The Synthesis and Transfection Activity of Disulfide Polycationic Amphiphiles.

Some new polycationic amphiphiles containing a disulfide group were synthesized. Cationic liposomes formed from the compounds synthesized and a helper lipid 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylethanolamine were not toxic for HEK293 and HeLa cells and were highly effective when delivering a fluorescently labeled oligodeoxyribonucleotide. The efficacy of plasmid DNA delivery depended on the cell line and the amphiphile structure, liposomes based on tetracationic amphiphiles being the most effective transfectants. These liposomes can be used for in vitro transfection of eukaryotic cells as well as for further in vivo biological studies.