Cellular fate of a modular DNA delivery system mediated by silica nanoparticles

Development of efficient molecular medicines, including gene therapeutics, RNA therapeutics, and DNA vaccines, depends on efficient means of transfer of DNA or RNA into the cell. Potential problems, including toxicity and immunogenicity, surrounding viral methods of DNA delivery have necessitated the use of nonviral, synthetic carriers. To better design synthetic carriers, or transfection reagents, the modular design of viruses has inspired a modular approach to DNA and RNA delivery. Each modular component can be designed to circumvent each of the many barriers. The modular approach will allow modification of individual components for a specific application. By utilizing a dense silica nanoparticle to form a ternary complex, transfection efficiency of a DNA-transfection reagent complex was increased by a factor of approximately 10 by concentrating the DNA at the surface of cells. Surface modification of the silica nanoparticles allowed determination of the cellular uptake mechanism with only minor alteration of transfection efficiency. Nanoparticles are internalized by an endosome-lysosomal route followed by perinuclear accumulation. The modification mechanism confirms that surface modification of the modular system can allow specific moieties to be incorporated into the modular system without significant alteration of the transfection efficiency. By showing that the modular system based upon concentration of DNA at the level of the cell can be used to increase transfection efficiency, we have shown that further modification of the system may better target DNA delivery and overcome other barriers of DNA expression.     

Cholesterol-Peptide Hybrids to Form Liposome-Like Vesicles for Gene Delivery

In this paper, four amphiphilic cholesterol-peptide conjugates (Ch-R5H5, Ch-R3H3, Ch-R5 and Ch-R5) were designed and synthesized, and their properties in gene delivery were evaluated in vitro with an aim of developing more efficient gene delivery carriers. These amphiphilic cholesterol-peptide conjugates are composed of hydrophobic cholesterol and positively charged peptides. They were able to self-assemble into micelles at low concentrations and their critical micelle concentrations in phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.4) are ≤85 µg/mL. Amphiphilic cholesterol-peptide conjugates condensed DNA more efficiently than a hydrophilic cationic oligoarginine (R10) peptide with no hydrophobic segment. Their transfection efficiencies were at least two orders of magnitude greater than that of R10 peptide in HEK-293 cells. Moreover, the introduction of histidine residues in cholesterol-peptide conjugates led to higher gene expression efficiency compared with cholesterol-peptides without histidine (Ch-R5 and Ch-R3), and the luciferase expression level was comparable or even higher than that induced by PEI at its optimal N/P ratio. In particular, Ch-R5H5 condensed DNA into smaller nanoparticles than Ch-R3H3 at higher N/P ratios, and the minimum size of Ch-R5H5/DNA complexes was 180 nm with zeta potential of 23 mV, achieved at the N/P ratio of 30. This liposome-like vesicle may be a promising gene delivery carrier for intravenous therapy.     

Evaluation of Efficiency of Modified Polypropylenimine (PPI) with Alkyl Chains as Non-viral Vectors Used in Co-delivery of Doxorubicin and TRAIL Plasmid

In this study, co-delivery system was achieved via plasmid encoding TNF related apoptosis inducing ligand (pTRAIL) and doxorubicin (DOX) using carrier based on polypropylenimine (PPI) modified with 10-bromodecanoic acid. Incorporation of alkylcarboxylate chain to PPIs (G4 and G5) could improve transfection efficiency via overcoming the plasma membrane barrier of the cells and decrease cytotoxicity of PPI. Characterization of fabricated NPs revealed that PPI G5 in which 30% of primary amines were substituted by alkyl carboxylate chain (PPI G5-Alkyl 30%) has higher drug loading as compared to the other formulations. PPI G5-Alkyl 30% indicated a decreased drug release may be due to alkyl chains on the surface of PPI, which serve as an additional hindrance for drug diffusion. In vitro cytotoxicity experiments demonstrated that co-delivery system induced apoptosis of tumor cells more efficiently than each of delivery system alone. Furthermore, these results revealed that our combined delivery platform of pTRAIL and DOX using Alkyl-modified PPI G5 can significantly improve the anti-tumor activity and this strategy might develop a new therapeutic window for cancer treatment.     

聚乙烯亚胺转基因影响因素的测定及其优化

聚乙烯亚胺 (PEI)为阳离子多聚物 ,可浓缩DNA形成纳米级颗粒 ,作为基因释放载体转染真核细胞 .选用Mr2 5 0 0 0 ,分枝状的聚乙烯亚胺转染质粒 ,比较多种转基因效率的影响因素 .通过MTT法测定PEI对COS 7细胞的细胞毒性 .利用电泳阻滞实验测定PEI与DNA形成复合物时所需的比例 .通过PEI转染增强型绿色荧光蛋白的pEGFP质粒、编码β 半乳糖苷酶的pSVβ质粒 ,探索氯喹、白蛋白、血清、盐离子浓度、质粒剂量、细胞数量等对聚乙烯亚胺转基因效率的影响 .实验发现 ,PEI对细胞的毒性作用与剂量相关 .PEI DNA的N P比在 3 0以上方可完全结合DNA .溶酶体抑制剂氯喹可增加转染效率 .培养液中的白蛋白、血清会降低转染效率 .生理盐溶液作为配制PEI DNA复合物的溶媒 ,转染效率高于 5 %葡萄糖作为溶媒 .随着转染质粒剂量的增加 ,转染效率呈剂量依赖正效应 .聚乙烯亚胺是有效的体外真核细胞转染剂 ,可用于合成更复杂的基因释放载体 .     

Arginine-rich cross-linking peptides with different SV40 nuclear localization signal content as vectors for intranuclear DNA delivery

The major barriers for intracellular DNA transportation by cationic polymers are their toxicity, poor endosomal escape and inefficient nuclear uptake. Therefore, we designed novel modular peptide-based carriers modified with SV40 nuclear localization signal (NLS). Core peptide consists of arginine, histidine and cysteine residues for DNA condensation, endosomal escape promotion and interpeptide cross-linking, respectively. We investigated three polyplexes with different NLS content (10?mol%, 50?mol% and 90?mol% of SV40 NLS) as vectors for intranuclear DNA delivery. All carriers tested were able to condense DNA, to protect it from DNAase I and were not toxic to the cells. We observed that cell cycle arrest by hydroxyurea did not affect transfection efficacy of NLS-modified carriers which we confirmed using quantitative confocal microscopy analysis. Overall, peptide carrier modified with 90?mol% of SV40 NLS provided efficient transfection and nuclear uptake in non-dividing cells. Thus, incorporation of NLS into arginine-rich cross-linking peptides is an adequate approach to the development of efficient intranuclear gene delivery vehicles.     

Chitosan-Graft-Polyethylenimine/DNA Nanoparticles as Novel Non-Viral Gene Delivery Vectors Targeting Osteoarthritis

The development of safe and efficient gene carriers is the key to the clinical success of gene therapy. The present study was designed to develop and evaluate the chitosan-graft-polyethylenimine (CP)/DNA nanoparticles as novel non-viral gene vectors for gene therapy of osteoarthritis. The CP/DNA nanoparticles were produced through a complex coacervation of the cationic polymers with pEGFP after grafting chitosan (CS) with a low molecular weight (Mw) PEI (Mw = 1.8 kDa). Particle size and zeta potential were related to the weight ratio of CP:DNA, where decreases in nanoparticle size and increases in surface charge were observed as CP content increased. The buffering capacity of CP was significantly greater than that of CS. The transfection efficiency of CP/DNA nanoparticles was similar with that of the Lipofectamine™ 2000, and significantly higher than that of CS/DNA and PEI (25 kDa)/DNA nanoparticles. The transfection efficiency of the CP/DNA nanoparticles was dependent on the weight ratio of CP:DNA (w/w). The average cell viability after the treatment with CP/DNA nanoparticles was over 90% in both chondrocytes and synoviocytes, which was much higher than that of PEI (25 kDa)/DNA nanoparticles. The CP copolymers efficiently carried the pDNA inside chondrocytes and synoviocytes, and the pDNA was detected entering into nucleus. These results suggest that CP/DNA nanoparticles with improved transfection efficiency and low cytotoxicity might be a safe and efficient non-viral vector for gene delivery to both chondrocytes and synoviocytes.     

Modified branched peptides with a histidine-rich tail enhance in vitro gene transfection

Successful gene therapy depends on the development of efficient, non-toxic gene delivery systems. To accomplish this objective, our laboratory has focused on solid-phase synthesized peptide carriers, in which the amino acid sequence can be varied precisely to augment intracellular DNA transport. We previously determined that linear and branched co-polymers of histidine and lysine in combination with liposomes enhanced the efficiency of gene transfection. In this study, we have modified two branched histidine-lysine (HK) peptides by adding a histidine-rich tail. In a variety of cell lines, this histidine-rich tail markedly improved transfection efficiency, presumably by increasing the buffering capacity of the polymer. One polymer with a histidine-rich tail, H²K4bT, compared favorably with the commonly used transfection agents. Together with modification of our transfection protocol, these improved HK peptides alone, without liposomes, are the effective carriers of plasmids into a variety of cells. We anticipate that branched HK peptides will continue to be developed as carriers of nucleic acids for in vitro and in vivo applications.     

Characterization of PLL-g-PEG-DNA nanoparticles for the delivery of therapeutic DNA

Local and controlled DNA release is a critical issue in current gene therapy. As viral gene delivery systems are associated with severe security problems, nonviral gene delivery vehicles were developed. Here, DNA-nanoparticles using grafted copolymers of PLL and PEG to increase their biocompatibility and stealth properties were systematically studied. Ten different PLL-based polymers with no, low, and high PEG grafting and PEG molecular weights as well as different PLL backbone lengths were complexed with plasmids containing 3200 to 10,100 base pairs. Stable complexes were formed and selected for cytotoxicity and transfection efficiency. Predominantly, PLL-g-PEG-DNA nanoparticles grafted with 4 or 5% PEG moieties of 5 kDa transfected 40% COS-7 cells without reduction of cell viability when formed at N/P ratios between 0.1 and 12.5. The molecular weight of PLL did not significantly affect transfection efficiency or cytotoxicity indicating that a specific cationic charge-density-to-PEG-ratio is important for efficient transfection and low cytotoxicity. The PLL-g-PEG-DNA nanoparticles were spherical with a diameter of approximately 100 nm and did not aggregate over 2 weeks. Moreover, they protected included plasmid DNA against serum components and DNase I digestion. Therefore, such storage stable and versatile PLL-g-PEG-DNA nanoparticles might be useful to deliver differently sized therapeutic DNA for in vivo applications.     

Chitosan-g-PEG/DNA complexes deliver gene to the rat liver via intrabiliary and intraportal infusions

BACKGROUND: Chitosan has been shown to be a non-toxic and efficient vector for in vitro gene transfection and in vivo gene delivery through pulmonary and oral administrations. Recently, we have shown that chitosan/DNA nanoparticles could mediate high levels of gene expression following intrabiliary infusion 1. In this study, we have examined the possibility of using polyethylene glycol (PEG)-grafted chitosan/DNA complexes to deliver genes to the liver through bile duct and portal vein infusions. METHODS: PEG (Mw: 5 kDa) was grafted onto chitosan (Mw: 47 kDa, deacetylation degree: 94%) with grafting degrees of 3.6% and 9.6% (molar percentage of chitosan monosaccharide units grafted with PEG). The stability of chitosan-g-PEG/DNA complexes was studied by measuring the change in particle size and by agarose gel electrophoresis against bile or serum challenge. The influence of PEG grafting on gene transfection efficiency was evaluated in HepG2 cells using luciferase reporter gene. Chitosan and chitosan-g-PEG/DNA complexes were delivered to the liver through bile duct and portal vein infusions with a syringe pump. Gene expression in the liver and the distribution of gene expression in other organs were evaluated. The acute liver toxicity of chitosan and chitosan-g-PEG/DNA complexes was examined by measuring serum alanine aminotranferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities as a function of time. RESULTS: Both chitosan and chitosan-g-PEG displayed comparable gene transfection efficiency in HepG2 cells. After challenge with serum and bile, chitosan-g-PEG/DNA complexes, especially those prepared with chitosan-g-PEG (GD = 9.6%), did not form large aggregates like chitosan/DNA complexes but remained stable for up to 30 min. In addition, chitosan-g-PEG prevented the degradation of DNA in the presence of serum and bile. On day 3 after bile duct infusion, chitosan-g-PEG (GD = 9.6%)/DNA complexes mediated three times higher gene expression in the liver than chitosan/DNA complexes and yielded background levels of gene expression in other organs. On day 1 following portal vein infusion, gene expression level induced by chitosan/DNA complexes was hardly detectable but chitosan-g-PEG (GD = 9.6%) mediated significant transgene expression. Interestingly, transgene expression by chitosan-g-PEG/DNA complexes in other organs after portal vein infusion increased with increasing grafting degree of PEG. The ALT and AST assays indicated that grafting of PEG to chitosan reduced the acute liver toxicity towards the complexes. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the potential of chitosan-g-PEG as a safe and more stable gene carrier to the liver.     

Low‐generation asymmetric dendrimers exhibit minimal toxicity and effectively complex DNA

Conventional dendrimers are spherical symmetrically branched polymers ending with active surface functional groups. Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers have been widely studied as gene delivery vectors and have proven effective at delivering DNA to cells in vitro. However, higher‐generation (G4‐G8) PAMAM dendrimers exhibit toxicity due to their high cationic charge density and this has limited their application in vitro and in vivo. Another limitation arises when attempts are made to functionalize spherical dendrimers as targeting moieties cannot be site‐specifically attached. Therefore, we propose that lower‐generation asymmetric dendrimers, which are likely devoid of toxicity and to which site‐specific attachment of targeting ligands can be achieved, would be a viable alternative to currently available dendrimers. We synthesized and characterized a series of peptide‐based asymmetric dendrimers and compared their toxicity profile and ability to condense DNA to spherical PAMAM G1 dendrimers. We show that asymmetric dendrimers are minimally toxic and condense DNA into stable toroids which have been reported necessary for efficient cell transfection. This paves the way for these systems to be conjugated with targeting ligands for gene delivery in vitro and in vivo. Copyright © 2011 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

In vitro gene transfection using dendritic poly(L-lysine)

Monodispersed dendritic poly(L-lysine)s (DPKs) of several generations were synthesized, and their characteristics as a gene transfection reagent were then investigated. The agarose gel shift and ethidium bromide titration assay proved that the DPKs of the third generation and higher could form a complex with a plasmid DNA, and the degree of compaction of the DNA was increased by the increasing number of the generation. The DPKs of the fifth and sixth generation, which have 64 and 128 amine groups on the surface of the molecule, respectively, showed efficient gene transfection ability into several cultivated cell lines without significant cytotoxity. In addition, the transfection efficiency of the DPK of the sixth generation was not seriously reduced even if serum was added at 50% of the final concentration into the transfection medium. Because we can strictly synthesize various DPK derivatives, which have several types of branch units, terminal cationic groups, and so on, they are expected to be a good object of study regarding the basic information on the detailed mechanism of gene transfection into cells. We also expect to be able to easily construct DPK-based functional gene carriers, e.g., DPKs modified by ligands such as a sugar chain, which can enable advanced gene delivery in vivo.     

Effect of thiol pendant conjugates on plasmid DNA binding, release, and stability of polymeric delivery vectors

Polymers have attracted much attention as potential gene delivery vectors due to their chemical and structural versatility. However, several challenges associated with polymeric carriers, including low transfection efficiencies, insufficient cargo release, and high cytotoxicity levels have prevented clinical implementation. Strong electrostatic interactions between polymeric carriers and DNA cargo can prohibit complete cargo release within the cell. As a result, cargo DNA never reaches the cell's nucleus where gene expression takes place. In addition, highly charged cationic polymers have been correlated with high cytotoxicity levels, making them unsuitable carriers in vivo. Using poly(allylamine) (PAA) as a model, we investigated how pH-sensitive disulfide cross-linked polymer networks can improve the delivery potential of cationic polymer carriers. To accomplish this, we conjugated thiol-terminated pendant chains onto the primary amines of PAA using 2-iminothiolane, developing three new polymer vectors with 5, 13, or 20% thiol modification. Unmodified PAA and thiol-conjugated polymers were tested for their ability to bind and release plasmid DNA, their capacity to protect genetic cargo from enzymatic degradation, and their potential for endolysosomal escape. Our results demonstrate that polymer-plasmid complexes (polyplexes) formed by the 13% thiolated polymer demonstrate the greatest delivery potential. At high N/P ratios, all thiolated polymers (but not unmodified counterparts) were able to resist decomplexation in the presence of heparin, a negatively charged polysaccharide used to mimic in vivo polyplex-protein interactions. Further, all thiolated polymers exhibited higher buffering capacities than unmodified PAA and, therefore, have a greater potential for endolysosomal escape. However, 5 and 20% thiolated polymers exhibited poor DNA binding-release kinetics, making them unsuitable carriers for gene delivery. The 13% thiolated polymers, on the other hand, displayed high DNA binding efficiency and pH-sensitive release.     

Cationic polydiacetylene micelles for gene delivery

Cationic surfactants easily interact with plasmid DNA to form small lipoplexes. However, their detergent behavior and associated biological toxicity limit their use as gene delivery vectors. We have incorporated a diacetylene motif in the hydrophobic chain of cationic surfactants. By using UV irradiation, the small cationic micelles (9 nm) obtained with diacetylenic detergents were photopolymerized into 40 nm spheres. Electrostatic interactions with plasmid DNA led to the formation of 45 nm lipoplexes at N/P = 5 ratio. In vitro transfection of the pCMV-Luciferase plasmid resulted in gene expression (>10(10) RLU/mg protein) at the same ratio, comparable with the commercially available JetSi-ENDO gene delivery system. This new and versatile class of molecules could lead to a new generation of in vivo gene delivery vectors.     

Low charge density cationic polymers for gene delivery: exploring the influence of structural elements on in vitro transfection

A series of end-functionalized poly(trimethylene carbonate) DNA carriers, characterized by low cationic charge density and pronounced hydrophobicity, is used to study structural effects on in vitro gene delivery. As the DNA-binding moieties are identical in all polymer structures, the differences observed between the different polymers are directly related to the functionality and length of the polymer backbone. The transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity of the polymer/DNA complexes are thus found to be dependent on a combination of polymer charge density and functionality, highlighting the importance of such structural considerations in the development of materials for efficient gene delivery.     

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.     

Relationships between the physicochemical properties of an amphiphilic triblock copolymers/DNA complexes and their intramuscular transfection efficiency

Poly(ethyleneoxide)-poly(propyleneoxide)-poly(ethyleneoxide) triblock copolymer (PEO-PPO-PEO) based plasmid delivery systems are increasingly drawing attention in the field of nonviral gene transfer because of their proven in vivo transfection capability. They result from the simple association of DNA molecules with uncharged polymers. We examined the physicochemical properties of PEO-PPO-PEO/DNA mixtures, in which the PEO-PPO-PEO is Lutrol® (PEO₇₅-PPO₃₀-PEO₇₅), formulated under various conditions. We found that interactions between PEO-PPO-PEO and DNA are mediated by the central hydrophobic block within the block copolymer. Dynamic light scattering and cryo-electron microscopy showed that the mean diameter of transfecting particles as well as their stability depended on the PEO-PPO-PEO/DNA ratio and on the ionic composition of the formulating medium. The most active formulation promoting a good tissue-distribution and an optimal transfection was characterized by a reduced electrophoretic mobility, a mean hydrodynamic diameter of ~250–300 nm and by a conserved B-DNA form as shown by circular dichroism studies. Our study also revealed that the stability of these formulations strongly depended on a concentration balance between the DNA and the PEO-PPO-PEO, over which the DNA conformation was modified, micron-sized particles were generated, and the transgene expression was declined. We showed that the physicochemical properties of PEO-PPO-PEO/DNA formulations directly impact the level of gene expression in transfected muscles.     

Poly(β-amino ester)-nanoparticle mediated transfection of retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo

A variety of genetic diseases in the retina, including retinitis pigmentosa and leber congenital amaurosis, might be excellent targets for gene delivery as treatment. A major challenge in non-viral gene delivery remains finding a safe and effective delivery system. Poly(beta-amino ester)s (PBAEs) have shown great potential as gene delivery reagents because they are easily synthesized and they transfect a wide variety of cell types with high efficacy in vitro. We synthesized a combinatorial library of PBAEs and evaluated them for transfection efficacy and toxicity in retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells to identify lead polymer structures and transfection formulations. Our optimal polymer (B5-S5-E7 at 60 w/w polymer:DNA ratio) transfected ARPE-19 cells with 44±5% transfection efficacy, significantly higher than with optimized formulations of leading commercially available reagents Lipofectamine 2000 (26±7%) and X-tremeGENE HP DNA (22±6%); (p<0.001 for both). Ten formulations exceeded 30% transfection efficacy. This high non-viral efficacy was achieved with comparable cytotoxicity (23±6%) to controls; optimized formulations of Lipofectamine 2000 and X-tremeGENE HP DNA showed 15±3% and 32±9% toxicity respectively (p>0.05 for both). Our optimal polymer was also significantly better than a gold standard polymeric transfection reagent, branched 25 kDa polyethyleneimine (PEI), which achieved only 8±1% transfection efficacy with 25±6% cytotoxicity. Subretinal injections using lyophilized GFP-PBAE nanoparticles resulted in 1.1±1×10(3)-fold and 1.5±0.7×10(3)-fold increased GFP expression in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/choroid and neural retina respectively, compared to injection of DNA alone (p?=?0.003 for RPE/choroid, p<0.001 for neural retina). The successful transfection of the RPE in vivo suggests that these nanoparticles could be used to study a number of genetic diseases in the laboratory with the potential to treat debilitating eye diseases.     

Development of an effective gene delivery system: a study of complexes composed of a peptide-based amphiphilic DNA compaction agent and phospholipid

We recently described a basic technology to efficiently combine compacted DNA with phospholipids and hydrophobic peptides, to produce homogenous complexes that are completely resistant to nuclease. We have developed this technology further to form gene delivery complexes that transfect cells effectively in vitro. In addition to plasmid DNA, the complexes contained two basic components: (i) a DNA compacting peptide (-CGKKKFKLKH), either conjugated to lipid or extended to contain (WLPLPWGW-) and (ii) either phosphatidylethanolamine or phosphatidylcholine. Complexes containing a 5.5-fold charge equivalence (peptide charge/DNA charge) of WLPLPWGWCGKKKFKLKH and 5 nmol dimyristoleoylphosphatidylethanolamine/µg DNA produced the highest luciferase gene expression, exceeding 1 × 10⁹ relative light units/s/mg protein (>3 µg luciferase per mg protein). These complexes transfected OVCAR-3, COS-7 and HeLa cells at either similar or superior levels when compared to polyethylenimine or lipofectamine complexes. With green fluorescent protein reporter gene, >50% of HeLa cells were positive 30 h after addition of these complexes. Furthermore, these optimal complexes were the least sensitive to pre-treatment of cells with chloroquine, indicating efficient endosomal escape. Our results indicated that self-assembling complexes of plasmid DNA, amphiphilic peptide and phosphatidylethanolamine are highly effective non-viral gene delivery systems.     

Use of locked nucleic acid oligonucleotides to add functionality to plasmid DNA

The available reagents for the attachment of functional moieties to plasmid DNA are limiting. Most reagents bind plasmid DNA in a non-sequence- specific manner, with undefined stoichiometry, and affect DNA charge and delivery properties or involve chemical modifications that abolish gene expression. The design and ability of oligonucleotides (ODNs) containing locked nucleic acids (LNAs) to bind supercoiled, double-stranded plasmid DNA in a sequence-specific manner are described for the first time. The main mechanism for LNA ODNs binding plasmid DNA is demonstrated to be by strand displacement. LNA ODNs are more stably bound to plasmid DNA than similar peptide nucleic acid (PNA) ‘clamps’ for procedures such as particle-mediated DNA delivery (gene gun). It is shown that LNA ODNs remain associated with plasmid DNA after cationic lipid-mediated transfection into mammalian cells. LNA ODNs can bind to DNA in a sequence-specific manner so that binding does not interfere with plasmid conformation or gene expression. Attachment of CpG-based immune adjuvants to plasmid by ‘hybrid’ phosphorothioate–LNA ODNs induces tumour necrosis factor-α production in the macrophage cell line RAW264.7. This observation exemplifies an important new, controllable methodology for adding functionality to plasmids for gene delivery and DNA vaccination.     

Lysine dendrimers as vectors for delivery of genetic constructs to eukaryotic cells

Asymmetrical lysine dendrimers are promising as vectors for delivering gene expression constructs into mammalian cells. The condensing, protective, and transfection properties were studied for pentaspherical lysine dendrimer D5 and its analog D5C10, modified with capric acid residues at the outer sphere; in addition, the transfection activity was assayed for complexes DNA-dendrimer-endosomolytic peptide JTS-1. Fatty acid residues incorporated in lysine dendrimers proved to improve their ability to bind DNA, to protect DNA from nuclease degradation, and to ensure its transfer into the nucleus. Peptide JTS-1 introduced in DNA-dendrimer complexes significantly increased their transfection activity. The potentiating effect of JTS-1 was especially high with the DNA-D5C10 complex. An excess of JTS-1 changed the structure of the complexes and reduced their transfection activity. It was assumed that dendrimers D5 and D5C10 are promising vectors for DNA delivery to eukaryotic cells and provide a basis for constructing more refined nonviral module carriers.