A Nonviral Transfection Approach in Vitro:  The Design of a Gold Nanoparticle Vector Joint with Microelectromechanical Systems

Abstract

Au nanoparticles modified with 21-base thiolated-oligonucleotides have been evaluated as delivery vehicles for the development of a nonviral transfection platform. The electromigration combined with electroporation for DNA delivery in an osteoblast like cell was employed to test on microchips. Electroporation introduces foreign materials into cells by applying impulses of electric field to induce multiple transient pores on the cell membrane through dielectric breakdown of the cell membrane. On the basis of the characteristic surface plasmon of the Au particles, UV-vis absorption was utilized to qualitatively judge the efficiency of delivery. Transmission electron microscopy images and atomic absorption measurements (quantitative analysis) provided evidence of the bare Au and Au/oligonucleotide nanoparticles before and after electroporation and electromigration function. The experiments demonstrated that electrophoretic migration followed by electroporation significantly enhanced the transportation efficiency of the nanoparticle-oligonucleotide complexes as compared with electroporation alone. Most interestingly, Au capped with oligonucleotides led to optimal performance. On the other hand, the bare Au colloidal suspensions resulted in aggregation, which might be an obstacle to the internalization process. In addition, analytical results demonstrated an increase in the local particle concentrations on the cell surface that provided additional support for the mechanism underlying the improved Au nanoparticle transportation into cells in the presence of electromigration function.

Inorganic Nanoparticles as Carriers of Nucleic Acids into Cells

“…Gold nanoparticles (typical sizes: 10-20 nm) are easily taken up by cells. [101][102][103][104] It was recently shown by Schmid et al that Au 55 clusters effectively interact with DNA [105] and can be used as anticancer agent. [105] This interaction appears to be a matter of particle size (1.4 nm for Au 55 clusters), that is, these small gold clusters are intercalated into DNA strands.…”

Carbon Nanotube Delivery of the GFP Gene into Mammalian Cells

“…[1] Several classes of transfection methods have been developed, which include traditional cationic moleculemediated agents, [2] such as Lipofectamine 2000 [3] and Fu-GENE 6 TM , [4] viral-vector systems, [5] and the "gene gun" approach. [6] With the rapid development of nanobiotechnology, a variety of new materials, such as gold nanoparticles, [7] silica nanoparticles, [8] polymers, [9] nanogels, [10] and dendrimers [11] have been investigated as biocompatible transporters.…”

Nanoparticles and their potential for application in bone

“…In such studies, a green fluorescent proteinencoding reporter plasmid combined with different carriers was normally used, such as calcium-doped organosilicate nanoparticles, 66 calcium phosphate nanoparticles, 67 argininefunctionalized hydroxyapatite nanorods, 68 or polymers. 69 The alternative approach, an application of nanoparticles as oligonucleotide (eg, small interfering ribonucleic acid [siRNA]) carriers, was also effective in other studies, using gold, 70 calcium phosphate, 71 and cationic polymer/lipid TransIT-TKO ® nanoparticles. 72 A very promising system was developed by Zhang et al 15 and consisted of siRNAloaded cationic liposomes attached to oligopeptides.…”