Poly[N-(2-aminoethyl)ethyleneimine] as a New Non-Viral Gene Delivery Carrier: The Effect of Two Protonatable Nitrogens in the Monomer Unit on Gene Delivery Efficiency

Authors

  • Yahya Khazaie Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Department of Molecular Biotechnology at Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, Isfahan, Iran.
  • Farid Abedin Dorkoosh Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 1417613151 Tehran, Iran
  • Luis Novo Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
  • Ethlinn van Gaal Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
  • Afshin Fassihi Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Esfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
  • Seyedeh Zohreh Mirahmadi-Zareh Department of Molecular Biotechnology at Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, Isfahan, Iran.
  • Mohammad Hossein Nasr Esfahani Department of Molecular Biotechnology at Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, Isfahan, Iran.
  • Cornelus F. van Nostrum Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
  • Wim E. Hennink Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18433/J3R015

Abstract

Purpose. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro gene delivery efficiency of poly[N-(2-aminoethyl)ethylene-imine](PAEEI), a polymer with a linear Polyethyleneimine (LPEI) backbone and with aminoethyl side groups that has two protonatable nitrogen atoms per monomer unit instead of one as in LPEI (an established gene delivery polymer). Method. PAEEI (Mn=4.5 kDa, Mw= 10 kDa) was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of N-(2-(1’-aziridino)ethyl)formamide followed by hydrolysis of the amide groups.  The buffering capacity of the resulting polymer was determined by acid-base titration and consequently the percentage of the protonated nitrogen atoms was calculated. Polyplexes were prepared separately in buffers with different ionic strength including Hepes buffered saline (150 mM NaCl) and Hepes buffered glucose (5% glucose) and their zeta-potential, hydrodynamic diameter and colloidal stability were measured. Transfection activity (and toxicity in Hela cells) of the polyplexes were done in HeLa, CHO and HEK293T cells. Cell incubations with polyplexes were done both in the presence and absence (HeLa cells) of serum. Results. PAEEEI showed two times more buffering capacity than LPEI. PAEEI-based Polyplexes had about the same size and zeta-potential as those of LPEI, with a higher colloidal stability in saline buffer in continuous particle size measurement. Their transfection activity was slightly higher than 22-kDa LPEI polyplexes whereas their toxicity profiles were similar in cell lines studied. The PAEEI polyplexes showed gene expression activity both in the presence and absence of serum. Conclusion. Paying attention to the fact that LPEI molecules with smaller sizes than 22 kDa  show less transfection efficiency than LPEI 22, the effect of smaller size of PAEEI (10 kDa) on the gene delivery efficiency was compensated by its higher buffering capacity due to carrying more protonatable nitrogen per monomeric unit comparing with LPEI (22 kDa). Having slightly higher transfection efficiency and better colloidal stability than PEI-based systems, PAEEI is an attractive candidate for future in vivo gene delivery studies.

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Author Biography

Farid Abedin Dorkoosh, Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 1417613151 Tehran, Iran

Department of Pharmaceutics, Associate Professor

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Published

2014-10-27

How to Cite

Khazaie, Y., Dorkoosh, F. A., Novo, L., Gaal, E. van, Fassihi, A., Mirahmadi-Zareh, S. Z., … Hennink, W. E. (2014). Poly[N-(2-aminoethyl)ethyleneimine] as a New Non-Viral Gene Delivery Carrier: The Effect of Two Protonatable Nitrogens in the Monomer Unit on Gene Delivery Efficiency. Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 17(4), 461–474. https://doi.org/10.18433/J3R015

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Section

Pharmaceutical Sciences; Original Research Articles