower dissociation of pDNA from polyplexes according to the heparin displacement assay. Besides, a hydrophobization of PSI cationic derivatives with dodecyl side chains can modulate the integrity of polyplexes by hydrophobic interactions, increasing the binding between the polymer and the DNA. These results provide useful information for designing polyplexes with lower toxicity and greater stability and transfection performance.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
gene delivery; GFP expression; hydrophobization; plasmid DNA; polysuccinimide;
English
2019
19
10
1
14
1900117
open
Kravicz, M., Balogh, D., Kar, M., Wedepohl, S., Bentley, M., Calderón, M. (2019). Influence of Alkyl Chains of Modified Polysuccinimide-Based Polycationic Polymers on Polyplex Formation and Transfection. MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE, 19(10), 1-14 [10.1002/mabi.201900117].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/418364
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