Functional DNA Delivery Enabled by Lipid-Modified Charge-Altering Releasable Transporters (CARTs)

Biomacromolecules. 2018 Jul 9;19(7):2812-2824. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.8b00401. Epub 2018 May 11.

Abstract

Safe and effective DNA delivery systems are required to enable or enhance clinical strategies and research involving gene therapy and DNA vaccinations. To address this delivery problem, a series of charge-altering releasable transporters (CARTs) with varied lipid content were prepared and evaluated for plasmid DNA (pDNA) delivery into cultured cells. These lipid-modified CART co-oligomers were synthesized in only two steps via sequential organocatalytic ring-opening polymerization of lipid-containing cyclic carbonate monomers and morpholinone monomers. Lipid variations of the CARTs substantially impacted the delivery efficiency of pDNA, with oleyl- and linoleyl-based CARTs showing enhanced performance relative to the commercial transfection agent Lipofectamine 2000 (L2000). The best-performing oleyl CART was carried forward to study stable luciferase transfection with a Sleeping Beauty ( SB) transposon system. The oleyl CART outperformed the L2000 positive control with respect to stable transfection efficiency. CART-pDNA complexes represent a new DNA delivery system for research and clinical applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CHO Cells
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus
  • DNA / genetics
  • Linoleic Acids / chemistry*
  • Lipids / standards
  • Oleic Acids / chemistry*
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • Static Electricity
  • Surface-Active Agents / chemistry*
  • Transfection / methods*
  • Transfection / standards

Substances

  • Linoleic Acids
  • Lipids
  • Lipofectamine
  • Oleic Acids
  • Surface-Active Agents
  • DNA