Development and Evaluation of O-CaP Core Nanoparticles for Efficient Non-Viral Gene Delivery
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Nanoparticles have gained significant attention in biomedical applications, particularly in gene delivery, due to their tunable physicochemical properties. A new core nanoparticle, O-CaP-2 (Octadecylamine- Calcium Phosphate core nanoparticle), was synthesized and evaluated for its physicochemical properties, cytocompatibility, and gene transfer efficiency.
Methods: In this study, 2 different nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized, and their transfection efficiency was evaluated. A core-shell structure was formed by coating calcium phosphate nanoparticles (CaP NPs) with octadecylamine nanoparticles (OD NPs) to enhance stability and cellular uptake. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized in terms of size and surface charge using
a Zetasizer. Morphological properties were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while chemical interactions were investigated through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The cytotoxicity of the nanoparticles was assessed
using MTT (2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide [MTT, Thiazolyl blue]) assay over a 24-hour period. Finally, nanoparticles exhibiting optimal physicochemical properties and biocompatibility were selected for transfection studies. The transfection efficiency of these nanoparticles was evaluated to determine their potential for gene delivery applications.
Results: The O-CaP-2 nanoparticle, with a zeta potential of +24.3 mV, an average size of 184 nm, and a PDI (polydispersity index) of 0.2, was selected for further evaluation. Scanning electron microscopy imaging showed dense, spherical particles, while FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of octadecylamine and calcium phosphate. MTT assays indicated no cytotoxic effects across tested concentrations. Gene transfer studies achieved a transfection efficiency of 78% ± 5.18%, demonstrating O-CaP2’s potential as a safe and effective gene delivery vector.
Conclusion: The O-CaP-2 core nanoparticle, characterized by its favorable physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, and high transfection efficiency, demonstrates strong potential as a safe and effective non-viral gene delivery vector.
Cite this article as: Varlı, H. S. Development and evaluation of O-CaP core nanoparticles for efficient non-viral gene delivery. Trends Pharm, 2025, 2, 0006. doi: 10.5152/TrendsPharm.2025.25006.
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