Monosize polycationic nanoparticles as non-viral vectors for gene transfer to HeLa cells

A Cationic Stearamide-based Solid Lipid Nanoparticle for Delivering Yamanaka Factors: Evaluation of the Transfection Efficiency

Induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSC) are preferred as an alternative source for regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and drug screening due to their unique properties. As seen from the previous studies in the literature, most of the vector systems to transfer reprogramming factors are viral-based and have some well-known limitations. This study aims to develop a non-viral vector system for the transfection of reprogramming factors. Cationic stearamide lipid nanoparticles (CSLN) were prepared via the solvent diffusion method. The obtained CSLNs were used for the delivery of plasmid DNA (pDNA) encoding Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4, and GFP to fibroblast cell lines. The optimization studies, for zeta potential and particle size of the conjugate, was performed to achieve high cell viability. CSLN63 with 36.5±0.06 mV zeta potential and 173.6±13.91 nm size was used for the transfection of Fibroblast cells. The transfection efficiency was observed by following GFP expression and was found as 70 %±0.11. The expression of the Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 was determined by RT-qPCR; an increase was observed after the 12th cycle in Klf4 (Ct averages: 13,41), Sox2 (Ct averages; 12,4), Oct4 (Ct average; 13,77). The tendency of colonization was observed. The upregulation efficiency of Oct4 and SSEA-1 with CSLN and another non-viral vector designed for the transportation of Yamanaka factors developed in our lab previously were compared with flow cytometer analysis.

Electrically Oscillating Plasmonic Nanoparticles for Enhanced DNA Vaccination against Hepatitis C Virus

The promise of DNA vaccines is far-reaching. However, the development of potent immunization methods remains a key challenge for its use in clinical applications. Here, an approach for in vivo DNA vaccination by electrically activated plasmonic Au nanoparticles is reported. The electrical excitation of plasmonic nanoparticles can drive vibrational and dipole-like oscillations that are able to disrupt nearby cell membranes. In combination with their intrinsic ability to focus and magnify the electric field on the surface of cells, Au nanoparticles allow enhanced cell poration and facilitate the uptake of DNA vaccine. Mice immunized with this approach showed up to 100-fold higher gene expression compared to control treatments (without nanoparticles) and exhibited significantly increased levels of both antibody and cellular immune responses against a model hepatitis C virus DNA vaccine. This approach can be tuned to establish controlled and targeted delivery of different types of therapeutic molecules into cells and live animals as well.