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Li J, Lin Y, Liu B, Zhou X, Chen W, Shen G. Alkylated Sulfonium Modification of Low Molecular Weight Polyethylenimine to Form Lipopolymers as Gene Vectors. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:2339-2349. [PMID: 38250374 PMCID: PMC10795143 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c06255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Hydrophobic modification of low molecular weight polyethylenimine (PEI) is an efficient method to form ideal gene-transfer carriers. Sulfonium-a combination of three different functional groups, was conjugated onto PEI 1.8k at a conjugation ratio of 1:0.1 to form a series of sulfonium PEI (SPs). These SPs were hydrophobically modified and characterized by Fourier transform infrared and HNMR. DNA-condensing abilities of SPs were tested with gel retardation experiment, and their cytotoxicity was evaluated via the MTT assay. The particle size and zeta potential of SP/DNA nanoparticles were measured and evaluated for cellular uptake and transfection ability on HepG2 cell line. The results showed that the sulfonium moiety was attached to PEI 1.8k with a high yield at a conjugation ratio of 1:0.1. SPs containing longer alkyl chains condensed DNA completely at an SP/DNA weight ratio of 2:1. The formed nanoparticle size was in the range of 168-265 nm, and the zeta potential was +16-45 mV. The IC50 values of SPs were 6.5-43.2 μg/mL. The cytotoxicity of SPs increased as the hydrophobic chain got longer. SP/DNA showed much stronger cellular uptakes than PEI 25k; however, pure SPs presented almost no gene transfection on cells. Heparin release experiment showed that SP's strong binding of DNA resulted in low release of DNA and thus hindered the gene transfection process. By mixing SP with PEI 1.8k, the mixture presented adjustable DNA binding and releasing. The mixture formed by 67% SP and 33% PEI 1.8k showed strong gene transfection. In conclusion, sulfonium is an effective linkage to carry hydrophobic groups to adjust cell compatibilities and gene transfection capabilities of PEI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- College
of Life Science and Biotechnology, Heilongjiang
Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163319, China
- Heilongjiang
Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Recycling
of Argo-Waste in Cold Region, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163319, China
- Key
Laboratory of Low-carbon Green Agriculture in Northeastern China,
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs P. R. China, College of
Life Science and Biotechnology, Heilongjiang
Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Yue Lin
- College
of Life Science and Biotechnology, Heilongjiang
Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163319, China
| | - Bingling Liu
- College
of Life Science and Biotechnology, Heilongjiang
Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163319, China
| | - Xiaodong Zhou
- College
of Life Science and Biotechnology, Heilongjiang
Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163319, China
| | - Wenyang Chen
- College
of Life Science and Biotechnology, Heilongjiang
Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163319, China
| | - Guinan Shen
- College
of Life Science and Biotechnology, Heilongjiang
Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163319, China
- Heilongjiang
Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Recycling
of Argo-Waste in Cold Region, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163319, China
- Key
Laboratory of Low-carbon Green Agriculture in Northeastern China,
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs P. R. China, College of
Life Science and Biotechnology, Heilongjiang
Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, China
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Papke RL, Quadri M, Gulsevin A. Silent agonists for α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Pharmacol Res 2023; 190:106736. [PMID: 36940890 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
We discuss models for the activation and desensitization of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and the effects of efficacious type II positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) that destabilize α7 desensitized states. Type II PAMs such as PNU-120596 can be used to distinguish inactive compounds from silent agonists, compounds that produce little or no channel activation but stabilize the non-conducting conformations associated with desensitization. We discuss the effects of α7 nAChRs in cells of the immune system and their roles in modulating inflammation and pain through what has come to be known as the cholinergic anti-inflammatory system (CAS). Cells controlling CAS do not generate ion channel currents but rather respond to α7 drugs by modulating intracellular signaling pathways analogous to the effects of metabotropic receptors. Metabotropic signaling by α7 receptors appears to be mediated by receptors in nonconducting conformations and can be accomplished by silent agonists. We discuss electrophysiological structure-activity relationships for α7 silent agonists and their use in cell-based and in vivo assays for CAS regulation. We discuss the strongly desensitizing partial agonist GTS-21 and its effectiveness in modulation of CAS. We also review the properties of the silent agonist NS6740, which is remarkably effective at maintaining α7 receptors in PAM-sensitive desensitized states. Most silent agonists bind to sites overlapping those for orthosteric agonists, but some appear to bind to allosteric sites. Finally, we discuss α9⁎ nAChRs and their potential role in CAS, and ligands that will be useful in defining and distinguishing the specific roles of α7 and α9 in CAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger L Papke
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, PO Box 100267 Gainesville, FL 32610 USA (RLP); Olon S.p.A., Strada Rivoltana, Km 6/7 - 20053 Rodano (MI) - ITALY (MQ); Department of Chemistry, Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA, 37212 (AG).
| | - Marta Quadri
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, PO Box 100267 Gainesville, FL 32610 USA (RLP); Olon S.p.A., Strada Rivoltana, Km 6/7 - 20053 Rodano (MI) - ITALY (MQ); Department of Chemistry, Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA, 37212 (AG)
| | - Alican Gulsevin
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, PO Box 100267 Gainesville, FL 32610 USA (RLP); Olon S.p.A., Strada Rivoltana, Km 6/7 - 20053 Rodano (MI) - ITALY (MQ); Department of Chemistry, Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA, 37212 (AG)
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