Rare-earth-incorporated polymeric vector for enhanced gene delivery

Biomaterials. 2014 Jan;35(1):479-88. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2013.09.069. Epub 2013 Oct 5.

Abstract

Cationic polymer PEI-CyD is doped with Nd by plasma technology to produce the gene vector: Nd@PEI-CyD. Luciferase expression and EGFP transfection experiments performed in vitro reveal that Nd@PEI-CyD has significantly higher transfection efficiency than lipofectamine 2000 and PEI-CyD and the mechanism is studied and proposed. The rare-earth element, Nd, stimulates the energy metabolism of cells, enhances cell uptake of complexes/pDNA, and regulates the cellular pathways. These special features suggest a new strategy involving metal-incorporated non-viral gene vectors.

Keywords: Cellular pathways; Energetic ions; Neodymium; PEI-CyD; Plasma treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • DNA Primers
  • Gene Transfer Techniques*
  • Genetic Vectors*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Metals, Rare Earth / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • Metals, Rare Earth
  • Polymers