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Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry (2003) 37, (267–271) (Printed in Great Britain)

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Effect of Pluronic-block copolymers on the reduction of serum-mediated inhibition of gene transfer of polyethyleneimine–DNA complexes

Jung-Hua Steven Kuo¹

Department of Pharmacy, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, 60 Erh-Jen Rd., Sec. 1, Jen-Te, Tainan 717, Taiwan, Republic of China

Key words: Pluronics, polyethyleneimine, serum-mediated inhibition, transfection.

Abbreviations used: DMEM, Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium; HLB, hydrophilic–lipophilic balance; PEI, polyethyleneimine; FBS, fetal bovine serum; PEO, ethylene oxide; PPO, propylene oxide.

¹E-mail kuojunghua@yahoo.com.tw.

Serum stability of non-viral vectors is a crucial factor for successful in vivo gene delivery. Pluronic-block copolymers consisting of hydrophilic ethylene oxide and hydrophobic propylene oxide blocks were tested to prevent the reduction of serum-mediated inhibition of gene transfer of polyethyleneimine (PEI)–DNA complexes in NIH/3T3 cells. The order of hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB) of six different types of Pluronics used in this study was F68 > F127 > P105 > P94 > L122 > L61. Transfection activities of NIH/3T3 cells with PEI–DNA complexes containing Pluronics with higher HLB showed marked improvement of gene-expression levels in serum media from 10 to 50% fetal bovine serum compared with PEI–DNA complexes alone. Also, higher concentrations (1 and 3%) of Pluronics with higher HLB in the PEI/DNA dispersion provided a stronger steric hindrance in resisting serum components than those obtained in a lower concentration (0.1%). These results suggested that non-viral vectors incorporated with higher HLB of Pluronics may be used as potential vehicles for in vivo delivery of DNA.

Received 19 December 2002/12 February 2003; accepted 21 February 2003

Published as Immediate Publication 21 February 2003, DOI 10.1042/BA20020123

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