IN VITRO EVALUATIONS OF NANOPARTICLES-IN-EMULSION FORMULATIONS FOR GENE DELIVERY AND TRANSFECTION IN MACROPHAGES

摘要

Gene delivery vehicles capable of transfecting into specific cells leading to sustained production of therapeutically active proteins can serve as a very effective strategy for disease treatment. In this study, solid nanoparticles-in-emulsion (NiE) formulations were developed and evaluated in vitro for gene delivery and transfection in adherent alveolar macrophages. A reporter plasmid expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP-N1) was encapsulated in gelatin nanoparticles (GNP), which were further encapsulated in the inner aqueous phase of safflower oil-containing water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) multiple emulsions. Results of this study show that NiE formulations were more efficient in transfection of EGFP-N1 in alveolar macrophages as compared to the control formulations such as DNA dissolved in the aqueous phase of the W/O/W multiple emulsion (ME), DNA encapsulated in GNP, or when DNA was complexed with Lipofectin®, a cationic lipid-based transfection reagent.