Magnetofection: A Magical Technique for Effective Gene Transfer Using Magnetic Nanoparticles

Year 2024, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 25 - 29, 23.07.2024

Şeymanur Sancaktutan Bahtinur İspahi Şeyda Yıldız Arslan Kübra Solak Yağmur Ünver

Abstract

Gene therapy is a type of therapy that works by turning off disease-causing or malfunctioning genes and delivering a specific gene to the body to treat the disease. Delivering a therapeutic gene to targeted cells remains a limitation of gene transfer. Gene transfer is therefore an important part of gene therapy. Gene delivery systems are generally divided into viral-based and non-viral-based systems. Among many nanostructures, nanoparticles are widely used as vectors for non-viral gene transfer. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been widely used in the biomedical field in recent years due to their unique magnetic properties. In principle, their charge and size make MNPs suitable for reaching the target site. Furthermore, the high surface area/volume ratio makes MNPs ideal for gene transfer. One of the main methods of using MNPs for gene transfer is magnetofection. In this method, DNA and MNPs are combined in a buffer containing salt to form a complex called magnetofectin. This complex is allowed to penetrate into cells under the influence of a magnetic field. DNA, which is negatively charged, needs to be modified in order to pass through the negatively charged cell membrane, to form complexes with MNPs, and to increase its stability and biocompatibility. For this purpose, commonly used polymers such as PEI (e.g., amphiphilic poly(L-lysine), polyamidoamines (PAAs), and PEG) are used as gene carriers. In addition, MNPs and polymers such as PEI aid the endosomal escape of DNA. This mini-review summarizes the specific gene transfection (magnetofection) of magnetic particles during all dynamic processes of gene transfer (nanoparticle synthesis, gene binding, cellular uptake, endosomal escape, and in vivo targeting).

Keywords

magnetic nanoparticles, magnetofection, gene therapy, biomedical applications, combination therapy

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