PEGylated dendrimer-entrapped gold nanoparticles with low immunogenicity for targeted gene delivery

The high efficiency and specificity of gene therapy are mainly ascribed to the excellent transfection ability of the gene carrier. Non-viral polymer vectors have attracted extensive attention because of their low cytotoxicity and outstanding genetic loading capacity compared with viral vectors. For safe and efficient transfection of nuclear acids, here we report a novel gene delivery system, dendrimer-entrapped gold nanoparticles modified with a folate-conjugated poly (ethylene glycol) (Au DENPs-PEG-FA), possessing superior gene transfection efficiency than that of partially hydrophilic methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG)-modified dendrimer-entrapped gold nanoparticles (Au DENPs-mPEG). The prepared Au DENPs-PEG-FA were well characterized, and our data revealed that the vector showed good cytocompatibility. Additionally, the quantification of inflammatory cytokines detected by qRT-PCR showed that the vectors displayed low innate immune response. The efficiency of nucleic acid (encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and luciferase (Luc) reporter) transfection evaluated via flow cytometry and confocal microscopic imaging suggested that the Au DENPs-PEG-FA were able to transfect nucleic acid into HeLa cells with enhanced transfection efficiency. Furthermore, the existence of FA rendered the Au DENPs with excellent targeting performance via FA receptor-ligand binding interaction. The designed Au DENPs-PEG-FA with low immunogenicity and enhanced gene transfection efficiency may hold a great promise to be a superior vector for gene therapy.