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Surface-mediated gene transfer from nanocomposites of controlled texture

Nature Materials volume 3, pages 569–574 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Safe and efficient gene delivery would have great potential in gene therapy and tissue engineering, but synthetic biomaterial surfaces endowed with efficient gene-transferring functions do not yet exist. Inspired by naturally occurring biomineralization processes, we co-precipitated DNA with inorganic minerals onto cell-culture surfaces. The DNA/mineral nanocomposite surfaces obtained not only supported cell growth but also provided high concentrations of DNA in the immediate microenvironment of the cultured cells. Gene transfer from the engineered surfaces was as efficient as an optimized commercial lipid transfection reagent; in addition, the extent of gene transfer was adjustable by varying the mineral composition. DNA/mineral nanocomposite surfaces represent a promising system for enhancing gene transfer and controlling the extent of gene transfer for various biomedical applications, including tissue engineering or gene therapy of bone.

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Figure 1: SEMs of DNA-loaded mineralized surfaces.
Figure 2: Fourier-transform infrared spectrum of DNA-doped mineralized surface.
Figure 3: Efficiency of loading and release of DNA.
Figure 4: Efficiency of gene transfer with surfaces coated with DNA/carbonate apatites nanocomposites in different cell lines.
Figure 5: In vitro cell viability.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Mandy Ma for technical support. This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH grant number DE14097).

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  1. Hong Shen and Jian Tan: These authors contributed equally to the work

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, 14853, New York, USA

    Hong Shen & Jian Tan

  2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, 06520, Connecticut, USA

    W. Mark Saltzman

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  1. Hong Shen
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  2. Jian Tan
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Correspondence to W. Mark Saltzman.

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Shen, H., Tan, J. & Saltzman, W. Surface-mediated gene transfer from nanocomposites of controlled texture. Nature Mater 3, 569–574 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat1179

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