Transfection of REN/PECAM cells by rhodamine-labeled cDNA encoding GFP coupled with either anti-PECAM/SA-polylysine or IgG/SA-polylysine conjugates.

(A) Phase-contrast image of REN/PECAM cells incubated with anti-PECAM/SA-polylysine/DNA polyplexes. The polyplexes' diameter was 350 nm. (B) Fluorescent image of the same field. The conjugate (arrowheads) bound to the PECAM-expressing cells and is visible as yellow and orange particles in the GFP-expressing (green) cells and red particles in cells lacking GFP expression. In spite of almost complete binding of anti-PECAM/SA-polylysine/DNA polyplexes, not all DNA-labeled cells expressed GFP (arrows). The polyplexes' diameter was 350 nm. (C) Transfection effectiveness of REN/PECAMs (dark bars) and control REN (light bars) cells by DNA/lipofectin (left), IgG/SA-polylysine/DNA (middle), and anti-PECAM/SA-polylysine/DNA complexes (right). The polyplexes' diameter was 350 nm. (D) Comparison of the transfection effectiveness of small (left) and large (right) anti-PECAM/SA-polylysine/DNA polyplexes in REN/PECAM cells.