Study on galactose-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(L-lysine) as novel gene vector for targeting hepatocytes in vitro.

A non-viral gene-delivery system has been used to deliver plasmid DNA into specific cell types because of its safety and ease of manufacture. Receptor-mediated gene transfer is currently a promising gene-delivery technique. To specifically target genes to asialoglycoprotein receptor of hepatocytes, a galactose moiety was combined into the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-terminal end by reductive coupling using lactose and sodium cyanoborohydride. A synthesis method of conjugating poly(L-lysine) (PLL) derivatives with terminally galactose-graft-PEG was developed using ring-opening polymerization of N(ε)-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysine-N(α)-carboxyan-hydride (Z-Lys-NCA) initiated onto galactose graft amine-terminated PEG (galactose-PEG-NH2) as a macro-initiator. The synthesis was characterized with ¹H-, ¹³C-NMR, IR and UV spectroscopy, and all of them successfully verified the formation of the co-polymers. The gel-retardation assay of the complexes between galactose-PEG-PLL and plasmid DNA indicated that these polymeric gene carriers demonstrated the potent ability to condense plasmid DNA electrostatically as well as PLL. The particle size and zeta potential of polymer/DNA complexes were measured, and their cytotoxicity and transfection efficiency in different cells were evaluated. The results indicate that galactose-PEG-PLL can form a complex with plasmid DNA and serve as an effective gene-delivery carrier with lower cytotoxicity compared to that of PLL. Transfection experiments clearly showed that galactose-PEG-PLL effectively delivered DNA into hepatoma cells in vitro. Such data demonstrates that galactose and its complex with plasmid DNA may serve as a safe and effective gene-transfer system targeting hepatocytes.

[Survey on host animal and molecular epidemiology of hantavirus in Chuxiong prefecture, Yunnan province].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the hosts of hantavirus (HV) and its molecular epidemiological characteristics, to provide evidence for prevention and control on hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). METHODS: Rodents were captured by a special trap within the residential area. The antigens of HV in lung tissues were detected by direct immuno-fluorescence assay (DFA). Nucleotide sequences of HV were amplified by RT-PCR with HV genotype-specific primer. The amplified genes were then sequenced. Phylogenetic tree were built on nucleotide sequence with ClustalX 1.83 software. RESULTS: 1421 rodents were captured and classified into 8 species of 4 Genera in the epidemic area within 10 counties of Chuxiong prefecture, Yunnan province, between 2005 and 2006. Out of the 1421 rodents, 1056 (74.31% ) of them were Rattus norvegicus and 280 (19.70%) belonged to Rattus flavipectus. The antigens of HV were detected by DFA in lung tissues and the total positive rate of HV was 5.15% (53/ 1029). After applying the sequencing nucleotide method to the 53 positive specimens, data showed that 21 specimens were positive and all of them belonged to Seoul type (15 samples were from Rattus norvegicus, 4 samples Rattus flavipectus, 2 samples Rattus nitidus). The partial S segments from 12 specimens were sequenced which appeared homologic with R22, L99 and HLD65 from GenBank in relatively high level (87.1% -99.7%). When compared to 76-118 strain of Hantaan type, their homologic degree was only 64.4%-69.1%. Results from Phylogenetic analysis showed that 12 specimens belonged to Seoul type. As for their homology, they were significantly similar to Seoul type and could be tentatively divided into two subtypes S1 and S3. CONCLUSION: It was confirmed that the Seoul type virus, as HFRS's pathogenetic agent mainly carried by rats, prevailed widely in Chuxiong prefecture. Owing to the local ecological environment, we also noticed the characteristics of different HV subtypes among Seoul type.

Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-polyethylenimine copolymers as carriers for gene delivery: effects of PEG molecular weight and PEGylation degree.

An ideal gene carrier is required both in safety and efficiency for transfection. Polyethylenimine (PEI), a well-studied cationic polymer, has been proved with high transfection efficiency, but is reported as toxicity in many cell lines. In this study, PEI was coupled with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to reduce its cytotoxicity. PEG-PEI copolymers were synthesized with isoporon diisocyanate (IPDI) in two steps. A set of PEG-PEI with different PEG molecular weights (MWs) and amounts of PEG were synthesized. The molecular structure of the resulting copolymers was evaluated by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H NMR), infrared spectroscopy (IR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC), all of which had successfully verified formation of the copolymers. The particle size and zeta potential of polymer/DNA complexes were measured, and their cytotoxicity and transfection efficiency in Hela cells were evaluated. We found that the copolymer block structure significantly influenced not only the physicochemical properties of complexes, but also their cytotoxicity and transfection efficiency. PEG (5 kDa) significantly reduced the diameter of the spherical complexes. The zeta potential of complexes was reduced with increasing amount of PEG grafting. Cytotoxicity was dependent not on PEG MW but on the amount of PEG grafting. Copolymer PEG-PEI (2-25-1) with 1.89 PEG (2 kDa) was proved to be more efficient for in vitro gene transfer. In conclusion, PEG MW and the degree of PEGylation were found to significantly influence the biological activity of PEG-PEI/DNA complexes. These results provide new sights into the studies using block copolymer as gene delivery systems.