Receptor-mediated gene delivery using polyethylenimine (PEI) coupled with polypeptides targeting FGF receptors on cells surface.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To construct a novel kind of nonviral gene delivery vector based on polyethylenimine (PEI) conjugated with polypeptides derived from ligand FGF with high transfection efficiency and according to tumor targeting ability.

METHODS:

The synthetic polypeptides CR16 for binding FGF receptors was conjugated to PEI and the characters of the polypeptides including DNA condensing and particle size were determined. Enhanced efficiency and the targeting specificity of the synthesized vector were investigated in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS:

The polypeptides were successfully coupled to PEI. The new vectors PEI-CR16 could efficiently condense pDNA into particles with around 200 nm diameter. The PEI-CR16/pDNA polyplexes showed significantly greater transgene activity than PEI/pDNA in FGF receptors positive tumor cells in vitro and in vivo gene transfer, while no difference was observed in FGF receptors negative tumor cells. The enhanced transfection efficiency of PEI-CR16 could be blocked by excess free polypeptides.

CONCLUSION:

The synthesized vector could improve the efficiency of gene transfer and targeting specificity in FGF receptors positive cells. The vector had good prospect for use in cancer gene therapy.

• Authors: Da Li, Qing-qing Wang, Gu-ping Tang, Hong-liang Huang, Fen-ping Shen, Jing-zhong Li, Hai Yu
• Journal: Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B (J Zhejiang Univ Sci B) Vol. 7 Issue 11 Pg. 906-11 (Nov 2006) ISSN: 1673-1581 [Print] China
• PMID: 17048306 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Ligands
• Peptides
• Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor
• Fibroblast Growth Factors
• Polyethyleneimine

Topics

• Animals
• Binding Sites
• Carcinoma (therapy)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Female
• Fibroblast Growth Factors (metabolism)
• Gene Transfer Techniques
• Genetic Vectors (chemical synthesis, chemistry, pharmacology)
• Humans
• In Vitro Techniques
• Ligands
• Liver Neoplasms (therapy)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Mice, Nude
• Particle Size
• Peptides (chemistry, metabolism, pharmacology)
• Polyethyleneimine (chemistry, metabolism, pharmacology)
• Prostatic Neoplasms (therapy)
• Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor (drug effects, genetics, metabolism)
• Structure-Activity Relationship
• Surface Properties
• Transfection
• Transplantation, Heterologous
• Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays