A novel cationic niosome formulation for gene delivery to the retina

Niosomes represent a recent promising approach for gene delivery purposes. We elaborated on a novel niosome formulation based on the 2,3-di(tetradecyloxy) propan-1-amine cationic lipid, combined with squalene and polysorbate 80 to evaluate the transfection efficiency in rat retinas. Niosomes prepared by the solvent emulsificationevaporation technique were mixed with the pCMSEGFP plasmid to form lipoplexes whichwere characterized in terms of morphology, size, surface charge, and DNA condensation, protection and release. In vitro studies were conducted to evaluate transfection efficiency, viability and internalization mechanism in HEK-293 and ARPE19 cells. The efficacy of themost promising formulation was evaluated in rat eyes by monitoring the expression of the EGFP after intravitreal and subretinal injections. Lipoplexes at 15/1 ratio were 200 nm in size, 25 mV in zeta potential and exhibited spherical morphology. At this ratio, niosomes condensed and protected the DNA from enzymatic digestion. Lipoplexes successfully transfected HEK-293 and specially ARPE-19 cells, without affecting the viability. Whereas lipoplexes entered mainly retinal cells by clathrin-mediated endocytosis, HEK293 cells showed a higher caveolae-dependent entry. After ocular administration, the expression of EGFP was detected in different cells of the retina depending on the administration route. This novel niosome formulation represents a promising approach to deliver genetic material into the retina to treat inherited retinal diseases. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.