Aminoglycoside-derived cationic lipids as efficient vectors for gene transfection in vitro and in vivo

Background Cationic lipids are at present very actively investigated for gene transfer studies and gene therapy applications. Basically, they rely on the formation of DNA/lipid aggregates via electrostatic interactions between their cationic headgroup and the negatively charged DNA. Although their structure/activity relationships are not well understood, it is generally agreed that the nature of the positive headgroup impacts on their transfection activity. Thus, we have directed our efforts toward the development of cationic lipids with novel cationic moieties. In the present work, we have explored the transfection potential of the lipophilic derivatives of the aminoglycoside kanamycin A. Indeed, aminoglycosides, which are natural polyamines known to bind to nucleic acids, provide a favorable scaffold for the synthesis of a variety of cationic lipids because of their structural features and multifunctional nature. Methods and results We report here the synthesis of a cationic cholesterol derivative characterized by a kanamycin A headgroup and of its poly-guanidinylated derivative. The amino-sugar-based cationic lipid is highly efficient for gene transfection into a variety of mammalian cell lines when used either alone or as a liposomal formulation with the neutral phospholipid dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE). Its polyguanidinylated derivative was also found to mediate in vitro gene transfection. in addition, colloidally stable kanamycin-cholesterol/DOPE lipoplexes were found to be efficient for gene transfection. into the mouse airways in vivo. Conclusions These results reveal the usefulness of cationic lipids characterized by headgroups composed of an aminoglycoside or its guanidinylated derivative for gene transfection in vitro and in vivo. Copyright (C) 2002 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.