Polyethyleneimine-functionalized MXene as stable two-dimensional platforms for gene delivery systems.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Polyethyleneimine (PEI) is a common non-viral vector for gene delivery.
• MXene nanomaterials offer unique properties for biomedical applications.
• Optimizing PEI-MXene hybrids requires understanding the role of PEI molecular weight.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of PEI molecular weight on PEI-MXene hybrid characteristics.
• To evaluate the suitability of these hybrids as pDNA delivery systems.
• To assess the safety and efficacy of PEI-MXene hybrids in cellular contexts.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of PEI-MXene hybrids using varying PEI molecular weights.
• Characterization of chemical bonding and colloidal stability.
• Assessment of pDNA loading capacity.
• In vitro evaluation of cytotoxicity and cellular uptake.

Main Results:

• PEI molecular weight significantly influenced hybrid properties.
• PEI-MXene hybrids exhibited improved colloidal behavior compared to PEI alone.
• Reduced cytotoxicity was observed for PEI-MXene hybrids versus PEI.
• Effective pDNA loading and cellular uptake were demonstrated.

Conclusions:

• PEI molecular weight is a critical factor in designing effective PEI-MXene gene delivery vectors.
• PEI-MXene hybrids represent a promising platform for safer gene delivery.
• Further research into optimizing these hybrids could advance gene therapy.