Enhanced cellular delivery and transfection efficiency of plasmid DNA using positively charged biocompatible colloidal gold nanoparticles

Sang Myoung Noh, Won Ki Kim, Sun Jae Kim, Jung Mogg Kim, Kwang Hyun Baek, Yu Kyoung Oh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

61 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Efficient and safe nonviral gene delivery systems are a prerequisite for the clinical application of therapeutic genes. In this study, we report an enhancement of the transfection efficiency of plasmid DNA, via the use of positively charged colloidal gold nanoparticles (PGN). Plasmid DNA encoding for murine interleukin-2 (pVAXmIL-2) was complexed with PGN at a variety of ratios. The delivery of pVAXmIL-2 into C2C12 cells was dependent on the complexation ratios between PGN and the plasmid DNA, presented the highest delivery at a ratio of 2400:1. After complexation with DNA, PGN showed significantly higher cellular delivery and transfection efficiency than did the polyethylenimines (PEI) of different molecular weights, such as PEI25K (m.w. 25 kd) and PEI2K (m.w. 2 kd). PGN resulted in a cellular delivery of pVAXmIL-2 6.3-fold higher than was seen with PEI25K. The PGN/DNA complex resulted in 3.2- and 2.1-fold higher murine IL-2 protein expression than was seen in association with the PEI25K/DNA and PEI2K/DNA complexes, respectively. Following intramuscular administration, PGN/DNA complexes showed more than 4 orders of magnitude higher expression levels as compared to naked DNA. Moreover, the PGN/DNA complexes showed higher cell viability than other cationic nonviral vectors. Collectively, the results of this study suggest that the PGN/DNA complexes may harbor the potential for development into efficient and safe gene delivery vehicles.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)747-752
Number of pages6
JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta - General Subjects
Volume1770
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2007 May
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cationic vector
  • Colloidal gold nanoparticle
  • Nonviral gene delivery
  • Transfection efficiency

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Enhanced cellular delivery and transfection efficiency of plasmid DNA using positively charged biocompatible colloidal gold nanoparticles'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this