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Transfection efficiency influenced by aggregation of DNA/polyethylenimine max/magnetic nanoparticle complexes

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Abstract

Gene delivery using magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) is known as magnetofection and is an efficient non-viral gene delivery system. γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles (primary diameter = 29 nm) and Fe3O4 nanoparticles (primary diameter = 20–30 nm) coated with deacylated linear polyethylenimine (PEI max) were prepared and conjugated with DNA. The dependency of transfection efficiency on the weight of MNPs, viability of HeLa cells, and size of DNA/PEI max/MNP complexes was evaluated. Transfection efficiency initially increased with the weight of the complexes; however, it decreased with further increase in weight. In contrast, cell viability increased with further increase in weight. Cytotoxicity assay showed that the decline in transfection efficiency at higher weights was not attributable to cytotoxicity of DNA/PEI max/MNP complexes. The DNA/PEI max/MNP complexes aggregated because of DNA binding and pH interaction with the medium. Aggregation depending on the weight of MNPs was confirmed. The number of complexes was estimated from the size distribution. In addition, the dependency of the transfection efficiency on aggregation was assessed with respect to cellular endocytic pathways using the complexes. The complexes were internalized through clathrin-dependent endocytosis, which was a size-dependent pathway. This study reveals that decreased transfection efficiency was associated with the extent of aggregation, which was induced by high weight of MNPs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering, Yokohama National University, Yokohama, 240-8501, Japan

    Satoshi Ota, Yoshiyuki Takahashi, Tsutomu Yamada, Masatoshi Watanabe & Yasushi Takemura

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    Asahi Tomitaka

  3. Department of Cardiac Supports, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan

    Daisuke Kami

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  1. Satoshi Ota
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  2. Yoshiyuki Takahashi
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  3. Asahi Tomitaka
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  4. Tsutomu Yamada
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  5. Daisuke Kami
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  6. Masatoshi Watanabe
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  7. Yasushi Takemura
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Correspondence to Satoshi Ota.

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Ota, S., Takahashi, Y., Tomitaka, A. et al. Transfection efficiency influenced by aggregation of DNA/polyethylenimine max/magnetic nanoparticle complexes. J Nanopart Res 15, 1653 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-013-1653-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-013-1653-y

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