Cationization of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides in concentrated alkaline solutions as gene carriers

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers 2012-04, Vol.88 (3), p.966-972
• Main Authors: Wang, Jianguo, Guo, Chunfeng, Yue, Tianli, Yuan, Yahong, Liu, Xuebo, Kennedy, John F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; aqueous solutions; Biological and medical sciences; carbon; chemical structure; cytotoxicity; DNA; electrolytes; Exact sciences and technology; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; Ganoderma lucidum; gel electrophoresis; Gene carriers; General pharmacology; genes; glucans; light scattering; Medical sciences; Natural polymers; nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Pharmaceutical technology. Pharmaceutical industry; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polysaccharides; Quaternization; sodium chloride; sodium hydroxide; stable isotopes; Starch and polysaccharides; Structure; Transfection; viscometry; viscosity; zeta potential
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2012.01.054

► Quaternized Ganoderma lucidum glucans (QGs) were synthesized using 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride (CHPTAC) in 1M NaOH aqueous solution at 60°C. ► QGs displayed relatively lower cytotoxicity, and QG/DNA complexes exhibited effective transfection compared to the naked DNA in 293T cells. ► QGs could be considered as promising non-viral gene carriers. Quaternized Ganoderma lucidum glucans (QGs) were synthesized using 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride (CHPTAC) as the cationic reagent in 1M NaOH aqueous solution at 60°C. The chemical structure and solution properties of QGs were characterized by using elemental analysis, FTIR, 13C NMR, laser light scattering, ζ-potential measurement and viscometry. The QG solutions in pure water exhibited a typical polyelectrolyte behavior, and normal viscosity behavior in 0.9% NaCl. Moreover, two QG samples with relatively high degree of substitution (DS=0.43 and 0.51) were selected and studied as gene carriers. The results of gel retardation assay suggested that QGs could condense DNA efficiently. QGs displayed relatively lower cytotoxicity as compared with PEI, and QG/DNA complexes exhibited effective transfection compared to the naked DNA in 293T cells. The quaternized glucan derivatives prepared in NaOH aqueous solutions could be considered as promising non-viral gene carriers.