Optimization and Effects of Sequential Mixing on Plasmid DNA-Polyethylenimine-Polyaspartic Acid Ternary Complexes As Synthetic Gene Delivery Vectors

Gene therapy is the process of inserting genetic material that codes for a therapeutic protein into disease affected cells with the intention of treating the disease.  Originally modified viruses were used to deliver genetic material, but this proved to be unsafe due to severe immunoresponses from treated individuals and unspecific cell targeting of the viruses. Recently, complexes consisting of plasmid DNA, coated by a cationic material such as a polymer or lipid prepared by simple bulk mixing, have been studied and used as non-viral gene delivery vectors. Addition of a third material to binary complexes, creating a ternary complex, has been shown to increase efficiency and functionality of the vectors.  In this study we optimize a ternary complex of pDNA, polyethylenimine, and polyaspartic acid prepared by conventional methods and then test the effects of novel preparations on the characteristics of the complex.