RESUMO
Background: the magnetic nanoparticle-based transfection method is a relatively new technique for delivery of functional genes to target tissues. We aimed to evaluate the transfection efficiency of rat neural stem cell [NSC] using poly-L-lysine hydrobromide [PLL]-coated super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles [SPION]
Methods: the SPION was prepared and coated with PLL as transfection agent and the transfection efficiency was evaluated in rat NSC using enhanced green fluorescent protein-N1 plasmid containing GFP as a reporter gene. NSC was incubated for 24 h in cell culture media containing 25 [micro]g/ml SPION and in different concentrations of PLL [0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1 and 2 [micro]g/ml]. Cell viability was determined before and after transfection for every concentration using Trypan blue assay. Characterization of prepared uncoated [SPION] and coated [SPION-PLL] complexes were evaluated by a transmission electron microscope and the zeta potential
Results: PLL at 0.75 [micro]g/ml showed optimal results with 25 [micro]g/ml SPION concentration compared with other PLL concentrations [0.25, 0.50, 1 and 2 [micro]g/ml]. The 18% efficiency of the transfected cells showed green fluorescence
Conclusion: transfection with SPION is an efficient, non-viral gene transfere method. Iran. Biomed. J. 17 [2]: 71-76, 2013