Structural advantage of dendritic poly(L-lysine) for gene delivery into cells

This study aimed to investigate the relationships between structures of gene carrier molecules and their activities for gene delivery into cells. We compared 2 types of poly(L-lysine) as carriers, that is, dendritic poly(L-lysine) (KG6) and linear poly(L-lysine) (PLL). KG6 formed a neutral DNA complex, and its DNA compaction level was weaker than that of PLL. The amount of DNA binding and uptake into cells mediated by PLL was 4-fold higher than that with KG6. However, KG6-mediated gene expression was 100-fold higher than that by PLL. Since pK(a) values of terminal amines of KG6 were lowered even though small amounts of DNA were internalized into cells, sufficient DNA amounts for effective gene expression escaped to the cytosol due to the proton sponge effect in the endosome. In addition, weakly compacted DNA with KG6 was advantageous in accessing RNA polymerase in the cell nucleus. On the other hand, PLL did not show the proton sponge effect in the endosome and resulted in strong compaction of DNA. Even though large DNA amounts were internalized into cells, most of the DNA would not take part in gene expression systems in the nucleus. Amount of induced cytokine production after intravenous injection of DNA complexes with KG6 and PLL was low, and was similar to the case when DNA was injected alone. Therefore, no significant difference in effects on cytokine production was observed between KG6 and PLL.     

Novel symmetric amphiphilic dendritic poly(L-lysine)-b-poly(L-lactide)-b-dendritic poly(L-lysine) with high plasmid DNA binding affinity as a biodegradable gene carrier

This study communicates the molecular design, preparation, and biological application of novel symmetric amphiphilic polycationic dendritic poly(L-lysine)-b-poly(L-lactide)-b-dendritic poly(L-lysine) D2-LLA15-D2 bearing two two-generation poly(L-lysine) PLL dendrons D2 and a central hydrophobic biodegradable poly(L-lactide) block LLA15. First, an amino-protected precursor of L1-OH was designed and synthesized and was further employed to prepare L1-LLA15 with an organic 4-(dimethylamino)-pyridine-mediated living-ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide. Subsequently, the hydroxy end-capped L1-LLA15 was coupled to synthesize a new triblock L1-LLA15-L1 with two one-generation amino-protected PLL dendrons L1. Furthermore, with a repeated trifluoroacetic-acid-mediated amino deprotection-protection cycle, new amphiphilic triblock D2-LLA15-D2 was successfully prepared. By means of NMR, mass spectrometry, and gel permeation chromatography, these synthetic precursors and final amphiphilic product were characterized to bear well-defined triblock structures. In addition, this synthesized amphiphilic triblock polycationic macromolecule was applied as a new polycationic plasmid DNA carrier, and its DNA binding affinity was examined via an agarose electrophoresis and a fluorescence titration assay along with two important references of hydrophilic dendritic D2-HEX-D2 and double-hydrophilic D2-PEG-4K-D2 bearing the same two D2 dendrons; much enhanced DNA binding affinity was interestingly revealed for the new amphiphilic structural D2-LLA15-D2. Moreover, the assembled polyplex microparticles of plasmid DNA/polycationic carrier were further analyzed by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy, indicating their averaged nanoparticle size around 150-200 nm. As for the cytotoxicity of the new D2-LLA15-D2, MTT assays were conducted with a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (SMMC-7721), indicating a very low cytotoxicity as compared with commercial linear PLL-23K and PEI-2K, and a DNase I degradation of the assembled polyplex particles was also done in the HBS buffer solution to evaluate their stabilities. Finally, employing the new amphiphilic D2-LLA15-D2 as gene carrier, in vitro gene transfection experiments were conducted with the SMMC-7721 cell line, indicating a transfection efficiency increase of at least 10 times higher than that of the naked plasmid DNA under a N/P charge ratio of 10. Therefore, these interesting results may provide a new possible way to construct efficient polycationic macromolecular gene carriers with low toxicity and less expensive low-generation PLL dendrons.     

A tetra(L-lysine)-grafted poly(organophosphazene) for gene delivery

In order to develop a new gene delivery vector, a novel cationic poly(organophosphazene) was synthesized by stepwise nucleophilic substitutions of poly(dichlorophosphazene) with a hydrophilic methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) as a shielding group and a branched tetra(L-lysine), LysLys(LysEt)(2), as a cationic moiety. The cationic polymer has shown to form a polyplex by DNA condensation and very low in vitro cytotoxicity probably due to the shielding effect of MPEG, which provides a basis for improving the low gene transfection yield of cationic polyphosphazenes.     

Highly branched poly(L-lysine)

This paper describes the synthesis of several novel water-soluble highly branched polypeptides. The synthesis starts with the ring-opening polymerization of epsilon-benzyloxycarbonyl-l-lysine N-carboxyanhydride (Z-Lys NCA) or epsilon-trifluoroacetyl-l-lysine N-carboxyanhydride (TFA-Lys NCA), followed by end functionalization of the peptide chain with N(alpha),N(epsilon)-di(9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl)-l-lysine (N(alpha),N(epsilon)-diFmoc Lys). Deprotection of the N(alpha),N(epsilon)-diFmoc Lys end group affords two new primary amine groups that can initiate the polymerization of a second generation of branches. Repetition of this ring-opening polymerization-end functionalization sequence affords highly branched poly(epsilon-benzyloxycarbonyl-l-lysine) (poly(Z-Lys)) and poly(epsilon-trifluoroacetyl-l-lysine) (poly(TFA-Lys)) in a small number of straightforward synthetic steps. Removal of the side-chain protective groups yields water-soluble and highly branched poly(l-lysine)s, which may be of potential interest for a variety of medical applications.     

Poly(L-lysine)-graft-chitosan copolymers: synthesis, characterization, and gene transfection effect

Polypeptide/polysaccharide graft copolymers poly(L-lysine)-graft-chitosan (PLL-g-Chi) were prepared by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of epsilon-benzoxycarbonyl L-lysine N-carboxyanhydrides (Z-L-lysine NCA) in the presence of 6-O-triphenylmethyl chitosan. The PLL-g-Chi copolymers were thoroughly characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The number-average degree of polymerization of PLL grafted onto the chitosan backbone could be adjusted by controlling the feed ratio of NCA to 6-O-triphenylmethyl chitosan. The particle size of the complexes formed from the copolymer and calf thymus DNA was measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS). It was found in the range of 120 approximately 340 nm. The gel retardation electrophoresis showed that the PLL-g-Chi copolymers possessed better plasmid DNA-binding ability than chitosan. The gene transfection effect in HEK 293T cells of the copolymers was evaluated, and the results showed that the gene transfection ability of the copolymer was better than that of chitosan and was dependent on the PLL grafting ratio. The PLL-g-Chi copolymers could be used as effective gene delivery vectors.     

Heparin removal from blood using poly(L-lysine) immobilized hollow fiber

Based on the negative charge density characteristics of heparin, an affinity adsorption technique has been developed for the removal of heparin from blood. Poly(L-lysine) . HBr (PLL . HBr), a polycation, was immobilized with the help of cyanogen bromide (BrCN) onto poly(ethylene-vinyl alcohol) (PEVAL) copolymer coated polyethylene (PE) hollow fibers. Heparin bound rapidly onto PLL . HBr imobilized surface in buffer, plasma, and blood. The heparin binding capacity of PLL immobilized surface increased sevenfold as compared to a non-PLL-treated control. When heparinized blood was recirculated through a PLL immobilized PEVAL hollow fiber cartridge, the anticoagulant activity of heparin decreased by 85% from initial activity in 25 min. Moreover, circulation of blood through PLL immobilized hollow fiber did not show any adverse effects; no hemolysis was observed and no significant loss of plasma proteins was noted during the heparin removal process. These results suggest that PLL immobilized surface may be utilized for rapid and effective removal of heparin from blood. (c) 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Photoresponsive polymers: Azobenzene-containing poly(L-lysine)

Poly(L -lysine) was reacted with various azo-reagents, including p-phenylazobenzoic acid, p-phenylazobenzoyl chloride, and p-phenylazobenzoic N-hydroxy-succinimide ester, to give polypeptides containing 5–44 mol % azobenzene units in the side chains. The conformation of the azo-modified polypeptides was investigated in connection with their photochromic behavior caused by the trans ? cis photoisomerization of the azo groups present in the side chains. In methanol/water solvent mixture, the 20% azo-poly(L -lysine) adopts the α-helix conformation. The helix stability was found to be higher when the azo side chains are in cis than when they are in trans configuration. So irradiation at 340 nm (trans-to-cis isomerization), and alternately at 450 nm (cis-to-trans isomerization), produced reversible variations of the α-helix content. In hexafluoro-2-propanol/water/sodium dodecyl sulfate mixture, the 43% azo-poly(L -lysine) adopts a β-structure, as indicated by CD spectra. Irradiation at 340 nm caused the disruption of the β-structure and promoted the α-helix conformation. The effect was reversed upon irradiation at 450 nm. The photoinduced β ? helix change was explained on the basis of the different geometry and hydrophobic character of the trans and the cis azobenzene units.     

Low and high molecular weight poly(L-lysine)s/poly(L-lysine)-DNA complexes initiate mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis differently

Poly(L-lysine)s, PLLs, are commonly used for DNA compaction and cell transfection. We report that, although PLLs of low (2.9 kDa), L-PLL, and high (27.4 kDa), H-PLL, Mw in free form and DNA-complexed cannot only cause rapid plasma membrane damage in human cell lines, phosphatidylserine "scrambling" and loss of membrane integrity, but later (24 h) initiate stress-induced cell death via mitochondrial permeabilization without the involvement of processed caspase-2. Mitochondrially mediated apoptosis was confirmed by detection of cytochrome c (Cyt c) release, activation of caspases-9 and -3, and subsequent changes in mitochondrial membrane potential. Plasma membrane damage and apoptosis were most prominent with H-PLL. Cytoplasmic level of Cyt c was more elevated following H-PLL treatment, but unlike L-PLL case, inhibition of Bax channel-forming activity reduced the extent of Cyt c release from mitochondria by half. Inhibition of Bax channel-forming activity had no modulatory effect on L-PLL-mediated Cyt c release. Further, functional studies of isolated mitochondria indicate that H-PLL, but not L-PLL, can directly induce Cyt c release, membrane depolarization, and a progressive decline in the rate of uncoupled respiration. Combined, our data suggest that H-PLL and L-PLL are capable of initiating mitochondrially mediated apoptosis differently. The observed PLL-mediated late-phase apoptosis may provide an explanation for previously reported transient gene expression associated with PLL-based transfection vectors. The importance of our data in relation to design of novel and safer cationic non-viral vectors for human gene therapy is discussed.     

15N-NMR spectroscopy. IV. Comparison of poly(L-lysine) and isopoly(L-lysine)

The natural abundance ¹⁵N-nmr spectroscopy has been used to characterize the isomeric polymers (L -Lys)_n and iso (L -Lys)_n in aqueous solution. Although the peptide nitrogens of the two polymers have nearly equivalent shifts at pH < 10, the amino nitrogens differ by 5–6 ppm at pH < 7 and provide an easy means of identification. Furthermore, the polymers are distinguishable by the pK_a of the amino group and the basicity of the peptide nitrogen. At pH 10.3 and 25°C, (Lys)_n exhibits line broadening and an upfield chemical shift of the peptide nitrogen, indicative of the coil → helix transition. The formation of 100% helix may produce a shift as large as 5 ppm, which probably makes ¹⁵N-nmr spectroscopy more suitable for studies of this transition.     

Conformation of poly(L-lysine) homologs in solution

The effect of the number of methylene groups in the side chains on the conformation of polypeptides is assessed for three poly(L -lysine) homologs with R = –(CH₂)_nNH₂. Circular dichroism studies show a pH-induced helix–coil transition in 0.05 M KCl with midpoints at 9.6, 9.0, and 8.7 for n = 5, 6, and 7, respectively, as compared with 10.1 for (Lys)_x (n = 4). Homologs with n = 6 and 7 could be partially helical even when the side groups are fully charged (with n = 7, the compound is highly aggregated above pH 9.1). Thus, the longer the number of methylene groups the more stable is the helical conformation of these homologs. Potentiometric titration of the n = 5 homolog gives a ΔG° of ?310 cal/mol (residue) for the uncharged coil-to-helix transition at 25°C. The corresponding ΔH° and ΔS° are ?1740 cal/mol (residue) and ?4.8 e.u./mol (residue). Unlike (Lys)_x, the uncharged helix-to-β transition is slow and incomplete even after heating at 80°C for 1 hr. Addition of methanol enhances the helical formation in neutral solution with midpoints at 72, 52, and 27% methanol (v/v) for n = 5, 6, and 7, respectively [cf. 88% for (Lys)_x]. Addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate induces a coil-to-helix transition for all three homologs in contrast with the β form of (Lys)_x under similar conditions.     

Glycopolymer modification on physicochemical and biological properties of poly(L-lysine) for gene delivery

Poly(L-lysine) (PLL) has excellent plasmid DNA (pDNA) condensation capacity. However, the relatively high cytotoxicity and low transfection efficiency limit its application as gene delivery vectors. Here, well-defined glycopolymers are synthesized by reversible addition fragmentation transfer polymerization and grafted onto PLL to improve the gene delivery performance. After glycopolymer modification, PLL shows reduced cytotoxicity. By regulating the glycopolymer length and amino group substitution degree, the glycopolymer modified PLL can condense pDNA with proper strength, protect the condensed pDNA from degradation and release them in time. Transfection with NIH3T3 and HepG2 cells shows that the glycopolymer modified PLL has improved transfection efficiencies. The low cytotoxicity, effective pDNA protection and enhanced transfection efficiencies indicate that glycopolymer modification would be an effective strategy to improve the polycation properties for gene delivery.     

Novel amphiphilic poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-g-poly(L-lysine) degradable copolymers

As part of the search of novel degradable polymers, amphiphilic and cationic poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-g-poly(l-lysine) (PCL-g-PlL) copolymers have been synthesized following a grafting "onto" or a grafting "from" method both applied to a macropolycarbanionic PCL derivative. The first approach led to PCL-g-PZlL containing 36% of epsilon-caprolactone and 64% of N-epsilon-Z-l-lysine units, by reaction of activated poly(N-epsilon-Z-l-lysine) on the macropolycarbanion derived from PCL. The second route was based on the anionic ring opening polymerization of N-carboxyanhydride of N-epsilon-benzyloxycarbonyl-l-lysine initiated by the macropolycarbanion derived from PCL and led to a similar copolymer containing 45% of of epsilon-caprolactone and 55% of N-epsilon-Z-l-lysine units. After deprotection of the lysine units, PCL-g-PlL copolymers were obtained. These copolymers are water-soluble and form nanometric micelle-like objects with mean diameters between 60 and 500 nm in distilled water depending on the synthesis route.     

Inhibition of intracellular protein degradation by pepstatinyl, poly(L-lysine), and pepstatinyl-poly(L-lysine)

Coupling the cathepsin D inhibitor pepstatin to poly(l-Lys) (M_r 13,000) is shown to enhance its inhibition of protein breakdown in whole cell systems. Rates of intracellular protein breakdown for prelabeled proteins of Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts were measured in the presence and absence of amino acids and insulin to generate basal and enhanced rates of protein breakdown. Pepstatin and poly(l-Lys) inhibited rates of degradation 5–7% and 16–23%, respectively, under each condition. Pepstatinyl-poly(l-Lys), containing 9 mol pepstatin/mol polymer, inhibited enhanced rates of degradation a further 24–33% compared to poly(l-Lys), but this extra increment was not seen under basal conditions. Although the mechanism of inhibition of intracellular protein breakdown by poly(l-Lys) presently is unknown, the data obtained with free and conjugated pepstatin indicate the lysosomal system degrades proteins under both basal and enhanced conditions.     

In vitro biosynthesis of poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid) by using purified poly(hydroxyalkanoic acid) synthase of Chromatium vinosum

Purified recombinant poly(hydroxyalkanoic acid) (PHA) synthase from Chromatium vinosum (PhaEC_Cv) was used to examine in vitro the specific synthase activity, turnover of R-(−)-3-hydroxybutyryl coenzyme A (3HB-CoA) and poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid) formation under various conditions. The 3HB-CoA consumption was terminated by a reaction-dependent inactivation of the PHA synthase. Salts (MgCl₂, CaCl₂, NaCl), proteins (bovine serum albumin, lysozyme, phasine) or detergent (Tween 20) increased the 3HB-CoA turnover to 2.5-fold. Specific PHA synthase activity was only partially affected by the added components. In general, a higher concentration of salt often inhibited the activity of PhaEC_Cv without affecting the yield according to 3HB-CoA turnover. NAD⁺ and NADP⁺ (2 mM) inhibited PhaEC_Cv completely, where-as NADH and NADPH did not. Macroscopic poly(3HB) granules were formed in vitro if PhaEC_Cv was incubated in the presence of sufficient amounts of 3HB-CoA and if MgCl₂ was present. The form and size of the granules synthesized in vitro were affected by the concentration of the PHA synthase protein as well as by bovine serum albumin and the GA24 protein, a poly(3HB)-granule-associated protein of Alcaligenes eutrophus. Scanning electron micrographs from the synthesized granules were obtained. The granules consisted of poly(3HB) that had a molar mass in the range (1–2) × 10⁶ g/mol. Received: 12 September 1997 / Received revision: 24 October 1997 / Accepted: 31 October 1997     

Molecular dynamics simulation of coarse-grained poly(L-lysine) dendrimers

Poly(L-lysine) (PLL) dendrimer are amino acid based macromolecules and can be used as drug delivery agents. Their branched structure allows them to be functionalized by various groups to encapsulate drug agents into their structure. In this work, at first, an attempt was made on all-atom simulation of PLL dendrimer of different generations. Based on all-atom results, a course-grained model of this dendrimer was designed and its parameters were determined, to be used for simulation of three generations of PLL dendrimer, at two pHs. Similar to the all-atom, the coarse-grained results indicated that by increasing the generation, the dendrimer becomes more spherical. At pH 7, the dendrimer had larger size, whereas at pH 12, due to back folding of branching chains, they had the tendency to penetrate into the inner layers. The calculated radial probability and radial distribution functions confirm that at pH 7, the PLL dendrimer has more cavities and as a result it can encapsulate more water molecules into its inner structure. By calculating the moment of inertia and the aspect ratio, the formation of spherical structure for PLL dendrimer was confirmed.     

Formulation and in vitro transfection efficiency of poly (D, L-lactideco-glycolide) microspheres containing plasmid DNA for gene delivery

The stability, in vitro release, and in vitro cell transfection efficiency of plasmid DNA (pDNA) poly (D,L.-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microsphere formulations were investigated. PLGA microspheres containing free and polylysine (PLL)-complexed pDNA were prepared by a water-oil-water solvent extraction/evaporation technique. Encapsulation enhanced the retention of the supereoiled structure of pDNA as determined by gel electrophoresis. PLL complexation of pDNA prior to encapsulation increased both the stability of the supercoiled form and the encapsulation efficiency. Free pDNA was completely degraded after exposure to DNase while encapsulation protected the pDNA from enzymatic degradation. Rapid initial in vitro release of pDNA was obtained from microspheres containing free pDNA. while the release from microspheres containing PLL-complexed pDNA was sustained for more than 42 days. Bioactivity of encapsulated pDNA determined by in vitro cell transfection using Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO) showed that the bioactivity of encapsulated pDNA was retained in both formulations but to a greater extent with PLL-complexed pDNA microspheres. These results demonstrated that PLGA microspheres could be used to formulate a controlledrelease delivery system for pDNA that can protect the pDNA from DNase degradation without loss of functional activity.     

An X-ray diffraction study of poly(L-lysine hydrobromide)

A structural study of the synthetic polypeptide poly(L -lysine hydrobromide) has been made by X-ray fiber techniques. The investigation was undertaken to determine whelther this polymer undergoes conformational transitions as a function of hydration in a manner similar to other chemically related basic polypeptides. Specifically, a comparison with the previously reported structures of the hydrochloride form of poly(L -lysine) was sought. Homogeneous powder mixtures with various amounts of water and oriented fibers of poly(L -lysine hydrobromide) at different relative humidities were X-ray photographed. Reversible transitions amorphous state ? β-pleated sheet ? α-helix ? isotropic solution as a function of increasing/decreasing degrees of hydration were found. The β-pleated-sheet conformation was observed between 33% and 76% relative humidities (containing about one and three molecules of water per residue, respectively). Each pleated sheet was formed by “antiparallel” chains, and the sheets were piled up along the b-axis. The spacings of this conformation did not vary appreciably with hydration. The observed reflections at 52% relative humidity (1.4 molecules of water per residue) could be indexed satisfactorily in terms of an orthorhombic unit cell, of space group P2₁22₁, with a = 9.52 Å, b = 16.44 Å, and c = 6.80 Å. These dimensions were shown by models to be compatible with the proposed structure. The α-helix conformation was present in specimens photographed at 76% relative humidity and up, and containing between three and fifteen molecules of water per residue. The helices were packed parallel to each other in a hexagonal array but randomly along or about their lengths. Increasing the hydration from five to fifteen molecules of water per residue causes the a-axis to increase from 16.9 to 20.8 Å. Twenty molecules of water per residue produced an isotropic solution. Despite some structural differences between the hydrobromide and hydrochloride forms it is concluded that the role played by the anions is mainly related to determining the water content levels at which conformational changes occur. Therefore, the anions do not significantly influence the prevailing conformation in this particular system, but might affect the packing arrangement of the polypeptide chains.     

In vitro poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of seminal ribonuclease

The site of in vitro ADP-ribosylation of seminal ribonuclease was determined. Seminal enzyme was found to be a good receptor of [14C]ADP-ribose residues under the reaction conditions used. The recovery of [14C]ADP-ribosylated RNase was about 65% after purification. After tryptic digestion of modified enzyme, a fraction containing [14C]ADP-ribosylated peptides was separated from the others by ion-exchange chromatography on M82 resin. Radioactive peptides were then purified by affinity chromatography on anti-poly(ADP-ribose)IgG-Sepharose. High performance liquid chromatography of a mixture obtained after pronase digestion of purified ADP-ribosylated peptides revealed only one radioactive peptide whose amino acid composition corresponded to a peptide that has equimolar quantities of aspartic acid, serine, and glycine. Carboxypeptidase Y digestion of this peptide showed that its amino acid sequence was Asp-Ser-Gly. Only position 14-16 of seminal RNase corresponded to this sequence. The chemical stability of the ADP-ribose/enzyme linkage indicated that aspartic acid 14 is the modification site in seminal RNase.     

Laser Raman spectroscopic studies of poly(r-cytidylic acid) and poly(r-adenylic acid) complexes with poly(L-lysine) and poly(L-arginine)

Complexes of polyribocytidylic acid and polyriboadenylic acid with poly(L -lysine) and poly(L -arginine) were studied by Raman spectroscopy. The backbones of both polynucleotides are distorted by poly(L -arginine). On the other hand, poly(L -lysine) could distort the backbone of polyriboadenylic acid but not that of polyribocytidylic acid. In general, poly(L -arginine) can increase the order of the base stacking, while poly(L -lysine) causes disordering in the base stacking.     

High transfection efficiency of poly(4-vinylimidazole) as a new gene carrier

Poly(4-vinylimidazole) (P4V) was obtained by free radical polymerization of 4-vinylimidazole (4V) prepared by decarboxylation of urocanic acid. P4V formed a complex with DNA that exhibited higher transfection effiency on Hela cells than polyethylenimine (PEI), through the proton sponge mechanism of the imidazole groups in the side chain of the P4V, and low cell toxicity.