[Small interfering RNA delivery mediated by mPEG-PCL-g-PEI polymer nanoparticles]

Yao Xue Xue Bao. 2011 Mar;46(3):344-9.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to report the synthesis of the mPEG-PCL-g-PEI copolymers as small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery vector, and exploration of the siRNA delivery potential of mPEG-PCL-g-PEI in vitro. The diblock copolymers mPEG-PCL-OH was prepared through the ring-opening polymerization. Then, the hydroxyl terminal (-OH) of mPEG-PCL-OH was chemically converted into the carboxy (-COOH) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) in turn to prepare mPEG-PCL-NHS. The branched PEI was reacted with mPEG-PCL-NHS to synthesize the ternary copolymers mPEG-PCL-g-PEI. The structure of mPEG-PCL-g-PEI copolymers was characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The mPEG-PCL-g-PEI/siRNA nanoparticles were prepared by complex coacervation, and the nanoparticles size and zeta potential were determined, separately. The cytotoxicities of mPEG-PCL-g-PEI/siRNA nanoparticles and PEI/siRNA nanoparticles were compared through cells MTT assays in vitro. The inhibition efficiencies of firefly luciferase gene expression by mPEG-PCL-g-PEI/ siRNA nanoparticle at various N/P ratios were investigated through cell transfection in vitro. The experimental results suggested that the ternary (mPEG5k-PCL(1.2k))1.4-g-PEI(10k) copolymers were successfully synthesized. (mPEG(5k)-PCL(1.2k))1.4-g-PEI(10k) could condense siRNA into nanoparticles (50-200 nm) with positive zeta potential. MTT assay results showed that the cytotoxicity of (mPEG(5k)-PCL(1.2k))1.4-g-PEI(10k)/siRNA nanoparticles was significantly lower than that of PEI(10k)/siRNA nanoparticles (P < 0.05). The expression of firefly luciferase gene could be significantly down-regulated at a range of N/P ratio from 50 to 150 (P < 0.01), and maximally inhibited at the N/P ratio of 125. The mPEG-PCL-g-PEI polymers could delivery siRNA into cells to inhibit the expression of target gene with very low cytotoxicity, which suggested that mPEG-PCL-g-PEI could serve as a new type of siRNA delivery vector.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival
  • Drug Carriers
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Humans
  • Luciferases / metabolism
  • Molecular Weight
  • Nanoparticles
  • Particle Size
  • Polyesters / chemistry*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Polyethyleneimine / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • RNA, Small Interfering / administration & dosage*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Polyesters
  • Polymers
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • methoxy poly(ethylene glycol-co-epsilon-caprolactone)
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Polyethyleneimine
  • Luciferases