1. Cationic Amphiphilic Star and Linear Block Copolymers: Synthesis, Self-Assembly, and in Vitro Gene Transfection.
- Author
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Anu M. Alhoranta, Julia K. Lehtinen, Arto O. Urtti, Sarah J. Butcher, Vladimir O. Aseyev, and Heikki J. Tenhu
- Subjects
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BIOSYNTHESIS , *CATIONS , *BLOCK copolymers , *MOLECULAR self-assembly , *GENETIC transformation , *METHYL methacrylate , *MICELLES , *SOLUTION (Chemistry) , *CONDENSATION , *PLASMIDS , *MOLECULAR structure - Abstract
A series of amphiphilic star and linear block copolymers were synthesized using ATRP. The core consisted of either polystyrene (PS) or poly(n-butyl acrylate) (PBuA), having different glass-transition (Tg) values. These polymers were used as macroinitiators in the polymerization of the cationic 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA). The polymers were used to study the effects of polymer architecture and flexibility on the self-assembling properties, DNA complexation, and transfection. All polymers formed coreâshell micelles in aqueous solutions and condensed plasmid DNA. Linear PDMAEMA-PBuA-PDMAEMA has transfection efficiency comparable to PEI25K in ARPE19 cell line. Glassy state of the micellar core and star-shaped architecture decreased the DNA transfection compared with the rubbery and linear polymer structures. The polymers showed low cellular toxicity at low nitrogen/phosphate (n/p) ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2011
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