Table 2. Polyplex formulations.
| Formulation | NLS | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| CS0 | No | N : P = 15:1 |
| CS | No | N : P = 15:1 Co-administration of polyplexes and NLS peptides (NLS-3: 10, 25, 50, 100 µg; NLS-5: 10, 25 and 50 µg) |
| CS3(T) | NLS-3: 10, 50 and 100 µg | N : P = 15:1 Co-complexation. NLS added to CS solution |
| CS5(T) | NLS-5: 10, 50 and 100 µg | N : P = 15:1 Co-complexation. NLS added to CS solution |
| CS3(S) | NLS-3: 10, 50 and 100 µg | N : P = 15:1 Co-complexation. NLS split between CS and DNA solutions |
| CS5(S) | NLS-5: 10, 50 and 100 µg | N : P = 15:1 Co-complexation. NLS split between CS and DNA solutions |
| 15:1-CS3T | NLS-3: 100 µg | N (CS+NLS) : P = 15:1 Co-complexation. NLS added to CS solution |
| 15:1-CS5T | NLS-5: 100 µg | N (CS+NLS) : P = 15:1 Co-complexation. NLS added to CS solution |
| 15:1-CS3S | NLS-3: 100 µg | N (CS+NLS) : P = 15:1 Co-complexation. NLS split between CS and DNA solutions |
| 15:1-CS5S | NLS-5: 100 µg | N (CS+NLS) : P = 15:1 Co-complexation. NLS solution split between CS and DNA solutions |
| CSedac3 | NLS-3: 100 µg | N (CS+NLS) : P = 15:1 NLS covalently linked to CS |
| CSedac5 | NLS-5: 100 µg | N (CS+NLS) : P = 15:1 NLS covalently linked to CS |
CS – chitosan; N – nitrogen (representing amine groups); P – Phosphate (representing DNA); T – NLS added to CS solution; S – NLS split between CS and DNA solutions. For formulation CS (chitosan), Na2SO4 was added to form the polyplexes.