Synthesis and characterization of guanidinylated poly(propylene imine) dendrimers as gene transfection agents

Fourth generation poly(propylene imine) dendrimer has been completely or partially functionalized with guanidinium groups. In the second case, the remaining toxic primary amino groups of the dendrimers were reacted with propylene oxide affording the corresponding hydroxylated derivatives. Five derivatives have been prepared bearing 0, 6, 12, 24 or 32 guanidinium groups. These guanidinylated dendrimers were interacted with plasmid DNA affording the corresponding dendriplexes. The complexes were physicochemically characterized by dynamic light scattering, zeta-potential measurements and AFM, while the extent of complexation was evaluated by agarose gel electrophoresis. Furthermore, their transfection efficiency was assessed employing HEK 293 and COS-7 cell lines, while the serum effect was studied in HEK 293 cells. It was found that complete replacement of primary amino groups with the hydroxylated moieties resulted in complete loss of transfection efficiency. On the contrary, guanidinylation of the parent dendrimer resulted to significant enhancement of its transfection efficiency, this enhancement being dependent on the number of guanidinium groups per dendrimer, the cell line used and the presence or absence of FBS. The fully guanidinylated dendrimer exhibited the best transfection efficiency under all the conditions studied. This efficiency has been attributed to the enhanced penetrating ability of the guanidinylated dendrimers due to the accumulation of the guanidinium group at the dendrimeric surface. It was also found that the derivative with 12 guanidinium groups exhibited the lowest toxicity. The reduction of toxicity was apparently attributed to the decrease of the external primary amino groups coupled with the presence of hydroxylated moieties located at the dendrimeric surface. The functionalization strategy employed leads to dendrimeric derivatives that combine satisfactory transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity.