Surface modification of microspheres with steric stabilizing and cationic polymers for gene delivery.

In this paper, we describe surface modification of poly( D,L-lactide- co-glycolide) (PLG) microspheres, intended for DNA vaccine application, with two functionalities: a steric stabilizing component, provided by poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and a cationic component, aimed at subsequent DNA surface loading. The cationic functionality arises from polycations, such as PEI, poly( L-lysine), trimethyl chitosan, and (dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate, introduced into the water phase of classical oil-in-water (o/w) solvent evaporation method of PLG microsphere fabrication. By systematic evaluation of production variables, a system was produced with balanced properties in terms of microsphere size appropriate for uptake by antigen presenting (e.g., dendritic) cells, colloidal stability, and relatively high DNA loading. The polycation (PEI) molecular weight and preparation concentration were both found to increase the surface polycation content and DNA binding capacity; however, they lead to an increased tendency for aggregation, particularly when the microsphere size was decreased. DNA loading of almost 100% efficiency was achieved under optimized conditions in physiologically acceptable buffers, resulting in a surface DNA loading appropriate for vaccine purposes. A further increase in surface DNA loading was however associated with an increase in the particles negative potential, indicating the surface presence of DNA charges not neutralized by the polycation and hence potentially not protected from in vivo enzymatic degradation. The internalization of surface-loaded DNA into the target cells was confirmed by monitoring fluorescent DNA after the microspheres were endocytosed by the cells in culture.