Influence of phospholipid composition on cationic emulsions/DNA complexes: physicochemical properties, cytotoxicity, and transfection on Hep G2 cells

Michelle Fraga1,2, Fernanda Bruxel1, Valeska Lizzi Lagranha2,3, Helder Ferreira Teixeira1, Ursula Matte2,31Post Graduation Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 2Gene Therapy Center, Experimental Research Center, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto A...

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Main Authors: Fraga M, Bruxel F, Lagranha VL, Teixeira HF, Matte U
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2011-10-01
Series:International Journal of Nanomedicine
Online Access:http://www.dovepress.com/influence-of-phospholipid-composition-on-cationic-emulsionsdna-complex-a8432
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author Fraga M
Bruxel F
Lagranha VL
Teixeira HF
Matte U
author_facet Fraga M
Bruxel F
Lagranha VL
Teixeira HF
Matte U
author_sort Fraga M
collection DOAJ
description Michelle Fraga1,2, Fernanda Bruxel1, Valeska Lizzi Lagranha2,3, Helder Ferreira Teixeira1, Ursula Matte2,31Post Graduation Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 2Gene Therapy Center, Experimental Research Center, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, 3Post Graduation Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, BrazilBackground: Cationic nanoemulsions have been recently considered as potential delivery systems for nucleic acids. This study reports the influence of phospholipids on the properties of cationic nanoemulsions/DNA plasmid complexes.Methods: Nanoemulsions composed of medium-chain triglycerides, stearylamine, egg lecithin or isolated phospholipids, ie, DSPC, DOPC, DSPE, or DOPE, glycerol, and water were prepared by spontaneous emulsification. Gene transfer to Hep G2 cells was analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction.Results: The procedure resulted in monodispersed nanoemulsions with a droplet size and zeta potential of approximately 250 nm and +50 mV, respectively. The complexation of cationic nanoemulsions with DNA plasmid, analyzed by agarose gel retardation assay, was complete when the complex was obtained at a charge ratio of ≥1.0. In these conditions, the complexes were protected from enzymatic degradation by DNase I. The cytotoxicity of the complexes in Hep G2 cells, evaluated by MTT assay, showed that an increasing number of complexes led to progressive toxicity. Higher amounts of reporter DNA were detected for the formulation obtained with the DSPC phospholipid. Complexes containing DSPC and DSPE phospholipids, which have high phase transition temperatures, were less toxic in comparison with the formulations obtained with lecithin, DOPC, and DOPE.Conclusion: The results show the effect of the DNA/nanoemulsion complexes composition on the toxicity and transfection results.Keywords: plasmids, cationic nanoemulsions, phospholipids, physicochemical characterization, gene transfer, stearylamine
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spelling doaj.art-36b64bf081f9498484b02dcd3bd1ec0d2022-12-21T19:18:42ZengDove Medical PressInternational Journal of Nanomedicine1176-91141178-20132011-10-012011default22132220Influence of phospholipid composition on cationic emulsions/DNA complexes: physicochemical properties, cytotoxicity, and transfection on Hep G2 cellsFraga MBruxel FLagranha VLTeixeira HFMatte UMichelle Fraga1,2, Fernanda Bruxel1, Valeska Lizzi Lagranha2,3, Helder Ferreira Teixeira1, Ursula Matte2,31Post Graduation Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 2Gene Therapy Center, Experimental Research Center, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, 3Post Graduation Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, BrazilBackground: Cationic nanoemulsions have been recently considered as potential delivery systems for nucleic acids. This study reports the influence of phospholipids on the properties of cationic nanoemulsions/DNA plasmid complexes.Methods: Nanoemulsions composed of medium-chain triglycerides, stearylamine, egg lecithin or isolated phospholipids, ie, DSPC, DOPC, DSPE, or DOPE, glycerol, and water were prepared by spontaneous emulsification. Gene transfer to Hep G2 cells was analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction.Results: The procedure resulted in monodispersed nanoemulsions with a droplet size and zeta potential of approximately 250 nm and +50 mV, respectively. The complexation of cationic nanoemulsions with DNA plasmid, analyzed by agarose gel retardation assay, was complete when the complex was obtained at a charge ratio of ≥1.0. In these conditions, the complexes were protected from enzymatic degradation by DNase I. The cytotoxicity of the complexes in Hep G2 cells, evaluated by MTT assay, showed that an increasing number of complexes led to progressive toxicity. Higher amounts of reporter DNA were detected for the formulation obtained with the DSPC phospholipid. Complexes containing DSPC and DSPE phospholipids, which have high phase transition temperatures, were less toxic in comparison with the formulations obtained with lecithin, DOPC, and DOPE.Conclusion: The results show the effect of the DNA/nanoemulsion complexes composition on the toxicity and transfection results.Keywords: plasmids, cationic nanoemulsions, phospholipids, physicochemical characterization, gene transfer, stearylaminehttp://www.dovepress.com/influence-of-phospholipid-composition-on-cationic-emulsionsdna-complex-a8432
spellingShingle Fraga M
Bruxel F
Lagranha VL
Teixeira HF
Matte U
Influence of phospholipid composition on cationic emulsions/DNA complexes: physicochemical properties, cytotoxicity, and transfection on Hep G2 cells
International Journal of Nanomedicine
title Influence of phospholipid composition on cationic emulsions/DNA complexes: physicochemical properties, cytotoxicity, and transfection on Hep G2 cells
title_full Influence of phospholipid composition on cationic emulsions/DNA complexes: physicochemical properties, cytotoxicity, and transfection on Hep G2 cells
title_fullStr Influence of phospholipid composition on cationic emulsions/DNA complexes: physicochemical properties, cytotoxicity, and transfection on Hep G2 cells
title_full_unstemmed Influence of phospholipid composition on cationic emulsions/DNA complexes: physicochemical properties, cytotoxicity, and transfection on Hep G2 cells
title_short Influence of phospholipid composition on cationic emulsions/DNA complexes: physicochemical properties, cytotoxicity, and transfection on Hep G2 cells
title_sort influence of phospholipid composition on cationic emulsions dna complexes physicochemical properties cytotoxicity and transfection on hep g2 cells
url http://www.dovepress.com/influence-of-phospholipid-composition-on-cationic-emulsionsdna-complex-a8432
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