Novel PVA–DNA nanoparticles prepared by ultra high pressure technology for gene delivery

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)–DNA nanoparticles have been developed by ultra high pressure (UHP) technology. Mixture solutions of DNA and PVA having various molecular weights (Mw) and degree of saponifications (DS) were treated under 10,000 atmospheres (981 MPa) condition at 40 °C for 10 min. Agarose gel electrophoresis and scanning electron microscope observation revealed that the PVA–DNA nanoparticles with average diameter of about 200 nm were formed. Using PVA of higher Mw and degree of saponifications, the amount of nanoparticles formed increased. The driving force of nanoparticle formation was the hydrogen bonding between DNA and PVA. In order to apply the PVA–DNA nanoparticles for gene delivery, the cytotoxicity and the cellular uptake of them were investigated using Raw264 cell lines. The cell viability was not influenced whether the presence of the PVA–DNA nanoparticles. Further, the nanoparticles internalized into cells were observed by fluorescent microscope. These results indicates that the PVA–DNA nanoparticles prepared by UHP technology showed be useful as drug carrier, especially for gene delivery.