With the advancement of nanotechnology, nano-sized bioceramics have been dedicated much attention to biomedical applications in the past decades. In this study, the magnetic-hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (mHap NPs) were synthesized and magnetized by the addition of irons into hydroxyapatite using precipitation process. The mHap NPs were with good biocompatibility and superparamagnetic property which would have great promise in biological applications. We have evaluated the essential properties including plasmid DNA (pDNA) binding capacity by electrophoresis, qualitative transfection efficiency by fluorescence microscopy and quantitative GDNF expression by enzyme-link immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results indicated that mHap NPs could be successfully binding with pDNA to form pDNA-mHap NPs transfection complex. The endocytosis of pDNA-mHap NPs transfection complex was mediated into cells and facilitated if magnetic field was applied. The transfection efficiency could also be significantly improved by magnetofection. The gene expression had been four-fold increase in high pDNA loading (2 mu g/well) in transfection procedure with magnetic field compared with traditional transfection method. In brief, the mHap NPs have great potential as non-viral inorganic delivery carriers for gene delivery system.
Date:
2010-02
Relation:
Biomedical Engineering: Applications, Basis and Communications. 2010 Feb;22(1):33-39.