Polysaccharide/polyaminoacid composite scaffolds for modified DNA release

In this work composite polymeric films or sponges, based on hyaluronic acid (HA) covalently crosslinked with α,β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)(2-aminoethylcarbamate)-d,l-aspartamide (PE), have been prepared and characterized as local gene delivery systems. In particular, HA/PE scaffolds have been loaded with PE/DNA interpolyelectrolyte complexes, employing PE as a macromolecular crosslinker for HA and as a non-viral vector for DNA. In vitro studies showed that HA/PE films and sponges have high compatibility with human dermal fibroblasts and they give a sustained DNA release, whose trend can be easily tailored by varying the crosslinking ratio between HA and PE. Electrophoresis analysis and transfection studies on B16-F10 cells revealed that DNA is released as a complex with PE and it retains its bioactivity.