Structural characterization of a new lipid/DNA complex showing a selective transfection efficiency in ovarian cancer cells

Eur Phys J E Soft Matter. 2003 Apr;10(4):331-6. doi: 10.1140/epje/i2002-10117-x.

Abstract

We investigated, for the first time, by using Energy Dispersive X-ray Diffraction, the structure of a new ternary cationic liposome formulated with dioleoyl trimethylammonium propane (DOTAP), 1,2-dioleoyl-3-phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) and cholesterol (Chol) (DDC) which has been recently found to have a selective high gene transfer ability in ovarian cancer cells. Our structural results provide a further experimental support to the widely accepted statement that there is not a simple and direct correlation between structure and transfection efficiency and that the factors controlling cationic lipid/DNA (CL-DNA) complexes-mediated gene transfer depend not only on the formulations of the cationic liposomes and their thermodynamic phase, but also significantly on the cell properties.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Coated Materials, Biocompatible / chemistry*
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry
  • Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / chemistry*
  • Female
  • Genetic Therapy / methods
  • Humans
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry*
  • Liposomes / chemistry*
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Materials Testing / methods*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / therapy
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines / chemistry*
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / chemistry*
  • Transfection / methods
  • X-Ray Diffraction / methods*

Substances

  • 1,2-dioleoyl-glycero-3-phosphatidyl ethanolamine
  • Coated Materials, Biocompatible
  • Drug Carriers
  • Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Liposomes
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
  • DNA
  • 1,2-dioleoyloxy-3-(trimethylammonium)propane