Water-based Double Layer Functionalized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Enhanced Gene Delivery Applications

Iron oxide nanoparticles (magnetite (Fe3O4), hematite (Fe2O3)) have been received increasing attention in drug and gene delivery. In this work, water-base double layer functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles (DL-IONPs) were designed and prepared of a biodegradable, biocompatible carrier by co-precipitation method with high DNA loading capacity due to self-assembly of a second organic layer. The prepared nanocarriers were characterized by FTIR spectra, XRD, dynamic light scattering and vibrating sample magnetometry. Gene loading ability of the nanocarriers was determined using gel retardation electrophorese method. Finally, cytotoxicity and transfection assays toward HEK293T cell line were studied. Several advantages compared to other systems are simple synthesis procedure, high ability for condensation of nucleic acids due to positive charge around of carrier and suitable capacity for loading hydrophobic drugs in consequences of the hydrophobic area formation between the first and second layers. Results from gel retardation assay demonstrated that the DNA can efficiently attach to DL-IONPs particles, and protect plasmid DNA from nucleases attack and degradation.