An artificial virus-like nano carrier system: enhanced endosomal escape of nanoparticles via synergistic action of pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide derivatives

Anal Bioanal Chem. 2008 Aug;391(8):2717-27. doi: 10.1007/s00216-008-2012-1. Epub 2008 Mar 20.

Abstract

We previously reported that transferrin (Tf)-modified liposomes (Tf-L) additionally modified with a cholesterylated pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide (Chol-GALA) can release an encapsulated aqueous phase marker to cytosol via endosomal membrane fusion. However, further obstacles need to be overcome to bring the Tf-L to the level of a viral-like gene delivery system. In this study, we developed a novel packaging method to encapsulate condensed plasmid DNA into PEgylated Tf-L (Tf-PEG-L) to form a core-shell-type nanoparticle. The most difficult challenge was to provide a mechanism of escape for the condensed core from endosome to cytosol in the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG). We hypothesized that a membrane-introduced Chol-GALA and a PEgylated GALA would interact synergistically to induce membrane fusion between liposome and endosome. By simultaneously incorporating Chol-GALA into the membrane of Tf-PEG-L and GALA at tips of PEG chains, a condensed core was released into cytosol, and transfection activity increased 100-fold. We concluded that topological control was responsible for the synergistic effect of GALA derivatives introduced on Tf-PEG-L.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cholesterol / chemistry
  • Endosomes* / chemistry
  • Endosomes* / metabolism
  • Gene Transfer Techniques*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • K562 Cells
  • Membrane Fusion*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry
  • Transferrin / chemistry
  • Transferrin / metabolism
  • Virosomes / chemistry*
  • Virosomes / metabolism

Substances

  • Peptides
  • Transferrin
  • Virosomes
  • GALA peptide
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Cholesterol