Efficient Non-Viral Gene Delivery System Based On Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes- Polyethylenimine To Cancer Cells

Gene therapy is a part of modern molecular medicine that uses genes to treat or prevent diseases.We propose that combining of genes with polymers will solve the problem of low transfectionefficiency, bringing a revolution in molecular medicine and in applications of gene therapy based onnanomaterials in humans.Brand-new carriers were synthesized with functionalized single walledcarbon nanotubes (fSWCNTs) with Polyethylenimine 10kDa (PEI 10). Characterization of vectors wascarried out. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to analyze the PEI conjugationto SWCNT. Particle size and zeta potential of the polyplexs were measured. Buffering capacity andcondensation assay of the vectors were evaluated. Transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity ofnanoparticles in murine neuoblastoma cell lines (Neuro2a cells) were also measured. Presence ofthe special peak in FTIR confirmed the occurrence of the reaction. The average size of nanoparticleswas in the range of 90-127 nm with positive zeta potential charges. SWCNTs functionalized with PEIshowed lower cytotoxicity and significant increase transfection efficiency in Neuro2a whencompared to unmodified PEI. These modifications of SWCNTs with PEI10 kDa can significantlyimprove transfection efficiency and reduced cytotoxicity. Due to the high gene expression in cancercells with low cytotoxicity, this modified carrier could be used for cancer gene therapy in in vivostudy.