Dendrimeric Alkylated Polyethylenimine Nano-carriers with Acid-Cleavable Outer Cationic Shells Mediate Improved Transfection Efficiency Without Increasing Toxicity

摘要

Purpose Improved polycation-based non-viral DNA vectors were sought by preparing dendrimers with polyethylenimine cores surrounded by various shells incorporating structural features intended to facilitate steps in transfection mechanisms. Dendrimeric vectors were designed with (a) an outer oligocation shell, intended to facilitate DNA release inside cells, (b) a hydrophobic C-16 alkyl shell, and (c) a polycationic core, the latter two intended to combine lipid-depletion and osmotic burst endosome escape mechanisms, respectively, and were (d) attached through an a acid-cleavable linker reported to hydrolyze at endosomal pH values.