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Updated: Mar 30, 2026
Evaluation of Polymeric Gene Delivery Nanoparticles by Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis and High-throughput Flow Cytometry
Published on: March 1, 2013
Receptor-mediated gene delivery into human mesenchymal stem cells using hyaluronic acid-shielded
Ji Sun Park1, Se Won Yi1, Hye Jin Kim1
1Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, 6F, CHA Bio-complex, 689 Sampyeong-dong Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si 463-400, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Polyethylenimine (PEI) has been used as a vehicle to deliver genes to cancer cells and somatic cells. In this study, cationic polymers of PEI were shielded with anionic polymers of hyaluronic acid (HA) to safely and effectively deliver genes into human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). HA interacted with CD44 in the plasma membranes of hMSCs to facilitate the internalization of HA-shielded PEI/pDNA complexes. The HA-shielded PEI/pDNA nanogels were confirmed by size changes, ζ-potential, and gel retardation assays. HA-shielded nanogels were easily internalized by hMSCs, and this was reduced by pretreatment with a specific monoclonal antibody that blocked CD44. By shielding PEI/pDNA complexes with HA, nanogels were easily internalized to hMSCs when it did not blocked by anti-CD44. These shielded nanogels were also easily internalized by HeLa cells, and this was reduced by pretreatment with an anti-CD44 monoclonal antibody. Following internalization of the SOX9 gene, chondrogenesis of hMSCs was increased, as determined by RT-PCR, real-time quantitative PCR, and histological analyses.
