Efficient gene transfection in the neurotypic cells by star-shaped polymer consisting of β-cyclodextrin core and poly(amidoamine) dendron arms

In order to develop the effective vectors that had high gene transfection capability and low cytotoxicity in the neuronal cells, we tested the star-shaped polymer consisting of beta-cyclodextrin core and poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendron arms [beta-CD-(D-3)(7)] as the vector to transfect the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. The physicochemical properties of the beta-CD-(D-3)(7)/plasmid DNA (pDNA) complexes were characterized by using gel electrophoresis, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy and zeta-potential experiments. Among the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, beta-CD-(D-3)(7)/pDNA complex demonstrated a lower toxicity compared to those of PAMAM (G=4, with an ethylenediamine core)/pDNA complex. When the N/P ratio was over 20, it was observed that PAMAM had a faster increment in toxicity compared to beta-CD-(D-3)(7). Fluorescent image, confocal microscopy image and flow cytometry showed that beta-CD-(D-3)(7)/pDNA complexes had significantly higher transgene activity than that of PAMAM/pDNA complexes. For example, the transfection efficiency was 20% and 7.5% for beta-CD-(D-3)(7)/pDNA and PAMAM/pDNA complexes, respectively. These results indicated that beta-CD-(D-3)(7) might be a promising candidate for neurotypic cells gene delivery with the characteristics of good biocompatibility, relatively high gene transfection capability and potential in vivo gene delivery ability. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.