Cell line-dependent internalization pathways and intracellular trafficking determine transfection efficiency of nanoparticle vectors

It has been suggested that cell physiology may affect the internalization pathways of non-viral vectors, leading to cell line-dependent transfection efficiency. To verify this hypothesis, fluorescently labeled alginate–chitosan nanoparticle complexes were used as non-viral vectors to transfect 293T, COS7, and CHO cells and to observe the cellular interactions and internalization mechanisms of the complexes in each cell line. 293T cells, which demonstrate the highest transfection efficiency, internalize complexes primarily through clathrin-mediated processes. COS7 cells also demonstrate some internalization of complexes through the clathrin-dependent pathway, explaining the moderate transfection exhibited. In contrast, CHO cells internalize complexes predominantly through caveolin-mediated pathways and are not transfected. Results suggest that following clathrin-mediated endocytosis, complexes are trafficked to the endo-lysosomal pathway, where the proton-sponge effect leads to their release into the cytosol. Contrarily, the absence of trafficking to this pathway following caveolin-mediated endocytosis results in vesicle-entrapped complexes that become transfection-incompetent. These results demonstrate that cell physiology is a critical factor in efficient transfection, and that trafficking to the endo-lysosomal pathway through specific internalization mechanisms is essential for transfection with alginate–chitosan nanoparticle complexes.