Positively-charged gene delivery agents, such as cationic liposomes, typically prepared by mixing a cationic lipid and a neutral lipid in a 1 : 1 molar ratio, exhibit a fundamental flaw: on the one hand, the charge encourages cell uptake; on the other hand, the charge leads to aggregation in vivo with anionic serum components. We herein report a more phase-stable analogue of the zwitterionic and fusogenic lipid DOPE that allows for the reduction of the cationic lipid component of the liposome from 50 to 9 mol% with almost no apparent loss in transfection activity. This reduction in charge may induce important in vivo stability whilst still imparting high cell uptake and transgene expression.
带正电荷的
基因递送载体,如阳离子脂质体,通常通过将阳离子脂质和中性脂质以1:1的摩尔比例混合制备,存在一个根本性缺陷:一方面,正电荷促进细胞摄取;另一方面,正电荷导致其在体内与带负电的血清成分发生聚集。本文报道了一种更相稳定的两性离子且具有融合性的脂质
DOPE的类似物,能够在几乎不明显降低转染活性的情况下,将脂质体中的阳离子脂质成分从50%降低到9%。这种电荷的减少可能增加体内稳定性,同时仍保持高细胞摄取率和转
基因表达。