Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
Evaluation of Polymeric Gene Delivery Nanoparticles by Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis and High-throughput Flow Cytometry
Published on: March 1, 2013
A highly efficient and safe gene delivery platform based on polyelectrolyte core-shell nanoparticles for
Yana Tarakanchikova1, Albert Muslimov2, Igor Sergeev3
1Opto-Electronics and Measurement Techniques Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, 90014, Finland. yana.tarakanchikova@gmail.com and Nanobiotechnology Laboratory, Alferov University, Saint-Petersburg, 194021, Russia and Peter The Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, 195251, St. Petersburg, Russia and "QR.bio" limited liability company, St. Petersburg, 191119, Russia.
Researchers developed novel polymeric nanocarriers using calcium carbonate templates for efficient gene delivery. These safe and effective carriers show promise for clinical applications, overcoming key challenges in genetic therapies.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Gene Therapy
Background:
- Gene therapy holds immense promise but faces challenges in delivering genetic material intracellularly.
- Efficient delivery to hard-to-transfect cells is crucial for clinical translation of DNA and mRNA therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and evaluate novel polymeric core-shell nanoparticles for safe and efficient intracellular gene delivery.
- To address the limitations of current gene delivery methods, particularly for clinically relevant cell types.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of 50-150 nm calcium carbonate vaterite particles as templates.
- Formation of polymeric core-shell nanoparticles using the calcium carbonate templates.
- Application of nanocarriers for messenger RNA (mRNA) and plasmid DNA (pDNA) delivery to primary T-lymphocytes.
Main Results:
- Nanocarriers achieved up to 99% internalization by primary T-lymphocytes with >90% cell viability.
- Demonstrated superior transfection efficiency compared to electroporation: 90% vs. 51% for mRNA and 62% vs. 39% for pDNA.
- Nanocarriers function effectively in serum-containing medium without special equipment, indicating clinical potential.
Conclusions:
- Developed polymeric nanocarriers represent a promising, safe, and efficient non-viral platform for gene delivery.
- The novel nanocarriers overcome key challenges in delivering genetic material to hard-to-transfect cells.
- This technology has significant potential for clinical development in gene and cell therapy.
