Synthesis and Transfection Efficiency of Disulfide Policationic Amphiphiles

The synthesis of new polycationic amphiphiles containing a disulfide group in their structure has been carried out. Cationic liposomes were formed on the basis of the obtained compounds and helper lipid 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylethanolamine, which demonstrated the absence of toxicity to HEK293 and HeLa cells and high delivery efficiency of fluorescently labeled oligodeoxyribonucleotide. The efficiency of plasmid DNA delivery depended on the cell line and structure of the amphiphile, with liposomes based on tetracationic amphiphiles being the most effective transfectants. These liposomes may be used for in vitro transfection of eukaryotic cells as well as for further in vivo biological tests.