Characterization of polypropyleneimine as an alternative transfection reagent

Polypropyleneimine (PPI) was examined as a transfection reagent comparing with most widely used polymer, polyethyleneimine (PEI). PPI had better responsiveness to the endosomal pH and showed more condensation ability of plasmid DNA than PEI. Although the cytotoxicity of PPI was somewhat higher than PEI, the transfection efficacy of PPI was comparable with PEI or higher than PEI in some cell line. Thus, PPI would be an alternative transfection reagent.

Automated summary

Polypropyleneimine (PPI) was compared with polyethyleneimine (PEI) as a transfection reagent and showed better responsiveness to endosomal pH and higher condensation ability of plasmid DNA. Although PPI had somewhat higher cytotoxicity than PEI, its transfection efficacy was comparable to or better than PEI in some cell lines. Therefore, PPI could be an alternative transfection reagent.