Characterization and separation of DNA complexes containing poly-L-lysine with or without the modification of PEG by capillary electrophoresis

The characterization of complexes is particularly critical for quality control and development of gene delivery systems. Here, the method of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) for the characterization of DNA and poly-L-lysine (MW 28 500) or DNA and poly-L-lysine modified with polyethylene glycol (MW10000) complexes at various charge ratios in phos-phate buffer is described firstly. During the characterization, DNA complexes can be separated into various components with different charge-to-mass ratio, i.e, components with single physicochemical property. And also the size and zeta potential of complexes were characterized by using photon correlation spectroscopy. This method is useful to characterize various com-plexes formed by DNA and polycations, and has the potential to separate complexes into homogeneous component for better transfection efficiency in vitro and in vivo in future.