Polyxylitol-based gene carrier improves the efficiency of gene transfer through enhanced endosomal osmolysis

Endosomal escape is one of the important processes for efficient non-viral gene delivery. In this study, we synthesized a novel non-viral vector called polyxylitol-based gene carrier (XGC) through a Miachael addition reaction between xylitol diacrylate as a crosslinking agent and low molecular weight polyethylenimine (PEI 1.2 kDa). The small amount of xylitol integrated into XGC (3.9% w/w) contributed 50% of the osmotic pressure of XGC, and enhaned the osmolysis of endosome cooperatively with the proton sponge effect, thus improving endosomal escape. Furthermore, XGC showed higher transfection efficiency in vivo in muscle tissue than pDNA alone or PEI 25 kDa. In conclusion, our results show that XGC enhanced transfection efficiency compared with PEI 25 kDa, the golden standard non-viral gene carrier, by enhancing endosomal escape without increasing the number of transfected cells.From the Clinical EditorEnhanced gene delivery methods would greatly facilitate the development of gene therapies. These authors demonstrate that a polyxylitol-based gene carrier enhanced the transfection efficiency compared with the gold standard non-viral gene carrier, as a result of enhancing endosomal escape without increasing the number of transfected cells, warranting further studies of this method.

Graphical AbstractPolyxylitol-based gene carrier (XGC) had a significantly higher transfection efficiency than polyethylenimine (PEI) 25 kDa. Our results indicate that the improved transfection efficiency by XGC was mostly caused by an increased endosomal escape. The xylitol integrated into the XGC induced superior osmotic effect to PEI inside endosome, rendering the osmolysis of endosome and facilitating consequent gene transfer into nuclei. By this mechanism, XGC could transfect post-mitotic myotubes more efficiently than PEI.Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (103 K)Download as PowerPoint slide