Preparation of Chitosan-Plasmid DNA Nanoparticles Encoding interleukin-12 and their Expression in CT-26 Colon Carcinoma Cells

Purpose. Interleukin-12 (Il-12) as a cytokine has been proved to possess antitumor effects via stimulating the immune system. Non-viral gene delivery systems exhibit low toxicity and are easier to prepare compared to their viral counterparts. In this study, we aimed to prepare plasmid DNA loaded chitosan nanoparticles for expression of Il-12 and to evaluate their physicochemical characteristics, cytotoxicity and transfection efficiency in Murine CT-26 colon carcinoma cells. Methods. Nanoparticles were prepared using a complex coacervation process at different N/P ratios and characterized in terms of size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, morphology, encapsulation efficiency and polyplex formation. The cytotoxicities and transfection efficiencies of the prepared polyplexes were evaluated by MTT assay and ELISA (for hIL-12, p70), respectively. Results. Size and zeta potential varied from 76.73 to 867.03 nm and between 5.68 and 16.77 mV, respectively. Strong attachment of the DNA to chitosan was observed after polyplex preparation. Encapsulation efficiencies were high (72.97-94.87%). The transfection efficiencies of the prepared complexes were obviously higher than those of naked pDNA when N/P ratios were between 16 and 60. Maximum level of phIL-12 expression was obtained at (N/P = 16) with mean particle size of 381.83 +/- 82.77 nm (polydispersity index=0.44 +/- 0.066) indicating the improved transfection of pUMVC3-hIL12 about 2.80 times compared to that of the naked pUMVC3-hIL12. Prepared polyplexes were nontoxic to CT-26 cells. Conclusions. Chitosan-DNA nanoparticles at N/P = 16 with minimal cytotoxicity, can be used as suitable candidate for Il-12gene delivery.