Human serum albumin nanoparticles for efficient delivery of Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase gene

PURPOSE: To assess the potential of human serum albumin nanoparticles (HSA NP) as a nonviral vector for ocular delivery of Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene. METHODS: Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene-encapsulated nanoparticles (NP) were developed using human serum albumin (HSA), an endogenous protein, by a desolvation-crosslinking method. The pSOD-loaded HSA NP was evaluated for in vitro release characteristics, stability against DNase I and vitreous humor degradation, cytotoxicity, cellular uptake mechanisms, in vitro transfection efficiency, and in vivo gene expression. In vitro studies employed cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells and in vivo studies employed a mouse model. For cell uptake analysis, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled human serum albumin (HSA) was used. RESULTS: Plasmid containing SOD1 gene was encapsulated in HSA by a desolvation-crosslinking method. Gene-loaded HSA NP has a mean size of 120 nm, zeta potential of -44 mV, and plasmid encapsulation efficiency of 84%. At high crosslinking degree, HSA NP sustained the in vitro release of plasmid over 6 days, and stabilized plasmid DNA against DNase I and vitreous humor degradation. No cytotoxicity was observed in ARPE 19 cells treated with blank HSA NP at concentrations up to 5 mg/ml for 96 h. Cellular uptake of HSA NP was via receptor-mediated endocytosis that involves primarily caveolae-pathways. Confocal analysis indicated rapid endo/lysosomal escape of HSA NP. Further, confocal studies indicated that HSA readily enters the cell nucleus. In vitro, pSOD-HSA NP resulted in more than 80% transfection efficiency in ARPE-19 cells, which was 5 fold higher than Lipofectamine. HSA NP-transfected cells exhibited enhanced SOD1 activity that was 5 fold higher than untreated cells, indicating the overexpression of the functional gene. Intravitreal injection of HSA NP to the mouse eye at a dose of 130 ng of plasmid produced detectable level of fusion protein expression at 48 h, compared to non-detectable expression in control animals. CONCLUSIONS: The HSA NP developed in this study offers a very promising approach for nonviral gene delivery to the retina.