Combined Use of Polycationic Peptide and Biodegradable Macromolecular Polymer as a Novel Gene Delivery System: A Preliminary Study

Figures & data

FIG. 1 Schematic representation of the PELGE-PLL-pDNA nanoparticle were formed here, with PELGE as the shell and PLL/DNA as the core.

FIG. 2 Electronic transmission microscopy shows PELGE nanoparticles (× 200,000).

TABLE 1 Size of the nanoparticles formulated using different concentrations of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) (n = 3)

PVA concentration (%)	Particle size (nm)	Polydispersity Index
2	436.40 ± 2.97	0.14 ± 0.095
1	301.75 ± 8.84	0.16 ± 0.010
0.5	244.35 ± 2.90	0.17 ± 0.068
0.25	242.75 ± 1.20	0.19 ± 0.023
0.1	277.6 ± 8.77	0.19 ± 0.022
0.05	308.7 ± 5.58	0.21 ± 0.013
0.5	303.26 ± 4.72	0.18 ± 0.023

*PLGA-NPs. Data represented as mean ±SD.

FIG. 3 Zeta potential of PLGA and PELGE NPs with or without PLL at pH gradient changed HEPES.

TABLE 2 Zeta potential of PLGA and PELGE NPs, in 10% serum

Sample	Zeta potential (mV)
10% serum	−25.62 ± 2.58
PLGA NPs in 10% serum	−17.17 ± 1.16
PELGE NPs in 10% serum	−29.38 ± 1.21

Data represented as mean ±SD.

FIG. 4 Viability of L929 cells as a function concentration of PLL and PLL-loaded PELGE-NPs. Cell viability was determined by using a MTT assay (n = 3). Each MTT assay was repeated at least three times to ensure reproducibility.

FIG. 5 Stability of peptide/DNA condensates in ultrasonication and acidic microenvironment. (A) pDNA suffered from ultrasonication for 0, 20, 40, 60, 100, and 140 sec (lanes 1 to 6). (B) pDNA/PLL (1:1 w/w) suffered from ultrasonication for 0, 20, 40, 60, 100, and 140 sec (lanes 1 to 5) and then released by heparin. (C–F) pDNA/PLL (1:1 w/w, lane 1 to 5) and pDNA (lane 6 to 10), were subjected to pH 2 to pH 6 for 1, 12, 36, and 72 hr, relative to standard DNA (lane11).