Issue 4, 2011

Role of weakly polarized nanoparticles in electroporation

Abstract

In this study, we present a role for weakly polarized nanoparticles as engineered gene transporters that can enhance electromediated gene delivery. To validate this proof-of-concept, fluorescent poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-coated silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) with opposite polarities, SiNPs(RITC)-PEG/PTMA(+) and SiNPs(RITC)-PEG/PMP(−), are used. To investigate the electroporative uptake direction of the nanoparticles–gene complex, we employ microscale electroporation to generate more symmetric and uniform electric fields. The effect of the polarity of the nanoparticles on EGFP gene transfection efficiency in HeLa cells is measured by flow cytometry analysis. The results show that, compared to cationic nanoparticles, anionic nanoparticles have potential as electromediated gene transporters at a low gene concentration. Furthermore, we believe that this finding can be useful for developing a platform that enables electroporation-based gene/drug delivery associated with functional nanoparticles.

Graphical abstract: Role of weakly polarized nanoparticles in electroporation

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
28 Jun 2010
Accepted
03 Sep 2010
First published
07 Feb 2011

Nanoscale, 2011,3, 1526-1532

Role of weakly polarized nanoparticles in electroporation

J. A. Kim and W. G. Lee, Nanoscale, 2011, 3, 1526 DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00448K

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