Angelica sinensis polysaccharide nanoparticles as novel non-viral carriers for gene delivery to mesenchymal stem cells

This study centers on the use of a nanoparticle based on the polysaccharide from Angelica sinensis (ASP) as an efficient and safe non-viral gene vector. After modification with branched low molecular weight polyethylenimine (1200 Da), the cationized ASP (cASP) was combined with the plasmid encoding transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) to form a spherical nano-scaled particle (i.e., cASP-pTGF-β1 nanoparticle). This nanoparticle was applied to transfect rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells. As a result, nanoparticles (cASP/pDNA weight ratio 10:1) had the greatest transfection efficiency in both cells, which was significantly higher than those of Lipofectamine2000 and PEI (25 kDa). This was in agreement with the findings of the semi-quantitative RT-PCR and live cell imaging. These nanoparticles were also less toxic than Lipofectamine2000 and PEI (25 kDa). Therefore, cASP could be a potential candidate for a novel non-viral gene vector.From the Clinical EditorThese authors demonstrate the use of a nanoparticle-based efficient and safe non-viral gene vector delivery system via a spherical nanoparticle based on a polysaccharide from Angelica sinensis, with parameters superior to Lipofectamine2000.

Graphical AbstractA polysaccharide extracted from the traditional Chinese herb Angelica sinensis (ASP) was chemically modified by the positively-charged low molecular weight polyethylenimine (LMW PEI) (1200 Da) to obtain the cationized ASP (cASP). The resulting cASP had the ability to condense and encapsulate plasmid TGF-β1 (pTGF-β1) to form nanoscaled particles (i.e., cASP-pTGF-β1 nanoparticles). These nanoparticles exhibited high transfection efficiency and low toxicity in both BMMSCs and HUMSCs.Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (185 K)Download as PowerPoint slide