Comparison of different commercially available cationic liposome-DNA lipoplexes: Parameters influencing toxicity and transfection efficiency.

Lipid-DNA complexes (lipoplexes) are widely used, since several years, as gene carriers. However, their transfection efficiency, both in vitro and in vivo, depends, in a rather complex way, on different interconnected parameters, ranging from the chemical composition of the lipid components to the size and size distribution of the complexes and, moreover, to the composition of the suspending medium. In this paper, we have investigated the behavior of nine different commercially available transfection agents (liposomal and non-liposomal) and their lipoplexes, at different molar charge ratios and in different experimental conditions. The size and the time stability of the resulting lipoplexes were investigated by means of dynamic light scattering methods and their toxicity and transfection efficiency were assayed in vitro in a model tumor cell line (C6 rat glioma cell line). An attempt to correlate the different parameters governing the complex phenomenology observed has been made. Whereas all the formulations investigated display a low toxicity, that increases with the increase of the lipid-DNA molar charge ratio, the transfection efficiency markedly depends, besides the molar charge ratio, on the lipid composition and on the lipoplex size, in a rather correlated way. The aim of this work is to present, in a wide scenario, an example of the inter-correlation among the different parameters that influence the transfection efficiency of lipoplexes and to suggest the role exerted by the average size of the resulting aggregates in their overall effectiveness as carriers in gene therapy.

Effect of low frequency, low amplitude magnetic fields on the permeability of cationic liposomes entrapping carbonic anhydrase: I. Evidence for charged lipid involvement.

The influence of low frequency (4-16 Hz), low amplitude (25-75 mu T) magnetic fields on the diffusion processes in enzyme-loaded unilamellar liposomes as bioreactors was studied. Cationic liposomes containing dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and charged lipid stearylamine (SA) at different molar ratios (6:3:1 or 5:3:2) were used. Previous kinetic experiments showed a very low self-diffusion rate of the substrate p-nitrophenyl acetate (p-NPA) across intact liposome bilayer. After 60 min of exposure to 7 Hz sinusoidal (50 mu T peak) and parallel static (50 mu T) magnetic fields the enzyme activity, as a function of increased diffusion rate of p-NPA, rose from 17 +/- 3% to 80 +/- 9% (P < .0005, n = 15) in the 5:3:2 liposomes. This effect was dependent on the SA concentration in the liposomes. Only the presence of combined sinusoidal (AC) and static (DC) magnetic fields affected the p-NPA diffusion rates. No enzyme leakage was observed. Such studies suggest a plausible link between the action of extremely low frequency magnetic field on charged lipids and a change of membrane permeability.

Gene transfection efficiency of tracheal epithelial cells by DC-chol-DOPE/DNA complexes.

We evaluated the transfection efficiency of five different cationic liposome/plasmid DNA complexes, during the in vitro gene transfer into human epithelial tracheal cell lines. A dramatic correlation between the transfection efficiency and the charge ratio (positive charge of liposome to negative charge of DNA) has been found. DC-Chol-DOPE was found to be the most effective liposome formulation. Therefore, a morphological and structural analysis of DC-Chol-DOPE liposomes and DC-Chol-DOPE/DNA complexes, has been performed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), respectively. The process of interaction between DC-Chol-DOPE/DNA complexes and human epithelial tracheal cells has been studied by CLSM. These results raise some issues for in vivo gene therapy.

Cellular uptake and delivery monitoring of liposome/DNA complexes during in vitro transfection of CFTR gene.

The cellular uptake and distribution of cationic liposomes Dc-Chol/DOPECFTR gene complexes were assessed by electronic and confocal laser scanner microscopy (CLSM) for the CFTR gene transfer to human adenocarcinoma and tracheal epithelial cell lines. Cationic lipid forms unilamellar and multilamellar vesicles capable of rapid and efficient transport of gene into target cells. The number of fluorescent complexes was increasing with time in cells up to 6 hours showing a punctate and homogeneous DNA distribution in the cytoplasmatic and nuclear compartments, including the nucleolus. No significant difference in the biochemical and cellular behavior was observed between the investigated system and other systems previously tested. This study adds new insights into the CFTR cationic liposome-mediated gene delivery.

Interaction between isolated and purified liver cells and small unilamellar liposomes.

AIMS/BACKGROUND: The mechanism of interaction and the role played by the vesicle lipid composition for the selective association between liposomes and liver cells were studied, at the ultrastructural level, by investigating both in situ and in vitro the interaction between hepatocytes, Kupffer and endothelial liver cells with egg-phosphatidylcholine (eggPC) or eggPC/stearylamine (9:1; mol:mol) reverse-phase evaporation (REV) liposomes. METHODS: Liver cells from rats, isolated by enzymatic perfusion and purified by differential centrifugation, were incubated, in a rotating bath at 37 degrees C, with liposomes (2.5 mM final liposomal lipid concentration). Cell aliquots were withdrawn and processed for electron microscope observation at fixed time intervals. Parallel experiments were carried out by in situ liver perfusion with liposome suspensions. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Our first conclusions are: 1) lipidic composition affects the rate of liposomes uptake and internalization by hepatocytes; 2) liposome uptake by hepatocytes or Kupffer cells is likely an endocytic process; 3) endothelial cells internalize lipid vesicles as well; 4) liposome uptake was due to a phagocytic activity for all isolated liver cells, while in the in situ observation endothelial cells seem to use another mechanism (fusion); and 5) the rate of internalization is related to the viability of the treated cells. Experimental data seem to indicate that differential behaviour in the internalization of lipid vesicles exists among parenchymal, Kupffer and endothelial liver cells. These differences suggest that clearance of liposomes by these cells involves two mechanisms (i.e., endocytosis or fusion) with different rates of uptake and internalization that facilitate the design of carriers that can deliver drugs preferentially to a specific liver cell type.

Recombinant CTFR detection in CF tracheal epithelial cells following in vitro liposomeme-mediated gene transfer.

The efficacy of CFTR gene transfer mediated by cationic liposomes Dc-Chol/DOPE into cystic fibrosis (CF) tracheal epithelial cells carrying defective processing mutations (S549N/N1303K), was assessed by studying mRNA and protein expression of the recombinant product. Appreciable levels of mRNA transcripts were detected 48 h after transfection, while complete translocation of the recombinant CFTR to the apical membrane of epithelial cells was observed after 72 h following transfection. Our results suggest that in vitro restoration of a normal CFTR processing and migration to the cell plasmalemma requires 72 h at least as demonstrated by immunocyto-fluorescence using the monoclonal antibody MATG 1016. These findings are relevant onto gene transfer phase I clinical studies.

Antitumor germacranolides from Anvillea garcinii.

The aerial parts of Anvillea garcinii yielded two new germacranolides, 9 alpha-hydroxy-1 beta, 10 alpha-epoxyparthenolide (4) and parthenolid-9-one (5), in addition to the known 9 alpha-hydroxyparthenolide (1), 9 beta-hydroxyparthenolide (2), and 9 beta-hydroxy-1 beta, 10 alpha-epoxyparthenolide (3). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated from their spectral data (IR, MS, 1H- and 13C-NMR, 1H-1H COSY, and 1H-13C HETCOR) and by chemical derivatization. The hitherto unreported 13C-NMR data and carbon atom assignments of the previously isolated lactones 1, 2, and 3 were given. The in-vitro antitumor and anti-HIV activities were evaluated for the isolated compounds.

Interaction of cationic phospholipid vesicles with carbonic anhydrase.

The possibility of entrapping the enzyme carbonic anhydrase into liposomes, in order to obtain small, membrane-confined bioreactors for biotechnological or biomedical applications, was studied. Neutral liposomes (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/cholesterol) or cationic liposomes (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/cholesterol/stearylamine) with different dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/stearylamine ratios have been used to trap carbonic anhydrase. Kinetic experiments showed that carbonic anhydrase was being trapped into cationic liposomes, but not into neutral ones. A significant amount of carbonic anhydrase was sitting onto the external surface of liposomes when the ratio dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/cholesterol/stearylamine was 6:3:1, but not when it was 5:3:2. Morphological analysis by electron microscopy showed that the presence of carbonic anhydrase induced a significant swelling in the 6:3:1 cationic vesicles, related to the activity of the enzyme.

Effect of microwave radiation on the permeability of carbonic anhydrase loaded unilamellar liposomes.

The influence of 2.45 GHz microwave exposure (6 mW/g) on the diffusion processes in enzyme-loaded unilamellar liposomes as bioreactors was studied. The enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA) was entrapped into cationic unilamellar vesicles. Previous kinetic experiments showed a very low self-diffusion rate of the substrate p-nitrophenyl acetate (PNPA) across intact liposome bilayer. A twofold increase in the diffusion rate of PNPA through the lipid bilayer was observed after 120 min of microwave radiation compared to temperature control samples. The microwave effect was time dependent. The enzyme activity, as a function of increased diffusion of PNPA, rises over 120 min from 22.3% to 80%. The increase in stearylamine concentration reduces the enzyme activity from 80% to 65% at 120 min. No enzyme leakage was observed.

Interaction of DNA with cationic liposomes: ability of transfecting lentil protoplasts.

The vesicle made of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and stearylamine (9:1) were multilamellar and rather homogeneous in shape as seen by transmission electron microscopy. Upon addition of circular DNA plasmids of different lengths to the liposomes, the formation of vesicle clusters around the DNA filament was observed, with dimensions dictated by the ratio DNA/lipid. These liposomes were able to transfect lentil (Lens culinaris) protoplasts inside the cells two different reporter genes, chloramphenicol-acetyltransferase and beta-glucuronidase. The activity of these two enzymes could be found in the cell lysates after 24 h from the incubation of protoplasts with the lipid-DNA complexes.

Size and stability of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/cholesterol unilamellar vesicles are affected by interaction with proteins.

The effect of entrapping the enzyme ascorbate oxidase into dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/cholesterol vesicles, was studied by conventional transmission electron microscopy and freeze-fracture. The freeze-fracture technique has definitely demonstrated the unilamellar nature of empty and enzyme-loaded vesicles. Images of freeze-fractured and label-fractured liposomes also indicate that the observed reduction of vesicles volume could be related to the localization of ascorbate oxidase across the membrane. The membrane localization of ascorbate oxidase may explain the oxidation of externally added ascorbate by intact enzyme-loaded liposomes. Finally, the ageing of liposomes appears to be accelerated in the presence of proteins.