Interaction of functional dendrimers with multilamellar liposomes: design of a model system for studying drug delivery

Effect of cationic dendrimer on membrane mimetic systems in the form of monolayer and bilayer

Interactions between a zwitterionic phospholipid, 1, 2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and four anionic phospholipids dihexadecyl phosphate (DHP), 1, 2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol (DMPG), 1, 2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate (DPP) and 1, 2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho ethanol (DPPEth) in combination with an additional amount of 30 mol% cholesterol were separately investigated at air-buffer interface through surface pressure (π) - area (A) measurements. π-A isotherm derived parameters revealed maximum negative deviation from ideality for the mixtures comprising 30 mol% anionic lipids. Besides the film functionality, structural changes of the monomolecular films at different surface pressures in the absence and presence of polyamidoamine (PAMAM, generation 4), a cationic dendrimer, were visualised through Brewster angle microscopy and fluorescence microscopic studies. Fluidity/rigidity of monolayers were assessed by surface dilatational rheology studies. Effect of PAMAM on the formation of adsorbed monolayer, due to bilayer disintegration of liposomes (DPPC:anionic lipids= 7:3 M/M, and 30 mol% cholesterol) were monitored by surface pressure (π) - time (t) isotherms. Bilayer disintegration kinetics were dependent on lipid head group and chain length, besides dendrimer concentration. Such studies are considered to be an in vitro cell membrane model where the alteration of molecular orientation play important roles in understanding the nature of interaction between the dendrimer and cell membrane. Liposome-dendrimer aggregates were nontoxic to breast cancer cell line as well as in doxorubicin treated MDA-MB-468 cell line suggesting their potential as drug delivery systems.

Biophysical Correlates on the Composition, Functionality, and Structure of Dendrimer-Liposome Aggregates

Interaction between negatively charged liposomes and cationic polyamidoamine dendrimers of different generations was investigated through size, zeta potential, turbidity, electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and calorimetric studies. Liposomes with the binary combination of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) + dihexadecyl phosphate, DPPC + 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol, DPPC + 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate, and DPPC + 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanol were stable up to 60 days. The electrostatic nature of dendrimer-lipid bilayer interaction was evidenced through charge neutralization and subsequent reversal upon added dendrimer to liposome. Dendrimer-liposome interaction depended on its generation (5 > 4 > 3) in addition to the charge, head groups, and hydrocarbon chain length of lipids. Fluorescence anisotropy and differential scanning calorimetry studies suggest the fluidization of the bilayer, although the surface rigidity was enhanced by the added dendrimers. Thermodynamic parameters of the interaction processes were evaluated by isothermal titration and differential scanning calorimetric studies. The binding processes were exothermic in nature. The enthalpy of transition of the chain melting of lipids decreased systematically with increasing dendrimer concentration and generation. Dendrimer-liposome aggregates were nontoxic to healthy human blood cell, suggesting the potential of such aggregates as drug delivery systems.

A new microscopic insight into membrane penetration and reorganization by PETIM dendrimers

Dendrimers are highly branched polymeric nanoparticles whose structure and topology, largely, have determined their efficacy in a wide range of studies performed so far. An area of immense interest is their potential as drug and gene delivery vectors. Realizing this potential, depending on the nature of cell surface-dendrimer interactions, here we report controlled model membrane penetration and reorganization, using a model supported lipid bilayer and poly(ether imine) (PETIM) dendrimers of two generations. By systematically varying the areal density of the lipid bilayers, we provide a microscopic insight, through a combination of high resolution scattering, atomic force microscopy and atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, into the mechanism of PETIM dendrimer membrane penetration, pore formation and membrane re-organization induced by such interactions. Our work represents the first systematic observation of a regular barrel-like membrane spanning pore formation by dendrimers, tunable through lipid bilayer packing, without membrane disruption.

Molecular recognition and organizational and polyvalent effects in vesicles induce the formation of artificial multicompartment cells as model systems of eukaryotes

Researchers have become increasingly interested in the preparation and characterization of artificial cells based on amphiphilic molecules. In particular, artificial cells with multiple compartments are primitive mimics of the structure of eukaryotic cells. Endosymbiotic theory, widely accepted among biologists, states that eukaryotic cells arose from the assembly of prokaryotic cells inside other cells. Therefore, replicating this process in a synthetic system could allow researchers to model molecular and supramolecular processes that occur in living cells, shed light on mass and energy transport through cell membranes, and provide a unique, isolated space for conducting chemical reactions. In addition, such structures can serve as drug delivery systems that encapsulate both bioactive and nonbiocompatible compounds. In this Account, we present various coating, incubation, and electrofusion strategies for forming multicompartment vesicle systems, and we are focusing on strategies that rely on involving molecular recognition of complementary vesicles. All these methods afforded multicompartment systems with similar structures, and these nanoparticles have potential applications as drug delivery systems or nanoreactors for conducting diverse reactions. The complementarity of interacting vesicles allows these artificial cells to form, and the organization and polyvalency of these interacting vesicles further promote their formation. The incorporation of cholesterol in the bilayer membrane and the introduction of PEG chains at the surface of the interacting vesicles also support the structure of these multicompartment systems. PEG chains appear to destabilize the bilayers, which facilitates the fusion and transport of the small vesicles to the larger ones. Potential applications of these well-structured and reproducibly produced multicompartment systems include drug delivery, where researchers could load a cocktail of drugs within the encapsulated vesicles, a process that could enhance the bioavailability of these substances. In addition, the production of artificial cells with multiple compartments provides a platform where researchers could carry out individual reactions in small, isolated spaces. Such a reactive space can avoid problems that occur when the environment can be destructive to reactants or products or when a diverse set of compounds difficult to obtain in a conventional reactor space are produced. Our work on these artificial cells with multicompartment structures also led us to formulate a hypothesis on the processes that possibly generated eukaryotic cells. We hope both that our research efforts will excite interest in these nanoparticles and that this research could lead to systems designed for specific scientific and technological applications and further insights into the evolution of eukaryotic cells.

Dendrimer-surfactant interactions

In this article, we reviewed the interactions between dendrimers and surfactants with particular focus on the interaction mechanisms and physicochemical properties of the yielding dendrimer-surfactant aggregates. In order to provide insight into the behavior of dendrimers in biological systems, the interactions of dendrimers with bio-surfactants such as phospholipids in bulk solutions, in solid-supported bilayers and at the interface of phases or solid-states were discussed. Applications of the dendrimer-surfactant aggregates as templates to guide the synthesis of nanoparticles and in drug or gene delivery were also mentioned.

Guanidylated hollow fiber membranes based on brominated poly (2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (BPPO) for gold sorption from acid solutions

Novel guanidylated hollow fiber membranes are prepared based on brominated poly (2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (BPPO) under mild reaction conditions. 1H-pyrazole-1-carboxamidine hydrochloride (HPCA) is employed for the guanidylation in aqueous solution at room temperature. The obtained guanidylated PPO hollow fiber membranes (GPPO HFMs) contain 0.31-0.95 mmol/g guanidyl groups and show high affinity to tetrachloroauric anions (AuCl(4)(-)) in acid solutions. For 0.1M HCl solution containing 57.8 mg gold/L, the sorption amount can get as high as 130 mg/g. Besides, the GPPO HFMs show preferable selectivity toward gold in multicomponent solution containing Mg(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Pb(II). A system of comparison experiments involving the sorption behavior of GPPO HFMs and quaternary aminated HFMs are also performed. The results reveal that driving forces for the high adsorption of gold mainly involve complexation mechanism. Overall, the obtained GPPO HFM is a promising chelating material for the recovery of gold.

Improving the endosomal escape of cell-penetrating peptides and their cargos: strategies and challenges

Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) can deliver cell-impermeable therapeutic cargos into cells. In particular, CPP-cargo conjugates tend to accumulate inside cells by endocytosis. However, they often remain trapped inside endocytic organelles and fail to reach the cytosolic space of cells efficiently. In this review, the evidence for CPP-mediated endosomal escape is discussed. In addition, several strategies that have been utilized to enhance the endosomal escape of CPP-cargos are described. The recent development of branched systems that display multiple copies of a CPP is presented. The use of viral or synthetic peptides that can disrupt the endosomal membrane upon activation by the low pH of endosomes is also discussed. Finally, we survey how CPPs labeled with chromophores can be used in combination with light to stimulate endosomal lysis. The mechanisms and challenges associated with these intracellular delivery methodologies are discussed.

PEGylated guanidinylated polyallylamine as gene-delivery carrier

A novel cationic co-polymer was developed by grafting poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) on guanidinylated polyallylamine (PAA) for gene delivery. Characterization of PEG-g-guanidinylated PAA/DNA complexes demonstrated that particle size increased and surface charge decreased with increasing the amount of PEG. The results of cytotoxicity assay proved that grafted PEG could effectively decrease the cytotoxicity of the complexes. In transfection efficiency assay, HeLa cells treated with PEG(2)-g-guanidinylated PAA (formed with 17.5 μmol guanidinylated PAA and 2 μmol PEG)/DNA (0.2 μg EGFP plasmid) complexes showed a very high level of EGFP expression. In conclusion, combination of guanidinylation and PEGylation could effectively decrease the cytotoxicity and significantly increase the transfection efficiency of PAA.

Solid-state NMR reveals the hydrophobic-core location of poly(amidoamine) dendrimers in biomembranes

Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer nanobiotechnology shows great promise in targeted drug delivery and gene therapy. Because of the involvement of cell membrane lipids with the pharmacological activity of dendrimer nanomedicines, the interactions between dendrimers and lipids are of particular relevance to the pharmaceutical applications of dendrimers. In this study, solid-state NMR was used to obtain a molecular image of the complex of generation-5 (G5) PAMAM dendrimer with the lipid bilayer. Using (1)H radio frequency driven dipolar recoupling (RFDR) and (1)H magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) techniques, we show that dendrimers are thermodynamically stable when inserted into zwitterionic lipid bilayers. (14)N and (31)P NMR experiments on static samples and measurements of the mobility of C-H bonds using a 2D proton detected local field protocol under MAS corroborate these results. The localization of dendrimers in the hydrophobic core of lipid bilayers restricts the motion of bilayer lipid tails, with the smaller G5 dendrimer having more of an effect than the larger G7 dendrimer. Fragmentation of the membrane does not occur at low dendrimer concentrations in zwitterionic membranes. Because these results show that the amphipathic dendrimer molecule can be stably incorporated in the interior of the bilayer (as opposed to electrostatic binding at the surface), they are expected to be useful in the design of dendrimer-based nanobiotechnologies.

Mechanistic insight into cell growth, internalization, and cytotoxicity of PAMAM dendrimers

We report on the role of PAMAM dendrimer concentration and generation (G2, G4, G6) on cell growth and cytotoxicity in HEK293T and HeLa cell lines and make comparisons with dendrimer-induced leakage from liposomes to probe the mechanisms in action. Specifically, we observed a striking transition from cell growth enhancement to a reduction in cell viability at a critical PAMAM dendrimer concentration, that is, approximately 500 nM. Confocal microscopy studies show evidence of a transition from cell membrane adhesion to cell internalization and cell nucleus interaction at equivalent dendrimer concentrations. A dendrimer concentration window of 500-700 nM was identified for effective cell internalization without significant cytotoxicity. Though liposome leakage correlated with cytotoxicity, no quantitative agreement was observed, that is, cells are 100 times (based on surface coverage) more resistant to dendrimers than liposomes. These findings have significant implications in the design of effective drug/gene delivery vehicles based on dendrimers.

Dendritic Guanidines as Efficient Analogues of Cell Penetrating Peptides

The widespread application of cell penetrating agents to clinical therapeutics and imaging agents relies on the ability to prepare them on a large scale and to readily conjugate them to their cargos. Dendritic analogues of cell penetrating peptides, with multiple guanidine groups on their peripheries offer advantages as their high symmetry allows them to be efficiently synthesized, while orthogonal functionalities at their focal points allow them to be conjugated to cargo using simple synthetic methods. Their chemical structures and properties are also highly tunable as their flexibility and the number of guanidine groups can be tuned by altering the dendritic backbone or the linkages to the guanidine groups. This review describes the development of cell-penetrating dendrimers based on several different backbones, their structure-property relationships, and comparisons of their efficacies with those of known cell penetrating peptides. The toxicities of these dendritic guanidines are also reported as well as their application towards the intracellular delivery of biologically significant cargos including proteins and nanoparticles.

Guanidinylated dendritic molecular transporters: prospective drug delivery systems and application in cell transfection

In the present review the crucial role of the guanidinium functional group in facilitating the transport of dendritic polymers through liposomal and cell membranes is discussed, along with other structural features of guanidinylated dendritic polymers that fine-tune their transport properties, and even determine their subcellular destinations. In this context, an ideal dendritic molecular transporter would need to possess a dendritic scaffold of the appropriate size and degree of guanidinylation, flexibility of the guanidinium moiety, and should exhibit a proper balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties located on the dendritic surface. All of the above are illustrated through selected paradigms from the relevant literature, which give a valuable insight into forging successful dendritic delivery systems for both drugs and genes. The main challenge for the future focus of the field is identified as the determination of the key structural and functional characteristics that will enhance cell internalisation, and secure localisation in specific subcellular organelles.

Interactive transport of guanidinylated poly(propylene imine)-based dendrimers through liposomal and cellular membranes

The ability of guanidinylated poly(propylene imine) dendrimers to translocate across lipid bilayers was assessed by employing either a model phosphate-bearing liposomal membrane system or A549 human lung carcinoma cells. Two dendrimer generations, differing in the number of surface guanidinium groups, were employed, while surface acetylation or the use of spacers affected the binding of the guanidinium group to the phosphate moiety and finally the transport efficiency. Following adhesion of dendrimers with liposomes, fusion or transport occurred. Transport through the liposomal bilayer was observed at low guanidinium/phosphate molar ratios, and was enhanced when the bilayer was in the liquid-crystalline phase. For effective transport through the liposomal membrane, an optimum balance between the binding strength and the degree of hydrophobicity of the guanidinylated dendrimer is required. In experiments performed in vitro with cells, efficient penetration and internalization in subcellular organelles and cytosol was observed.

Stability and fusion of lipid layers on polyelectrolyte multilayer supports studied by colloidal force spectroscopy

The interaction between lipid layers supported by polyelectrolyte multilayer cushions has been studied by means of colloidal force spectroscopy. In a typical experiment, a colloidal probe engineered with a layer-by-layer film and a lipid bilayer on top is approached to a planar surface coated in a symmetrical way. Kinks of a few nanometres in width appear when lipid layers are pressed together--reflecting either fusion processes between lipid layers or membranes, or the penetration of polymer blobs into or through the lipid layers. Retracting curves show a stepwise shape, which results from lipid tether formation or from polymer stretching, the latter suggesting that polyelectrolyte multilayers make contact as a result of penetration or lipid fusion.

Synthesis and characterization of guanidinylated poly(propylene imine) dendrimers as gene transfection agents

Fourth generation poly(propylene imine) dendrimer has been completely or partially functionalized with guanidinium groups. In the second case, the remaining toxic primary amino groups of the dendrimers were reacted with propylene oxide affording the corresponding hydroxylated derivatives. Five derivatives have been prepared bearing 0, 6, 12, 24 or 32 guanidinium groups. These guanidinylated dendrimers were interacted with plasmid DNA affording the corresponding dendriplexes. The complexes were physicochemically characterized by dynamic light scattering, zeta-potential measurements and AFM, while the extent of complexation was evaluated by agarose gel electrophoresis. Furthermore, their transfection efficiency was assessed employing HEK 293 and COS-7 cell lines, while the serum effect was studied in HEK 293 cells. It was found that complete replacement of primary amino groups with the hydroxylated moieties resulted in complete loss of transfection efficiency. On the contrary, guanidinylation of the parent dendrimer resulted to significant enhancement of its transfection efficiency, this enhancement being dependent on the number of guanidinium groups per dendrimer, the cell line used and the presence or absence of FBS. The fully guanidinylated dendrimer exhibited the best transfection efficiency under all the conditions studied. This efficiency has been attributed to the enhanced penetrating ability of the guanidinylated dendrimers due to the accumulation of the guanidinium group at the dendrimeric surface. It was also found that the derivative with 12 guanidinium groups exhibited the lowest toxicity. The reduction of toxicity was apparently attributed to the decrease of the external primary amino groups coupled with the presence of hydroxylated moieties located at the dendrimeric surface. The functionalization strategy employed leads to dendrimeric derivatives that combine satisfactory transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity.