Fabrication of self-assembled vesicle nanoparticles of poly(l-lysine)-arachidic acid conjugates for a vascular endothelial growth factor carrier

Abstract

Numerous growth factors account for tissue and organ development and therapeutic efficiency. Hence, the delivery of growth factors is crucial in regenerative medical practice. However, the delivery of a single factor to regenerate tissues lacks clinical utility in many current approaches. We reported the delivery of the bioactive vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from novel polymeric vesicles. Polymeric vesicles were prepared from the poly(l-lysine)-g-polylysine(AA) amphiphilic graft copolymer through the conjugation of arachidic acid (AA) with poly(l-lysine) for obtaining a VEGF carrier. The prepared copolymer can form a polymersome and effectively condense with VEGF without affecting its size and surface charges. The Gaussian curve fit (GCF) of amide I band were revealed that VEGF efficiently interact through the α-helix of the amphiphilic graft copolymer rather than β-sheet dominated poly(l-lysine). The polymersome-VEGF complex showed a considerably higher binding affinity, transfection efficiency, and less toxicity because of the peptide-based polymer backbone. Compared with the poly(l-lysine)-VEGF complex, polymersome-VEGF revealed a high secretion of VEGF and low toxicity. These polymersomes can deliver angiogenic factors in a controlled manner in tissue regeneration and biomedical engineering.

Keywords: Poly(l-lysine); Polymeric vesicles; Transfection efficiency; VEGF encapsulation.