Imidazole-grafted chitosan-mediated gene delivery: in vitro study on transfection, intracellular trafficking and degradation

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2011

Authors

Liliana R Pires (Author) Other; Hugo Oliveira (Author) Other; Cristina C Barrias (Author) Other; Paula Sampaio (Author) Other; Antonio J Pereira (Author) Other; Helder Maiato (Author) FMUP; Sergio Simoes (Author) Other; Ana P Pego (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Nanomedicine

Vol. 6 No. 1

Pages: 1499-1512

ISSN: 1743-5889

Publisher: Future Medicine Ltd.

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 22 Citations

Scopus - 25 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Nano-technology

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-JW3

DOI: 10.2217/nnm.11.51

Abstract (EN): Aim: To study the mechanism of transfection mediated by imidazole-grafted chitosan (CHimi) nanoparticles, to propose new strategies to control and improve the expression of a delivered gene in the context of regenerative medicine. Methods: Biochemical and microscopy methods were used to establish transfection efficiency and nanoparticle intracellular trafficking. The role of CHimi and degree of N-acetylation (DA) on transfection was explored. Results: CHimi was found to promote the expression of a delivered gene during a minimum 7-day period. Additionally, the production of a protein of interest could be upheld by consecutive transfections, without compromising cell viability. Transfection was found to be a time-dependent process, requiring CHimi-DNA complex disassembling. The DA was found to have an impact on transfection kinetics in line with the observation that the rate of lysozyme-mediated nanoparticle degradation increases with the polymer DA. Conclusion: The adjustment of the CH degradation rate can be used as a tool for tuning the expression of a gene delivered by CH-based nanoparticle systems.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14