Efficient gene transfer into rat mesenchymal stem cells with cationized Lycium barbarum polysaccharides nanoparticles

► We prepare cationized Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (cLBP) nanoparticles. ► We incorporate cLBP with plasmid TGFβ-1 and characterize cLBP/TGFβ-1. ► We transfect MSCs with cLBP/TGFβ-1 nanoparticles. ► cLBP/TGFβ-1 possess high transfection efficiency and low cytotoxicity. A new gene vector, cationized Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (cLBP) nanoparticles, prepared with different amine compounds for non-viral delivery of plasmid DNA encoding for transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ-1) was developed and the efficiency of these nanoparticles to transfect rat mesenchymal stem cells in vitro was determined. The spherical cLBP-plasmid TGFβ-1 nanoparticles were 160–330nm in diameter and can retard the migration of plasmid TGFβ-1 in electrophoresis. Ethylenediamine-LBP nanoparticles manifested better transfection efficiency compared with spermine-LBP and polyethylenimine-LBP nanostructures. At McLBP/MpTGFβ-1 ratio 80, maximum TGFβ-1 expression mediated by Ethylenediamine-LBP was much higher than both PEI (p