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Elzes MR, Mertens I, Sedlacek O, Verbraeken B, Doensen ACA, Mees MA, Glassner M, Jana S, Paulusse JMJ, Hoogenboom R. Linear Poly(ethylenimine-propylenimine) Random Copolymers for Gene Delivery: From Polymer Synthesis to Efficient Transfection with High Serum Tolerance. Biomacromolecules 2022; 23:2459-2470. [PMID: 35499242 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c00210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Naturally occurring oligoamines, such as spermine, spermidine, and putrescine, are well-known regulators of gene expression. These oligoamines frequently have short alkyl spacers with varying lengths between the amines. Linear polyethylenimine (PEI) is a polyamine that has been widely applied as a gene vector, with various formulations currently in clinical trials. In order to emulate natural oligoamine gene regulators, linear random copolymers containing both PEI and polypropylenimine (PPI) repeat units were designed as novel gene delivery agents. In general, statistical copolymerization of 2-oxazolines and 2-oxazines leads to the formation of gradient copolymers. In this study, however, we describe for the first time the synthesis of near-ideal random 2-oxazoline/2-oxazine copolymers through careful tuning of the monomer structures and reactivity as well as polymerization conditions. These copolymers were then transformed into near-random PEI-PPI copolymers by controlled side-chain hydrolysis. The prepared PEI-PPI copolymers formed stable polyplexes with GFP-encoding plasmid DNA, as validated by dynamic light scattering. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity and transfection efficiency of polyplexes were evaluated in C2C12 mouse myoblasts. While the polymer chain length did not significantly increase the toxicity, a higher PPI content was associated with increased toxicity and also lowered the amount of polymers needed to achieve efficient transfection. The transfection efficiency was significantly influenced by the degree of polymerization of PEI-PPI, whereby longer polymers resulted in more transfected cells. Copolymers with 60% or lower PPI content exhibited a good balance between high plasmid-DNA transfection efficiency and low toxicity. Interestingly, these novel PEI-PPI copolymers revealed exceptional serum tolerance, whereby transfection efficiencies of up to 53% of transfected cells were achieved even under 50% serum conditions. These copolymers, especially PEI-PPI with DP500 and a 1:1 PEI/PPI ratio, were identified as promising transfection agents for plasmid DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Rachèl Elzes
- Department of Biomolecular Nanotechnology, MESA + Institute for Nanotechnology and TechMed Institute for Health and Biomedical Technologies, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Ine Mertens
- Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC), Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ondrej Sedlacek
- Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC), Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Bart Verbraeken
- Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC), Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Aniek C A Doensen
- Department of Biomolecular Nanotechnology, MESA + Institute for Nanotechnology and TechMed Institute for Health and Biomedical Technologies, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.,Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC), Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Maarten A Mees
- Department of Biomolecular Nanotechnology, MESA + Institute for Nanotechnology and TechMed Institute for Health and Biomedical Technologies, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Mathias Glassner
- Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC), Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Somdeb Jana
- Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC), Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jos M J Paulusse
- Department of Biomolecular Nanotechnology, MESA + Institute for Nanotechnology and TechMed Institute for Health and Biomedical Technologies, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Richard Hoogenboom
- Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC), Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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2
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Schädel N, Gebhardt J, Löffler M, Garnier D, Hansen N, Laschat S. Rotational barriers of carbamate-protected amine crosslinkers for hydrogels: A combined experimental and computational study. J PHYS ORG CHEM 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/poc.3936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Schädel
- Institut für Organische Chemie; Universität Stuttgart; Stuttgart Germany
| | - Julia Gebhardt
- Institut für Technische Thermodynamik und Thermische Verfahrenstechnik, Universität Stuttgart; Stuttgart Germany
| | - Max Löffler
- Institut für Organische Chemie; Universität Stuttgart; Stuttgart Germany
| | - Delphine Garnier
- Institut für Organische Chemie; Universität Stuttgart; Stuttgart Germany
- Plateforme d'Analyse Chimique de Strasbourg-Illkirch (PACSI - GDS 3670) and Laboratoire de Conception et Application de Molécules Bioactives (UMR7199), Faculté de Pharmacie; Université de Strasbourg/CNRS; 67401 Illkirch Cedex France
| | - Niels Hansen
- Institut für Technische Thermodynamik und Thermische Verfahrenstechnik, Universität Stuttgart; Stuttgart Germany
| | - Sabine Laschat
- Institut für Organische Chemie; Universität Stuttgart; Stuttgart Germany
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3
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Wang M, Xue H, Gao M, Wang Q, Yang H. Synthetic fluorinated polyamides as efficient gene vectors. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater 2019; 107:2132-2139. [DOI: 10.1002/jbm.b.34307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Revised: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mian Wang
- Xinxiang Medical University; Jinsui Avenue 601, Xinxiang 453003 China
| | - Han Xue
- Xinxiang Medical University; Jinsui Avenue 601, Xinxiang 453003 China
| | - Min Gao
- Lianyungang Technical College; Chenguang Road 2, Lianyungang 222000 China
| | - Qingli Wang
- Jinyuan Mineral Co. Ltd; Lingbao 472500 China
| | - Haijie Yang
- Xinxiang Medical University; Jinsui Avenue 601, Xinxiang 453003 China
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Zhang JH, Yang HZ, Zhang J, Liu YH, He X, Xiao YP, Yu XQ. Biodegradable Gene Carriers Containing Rigid Aromatic Linkage with Enhanced DNA Binding and Cell Uptake. Polymers (Basel) 2018; 10:E1080. [PMID: 30961005 PMCID: PMC6403675 DOI: 10.3390/polym10101080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The linking and modification of low molecular weight cationic polymers (oligomers) has become an attracted strategy to construct non-viral gene carriers with good transfection efficiency and much reduced cytotoxicity. In this study, PEI 600 Da was linked by biodegradable bridges containing rigid aromatic rings. The introduction of aromatic rings enhanced the DNA-binding ability of the target polymers and also improved the stability of the formed polymer/DNA complexes. The biodegradable property and resulted DNA release were verified by enzyme stimulated gel electrophoresis experiment. These materials have lower molecular weights compared to PEI 25 kDa, but exhibited higher transfection efficiency, especially in the presence of serum. Flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy results indicate that the polymers with aromatic rings could induce higher cellular uptake. This strategy for the construction of non-viral gene vectors may be applied as an efficient and promising method for gene delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju-Hui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Technology (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
| | - Hui-Zhen Yang
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Technology (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
| | - Ji Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Technology (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
| | - Yan-Hong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Technology (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
| | - Xi He
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Technology (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
| | - Ya-Ping Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Technology (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
| | - Xiao-Qi Yu
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Technology (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
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5
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Lin GQ, Yi WJ, Liu Q, Yang XJ, Zhao ZG. Aromatic Thioacetal-Bridged ROS-Responsive Nanoparticles as Novel Gene Delivery Vehicles. Molecules 2018; 23:E2061. [PMID: 30126108 PMCID: PMC6225261 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23082061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In this report, a series of polycations are designed and synthesized by conjugating reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive thioacetal-linkers to low molecular weight (LMW) polyethylenimine (PEI) via ring-opening polymerization. Their structure⁻activity relationships (SARs) as gene delivery vectors are systematically studied. Although the MWs of the target polymers are only ~9 KDa, they show good DNA binding ability. The formed polyplexes, which are stable toward serum but decomposed under ROS-conditions, have appropriate sizes (180~300 nm) and positive zeta-potentials (+35~50 mV). In vitro experiments reveal that these materials have low cytotoxicity, and higher transfection efficiency (TE) than controls. Furthermore, the title polymers exhibit excellent serum tolerance. With the present of 10% serum, the TE of the polymers even increases up to 10 times higher than 25 KDa PEI and 9 times higher than Lipofectamine 2000. The SAR studies also reveal that electron-withdrawing groups on the aromatic ring in 4a may benefit to balance between the DNA condensation and release for efficient gene transfection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo-Qing Lin
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Protection Engineering, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Wen-Jing Yi
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Protection Engineering, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Qiang Liu
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Protection Engineering, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Xue-Jun Yang
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Protection Engineering, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Zhi-Gang Zhao
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Protection Engineering, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China.
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Zhu D, Yan H, Zhou Z, Tang J, Liu X, Hartmann R, Parak WJ, Feliu N, Shen Y. Detailed investigation on how the protein corona modulates the physicochemical properties and gene delivery of polyethylenimine (PEI) polyplexes. Biomater Sci 2018; 6:1800-1817. [DOI: 10.1039/c8bm00128f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Given the various cationic polymers developed as non-viral gene delivery vectors, polyethylenimine (PEI) has been/is frequently used in in vitro transfection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingcheng Zhu
- Center for Bionanoengineering and Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Zhejiang University
- China
- Fachbereich Physik
| | - Huijie Yan
- Center for Bionanoengineering and Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Zhejiang University
- China
- Fachbereich Physik
| | - Zhuxian Zhou
- Center for Bionanoengineering and Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Zhejiang University
- China
| | - Jianbin Tang
- Center for Bionanoengineering and Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Zhejiang University
- China
| | - Xiangrui Liu
- Center for Bionanoengineering and Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Zhejiang University
- China
| | | | - Wolfgang J. Parak
- Fachbereich Physik
- Philipps Universität Marburg
- Germany
- Fachbereich Physik und Chemie and CHyN
- Universität Hamburg
| | - Neus Feliu
- Fachbereich Physik
- Philipps Universität Marburg
- Germany
- Fachbereich Physik und Chemie and CHyN
- Universität Hamburg
| | - Youqing Shen
- Center for Bionanoengineering and Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Zhejiang University
- China
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7
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Zhang L, Yu M, Wang J, Tang R, Yan G, Yao W, Wang X. Low Molecular Weight PEI-Based Vectors via Acid-Labile Ortho Ester Linkage for Improved Gene Delivery. Macromol Biosci 2016; 16:1175-87. [PMID: 27106866 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201600071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Revised: 03/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
A series of novel pH-sensitive gene delivery vectors (POEI 1, 2, and 3) are synthesized through Michael addition from low molecular weight PEI (LMW PEI) via acid-labile ortho ester linkage with terminal acrylates (OEAc) by various feed molar ratios. The obtained POEI 1 and POEI 2 can efficiently condense plasmid DNA into nanoparticles with size range of 200-300 nm and zeta-potentials of about +15 mV while protecting DNA from enzymatic digestion compared with POEI 3. Significantly, ortho ester groups of POEI main-chains can make an instantaneous degradation-response to acidic endosomal pH (≈5.0), resulting in accelerated disruption of polyplexes and intracellular DNA release. MTT assay reveals that all POEIs exhibit much lower cytotoxicity in different cells than branched PEI (25 KDa). As expected, POEI 1 and POEI 2 perform improved gene transfection in vitro, suggesting that such polycations might be promising gene vectors based on overcoming toxicity-efficiency contradiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Materials, School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, 111 Jiulong Road, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230601, P. R. China
| | - Min Yu
- Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Materials, School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, 111 Jiulong Road, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230601, P. R. China
| | - Jun Wang
- Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Materials, School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, 111 Jiulong Road, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230601, P. R. China
| | - Rupei Tang
- Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Materials, School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, 111 Jiulong Road, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230601, P. R. China
| | - Guoqing Yan
- Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Materials, School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, 111 Jiulong Road, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230601, P. R. China
| | - Weijing Yao
- Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Materials, School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, 111 Jiulong Road, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230601, P. R. China
| | - Xin Wang
- Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Materials, School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, 111 Jiulong Road, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230601, P. R. China
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8
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Waggel J, Mathers RT. Post polymer modification of polyethylenimine with citrate esters: selectivity and hydrophobicity. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6ra14953g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrophobic modification of water soluble PEI with citrate esters is selective and increases log Poct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Waggel
- Department of Chemistry
- The Pennsylvania State University
- New Kensington
- USA
| | - Robert T. Mathers
- Department of Chemistry
- The Pennsylvania State University
- New Kensington
- USA
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