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Updated: May 20, 2026

A Fluorescence-Based Assay of Membrane Potential for High-Throughput Functional Study of Two Endogenous Ion Channels in Two Epithelial Cell Lines
Published on: June 22, 2022
Selective stimulation of caveolae-mediated endocytosis by an osmotic polymannitol-based gene transporter
Tae-Eun Park1, Bitna Kang, You-Kyoung Kim
1Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract:
Controlling the cellular uptake mechanism and consequent intracellular route of polyplexes is important to improve the transfection efficiency of the non-viral gene delivery. Here, we report a new non-viral vector, polymannitol-based gene transporter (PMT), generated by crosslinking low molecular weight polyethylenimine with mannitol diacrylate, which has low cytotoxicity and good transfection efficiency. Interestingly, the uptake pathway of PMT/DNA complexes was shifted into caveolae-mediated endocytosis, avoiding lysosomal degradation. The mechanism of increased caveolae-mediated endocytosis of PMT/DNA complexes was found to be correlated with mechanosensing signal transduction by the hyperosmotic polymannitol part. Our results suggested that PMT, polymannitol-based gene transporter, is a safe and efficient gene delivery system with a well-modulated uptake pathway and intracellular route for gene therapy.
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