Osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells using PAMAM dendrimers as gene delivery vectors

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2009

Authors

Jose Luis Santos (Author) FCUP; Elena Oramas (Author) Other; Ana Paula Pego (Author) FEUP; Pedro Lopes Granja (Author) FEUP; Helena Tomas (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Controlled Release

Vol. 134

Pages: 141-148

ISSN: 0168-3659

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 75 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 77 Citations

COMPENDEX

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Chemical sciences

CORDIS: Technological sciences > Engineering > Biomaterial engineering

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-MJM

DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2008.11.007

Abstract (EN): This paper reports the use of different generations of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers for the in vitro transfection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). A systematic study was carried out on the transfection efficiency achieved by the PAMAM dendrimers using a p-galactosidase reporter gene system. Transfection results were shown to be dependent upon the generation of dendrimers, the amine to phosphate group ratio and the cell passage number. In all cases, the transfection efficiency was very low. Nevertheless, it was hypothesized that a low transfection level could be sufficient to promote the in vitro differentiation of MSCs towards the osteoblastic lineage. To address this possibility, dendrimers carrying the human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (hBMP-2) gene-containing plasmid were used. All quantitative (alkaline phosphatase activity, osteocalcin secretion and calcium deposition) and qualitative (von Kossa staining) osteogenic markers were significantly stronger in transfected cells when compared to non-transfected ones. This study not only clearly demonstrates that a low transfection level can be sufficient for inducing in vitro differentiation of MSCs to the osteoblast phenotype but also highlights the importance of focusing research on the development of gene delivery vectors in the concrete application.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8