Transfecting tissue models with CRISPR/Cas9 plasmid DNA using peptide dendrimers

Abstract

There is currently a lack of efficient reagents to transfect cells with large plasmid DNA, which would be enabling tools for gene editing using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Herein, we report the discovery of peptide dendrimer Z22 as a non-viral vector for transfecting large CRISPR/Cas9 pDNA into 3D-tumor spheroids with exceptionally high efficiency, low cytotoxicity and low immunogenicity.