We investigated the ability of cationic liposomes composed of 1,5-dihexadecyl N-arginyl-L-glutamate (Arg-Glu2C16) to carry nucleic acids into neuronal cells. Such liposomes have been shown to have a remarkable capacity for transfecting immortalized cell lines. Lipoplexes between the Arg-Glu2C16 liposomes and plasmid DNA encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) were analyzed in terms of lipoplex formation, intracellular DNA trafficking, transfection efficiency, and cytotoxicity in neuronal SH-SY5Y cells. A maximum number of cells expressing GFP was obtained with lipoplexes at a lipid-to-DNA ratio of 15. With these lipoplexes, 16% of the cells were GFP-positive, which was approximately fourfold higher than the level obtained with a commercially available transfection reagent, Lipofectamine 2000. Furthermore, as a result of the low cytotoxicity of the Arg-Glu2C16 lipoplexes, the proportion of GFP-positive cells could be increased to 25% by increasing the concentration of lipoplexes that was applied to the cells. We have demonstrated that Arg-Glu2C16, as a model cationic amino acid-based lipid, has a high capability as a gene carrier, even for neuronal transfection. From the Clinical Editor: In this study, specific cationic liposomes were characterized as nucleic acid transfection agents for neuronal cells. A fourfold higher transfection rate with low cytotoxicity was reported compared to Lipofectamine 2000, a commercial reagent. The authors conclude that the studied cationic liposomes have a high capability as a gene carrier for neuronal transfection. This may become clinically significant in future gene therapy efforts of neuronal diseases.

Evaluation of cationic liposomes composed of an amino acid-based lipid for neuronal transfection

RAFFA, VITTORIA;MENCIASSI, ARIANNA;DARIO, PAOLO;
2009-01-01

Abstract

We investigated the ability of cationic liposomes composed of 1,5-dihexadecyl N-arginyl-L-glutamate (Arg-Glu2C16) to carry nucleic acids into neuronal cells. Such liposomes have been shown to have a remarkable capacity for transfecting immortalized cell lines. Lipoplexes between the Arg-Glu2C16 liposomes and plasmid DNA encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) were analyzed in terms of lipoplex formation, intracellular DNA trafficking, transfection efficiency, and cytotoxicity in neuronal SH-SY5Y cells. A maximum number of cells expressing GFP was obtained with lipoplexes at a lipid-to-DNA ratio of 15. With these lipoplexes, 16% of the cells were GFP-positive, which was approximately fourfold higher than the level obtained with a commercially available transfection reagent, Lipofectamine 2000. Furthermore, as a result of the low cytotoxicity of the Arg-Glu2C16 lipoplexes, the proportion of GFP-positive cells could be increased to 25% by increasing the concentration of lipoplexes that was applied to the cells. We have demonstrated that Arg-Glu2C16, as a model cationic amino acid-based lipid, has a high capability as a gene carrier, even for neuronal transfection. From the Clinical Editor: In this study, specific cationic liposomes were characterized as nucleic acid transfection agents for neuronal cells. A fourfold higher transfection rate with low cytotoxicity was reported compared to Lipofectamine 2000, a commercial reagent. The authors conclude that the studied cationic liposomes have a high capability as a gene carrier for neuronal transfection. This may become clinically significant in future gene therapy efforts of neuronal diseases.
2009
Obata, Y; Ciofani, G; Raffa, Vittoria; Cuschieri, A; Menciassi, Arianna; Dario, Paolo; Takeoka, S.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/135011
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