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The Serum-Resistant Transfection Evaluation and Long-Term Stability of Gene Delivery Dry Powder Based on Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles and Polyethyleneimine by Freezing-Drying

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Abstract

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with large surface area, tunable pore size, and low toxicity can act as suitable vehicles for drug and gene delivery. An MSN/DNA/PEI complex delivery system was prepared by using MSNs to hold plasmid DNA coated with polyethyleneimine (PEI), and the dry powder formulation was produced by freeze-drying with trehalose as lyoprotectant. The MSN/DNA/PEI complexes successfully enhanced the gene expression with about 1.5-fold higher efficiency as compared with the control, and even better effects and lower toxicity were achieved at lower content of PEI. Also, this gene delivery system showed nearly sixfold higher efficiency in the serum-containing condition than the control, so further application of these vehicles in vivo is highly appreciated. Besides, the trehalose containing lyophilized formulation could hold the availability for at least 4 months of storing at room temperature, presenting the potential for industrial production and transportation of gene therapy.

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Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81473155).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 132 East Circle at University Town, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaoxu Zhang, Jianpan Zhang, Guilan Quan, Pianpian Yang, Xin Pan & Chuanbin Wu

  2. Research and Development Center of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China

    Xiaoxu Zhang, Jianpan Zhang, Guilan Quan, Pianpian Yang, Xin Pan & Chuanbin Wu

Authors
  1. Xiaoxu Zhang
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  2. Jianpan Zhang
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  5. Xin Pan
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  6. Chuanbin Wu
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Correspondence to Xin Pan.

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Zhang, X., Zhang, J., Quan, G. et al. The Serum-Resistant Transfection Evaluation and Long-Term Stability of Gene Delivery Dry Powder Based on Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles and Polyethyleneimine by Freezing-Drying. AAPS PharmSciTech 18, 1536–1543 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1208/s12249-016-0617-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1208/s12249-016-0617-9

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