Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
Polyethyleneimine-coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as a Vehicle for the Delivery of Small Interfering RNA to Macrophages In Vitro and In Vivo
Published on: February 5, 2019
Multi-compartmental nanoparticles-in-emulsion formulation for macrophage-specific anti-inflammatory gene delivery
Husain Attarwala1, Mansoor Amiji
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Purpose:
To develop a safe and effective non-viral vector for gene delivery and transfection in macrophages for potential anti-inflammatory therapy.
Methods:
Solid nanoparticles-in-emulsion (NiE) multi-compartmental delivery system was designed using plasmid DNA-encapsulated type B gelatin nanoparticles suspended in the inner aqueous phase of safflower oil-containing water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) multiple emulsion. Control and NiE formulations were evaluated for DNA delivery and transfection efficiency in J774A.1 adherent murine macrophages.
Results:
Using green fluorescent protein (GFP) and murine interleukin-10 (mIL-10) expressing plasmid DNA constructs, the NiE formulation was found superior in enhancing intracellular delivery and gene transfection efficiency in cells. Anti-inflammatory effects of transfected mIL-10 were examined by suppression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) and interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cells.
Conclusions:
Overall, the results were very encouraging towards development of a macrophage-specific NiE-based multi-compartmental gene delivery strategy that can potentially affect a number of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases.
