Drug-loaded nanoparticles induce gene expression in human pluripotent stem cell derivatives

Nanoscale. 2014 Jan 7;6(1):521-31. doi: 10.1039/c3nr04794f. Epub 2013 Nov 15.

Abstract

Tissue engineering and advanced manufacturing of human stem cells requires a suite of tools to control gene expression spatiotemporally in culture. Inducible gene expression systems offer cell-extrinsic control, typically through addition of small molecules, but small molecule inducers typically contain few functional groups for further chemical modification. Doxycycline (DXC), a potent small molecule inducer of tetracycline (Tet) transgene systems, was conjugated to a hyperbranched dendritic polymer (Boltorn H40) and subsequently reacted with polyethylene glycol (PEG). The resulting PEG-H40-DXC nanoparticle exhibited pH-sensitive drug release behavior and successfully controlled gene expression in stem-cell-derived fibroblasts with a Tet-On system. While free DXC inhibited fibroblast proliferation and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity, PEG-H40-DXC nanoparticles maintained higher fibroblast proliferation levels and MMP activity. The results demonstrate that the PEG-H40-DXC nanoparticle system provides an effective tool to controlling gene expression in human stem cell derivatives.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Doxorubicin / chemistry*
  • Doxorubicin / toxicity
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Matrix Metalloproteinases / metabolism
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry
  • Polymers / chemistry

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Polymers
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Doxorubicin
  • Matrix Metalloproteinases