Reducible PEG-POD/DNA Nanoparticles for Gene Transfer In Vitro and In Vivo: Application in a Mouse Model of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Mol Ther Nucleic Acids

Department of Developmental, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, Program in Genetics, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA. Electronic address:

Published: September 2017


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Article Abstract

Non-viral gene delivery systems are being developed to address limitations of viral gene delivery. Many of these non-viral systems are modeled on the properties of viruses including cell surface binding, endocytosis, endosomal escape, and nuclear targeting. Most non-viral gene transfer systems exhibit little correlation between in vitro and in vivo efficiency, hampering a systematic approach to their development. Previously, we have described a 3.5 kDa peptide (peptide for ocular delivery [POD]) that targets cell surface sialic acid. When functionalized with polyethylene glycol (PEG) via a sulfhydryl group on the N-terminal cysteine of POD, PEG-POD could compact plasmid DNA, forming 120- to 180-nm homogeneous nanoparticles. PEG-POD enabled modest gene transfer and rescue of retinal degeneration in vivo. Systematic investigation of different stages of gene transfer by PEG-POD nanoparticles was hampered by their inability to deliver genes in vitro. Herein, we describe functionalization of POD with PEG using a reducible orthopyridyl disulfide bond. These reducible nanoparticles enabled gene transfer in vitro while retaining their in vivo gene transfer properties. These reducible PEG-POD nanoparticles were utilized to deliver human FLT1 to the retina in vivo, achieving a 50% reduction in choroidal neovascularization in a murine model of age-related macular degeneration.

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5491761PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.omtn.2017.06.004DOI Listing

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