N4,N9-dioleoyl spermine is a novel nonviral lipopolyamine vector for plasmid DNA formulation

Purpose. To study the effect of synthesized N-4, N-9-dioleoyl spermine on DNA condensation and then measure its transfection efficiency in cell culture. Methods. The lipopolyamine was synthesized from the naturally occurring polyamine spermine. The ability of this novel compound to condense DNA was studied using ethidium bromide fluorescence quenching and light scattering assays. Transfection efficiency was studied in primary skin cells (FEK4) and in an immortalized cancer cell line (HtTA), and compared with the commercially available transfection formulations Lipofectin and Lipofectamine. Results. The synthesized N-4, N-9-dioleoyl spermine formula is efficient at condensing calf thymus and circular plasmid DNA and effectively transfects both primary skin cells and cancer cell lines at low charge ratios of (+/- ammonium/phosphate) 2.5. Conclusions. N-4, N-9-Dioleoyl spermine condenses DNA and achieves high transfection levels in cultured cells.