RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the feasibility of using iron oxide nanoparticles as gene vector and the effect of magnetic field on efficiency of transfection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared by alkaline precipitation of divalent and trivalent iron chloride. The surface of iron oxide nanoparticles was modified by self-assembled poly-L-lysine to form particle complexes (IONP-PLL). Transfection was determined by delivering reporter gene, PGL2-control encoding luciferase, to different cell lines using IONP-PLL as vector. The effect of magnetic field on efficiency of transfection was determined using Nd-Fe-B permanent magnet.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Foreign gene could be delivered to various cell lines by IONP-PLL and expressed with high efficiency, but the transfection efficiency and time course varied in the different cell lines studied. Magnetic field could enhance the efficiency of transfection by 5 - 10 fold.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>IONP-PLL can be used as a novel non-viral gene vector in vitro, which offers a basis for gene delivery in vivo.</p>