Up-Scaled Synthesis and Characterization of Nonviral Gene Delivery Particles for Transient In Vitro and In Vivo Transgene Expression

Polyethylenimine-based polyplexes are promising nonviral gene delivery systems for preclinical and clinical applications. Pipette-based polyplexing is associated with several disadvantages, such as batch-to-batch variability, restriction to smaller volumes, and variable gene delivery results. The present protocol describes syringe-pump-mediated upscaled synthesis of well-defined gene delivery nanoparticles capable of efficient in vitro and in vivo gene delivery. Syringe-pump-based synthesis ensures controlled mixing, upscaling, and reproducible gene delivery. Nanoparticle tracking analysis of the upscaled formulations involved single nanoparticle tracking, thereby generating highly resolved biophysical characterization. Gene delivery performance was investigated by luciferase gene expression in cells and three-dimensional bioluminescence imaging in mice.