Reversible Covalent Cross-Linked Polycations with Enhanced Stability and ATP-Responsive Behavior for Improved siRNA Delivery

Zhanwei Zhou, Minghua Zhang, Yadong Liu, Chenzi Li, Qingyan Zhang, David Oupicky, Minjie Sun

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cationic polyplex as commonly used nucleic acid carriers faced several shortcomings, such as high cytotoxicity, low serum stability, and slow cargo release at the target site. The traditional solution is covering a negative charged layer (e.g., hyaluronic acid, HA) via electrostatic interaction. However, it was far from satisfactory for the deshielding by physiological anions in circulation (e.g., serum proteins, phosphate). In this study, we proposed a new strategy of reversible covalent cross-linking to enhance stability in circulation and enable stimuli-disassembly of polyplexes in tumor cells. Here, 25k polyethylenimine (PEI) was chosen as model polycations for veriying the hypothesis. HA-PEI conjugation was formed by the cross-linking of adenosine triphosphate grafted HA (HA-ATP) with phenylboronic acid grafted PEI (PEI-PBA) via the chemical reaction between PBA and ATP. Compared with noncovalent polyplex by electrostatic interaction (HA/PEI), HA-PEI exhibited much better colloidal stability and serum stability. The covered HA-ATP layer on PEI-PBA could maintain stable in the absence of physiological anions, while HA layer on PEI in HA/PEI group showed obvious detachment after anion's competition. More importantly, the covalent cross-linking polyplex could selectively release siRNA in the ATP rich environment of cytosol and significantly improve siRNA silence. Besides, the covalent cross-linking with HA-ATP could effectively reduce the cytotoxicity of cationic polyplex, improve the uptake by B61F10 cells and promote the endosomal escape. Consequently, this strategy of HA-PEI conjugation significantly enhanced the siRNA transfection in the absence or presence of FBS (fetal bovine serum) on B16F10 cells and CHO cells. Taken together, the reversible covalent cross-linking approach shows obvious superiority compared with the noncovalent absorption strategy. It held great potential to be developed to polish up the performance of cationic polyplex on reducing the toxicity, enhancing the serum tolerance and achieving controlled release of siRNA at target site.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3776-3787
Number of pages12
JournalBiomacromolecules
Volume19
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 10 2018

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Bioengineering
  • Biomaterials
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Materials Chemistry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Reversible Covalent Cross-Linked Polycations with Enhanced Stability and ATP-Responsive Behavior for Improved siRNA Delivery'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this