DNA transfection using linear poly(ethylenimine) prepared by controlled acid hydrolysis of poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)

Ji Hoon Jeong, Soon Ho Song, Dong Woo Lim, Haeshin Lee, Tae Gwan Park

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

172 Scopus citations

Abstract

A series of linear poly(ethylenimine) (L-PEI) containing varying amounts of cationic charge density in its backbone was produced by controlled hydrolysis of poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEtOz) for using as a nonviral DNA transfection agent. The effects of cationic charge density and molecular weight of the L-PEI on the cytotoxicity and transfection efficiency were studied. The efficiency of transfection was monitored by using a luciferase reporter gene system. Gel retardation assay and dynamic light scattering (DLS) showed that the condensation capacity of L-PEI was suitable for transfection. Highly compacted L-PEI/DNA complex (∼150 nm) was obtained with a surface charge value of around +28.4 mV. Cell cytotoxicity was affected to a great extent by the hydrolysis percent of L-PEI as well as by the molecular weight. Transfection efficiency of luciferase plasmid DNA against NIH 3T3 fibroblast was largely dependent upon the hydrolysis percent (charge density) in the polymer backbone and the molecular weight of the L-PEI, but independent of the total amount of cationic charges used for DNA condensation. L-PEI with a hydrolysis percent of 88.0% exhibited comparable transfection efficiency to that of commonly used branched PEI.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)391-399
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Controlled Release
Volume73
Issue number2-3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 12 2001
Externally publishedYes

Funding

This work was supported by the grants (HMP-99-B-02-0002) from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea.

Keywords

  • Charge density
  • Controlled hydrolysis
  • Gene transfection
  • Linear poly(ethylenimine)
  • Poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)

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