Comparison of two kinds of nanomedicine for targeted gene therapy: premodified or postmodified gene delivery systems

Zhaoshun Jiang, Cong Sun, Zhaohui Yin, Fang Zhou, Linfu Ge, Ximin Liu, Fansheng Kong
General Hospital of Ji’nan Command, PLA, Ji'nan, Shandong, China

Background: The applications of ligand-polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified nanocarriers have now emerged, as well as recognized strategies to provide the vectors with active targeting properties. In this research, premodification and postmodification were compared using the same ligand, ie, a novel conjugated mannan-containing PEG and L-α-phosphatidylethanolamine (PE).
Methods: Premodified and postmodified solid lipid nanoparticles were prepared and the characteristics of the two kinds of vehicles were evaluated. The modified vectors were then administered intravenously to rats and the in vivo targeting behavior of the complexes was investigated in liver macrophages.
Results: By carefully formulating the carriers with an optimal ratio of mannan-containing PEG-PE, postmodified vehicles displayed more efficient gene expression in rat Kupffer cells both in vitro and in vivo.
Conclusion: Postmodified gene carriers are superior to premodified gene vectors, although the latter is also promising for targeted gene delivery. This discovery could guide our future research.

Keywords: gene therapy, nanomedicine, mannan, polyethylene glycol, L-α-phosphatidylethanolamine, ligands, premodification, postmodification

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.