Calcium enhances gene expression when using low molecular weight poly-l-lysine delivery vehicles

Four molecular weights of poly-l-lysine (PLL) [1000–5000 Da, 1500–8000 Da, 4000–15,000 Da and 15,000–30,000 Da] and three molecular weights of polyethyleneimine (PEI) [800 Da, 2,000 Da, and 25,000 Da] were used to systematically study the effect of calcium (Ca2+) to improve transfection efficiency of polyelectrolyte complexes. Complexes made using different molecular weights of PLL or PEI polymer showed clear differences in the levels of gene...