PEGylated cationic nanoemulsions can efficiently bind and transfect pIDUA in a mucopolysaccharidosis type I murine model.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I) is an autosomal disease caused by alpha-L-iduronidase deficiency. This study proposed the use of cationic nanoemulsions as non-viral vectors for a plasmid (pIDUA) containing the gene that codes for alpha-L-iduronidase. Nanoemulsions composed of medium chain triglycerides (MCT)/1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE)/1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-trimethylammonium propane (DOTAP)/1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[amino(polyethylene glycol)-2000] (DSPE-PEG) were prepared by high pressure homogenization. Formulations were prepared by the adsorption or encapsulation of preformed pIDUA-DOTAP complexes into the oil core of nanoemulsions at different charge ratios. pIDUA complexed was protected from enzymatic degradation by DNase I. The physicochemical characteristics of complexes in protein-containing medium were mainly influenced by the presence of DSPE-PEG. Bragg reflections corresponding to a lamellar organization were identified for blank formulations by energy dispersive X-ray diffraction, which could not be detected after pIDUA complexation. The intravenous injection of these formulations in MPS I knockout mice led to a significant increase in IDUA activity (fluorescence assay) and expression (RT-qPCR) in different organs, especially the lungs and liver. These findings were more significant for formulations prepared at higher charge ratios (+4/-), suggesting a correlation between charge ratio and transfection efficiency. The present preclinical results demonstrated that these nanocomplexes represent a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of MPS I.