Evaluation of the transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity of polyamine cationic liposome / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity of polyamine cationic liposomes (PCL), and to screen for a cationic liposome with high potency and low toxicity. Methods Four kinds of PCLs, namely PCL-A, PCL-B, PCL-C and PCL-D, were prepared with polyamine cationic lipid TC-Chol or DC-Chol and the neutral phospholipid DOPE in different molar ratios (1∶1 or 3∶1). The morphology of the liposome was observed by transmission electron microscope. Plasmid PIRES2-EGFP, which contained an enhanced green fluorescencent-protein (EGFP) reporter gene, was transfected into Hela cells or Hep2 cells with PCL-A, PCL-B, PCL-C and PCL-D, respectively. Expression of EGFP was examined by fluorescence microscopy and the cytotoxicity of the transfected cells was determined with MTT assay. Results The shape of PCL-A, PCL-B, PCL-C and PCL-D was round or oval, most of the PCLs were about 50-200nm in diameter. The transfection efficiency of the four kinds of PCLs was about 19.8%-42.1%. Among them, PCL-C prepared with TC-Chol and DOPE at a molar ratio of 3∶1 showed a higher transfection efficiency (39.5%-42.1%) and lower cytotoxicity (cellular survival rate was 86.57%?3.23%-84.43%?4.18%). Conclusions The polyamine cationic liposome prepared with polyamine cationic lipids TC-Chol or DC-Chol and the neutral phospholipid DOPE at a certain molar ratio mediated the transfection of the plasmid PIRES2-EGFP into mammalian cells. PCL-C exhibited higher transfection efficiency and lower cytotoxicity, and it might be a promising agent for gene transfection and gene therapy.