Journal of Microencapsulation, Vol.16, No.4, 501-509, 1999
Effect of ultrasonication on the stability of oligonucleotides adsorbed on nanoparticles and liposomes
In the present study, oligonucleotides were adsorbed onto the surface of cationic liposomes and nanoparticles at different ratios. As a result, the surface charges of the colloidal carriers were decreased with increasing oligonucleotide concentration. At a certain oligonucleotide concentration, complete charge neutralization led to the aggregation of the carrier systems. Further increasing oligonucleotide concentrations reversed the surface charge of liposomes and nanoparticles to a negative one. Ultrasonication was investigated as a possible means for the homogenization of the formed aggregates. However, the use of ultrasonication led to a time-dependent damage of oligonucleotides adsorbed onto AH-Chol liposomes and MMAEMC-nanoparticles, as well as of unbound oligonucleotides. Nearly 60% of the oligonucleotides adsorbed to MMAEMC-nanoparticles and 65% of ODNs adsorbed to the liposomes were degraded by the effect of cavitation produced by ultrasonication within 10 min. In contrast, the oligonucleotides were protected from degradation when DEAE-stabilized PHCA-nanoparticles were employed as ODN carriers. More than 80% of the oligonucleotides entangled in the surface matrix of these nanoparticles remained intact.
Keywords:SINGLE-STRAND BREAKS;PLASMID DNA;ANTISENSE OLIGONUCLEOTIDES;SPLICE JUNCTION;MESSENGER RNA-4;CARRIERS;DELIVERY;COMPLEMENTARY;INVITRO;DAMAGE