Cationised dextran and pullulan modified with diethyl aminoethyl methacrylate for gene delivery in cancer cells

This work describes the synthesis and characterisation of cationised dextran and pullulan modified with diethyl aminoethyl methacrylate (DEAEM) for gene delivery in cancer cells. To dextran and pullulan, PEI was conjugated to impart cationicity. These cationised polysaccharides were then modified with DEAEM monomer via Michael addition reaction and synthesised four different derivatives viz DPD I, DPD II, PPD I and PPD II. These vectors form nanocomplexes with DNA exhibiting positive zeta potential. These nanoplexes are cytocompatible in C6, HeLa and L929 cells. Transfection efficiency of these vectors was evaluated using p53 plasmid which demonstrated good transfection in cancer cells (C6 and HeLa) alone. Biodistribution studies of DPD II and PPD II in BALB/c mice shows its tendency to accumulate in liver tissue and not in any vital organs like brain, lungs and heart. In addition, these derivatives also exhibit good renal clearance.