Nonviral gene delivery to the lung with copolymer-protected and transferrin-modified polyethylenimine

Polyethylenimine (PEI) has been shown to efficiently mediate topical gene transfer to the lungs after either direct intratracheal instillation or nebulisation. Recently, the protection of polyplexes with novel copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) via electrostatic interaction has been reported. In this study, such coated PEI polyplexes were investigated for their stability and interaction with human plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Further, their potential for gene delivery to the mouse lungs in vivo was examined. Plasma protein and mucin adsorption was effectively inhibited when polyplexes were coated with the novel copolymers. Gene transfer efficiency of the coated PEI polyplexes decreased as compared with uncoated PEI polyplexes when administered intratracheally to the lung. The higher the molecular weight of the copolymerized PEG was, the stronger the observed gene transfer reduction. Gene transfer decreased presumably due to reduced interaction of the coated gene vectors with the cell surface. To circumvent this problem, transferrin was combined with PEI/DNA polyplexes for specific binding to the cell surface. In this case, gene transfer efficiency decreased. Gene transfer of the copolymer-protected and transferrin-modified gene vectors increased as compared with the copolymer-protected gene vectors alone but did not reach the level of uncoated gene vectors. These data show that copolymers could be used to effectively shield polyplexes from interaction with components of the airway surface liquid (ASL). Increased gene delivery was found upon transferrin modification of the coated PEI polyplexes suggesting a targeting effect.