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Meenakshi Sundaram DN, Bahadur K C R, Fu W, Uludağ H. An optimized polymeric delivery system for piggyBac transposition. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024; 121:1503-1517. [PMID: 38372658 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
The piggyBac transposon/transposase system has been explored for long-term, stable gene expression to execute genomic integration of therapeutic genes, thus emerging as a strong alternative to viral transduction. Most studies with piggyBac transposition have employed physical methods for successful delivery of the necessary components of the piggyBac system into the cells. Very few studies have explored polymeric gene delivery systems. In this short communication, we report an effective delivery system based on low molecular polyethylenimine polymer with lipid substitution (PEI-L) capable of delivering three components, (i) a piggyBac transposon plasmid DNA carrying a gene encoding green fluorescence protein (PB-GFP), (ii) a piggyBac transposase plasmid DNA or mRNA, and (iii) a 2 kDa polyacrylic acid as additive for transfection enhancement, all in a single complex. We demonstrate an optimized formulation for stable GFP expression in two model cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and SUM149 recorded till day 108 (3.5 months) and day 43 (1.4 months), respectively, following a single treatment with very low cell number as starting material. Moreover, the stability of the transgene (GFP) expression mediated by piggyBac/PEI-L transposition was retained following three consecutive cryopreservation cycles. The success of this study highlights the feasibility and potential of employing a polymeric delivery system to obtain piggyBac-based stable expression of therapeutic genes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Remant Bahadur K C
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Wei Fu
- Institute of Pediatric Translational Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hasan Uludağ
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Rajendran AP, Ogundana O, Morales LC, Meenakshi Sundaram DN, Kucharski C, Kc R, Uludağ H. Transfection Efficacy and Cellular Uptake of Lipid-Modified Polyethyleneimine Derivatives for Anionic Nanoparticles as Gene Delivery Vectors. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2023; 6:1105-1121. [PMID: 36853230 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Cationic polyethylenimine (PEI)-based nonviral gene carriers have been desirable to overcome the limitations of viral vectors in gene therapy. A range of PEI derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for nonviral delivery applications of plasmid DNA (pDNA). Linolenic acid, lauric acid, and oleic acid were covalently conjugated with low-molecular-weight PEI (Mw ∼ 1200 Da) via two different linkers, gallic acid (GA) and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHPA), that allows a differential loading of lipids per modified amine (3 vs 1, respectively). 1H NMR spectrum confirmed the expected structure of the conjugates as well as the level of lipid substitution. SYBR Green binding assay performed to investigate the 50% binding concentration (BC50) of lipophilic polymers to pDNA revealed increased BC50 with an increased level of lipid substitution. The particle analysis determined that GA- and PHPA-modified lipopolymers gave pDNA complexes with ∼300 and ∼100 nm in size, respectively. At the polymer/pDNA ratio of 5.0, the ζ-potentials of the complexes were negative (-6.55 to -10.6 mV) unlike the complexes with the native PEI (+11.2 mV). The transfection experiments indicated that the prepared lipopolymers showed higher transfection in attachment-dependent cells than in suspension cells based on the expression of the reporter green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene. When loaded with Cy3-labeled pDNA, the lipopolymers exhibited effective cellular uptake in attachment-dependent cells while the cellular uptake was limited in suspension cells. These results demonstrate the potential of lipid-conjugated PEI via GA and PHPA linkers, which are promising for the modification of anchorage-dependent cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amarnath Praphakar Rajendran
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Oluwanifemi Ogundana
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Luis Carlos Morales
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | | | - Cezary Kucharski
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Remant Kc
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Hasan Uludağ
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H1, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
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Meenakshi Sundaram DN, Plianwong S, Kc R, Ostergaard H, Uludağ H. In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Cytokine Production by Lipid-Substituted Low Molecular Weight Branched PEIs Used for Gene Delivery. Acta Biomater 2022; 148:279-297. [PMID: 35738388 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.06.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Lipid-modified low molecular weight branched polyethyleneimines (PEIs) are promising non-viral gene delivery systems that have been successfully explored for treatment of various diseases. The present study aims to determine in vitro safety of these delivery systems based on assessment of cytotoxicity with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), hemolysis with human red blood cells (RBC) and cytokine secretion from several sources of PBMCs. The viability of cells treated with lipopolymer/pDNA complexes was dependent on the polymer:pDNA ratio used but remained low at therapeutically relevant concentrations for most lipopolymers, except for the propionic acid substituted PEIs. The extent of hemolysis was minimal and below the accepted safety levels with most of the lipopolymers; however, some linoleic acid substituted PEIs yielded significant hemolysis activity. Unlike strong cytokine secretion from PMA/IO stimulated cells, most lipopolymer/pDNA complexes remained non-responsive, showing minimal changes in cytokine secretion (TNF-α, IL-6 and IFN-γ) irrespective of the lipopolymer/pDNA formulations. The 0.6 kDa PEI with lauric acid substituent displayed slight cytokine upregulation, however it remained low relative to the positive controls. This study demonstrated that the lipid modified LMW PEIs are expected to be safe in contact with blood components. However, close attention to lipopolymer concentration and ratio of polymer to pDNA in formulations might be required for individual lipopolymers for optimal safety response in nucleic acid therapies. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: : This manuscript investigated the safety aspects of various lipid modified low molecular weight polyethylenimine (LMW-PEI) polymers employed for pDNA delivery through in vitro studies. Using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from multiple sources, we show that the hemolysis ability was minimal for most polymers, although a particular lipid substituent (linoleic acid) at specific ratios exhibited hemolysis. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IFN-γ) were slightly upregulated only with a lauric acid substituted 0.6PEI, but remained low relative to positive control treatments. We further report the beneficial effect of polyacrylic acid additives on hemolysis and cytokine secretion to a reasonable extent. This study confirms the feasibility of using LMW-PEI as safe delivery agents for various therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Samarwadee Plianwong
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand
| | - Remant Kc
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Hanne Ostergaard
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Hasan Uludağ
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
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