Role of weakly polarized nanoparticles in electroporation

In this study, we present a role for weakly polarized nanoparticles as engineered gene transporters that can enhance electromediated gene delivery. To validate this proof-of-concept, fluorescent poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-coated silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) with opposite polarities, SiNPs(RITC)-PEG/PTMA(+) and SiNPs(RITC)-PEG/PMP(-), are used. To investigate the electroporative uptake direction of the nanoparticles-gene complex, we employ microscale electroporation to generate more symmetric and uniform electric fields. The effect of the polarity of the nanoparticles on EGFP gene transfection efficiency in HeLa cells is measured by flow cytometry analysis. The results show that, compared to cationic nanoparticles, anionic nanoparticles have potential as electromediated gene transporters at a low gene concentration. Furthermore, we believe that this finding can be useful for developing a platform that enables electroporation-based gene/drug delivery associated with functional nanoparticles.