Transfection efficiencies of PAMAM dendrimers correlate inversely with their hydrophobicity

May 22, 2018

Title

Transfection efficiencies of PAMAM dendrimers correlate inversely with their hydrophobicity

Author

Antos Shakhbazau, Iauhenia Isayenka, Nikolai Kartel, Natalya Goncharova, Ihar Seviaryn, Svetlana Kosmacheva, Mihail Potapnev, Dzmitry Shcharbin, Maria Bryszewska

Year

2010

Journal

International Journal of Pharmaceutics

Abstract

Dendriplexes were characterized by ethidium bromide intercalation assay and their transfection efficiency was studied using HEK 293 cells and human mesenchymal stem cells. PAMAM G4 showed a higher transfection efficiency than PAMAM G3–G6, G4-OH, G4-25% or G4-50% dendrimers. Substitution of OH groups for the NH2 surface groups rendered the dendrimer unable to form dendriplexes and to transfect cells. Partial (25%) substitution of CH3 groups for the NH2 groups markedly impaired transfection; 50% substitution decreased the ability of PAMAM G4 to transfect threefold. It was concluded that increased hydrophobicity decreased the ability of dendrimers to transfect. PAMAM G4-50% is highly hydrophobic and forms micelles in solution, which can transfect pGFP. The results of ethidium bromide intercalation assays, ANS fluorescence studies and transfection efficiencies of PAMAM dendrimers were correlated. Subsequently, we constructed a neurotrophin-encoding plasmid and studied its delivery to mesenchymal stem cells using PAMAM G4 dendrimer and Lipofectamine 2000. Lipofectamine 2000 was a more effective carrier (18.5%) than PAMAM G4 dendrimer (1.2%).

Instrument

FP-6300

Keywords

Fluorescence, Pharmaceutical