Self-assembled ternary complexes of neutral liposomes, deoxyribonucleic acid, and bivalent metal cations. Promising vectors for gene transfer?

By means of synchrotron x-ray diffraction we demonstrate the self-assembled formation of the neutral ternary dioleoyl-phosphatidylcholine-deoxyribonucleic acid (plasmid)−Me2+ (Me=Ca and Mn) complexes in the liquid-crystalline Lα phase. We also report an attempt of an in vitro transfection on mouse fibroplast NIH 3T3 cell lines, which shows the capability of these complexes to transfect DNA. Based on the reported results, efficient encapsulation of DNA plasmids in these ternary neutral complexes may represent an important alternative to current systemic gene approaches.