Amphiphilic Core-Shell Nanoparticles with Poly(ethylenimine) Shells as Potential Gene and Drug Delivery Carriers

Date: 08/29/2007
Time: 11:00 am
Location: 102G WV
Speaker: Dr. Pauline Pei Li, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong

Spherical, and amphiphilic nanoparticles that consist of well-defined polymer cores and branched poly(ethylenimine) shells (PEI) have been evaluated as a potential carrier for gene and drug deliveries. Effectiveness of the nanoparticles for gene delivery has been investigated through comparison of transfection efficiency with branched PEI (25 kDa) under different N/P ratio, transfection time, cell density and cell line. Inclusion of a nuclear targeting protein such as high mobility group protein (HMGB1) has shown significant improvement in transfection efficiency. Complexation and release of a drug using the amphiphilic nanoparticles have also been investigated with respect to particle size, surface charge, drug loading capacity and complexed particle morphologies. Studies of the intracellular behavior of the FITC-labeled DNA or drug loaded nanoparticles suggest that the nanoparticles are effective carriers for delivering the DNA and drug into cells via endocytosis and releasing them into the cytosol. Thus, the PEI-based core-shell nanoparticle is a promising carrier for gene and drug deliveries.