A pH-sensitive eosin-block copolymer delivers proteins intracellularly

Chem Commun (Camb). 2020 Nov 25;56(91):14207-14210. doi: 10.1039/d0cc05165a. Epub 2020 Oct 28.

Abstract

There is great interest in developing strategies to deliver proteins into the cytoplasm of cells. We report here a PEG-poly-eosin block copolymer (PEG-pEosin) that can encapsulate proteins and release them in active form under mildly acidic conditions. A PEG-pEosin formulation composed of Cre and the endosomolytic protein LLO efficiently performed gene editing in cells and in the brains of mice after an intracranial injection.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Toxins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Bacterial Toxins / genetics
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Eosine Yellowish-(YS) / chemistry
  • Eosine Yellowish-(YS) / pharmacology*
  • Erythrocytes / drug effects
  • Gene Editing
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / genetics
  • Hemolysin Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Hemolysin Proteins / genetics
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry
  • Polyethylene Glycols / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Hemolysin Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • hlyA protein, Listeria monocytogenes
  • Eosine Yellowish-(YS)