Conjugation of Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWNT) with Polyethylenimine via Biodegradable Disulfide Linkage :Toward Synthesis of Efficient Gene Delivery Vehicles

Studies interfacing CNTs with biological molecules indicate that such interfaces can be established whilethe functions of biological molecules are preserved. In our study, different functionalization procedures were used toimprove the solubility and biocompatibility of SWNT. Polyethylenimine and its derivatives have been extensivelyinvestigated for its ability to transfer DNAinto cells. Carboxylated SWNT was conjugated to cysteine followed byconjugation to three 2-iminothiolane-grafted PEI. All 18 SWNT-based vectors were characterized using FTIRspectroscopy and TGA thermograms. Vectors were tested for their condensation ability and cytotoxicity. Polyplexessize and surface charges were measured. Green fluorescent protein and Renilla luciferase assays were used forevaluation of transfection efficiencies. All vectors were capable of condensing DNA. Remarkable improvement intransfection efficiencies were observed compared to their corresponding PEI in each case with lowered cell toxicity.

کلیدواژه ها:

SingleWalled Carbon Nanotube ، Functionalization ، Polyethyleneimine ، Gene Delivery ، Disulfidebond