Delivery of RNA and Its Intracellular Translation into Protein Mediated by SDS-CTAB Vesicles: Potential Use in Nanobiotechnology

Abstract

Catanionic vesicles are supramolecular aggregates spontaneously forming in water by electrostatic attraction between two surfactants mixed in nonstoichiometric ratios. The outer surface charges allow adsorption to the biomembrane by electrostatic interactions. The lipoplex thus obtained penetrates the cell by endocytosis or membrane fusion. We examined the possible cytotoxic effects and evaluated the transfection efficiency of one vesicle type as compared to known commercial carriers. We show that the individual components of two different vesicles types, CTAB (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) and DDAB (didodecyldimethylammonium bromide) are detrimental for cell survival. We also assayed the cytotoxicity of SDS-DDAB vesicles and showed dose and time dependency, with the DDAB component being per se extremely cytotoxic. The transfection efficiency of exogenous RNA mediated by SDS-CTAB increases if vesicles assemble in the presence of the reporter RNA; finally, freezing abrogates the transfection ability. The results of our experimental strategy suggest that catanionic vesicles may be adopted in gene therapy and control of antiproliferative diseases.

A Light-Responsive Self-Assembly Formed by a Cationic Azobenzene Derivative and SDS as a Drug Delivery System

“…Russo et al . analyzed the cytotoxic action of SDS/CTAB and SDS/DDAB vesicles on HEK-293 cells23. The survival rate of the cells was not more than 60% after 4 h exposure to SDS/CTAB vesicles, while that was only 20% for SDS/DDAB vesicles treated cells.…”

“…Because the amphiphilic surfactants behaved like bi-tailed lipid molecule21, the mechanism between catanionic vesicles and cells includes two pathways, endocytosis and/or fusion2223. For example, the SDS-CTAB catanionic vesicles enter the cells via membrane fusion or endocytosis24.…”

Recent Advances in Catanionic Mixtures

“…La Mesa's group [104] has shown that interaction with C 16 TAB/SDS vesicles can protect a sensitive molecule, exogeneous RNA, from RNase, resulting in efficient delivery of RNA across the cell membrane. The efficiency of delivery increases when vesicles are formed in the presence of RNA.…”

Surfactant Mixtures: Performances vs. Aggregation States

“…In words, Cat-An's are in equilibrium with their own counterions and with tiny amounts of free surfactants, as well. This is the basis for using cat-anionic vesicles as cargos for proteins and DNA [49][50][51].…”