Pretreatment of hepatocyte growth factor gene transfer mediated by octaarginine peptide-modified nanoparticles ameliorates LPS/D-galactosamine-induced hepatitis.

We previously reported that an octaarginine- and pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide-modified multifunctional envelope-type nano device (R8-GALA-MEND) produces a high level of gene expression in the liver. In this study, we report on an examination of whether this gene delivery system exerts potent hepatoprotective effects against lipopolysaccharide/D-galactosamine (LPS/D-GalN)-induced acute liver injury. In vivo-jetPEI(™)-Gal, a commercially available in vivo transfection reagent, was used as a reference.

Octaarginine- and pH sensitive fusogenic peptide-modified nanoparticles for liver gene delivery.

We previously reported that octaarginine peptide modified liposomes (R8-liposomes) largely accumulated in the liver after intravenous administration and that this is dependent on the R8-density. We report herein on the development of a Multifunctional Envelope-type Nano Device modified with R8 and GALA, as a pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide (R8-GALA-MEND) for liver gene delivery. An R8-MEND encapsulating pDNA prepared using two different cores (negatively or positively charged pDNA/polyethylene imine condensed particles) failed to produce a high gene expression in the liver.