Investigating lipopolymers based on polyethylenimine and nanoliposome for gene delivery to prostate cancer (PC3) cell line

Background: Non-viral Nano carriers such as liposomes and cationic polymers based on engineered properties are regarded in gene delivery field. Although these carriers do not have weaknesses of viral vectors, but they are less efficient than viruses and they still need to be improved as favorable gene delivery carriers. Amongst non-viral carriers, cationic liposomes have been proposed for clinical applications, but limitations such as low nucleic acid transfer and endosome escape and conduction of plasmid to the nucleus have challenged their use in clinical trials. Therefore, the combination of liposomes and cationic polymers for nucleic acid transfer has been considered because this approach makes it possible to use the desirable properties of liposomes and polymers so that it is even suggested for the gene treatment of some diseases such as Parkinson's. In this study, a combination of liposomes and cationic polymers were used for the preparation of lipopolyplexes. This approach allows simultaneous utilizing of the desirable properties of liposomes and polymers. Methods: This interventional-experimental study was conducted in the medical faculty of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences from April 2017 to February 2018. In this study, PEI-based lipopolyplex with a molecular weight of 25 and 10 kDa and a liposome-to-polymer ratio of 1:1 were combined with plasmid containing the GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein) marker. The physicochemical properties of the synthesized carriers such as size, cytotoxicity and gene transferability in human prostate cancer (PC3) cells were evaluated. Results: The prepared lipopolyplex were 104 nm in size and all the lipopolyplexes were able to enhance transfection in the C/P=0.4 compared with its basic carriers (PEI and liposomes) alone, while showing less cytotoxicity than not manipulated liposomes. The results of this study suggest synthesized nanoparticles as nanocomposites for gene delivery purposes to different cells and in in-body studies. Conclusion: The results of this study show that the lipopolyplex constructed from combination of PEI and liposomes can efficiently transfer the gene to the cell, while showing low cytotoxicity and appropriate size at the nano-scale. Therefore, this lipopolymer can be suggested for gene delivery purposes to different cells and in vivo targets.