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Updated: May 30, 2026
Methionine Functionalized Biocompatible Block Copolymers for Targeted Plasmid DNA Delivery
Published on: August 6, 2019
Biodistribution and blood clearance of plasmid DNA administered in arginine peptide complexes
Jung Gyu Woo1, Na Young Kim, Jai Myung Yang
1Department of Life Science, Sogang University, Shinsu-Dong, Mapo, 121-742, Seoul, Republic of Korea. shshin@sogang.ac.kr.
Background:
Peptide/DNA complexes have great potential as non-viral methods for gene delivery. Despite promising results for peptide-mediated gene delivery technology, an effective systemic peptide-based gene delivery system has not yet been developed.
Methods:
This study used pCMV-Luc as a model gene to investigate the biodistribution and the in vivo efficacy of arginine peptide-mediated gene delivery by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Results:
Plasmid DNA was detected in all organs tested 1 h after intraperitoneal administration of arginine/DNA complexes, indicating that the arginine/DNA complexes disseminated widely through the body. The plasmid was primarily detected in the spleen, kidney, and diaphragm 24 h post administration. The mRNA expression of plasmid DNA was noted in the spleen, kidney, and diaphragm for up to 2 weeks, and in the other major organs, for at least 1 week. Blood clearance studies showed that injected DNA was found in the blood as long as 6 h after injection.
Conclusions:
Taken together, our results demonstrated that arginine/DNA complexes are stable in blood and are effective for in vivo gene delivery. These findings suggest that intraperitoneal administration of arginine/DNA complexes is a promising tool in gene therapy.
