We report the first observation of an inverted hexagonal phase of phospholipid- DNA-metal complexes. These ternary complexes are formed in a self-assembled manner when water solutions of neutral lipid dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE), DNA and divalent metal cations (Me2+; Me = Fe, Co, Mg, Mn) are mixed, which represents a striking example of supramolecular chemistry. The structure, derived from synchrotron X-ray diffraction, consists of cylindrical DNA strands coated by neutral lipid monolayers and arranged on a two-dimensional hexagonal lattice (Hc II ). Besides the fundamental aspects, DOPE-DNA-Me2+ complexes may be of great interest as efficient nonviral delivery systems in gene therapy applications because of the low inherent cytotoxicity and the potential high transfection efficiency.
“Evidence of an inverted hexagonal phase in self-assembled phospholipid-DNA-metal complexes” / Francescangeli, Oriano; Pisani, Michela; V., Stani; Bruni, Paolo; T. M., Weiss. - In: EUROPHYSICS LETTERS. - ISSN 0295-5075. - 67 (4):(2004), pp. 669-675. [10.1209/epl/i2004-10091-y]
“Evidence of an inverted hexagonal phase in self-assembled phospholipid-DNA-metal complexes”
FRANCESCANGELI, ORIANO;PISANI, MICHELA;BRUNI, PAOLO;
2004-01-01
Abstract
We report the first observation of an inverted hexagonal phase of phospholipid- DNA-metal complexes. These ternary complexes are formed in a self-assembled manner when water solutions of neutral lipid dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE), DNA and divalent metal cations (Me2+; Me = Fe, Co, Mg, Mn) are mixed, which represents a striking example of supramolecular chemistry. The structure, derived from synchrotron X-ray diffraction, consists of cylindrical DNA strands coated by neutral lipid monolayers and arranged on a two-dimensional hexagonal lattice (Hc II ). Besides the fundamental aspects, DOPE-DNA-Me2+ complexes may be of great interest as efficient nonviral delivery systems in gene therapy applications because of the low inherent cytotoxicity and the potential high transfection efficiency.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
