Abstract

The use of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), typically HIV-Tat, to deliver therapeutic genes for cancer treatment is hampered by the inefficient delivery and complicated uptake route of plasmid DNA (pDNA). On the one hand, surface charges, particle size and shape essentially contribute to the endocytosis pathway of Tat/pDNA nanocomplexes, and on the other hand, endogenous cellular factors dominantly determine their intracellular trafficking fate and biological outcome. Recent advances in surfactant-modified nanomaterial and dual molecular imaging technology have offered new opportunities for suicide gene therapy. In this study, we employed the cationic surfactant C16TAB to further condense Tat/pDNA nanocomplexes for improving their delivery efficiency and tested the therapeutic effect of Tat/pDNA/C16TAB (T–P–C) nanoparticles carrying the GCV-converted HSV-ttk suicide gene for ovarian cancer. The cellular endocytosis pathway and underlying signal mechanism of T–P–C nanoparticles were further determined. The obtained T–P–C nanoparticles exhibited a small size, positive surface charge, irregular granular shape and high pDNA encapsulation efficiency. The in vitro experiments showed that T–P–C nanoparticles mainly used the macropinocytosis pathway for uptake in ovarian cancer cells. Their internalization and payload gene expression were controlled by the Arf6 GTPase-dependent, Rab GTPase-activated signal axis. Further in vivo molecular imaging based on DF (Fluc-eGFP)-TF (RFP-Rluc-HSV-ttk) system showed that T–P–C nanoparticles significantly increased the targeted delivery and suicide gene therapy in a mouse model xenografted with human ovarian cancer. More importantly, Arf6-mediated macropinocytosis remarkably enhanced the delivery efficiency and suicide gene therapy effect of T–P–C nanoparticles. Therefore, these C16TAB-condensed Tat/pDNA nanoparticles combined with the dual molecular imaging strategy provides a novel intracellular delivery platform for high-efficient,