DOPE–oleic acid–Ca2+ as DNA condensing agent

Phospholipid-based non-viral carriers composed of neutral phospholipid dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) and the binary mixture DOPE–oleic acid (OA) are examined as potential DNA delivery vectors. The process of DNA condensation in the presence of Ca²⁺ ions has been monitored through changes in emmision intensity of fluorescent probe ethidium bromide. The decline in fluorescence intensity with increasing Ca²⁺ concentration at two different time intervals was correlated with the binding capacity of complexes and possible release of DNA from the complex. The microstructure of DOPE–OA mixtures at different OA/DOPE molar ratios and that of DOPE–OA–DNA–Ca²⁺ complexes were determined using synchrotron small angle X-ray diffraction (SAXD). We identified inverted hexagonal phase H_II as the dominant structure. OA affects the lattice parameter of H_II formed by DOPE. With the increasing OA/DOPE molar ratio, the lattice parameter decreases, which results in significantly lower fraction of DNA bound to the OA-enriched complexes.