Quantitative comparison of intracellular unpacking kinetics of polyplexes by a model constructed from quantum dot-FRET.

ABSTRACT: A major challenge for non-viral gene delivery is gaining a mechanistic understanding of the rate-limiting steps. A critical barrier in polyplex-mediated gene delivery is the timely unpacking of polyplexes within the target cell to liberate DNA for efficient gene transfer. In this study, the component plasmid DNA and polymeric gene carrier were individually labeled with quantum dots (QDs) and Cy5 dyes, respectively, as a donor and acceptor pair for fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). The high signal-to-noise ratio in QD-mediated FRET enabled sensitive detection of discrete changes in polyplex stability. The intracellular uptake and dissociation of polyplexes through QD-FRET was captured over time by confocal microscopy. From quantitative image-based analysis, distributions of rel

SUBMITTER: Chen HH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3014860 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature