Ik-Jae Moon

Synthesis of novel cholesterol-based cationic lipids for gene delivery

The new cholesterol-based cationic lipids B, C, and D with an ether linked spacer were synthesized by using aminopropyl chain extension with acrylonitrile. The cholesterol-based cationic lipid A with carbamoyl linkage were also synthesized in order to compare the difference in transfection efficiency of the two linkage types. To this end, GFP expression of these cationic lipids was confirmed respectively.

Efficient Delivery of Plasmid DNA Using Cholesterol-Based Cationic Lipids Containing Polyamines and Ether Linkages

Cationic liposomes are broadly used as non-viral vectors to deliver genetic materials that can be used to treat various diseases including cancer. To circumvent problems associated with cationic liposome-mediated delivery systems such as low transfection efficiency and serum-induced inhibition, cholesterol-based cationic lipids have been synthesized that resist the effects of serum. The introduction of an ether-type linkage and extension of the aminopropyl head group on the cholesterol backbone increased the transfection efficiency and DNA binding affinity compared to a carbamoyl-type linkage and a mono aminopropyl head group, respectively. Under optimal conditions, each liposome formulation showed higher transfection efficiency in AGS and Huh-7 cells than commercially available cationic liposomes, particularly in the presence of serum. The following molecular structures were found to have a positive effect on transfection properties: (i) extended aminopropyl head groups for a strong binding affinity to plasmid DNA; (ii) an ether linkage that favors electrostatic binding to plasmid DNA; and (iii) a cholesterol backbone for serum resistance.

Development of New Soft Contact Lens Materials Using Ester-Monomers of Itaconic Acid from Aspergillus itaconicus

In this study, we confirmed water content and oxygen permeability of new polymeric materials synthesized from itaconic acid used for soft contact lenses. In this study, we polymerized materials for soft contact lenses using HEMA (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), the based-monomer of soft contact lenses, EGDMA (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) as a cross linkage agent, and the new additives mono-ester or di-ester derived from itaconic acid commercially produced by the fermentation of A. itaconicus. New polymer materials for contact lenses were synthesized with the mixture of HEMA and mono- or di-ester at different ratios and water content and oxygen permeability (Dk) was analyzed. In polymerizing HEMA and mono-ester (15%), the water content and oxygen permeability of contact lenses were found to be of good value at 57.7% and 28.6 Dk respectively. The mixture of HEMA and mono-ester is more excellent than HEMA/di-ester in regards to water content and oxygen permeability. The water content and oxygen permeability of soft contact lenses made by new polymeric materials were highly represented.