ABSTRACT
A combination of cationic liposome/green fluorescence protein (GFP)-p53 complexes and a chemotherapeutic drug,cisplatin, was evaluated for therapeutic activity in human carcinoma cells. Cationic liposome/GFP-p53 complexes andcationic liposome/PEI (polyethylenimine) 0.8k/GFP-p53 complexes were synthesized and evaluated in HeLa and in A549cells for uptake and cytotoxicity, alone and in combination with cisplatin. The particle size of cationic liposome/GFP-p53complexes and cationic liposome/PEI 0.8K/GFP-p53 complexes was 318 ± 18 to 754 ± 108 nm, and zeta potentials were-15.7±2.8–+27±08 mV. The GFP expression on the delivery by cationic liposome/pEGFP (enhanced green fluorescenceprotein) complexes and cationic liposome/PEI 0.8K/pEGFP complexes was demonstrated. Treatment of the cells with eithercationic liposome/GFP-p53 complexes or cationic liposome/PEI 0.8K/GFP-p53 complexes inhibited the cell growth. Onpost treatment with cisplatin, the growth inhibition of the complexes was further increased in HeLa cells and significantlyincreased in A549 cells on the lipid-to-DNA ratio. This study concluded that the sensitivity to the cancer cells to cisplatinwas dependent on the cell line and the ratio of cationic liposome and GFP-p53. GFP-p53 expression delivered by cationicliposome/GFP-p53 complexes would be useful to increase the effect of cisplatin on the treatment of cancer cells.