Delivery of plasmid encoding interleukin-12 gene into hepatocytes by conjugated polyethylenimine-based nanoparticles

Abstract

In the present investigation, polyethylenimine (PEI) was conjugated with succinic anhydride at four substitution degrees and the efficiency of the modified PEI derivatives in transferring the plasmid encoding interleukin-12 gene was evaluated. The results revealed that the conjugated PEI derivatives enhanced the transfection efficiency by up to 3-fold relative to unmodified PEI, with the highest increase occurring at conjugation degrees around 30%. The results demonstrated the ability of the modified PEI derivatives in condensation of the plasmid into the nanoparticles in the size range of approximately 100 nm. Also, the PEI derivatives exhibited substantial decrease in cell-induced toxicity.

Keywords:

• cytotoxicity
• interleukin-12
• nanoparticle
• polyethylenimine

Disclosure statement

The authors report no declarations of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Funding information

Financial support for this study obtained from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS), Shiraz, Iran, for the accomplishment of the Ph.D. thesis of Bahman Khalvati. The results presented in this paper were parts of thesis of Bahman Khalvati.