A peptide-mediated targeting gene delivery system for malignant glioma cells

Abstract

Chuanwei Wang,1,2,* Liping Ning,3,* Hongwei Wang,1,2,* Zaijun Lu,4 Xingang Li,1,2 Xiaoyong Fan,5 Xuping Wang,6 Yuguang Liu1,2 1Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China; 2Brain Science Research Institute of Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China; 3Department of Rehabilitation, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China; 4School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China; 5Department of Neurosurgery, Shandong Qianfoshan Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China; 6Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education and Chinese Ministry of Public Health, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Abstract: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and malignant glioma. Although there has been considerable progress in treatment strategies, the prognosis of many patients with GBM remains poor. In this work, polyethylenimine (PEI) and the VTWTPQAWFQWV (VTW) peptide were modified and synthesized into GBM-targeting nanoparticles. The transfection efficiency of U-87 (human glioblastoma) cells was evaluated using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Cell internalization was investigated to verify the nanoparticle delivery into the cytoplasm. Results showed that the methods of polymer conjugation and the amount of VTW peptide were important factors to polymer synthesis and transfection. The PEI-VTW20 nanoparticles increased the transfection efficiency significantly. This report describes the use of VTW peptide-based PEI nanoparticles for intracellular gene delivery in a GBM cell-specific manner. Keywords: glioblastoma, polyethylenimine, nanoparticles, drug-delivery systems, gene transfer techniques