Dextran–g–PEI nanoparticles as a carrier for co-delivery of adriamycin and plasmid into osteosarcoma cells

Combination of chemotherapy and gene therapy of cancer has synergistic effects on overcoming drug resistance. Macromolecular materials such as dextran and PEI have been a potential module for chemotherapeutics and gene delivery. Herein, we hypothesize the combinational strategy of chemotherapy and gene therapy in a single dextran–PEI nanoplatform. The physicochemical properties, cytotoxicity, transfection efficiency were investigated in vitro. Ultra-violet spectrum and 1H NMR revealed adriamycin and PEI were grafted to dextran chain. Agarose gel electrophoresis demonstrated that the migration of plasmid was completely retarded when the N/P ratio of complex was 4. The sizes of DEX–ADM–PEI/DNA nanoparticles decreased and the zeta potentials enhanced with the increasing N/P ratio. Transmission electron microscope indicated a round morphology of the nanoparticles. DEX–ADM–PEI conjugation has higher cytotoxicity, compared to free adriamycin, in MG-63 and Saos-2 osteosarcoma cells but DEX–PEI maintained over 65% cell viability at the concentration of 8 mg/mL. The transfection efficiency of DEX–ADM–PEI/pEGFP-N1 at N/P ratio of 4:1 both in MG-63 and Saos-2 cell were slightly low than that of PEI 25k. But our nanoplatform efficiently delivered both plasmid pEGFP-N1 and adriamycin into osteosarcoma cells. This study demonstrated that DEX–ADM–PEI efficiently and selectively delivered both plasmid pEGFP-N1 and adriamycin to osteosarcoma cells with low cytotoxicity.