Abstract
Polymeric scaffolds are an important tool in tissue engineering and gene delivery using porous scaffolds can be a viable approach to control tissue response. Herein we describe the use of a biodegradable polyester elastomer, poly(1,8-octanediol-co-citrate) (POC), as a substrate for plasmid immobilization and cellular transfection of colonizing cells. Plasmid (pDNA), either complexed with poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) forming polyplexes or in its native state, was surface-immobilized onto POC scaffolds via adsorption. Polyplex-containing scaffolds showed higher loading and slower initial rates of release than naked pDNA-containing scaffolds. Seeding of HEK293 cells and porcine aortic smooth muscle cells (PASMC) onto polyplex loaded-scaffolds demonstrated cell proliferation and transfection in vitro up to 12 days, significantly longer relative to bolus transfection. In vivo, transfection was evaluated using the mouse intraperitoneal (IP) fat model. In contrast to the in vitro study, successful long-term transgene delivery was only achieved with the naked pDNA-containing scaffolds. In particular, naked pDNA-containing scaffolds promoted high levels of both luciferase and green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression in vivo for 2 weeks. The results demonstrate that POC scaffolds are a suitable material for substrate-mediated gene delivery. POC scaffolds can potentially support long-term biological cues to mediate tissue formation through non-viral gene delivery.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.