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We report the synthesis and characterization of different generations of dendritic poly(l-lysine) vectors, and their use for in vitro gene transfection. Gel retardation assay revealed that the dendrimers could form complexes with plasmid DNAs (pDNAs), evident from the inhibition of the migration of pDNA at the N/P ratios of 0.5, 1 and 2 by G3, G4 and G5 dendritic generations, respectively. DNase I assay revealed the protection of pDNA acquired from the complexation with dendrimers from nuclease-catalyzed degradation, with the protection capacity of G5 being even stronger than poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed that all 4 generations of dendrimer/DNA complexes studied were of similar particle sizes within 100-200nm. Zeta potential measurements showed that as the N/P ratio increased from 1 to 25, all dendrimer/pDNA complexes gradually changed from negative to positive charges. The higher generations tended to produce the greater positive potentials, indicating a stronger potency of the complexes to interact with negatively charged cell membranes. In vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity evaluations showed good biocompatibility of the dendrimers and their complexes over the different N/P ratios studied. In vitro gene transfection revealed higher efficiency of G5 than other dendrimers and insensitive variation to the presence of serum. Given its similar transfection efficiency to PEI but lower toxicity to cultured cells, dendrimer G5 could be a better candidate for gene delivery., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been used to eliminate undesired cells by using a combination of photosensitizers and light illumination to generate reactive oxygen species. There is great interest in applying PDT to atherosclerosis; preferential destruction of pro-inflammatory macrophages in atheromata might attenuate plaque growth or rupture-prone vulnerability. Here, we report on a previously unknown interaction between cardiovascular drugs that are commonly prescribed for atherosclerosis patients and the cytolytic effects of photodynamic therapy using Cathepsin B activatable photosensitizer L-SR15 on murine macrophage Raw 264.7 cells in culture. Atorvastatin and clopidogrel significantly interfered with in vitro photosensitization effect while aspirin did this to a lesser extent; these drugs did not change the efficiency of cellular uptake of L-SR15 after in vitro photosensitization. A photosensitization interference effect of atorvastatin and clopidogrel was also observed when using a conventional photosensitizer free Ce6 or NCI-H1299 cancer cells. Considering the clinical implications of PDT, our study merits further investigation in clinical settings as well as in animal models., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry and Owner Societies 2011)

Clinical diagnosis of cancers using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is highly dependent on contrast agents, especially for brain tumors which contain blood-brain barrier (BBB) at the early stage. However, currently mostly used low molecular weight contrast agents such as Gd-DTPA suffer from rapid renal clearance, non-specificity, and low contrast efficiency. The aim of this paper is to investigate the potential of a macromolecular MRI contrast agent based on dendrigraft poly-l-lysines (DGLs), using chlorotoxin (CTX) as a tumor-specific ligand. The contrast agent using CTX-modified conjugate as the main scaffold and Gd-DTPA as the payload was successfully synthesized. The results of fluorescent microscopy showed that the modification of CTX could markedly enhance the cellular uptake in C6 glioma and liver tumor cell lines, but not in normal cell line. Significantly increased accumulation of CTX-modified conjugate within glioma and liver tumor was further demonstrated in tumor-bearing nude mice using in vivo imaging system. The MRI results showed that the signal enhancement of mice treated with CTX-modified contrast reached peak level at 5 min for both glioma and liver tumor, 144.97% ± 19.54% and 158.69% ± 12.41%, respectively, significantly higher than that of unmodified counterpart and commercial control. And most importantly, the signal enhancement of CTX-modified contrast agent maintained much longer compared to that of controls, which might be useful for more exact diagnosis for tumors. CTX-modified dendrimer-based conjugate might be applied as an efficient MRI contrast agent for targeted and accurate tumor diagnosis. This finding is especially important for tumors such as brain glioma which is known hard to be diagnosed due to the presence of BBB., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Layer-by-layer assembly of polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) films represents a bottom-up approach for re-engineering the molecular landscape of cell surfaces with spatially continuous and molecularly uniform ultrathin films. However, fabricating PEMs on viable cells has proven challenging owing to the high cytotoxicity of polycations. Here, we report the rational engineering of a new class of PEMs with modular biological functionality and tunable physicochemical properties which have been engineered to abrogate cytotoxicity. Specifically, we have discovered a subset of cationic copolymers that undergoes a conformational change, which mitigates membrane disruption and facilitates the deposition of PEMs on cell surfaces that are tailorable in composition, reactivity, thickness, and mechanical properties. Furthermore, we demonstrate the first successful in vivo application of PEM-engineered cells, which maintained viability and function upon transplantation and were used as carriers for in vivo delivery of PEMs containing biomolecular payloads. This new class of polymeric film and the design strategies developed herein establish an enabling technology for cell transplantation and other therapies based on engineered cells., (© 2011 American Chemical Society)

Poly(ε-lysine) (ε-PL)-analogous click polypeptides with not only similar α-amino side groups but also similar main chain to ε-PL were chemically synthesized for the first time through click polymerization from aspartic (or glutamic)-acid-based dialkyne and diazide monomers. With microwave-assisting, the reaction time of click polymerization was compressed into 30 min. The polymers were fully characterized by NMR, ATR-FTIR, and SEC-MALLS analysis. The deprotected click polypeptides had similar pK(a) value (7.5) and relatively low cytotoxicity as ε-PL and could be used as substitutes of ε-PL in biomedical applications, especially in endotoxin selective removal. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-containing alternating copolymers with α-amino groups were also synthesized and characterized. After deprotection, the polymers could be used as functional gene vector with PEG shadowing system and NCA initiator to get amphiphilic graft polymers.

For the success of non-viral gene delivery, it is of great importance to develop gene vectors with high efficiency but low toxicity. We demonstrate that PLL-grafted chitosan copolymers combine the advantages of PLL with its good pDNA-binding ability and of chitosan with its good biocompatibility. The chemo-physical properties of the prepared Chi-g-PLL copolymers are thoroughly characterized. The in vitro transfection study shows that the copolymers have a much higher gene transfer ability than the starting materials chitosan and PLL. A positive correlation between PLL chain lengths and transfection efficiency of the copolymers is found. Our results suggest that these novel Chi-g-PLL copolymers are good candidates for gene delivery in vivo., (Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Poly(L-lysine) (PLL) is a cationic polyelectrolyte of interest for many applications, including in therapeutic biology for DNA complexation and transfection. Several non-lysine based polycations have been shown to afford more efficient transfection in live cells than has been achieved with PLL. We find that reconfiguring polylysine into short oligolysine grafts, strung from a hydrophobic polymer backbone, gives transfection reagents greatly superior to PLL, despite having the identical cationic functional groups (i.e., exclusively primary amines). Altering the oligolysine graft length modulates DNA-polymer interactions and transfection efficiency, while incorporating the PKKKRKV heptapeptide (the Simian virus SV40 large T-antigen nuclear localization sequence) pendent groups onto the polymer backbone led to even greater transfection efficiency over the oligolysine-grafted structures. Protein expression levels obtained with these novel polymer transfection reagents were higher than, or comparable to, expression seen in the cases of JetPEI™, FuGENE® 6 and Lipofectamine™ 2000, the later being notorious for cytotoxicity that accompanies high transfection efficiency. The relative strength of the polymer-DNA complex is key to the transfection performance, as judged by serum stability and PicoGreen analysis. Moreover, polyplexes formed from our graft copolymer structures exhibit low cytotoxicity, contributing to the therapeutic promise of these novel reagents., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Poly-L-α-amino acids have various applications because of their biodegradable properties and biocompatibility. Microorganisms contain several enzymes that catalyze the polymerization of L-amino acids in an ATP-dependent manner, but the products from these reactions contain amide linkages at the side residues of amino acids: e.g., poly-γ-glutamic acid, poly-ε-lysine, and cyanophycin. In this study, we found a novel catalytic activity of RimK, a ribosomal protein S6-modifying enzyme derived from Escherichia coli K-12. This enzyme catalyzed poly-α-glutamic acid synthesis from unprotected L-glutamic acid (Glu) by hydrolyzing ATP to ADP and phosphate. RimK synthesized poly-α-glutamic acid of various lengths; matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry showed that a 46-mer of Glu (maximum length) was synthesized at pH 9. Interestingly, the lengths of polymers changed with changing pH. RimK also exhibited 86% activity after incubation at 55°C for 15 min, thus showing thermal stability. Furthermore, peptide elongation seemed to be catalyzed at the C terminus in a stepwise manner. Although RimK showed strict substrate specificity toward Glu, it also used, to a small extent, other amino acids as C-terminal substrates and synthesized heteropeptides. In addition, RimK-catalyzed modification of ribosomal protein S6 was confirmed. The number of Glu residues added to the protein varied with pH and was largest at pH 9.5.

Two poly(L-lysine·HBr) (PLL) homopolypeptides along with phosphate buffer were used as organic templates to direct biomimetic silica synthesis under ambient conditions. We found that mixing sequence of reaction species played a key role in terms of controlling resulting silica morphologies. Premixing PLL solution with phosphate buffer followed with addition of silicic acid produced regular hexagonal silica plates, while premixing silicic acid with either PLL or phosphate solution prior to adding phosphate buffer or PLL solution only produced irregular silica nanoparticles. In addition, we found that the concentration of phosphate ions was also an important factor to control silica structures. When the ratio of phosphate/lysine residue (δ) was smaller than one, PLL only produced irregular silica particles. When δ was larger than 2.5, PLL produced regular silica plates. We performed CD measurements to track the conformation transition of PLL during biomineralization process and found that the resulting silica structures were closely related to the secondary structure of PLL regardless of experimental conditions. Only when PLL underwent an in situ coil-helix transition could ordered silica structures be produced.

Second generation biodegradable poly(l-lysine) dendrigrafts functionalized with 12-48 arginine end-groups interact, at physiological pH, with insulin affording dendrigraft/insulin complexes as established by dynamic light scattering, ζ-potential, circular dichroism and isothermal titration calorimetry. Binding occurs in two steps; at low dendrigraft/insulin molar ratios (< or = 0.07) interaction is accompanied with the endothermic dissociation of insulin dimers, while at higher molar ratios, complexation of insulin monomers with dendrigraft derivatives occurs exothermically. High levels of insulin complexation efficiencies (>99%) were determined for all derivatives. Stabilization of complexed insulin against enzymatic degradation by trypsin and α-chymotrypsin is observed especially for the highly arginine end-functionalized dendrigrafts. Insulin release rates in simulated intestinal fluid are being controlled by the number of arginine end-groups and released insulin retains its conformation., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The biological importance of left-handed Z-DNA was supported by the identification of Z-DNA binding proteins. We previously reported that poly(l-lysine)-graft-dextran copolymers composed of a poly(l-lysine) main chain and dextran graft chains induced the B-Z transition under low salt conditions. Not only the cationic main chain but also the dextran grafts play an important role in induction of the B-Z transition. In this study, we prepared a series of poly(l-lysine) graft copolymers with different graft chains (dextran, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), or both) and graft contents to further elucidate the roles of copolymer structures and properties. The copolymers with higher graft contents more effectively stabilized the Z form of DNA than those having lower graft contents. An increase in the B-Z transition rate was observed as graft content increased. We propose that the side chains of the copolymers change microenvironmental factors, such as water activity and dielectric constant, around the DNA and stabilize the Z conformer. Interestingly, hetero graft copolymers with both dextran and PEG side chains stabilized Z-DNA more effectively than the homo graft copolymers with either dextran or PEG side chains.

The synthesis and characterisation of new arborescent architectures of poly(L-lysine), called lysine dendrigraft (DGL) polymers, are described. DGL polymers were prepared through a multiple-generation scheme (up to generation 5) in a weakly acidic aqueous medium by polycondensing N(epsilon)-trifluoroacetyl-L-lysine-N-carboxyanhydride (Lys(Tfa)-NCA) onto the previous generation G(n-1) of DGL, which was used as a macroinitiator. The first generation employed spontaneous NCA polycondensation in water without a macroinitiator; this afforded low-molecular-weight, linear poly(L-lysine) G1 with a polymerisation degree of 8 and a polydispersity index of 1.2. The spontaneous precipitation of the growing N(epsilon)-Tfa-protected polymer (GnP) ensures moderate control of the molecular weight (with unimodal distribution) and easy work-up. The subsequent alkaline removal of Tfa protecting groups afforded generation Gn of DGL as a free form (with 35-60% overall yield from NCA precursor, depending on the DGL generation) that was either used directly in the synthesis of the next generation (G(n+1)) or collected for other uses. Unprotected forms of DGL G1-G5 were characterised by size-exclusion chromatography, capillary electrophoresis and (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The latter technique allowed us to assess the branching density of DGL, the degree of which (ca. 25%) turned out to be intermediate between previously described dendritic graft poly(L-lysines) and lysine dendrimers. An optimised monomer (NCA) versus macroinitiator (DGL G(n-1)) ratio allowed us to obtain unimodal molecular weight distributions with polydispersity indexes ranging from 1.3 to 1.5. Together with the possibility of reaching high molecular weights (with a polymerisation degree of ca. 1000 for G5) within a few synthetic steps, this synthetic route to DGL provides an easy, cost-efficient, multigram-scale access to dendritic polylysines with various potential applications in biology and in other domains.

epsilon-Polylysine (EPL) has been used in the food industry as an antimicrobial additive and also a dietary agent. To generate amphiphilic molecules from EPL, hydrophobically modified epsilon-polylysine graft copolymers, which were denoted as OSA-g-EPLs, were synthesized by reacting EPL with octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA). The success of synthesis was confirmed by (1)H NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy. It was found that OSA-g-EPLs had glass transition temperatures lower than EPL. Furthermore, they were able to form polymer micelles in water and to lower the surface tension of water, confirming their amphiphilic properties. The antimicrobial activities of OSA-g-EPLs were also examined, and the minimum inhibitory concentrations of OSA-g-EPLs against Escherichia coli O157:H7 remained the same as that of EPL. Therefore, OSA-g-EPLs have the potential of becoming bifunctional molecules, which can be used either as surfactants or emulsifiers in the encapsulation of nutraceuticals or drugs or as antimicrobial agents.

Bioactive peptides, including DNA-binding, endosomal release, and cell targeting peptides, have been integrated into synthetic gene carriers to improve delivery efficiency by enabling the vectors to overcome barriers to gene delivery. Our overall goal is to develop multifunctional, peptide-based polymers that incorporate motifs to condense DNA and facilitate sequential trafficking steps. One approach is to polymerize vinyl-terminated peptides by radical polymerization. In this work, cationic oligolysine peptides were designed to contain vinyl termini with internal reducible linkers. These peptides were copolymerized with HPMA to form biodegradable, DNA-condensing copolymers for gene delivery. The polymerization conditions were optimized by varying the initiator to monomer ratios, macromonomer to comonomer ratios, and reactant concentrations. The synthesized copolymers were shown to possess several important properties required for in vivo gene delivery applications, including (i) efficient DNA binding and condensation, (ii) the ability to stabilize particles against salt-induced aggregation, (iii) the ability to resist extracellular polyplex unpackaging, (iv) biocompatibility and the potential to be degraded into nontoxic components after cellular uptake, and (v) efficient delivery of plasmid to cultured cells.

The endosomal membrane has proven to be a challenging barrier for the delivery of therapeutic biomacromolecules, including DNA, siRNA and proteins, which are taken up by endosomes but cannot freely diffuse across lipid bilayers. Anionic polymers that undergo conformational changes and become membrane disruptive in low-pH environments have the potential to assist in the delivery of these biomacromolecules across the endosomal membrane to the cytosol. Such endosomolytic polymers have been synthesized through the grafting of hydrophobic side-chains to a poly(L-lysine iso-phthalamide) backbone. The phenylalanine grafted form of poly(L-lysine iso-phthalamide) has a pH-sensitive membrane disruptive profile corresponding to the pH range of maturing endosomes and, thus, has a favourable endosomolytic profile. In order to understand the influence of hydrophobicity versus pi-pi interactions mediated by aromatic rings, a tyrosine grafted form of poly(L-lysine iso-phthalamide) was synthesized and its aqueous pH-sensitive properties, cytotoxicity and endosomal disruptive capacity were compared to phenylalanine-grafted poly(L-lysine iso-phthalamide). The similarity between these two polymers' properties, despite the large difference in hydrophobicity between their side-chains, supports the conclusion that the aromatic character of sidechains in poly(L-lysine iso-phthalamide) is an important property, as opposed to hydrophobicity alone, in determining the effectiveness of acidic pH triggered endosomolysis.

Intravenous delivery of apolipoprotein B-specific siRNA with a sixth-generation of dendritic poly(L-lysine) (KG6) resulted in siRNA-mediated knockdown of ApoB in healthy C57BL/6 mice without hepatotoxicity, and with a significant reduction of serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

In the recent years, double-hydrophilic block copolymer (DHBC) micelles have appeared as potential vectors for pharmaceutical applications due to their simple preparation method in aqueous solvent. The present study aims at underscoring the strategy for the choice of the partners in the formulation of DHBC micelles presenting a good stability in physiological conditions (pH 7.4, 0.15 mol/L NaCl) and a pH-sensitivity allowing their disassembly at pH 5. Using light scattering and Laser-Doppler electrophoresis, micelles of polymethacrylic acid-b-polyethylene oxide complexing either poly-l-lysine (PLL) or an oligochitosan were characterised. Whatever the polyamine counter-polyion considered, the micelles were perfectly formed for an amine/methacrylic acid molar charge ratio of one. They were characterised by a hydrodynamic diameter of 28 nm for PLL and 60 nm for oligochitosan and by a neutral zeta potential. The stability study as a function of the pH and of the ionic strength revealed different behaviours. Oligochitosan micelles were stable until pH 7 and unstable at 0.15 mol/L NaCl. On the contrary, PLL micelles were stable in physiological conditions and disassembled at pH 5. As a conclusion, the choice of the partners to formulate double-hydrophilic block copolymer based-micelles is strategic in order to obtain well-adapted vectors applied to the pharmaceutical field.

Polymer conjugates of camptothecin (CPT) have been pursued as a solution to the difficulties present in treating cancers with CPT and its derivatives. Covalent attachment of CPT to a polymer can improve solubility, increase blood circulation time, enhance tumor uptake, and significantly improve efficacy of the drug. In this report, we describe a novel polymer conjugate of CPT using a core-functionalized, symmetrically PEGylated poly(l-lysine) (PLL) dendrimer. The PEGylated dendrimer consisted of a lysine dendrimer functionalized with aspartic acid, which was used as an attachment site for poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and CPT. The final conjugate had a molecular weight of 40 kDa and was loaded with 4-6 wt % CPT. Polymer-bound CPT was shown to have a long blood circulation half-life of 30.9 +/- 8.8 h and a tumor uptake of 4.2 +/- 2.3% of the injected dose/g of tissue, compared to free CPT in which less than 1% was retained in the blood after 30 min and had a tumor accumulation of 0.29 +/- 0.04% of the injected dose/g of tissue. The PEGylated PLL-CPT showed superior efficacy in murine (C26) and human colon carcinoma (HT-29) tumor models when compared with no treatment or treatment with irinotecan. In the C26 tumor model, treatment resulted in significantly prolonged survival (P < 0.05) for all mice treated with a single injection of PEGylated PLL-CPT. In the HT-29 tumor model, all mice treated with multiple injections of a low dose survived to the end of the study, with three mice of eight surviving tumor-free.

As an effort to prepare new efficient gene delivery vectors, we have recently developed and reported an amphiphilic dendritic poly(L-lysine)-b-poly(L-lactide)-b-dendritic poly(L-lysine) D(2)-PLLA-D(2) with two-generation PLL dendrons and a PLLA block. In this work, we continued to explore the roles of dendritic PLL generation in DNA binding and intracellular delivery of gene, and a new series of amphiphilic dendritic poly(L-lysine)-b-poly(L-lactide)-b-dendritic poly(L-lysine)s D(n)-PLLA-D(n) (n = 3-5) were synthesized and were structurally characterized. Furthermore, plasmid DNA binding affinity for these cationic amphiphiles was examined by agarose gel electrophoresis and fluorescence titration assay in pure water and PBS buffer solution containing 150 mM NaCl (pH = 7.4), respectively. By dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), the interaction and complexation in between were investigated, concerning the DNA/vector polyplex particle morphologies and zeta potentials. Utilizing a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell-line SMMC-7721, cell toxicity, and gene transfection in vitro were explored. To further improve transgene efficiency for these synthetic cationic amphiphiles as gene delivery vectors, new structural DE(n)-PLLA-DE(n) (n = 2-3) were prepared through an amino termini modification of the D(n)-PLLA-D(n) (n = 2-3) with less toxic 4,7,10,13-tetraazatridecanoic acids, and gene transfection with these DE(n)-PLLA-DE(n) (n = 2-3) was examined with an alternative human gastric carcinoma cell-line HGC-27. As a result, the high plasmid DNA binding affinity, low cytotoxicity, and much enhanced transgene efficacy suggest a new possible clue to design effective synthetic gene delivery vectors with amphiphilic skeleton and less toxic polyamine building blocks.

The DNA compacting and transfection properties of hyperbranched polylysines whose N-terminal amino groups were modified with histidine and arginine were studied. The histidine-modified hyperbranched polylysines were shown to provide higher efficacy of binding and transfection in comparison with unmodified or hyperbranched arginine-containing polylysines. This fact was explained by the intrinsic endosomolytic activity of the histidine-modified polymers. The dependence between the quantity of the amino acids that modified the terminal lysine residues in the hyperbranched polylysines, the efficacy of their DNA binding, and the transfection activity of the DNA complexes with the corresponding carriers was found. The possibility to increase the transfection activity of the DNA complexes with the hyperbranched polylysines by glycerin or the JTS-1 amphipathic nonapeptide was studied. At the same time, their simultaneous use was found to result in a transfection decrease.

A polymeric micelle drug carrier system was applied to the targeting of an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) contrast agent. A block copolymer, PEG-b-poly(L-lysine), was used for conjugation of gadolinium ions through chelating moieties, DOTA. The DOTA moieties were successfully conjugated to all primary amine groups of the lysine residues. The obtained block copolymer, PEG-b-poly(L-lysine-DOTA), formed a polymeric micelle. The polymeric micelle structure was maintained even after partial gadolinium chelation ( approximately 40%) to the DOTA moieties. The prepared polymeric micelle MRI contrast agent was injected into a mouse tail vein at a dose of 0.05 mmol Gd/kg. The polymeric micelle-based MRI contrast agent exhibited stable blood circulation. A considerable amount (6.1+/-0.3% of ID/g of the polymeric micelle) was found to accumulate at solid tumors 24 h after intravenous injection by means of the EPR effect. An MRI analysis revealed that the signal intensity of the tumor was enhanced 2.0-fold by the use of this contrast agent.

SPL7013 is the sodium salt of a sulfonated dendrimer that has potent antiviral properties. VivaGel, a topical gel containing 3% (wt/wt) SPL7013, is in development as a vaginal microbicide. BufferGel is a Carbopol-based acidic buffering gel that enhances the natural protective action of the vagina to produce a broad-spectrum microbicidal environment. The positive attributes of both gels were combined into a combination vaginal microbicidal gel having dual mechanisms of action. A 3% (wt/wt) SPL7013 combination gel, pH 3.7, was developed and fully characterized and was shown to have more than twofold greater acidic buffering capacity than BufferGel. Ultracentrifugation experiments demonstrated that SPL7013 was not sequestered or entropically trapped in the viscous gel, thereby confirming, along with viral challenge studies, that SPL7013 has sufficient mobility in the viscous gel to exert antiviral properties.

Here we report a novel class of super-expandable smart nanogels that undergo nano- to micro-scale volume transition in response to temperature change, applicable for thermally triggered death of cancer cells. The nanogels fabricated by light cross-linking between oligo(L-lactic acid)-poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide)-oligo(L-lactic acid) and poly(ethylene glycol) grafted poly(L-lysine) exhibited a reversible volume transition from approximately 150 nm at 37 degrees C to approximately 1.4 microm at 15 degrees C. The abrupt and dramatic intracellular volume expansion of the nanogels upon the brief cold-shock treatment severely damaged sub-cellular self-assembled network architectures including cytoskeleton and vesicular membranes and physically ruptured cellular membrane structures, resulting in necrotic cell death. The smart "nanobomb" detonated by external stimuli could be used to effectively induce traumatic death of cells.

Nanoparticles are increasingly used to label cells to track them by imaging or to quantify them in vivo. However, normal cellular uptake mechanisms are inadequate to load cells with tracking label. We propose a simple method to coat nanoparticles, such as monocrystalline iron oxide nanoparticle (MION), with the transfection agent polylysine in order to facilitate rapid, uniform, and heavy labeling of fibroblasts. The method is based on commercially available reagents, requires no more than 1 h of laboratory contact time, and can be accomplished safely without a chemical hood. A suspension of MION was treated by addition of solid sodium periodate to oxidize glucose residues of dextran and introduced aldehyde groups to the dextran coat surrounding MION's crystalline magnetite core. After a 30-min incubation to effect oxidation, unreacted periodate was quenched with glycerol. The preparation was dialyzed to remove reactants and diluted to a final concentration of 2 mg Fe/ml. Poly-L-lysine was added to the oxidized MION (MION-A) to form reversible covalent Schiff base linkages. The resulting conjugate, a polylysine iron oxide nano-particle is abbreviated PLION. NIH3T3 fibroblasts labeled with either MION, MION-A, or MION plus polylysine showed minimal uptake of iron while cells labeled with PLION acquired a brown hue demonstrating strong labeling with iron. Microscopic assessment of iron labeling was confirmed using Prussian blue staining. In some cells, the concentration of iron was sufficiently high and localized to suggest association with cytoplasmic vacuoles. The nucleus of the cell was not labeled. Cell labeling increased when the ratio of polylysine to MION increased and with increasing amount of PLION.

Amphiphilic triblock copolymers of methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(L-lactide)-poly(L-lysine) (MPEG-b-PLLA-b-PLL) (Mn=8540-22 240) were synthesized through the ring-opening polymerization of Nepsilon-(Z)-lysine-N-carboxyanhydrides (N(epsilon)-(Z)-Lys-NCA) using MPEG-b-PLLA-NH2 as a macroinitiator. The triblock copolymers and diblock precursors were characterized by 1H NMR, ATR-FTIR, and GPC. The chain lengths of each block could be controlled by varying the feed ratios of the monomers. The surface properties of films of PLLA modified by blending with the triblock copolymers were investigated by XPS and AFM and demonstrated an enrichment of PLL blocks on the surface of the PLLA film. No cytotoxicity was detected on a range of modified PLLA films arising from the incorporation of the triblock copolymers. The triblock copolymers MPEG-b-PLLA-b-PLL showed better surface properties in promoting osteoblast adhesion and proliferation compared with pure PLLA and PLLA modified with MPEG-b-PLLA diblock copolymers. This study demonstrated that the triblock copolymers containing free amino groups, which self-segregate on the surface of biodegradable polyesters, have potential for applications in cell delivery and tissue engineering.

Purpose: A novel photo-activated targeted chemotherapy was developed by photochemical internalization (PCI) of glutathione-sensitive polymeric micelles incorporating camptothecin (CPT) prepared from thiolated CPT (CPT-DP) and thiolated poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(glutamic acid) (PEG-b-P(Glu-DP)) METHODS: PEG-b-P(Glu-DP) and CPT-DP were synthesized and characterized by (1)H-NMR and gel permeation chromatography, and then mixed to prepare CPT-loaded polymeric micelles (CPT/m). The CPT release from the micelle was studied by reverse phase liquid chromatography. The PCI-activated cytotoxicity of CPT/m against HeLa cells was studied in combination with a non-toxic concentration of dendrimer phthalocyanine-loaded micelles (DPc/m) as the photosensitizer., Results: The diameter of CPT/m was 96 nm and the drug loading was 20% (w/w). CPT was slowly released under the conditions reproducing the extracellular or endosomal environments. However, under the reductive conditions mimicking the cytosol, CPT was rapidly released achieving approximately 90% of the drug release after 24 h. The cytotoxicity of CPT/m was drastically increased on photoirradiation, whereas the CPT/m were not cytotoxic without PCI., Conclusions: The CPT/m released the drug responding to reductive conditions. The PCI-induced endosomal escape exposed CPT/m to the cytosol triggering the drug release. Thus, CPT/m in combination with DPc/m will behave as smart nanocarriers activated only at photoirradiated tissues.

We report a new strategy that uses N-trimethylsilyl (N-TMS) amine to mediate controlled ring-opening polymerization of amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides (NCAs). This polymerization proceeds via a unique, trimethylsilyl carbamate (TMS-CBM) propagating group that results from the cleavage of the Si-N bond of N-TMS amine followed by NCA ring opening. Propagation of the polypeptide chains proceeds through the transfer of the TMS group from the terminal TMS-CBM to the incoming monomer followed by the formation of a new TMS-CBM propagating group. Formation of the TMS-CBM was confirmed by MS and NMR. Polypeptides formed by the N-TMS amine-mediated polymerization have the expected molecular weights, narrow molecular weight distributions, and controlled functional groups at the C-termini of the polypeptides.

Polycationic molecules form condensates with DNA and are used for gene therapy as an alternative to viral vectors. As clinical efficacy corresponds to cellular uptake, intracellular stability of the condensates, and bioavailability of the DNA, it is crucial to analyze uptake mechanisms and trafficking pathways. Here, a detailed study of uptake, stability, and localization of PLL-g-PEG-DNA nanoparticles within COS-7 cells is presented, using FACS analysis to assess the involvement of different uptake mechanisms, colocalization studies with markers indicative for different endocytotic pathways, and immunofluorescence staining to analyze colocalization with intracellular compartments. PLL-g-PEG-DNA nanoparticles were internalized in an energy-dependent manner after 2 h and accumulated in the perinuclear region after >6 h. The nanoparticles were found to be stable within the cytoplasm for at least 24 h and did not colocalize with the endosomal pathway. Nanoparticle uptake was approximately 50% inhibited by genistein, an inhibitor of the caveolae-mediated pathway. However, genistein did not inhibit gene expression, and PLL-g-PEG-DNA nanoparticles were not colocalized with caveolin-1 indicating that caveolae-mediated endocytosis is not decisive for DNA delivery. Clathrin-mediated endocytosis and macropinocytosis pathways were reduced by 17 and 24%, respectively, in the presence of the respective inhibitors. When cells were transfected in the presence of double and triple inhibitors, transfection efficiencies were increasingly reduced by 40 and 70%, respectively; however, no differences were found between the different uptake mechanisms. These findings suggest that PLL-g-PEG-DNA nanoparticles enter by several pathways and might therefore be an efficient and versatile tool to deliver therapeutic DNA.

Enabling gene expression in skin fibroblasts using safe, nonviral gene delivery has the potential to stimulate wound healing and aid in skin tissue engineering efforts. In this study, several lipid-substituted poly(L-Lysines) (PLL) were investigated for their ability to deliver a plasmid DNA (pEGFP) to human skin fibroblasts. While native and lipid-substituted PLLs showed complete complexation with pEGFP, polymers with higher lipid substitution were more resilient to dissociation after heparin treatment. All polymers showed good protection of pEGFP against DNase I and DNase II digestion in vitro. DNA delivery studies using fluorescently labeled pEGFP showed that native PLL lacked the ability to deliver pEGFP into cells, whereas most of the lipid-substituted PLLs gave efficient pEGFP delivery into the cells. Extent of lipid substitution was an important factor in DNA delivery efficiency. The intracellular pEGFP was intact after delivery with lipid-substituted polymers up to 7 days. An RT-PCR methodology indicated successful transcription of the reporter GFP gene, which was not the case when the cells were transfected with a blank plasmid containing no functional GFP gene. Further studies with flow cytometry showed that successful protein expression was obtained with PLLs substituted with myristic and stearic acid, the latter displaying a relatively lower toxicity. We conclude that substituting lipids on PLL results in effective gene carriers and the extent of substitution, rather than the individual lipid, appeared to be critical for effective plasmid delivery.

Branched polypeptides with polylysine backbone are promising candidates for selective delivery of drugs, epitopes. or reporter molecules. We reported earlier that polylysine-based polypeptides with polyanionic character were internalized by murine bone marrow derived macrophages via class A scavenger receptor. In the present studies, our investigations were extended to seven polypeptides with different amino acid composition and charge properties. We report on our findings on the concentration-dependent influence of these compounds on survival and chemotaxis of the murine macrophage-like cell line J774 and internalization properties of the polypeptides by J774 cells. Our observations indicate that the polypeptides regardless of their charge properties were essentially nontoxic and did not alter significantly the chemotaxis of J774 cells; therefore, the polypeptides suit the requirements for nontoxic and "neutral" carrier molecules. We also demonstrated that the polypeptides were internalized efficiently by J774 cells, depending on their chemical structure and charge properties. Using the scavenger receptor-ligand fucoidan as inhibitor, we established that the scavenger receptor played a role-in accordance with findings on murine bone marrow derived macrophages in the internalization only of the polyanionic polypeptides.

The molecular mechanisms of action of the polycationic peptides--polylysine homo- and heterodendrimers on functional activity of biogenic amines- and peptide hormones-sensitive adenylyl; cyclase signaling system (AC system) in the myocardium and the brain of rats were studied. These peptides are expected to be used as highly effective polymer carries for biologically active substances. The polylysine homodendrimers of the third [(NH2)16(Lys)8(Lys)4(Lys)2Lys-Ala-NH2] (I), fourth [(NH2)32(Lys)16(Lys)8(Lys)4(Lys)2Lys-Ala-NH2 (II) and fifth [(NH2)64(Lys)32(Lys)16(Lys)8(Lys)4(Lys)2Lys-Ala-NH2] (III) generations and the polylysine homodendrimers of fifth generation--[(NH2)64(Lys-Glu)32(Lys-Glu)16(Lys-Glu)8(Lys-Glu)4(Lys-Glu)2Lys-Ala-Ala-Lys (ClAc)-Ala-NH2] (IV), [(NH2)64(Lys-Ala)32(Lys-Ala)16(Lys-Ala)8(Lys-Ala)4(Lys-Ala)2Lys-Ala-Lys(ClAc)-Ala-Ala-NH2] (V) and [(NH2)64(Lys-Gly-Gly)32(Lys-Gly-Gly)16(Lys-Gly-Gly)8(Lys-Gly-Gly)4(Lys-Gly-Gly)2 Lys-Gly-Gly-Lys(ClAc)-Ala-Ala-NH2] (VI) showed receptor-independent mechanism of heterotrimeric G-proteins activity, preferably of inhibitory type, interacting with C-terminal regions of their alpha-subunits. The homodendrimers II and III and heterodendrimer V are more effective G-protein activators. The polylysine dendrimers disturbed the functional coupling of the receptors of biogenic amines and peptides hormones with Gi-proteins and, in a lesser extent, Gs-proteins. This is illustrated by the decrease in regulatory effects of the hormones on AX activity and G-protein GTP binding and by the decrease in receptor affinity to agonists in the presence of the polylysine dendrimers, as result of receptor--G-proteins complex dissociation. It was shown also that the molecular mechanisms and the selectivity of the action on the G-proteins of the polylysine dendrimers were similar to those of mastoparan and melittin, natural toxins of insect venom.

The pH and temperature responsive properties of poly(butadiene)107-poly(L-lysine)27 (PB107-P(Lys)27) block copolymer vesicles in aqueous solution were studied using dynamic and static light scattering, circular dichroism spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. In this material, the responsiveness comes partially from secondary structure changes within the polypeptide chain. These studies seek to elucidate the effect of these different polypeptide secondary structure changes on the morphology of self-assembled vesicles. It was found that as pH decreases, protonation of P(Lys) side-chain amine groups causes swelling in the vesicles due to the helix-coil transition and associated charge-charge interactions within the corona chains. At high pH and high temperature, P(Lys) corona chains undergo a secondary structure change from alpha-helix to beta-sheet which causes an increase in vesicle size due to the relief of interfacial curvature. This study represents one of the first instances whereby different secondary structure transitions within the same polypeptide have been incorporated into a block copolymer assembly that can be used to produce dual-responsive materials.

Shell cross-linked hollow polyelectrolyte microcapsules composed of hyaluronic acid (HA) and poly- l-lysine (PLL) were prepared by layer-by-layer (LBL) adsorption and subsequent core removal by a reductive agent. Disulfide cross-linked HA microgels were used as template core materials for the LBL deposition on the surface and removed by treatment of dithiothreitol at neutral pH condition. HA/PLL polyelectrolyte multilayers on the shell were chemically cross-linked via carbodiimide chemistry, and their physicochemical properties and drug release behaviors were investigated. Shell cross-linked HA/PLL polyelectrolyte microcapsules exhibited far enhanced physical stability against freeze-thaw cycles and acidic pH conditions compared to the un-cross-linked ones. The cross-linked HA/PLL multilayer shell also demonstrated pH responsive permeability, which became more permeable at low pH than at neutral pH. When bovine serum albumin (BSA), as a model protein drug, was loaded inside using the pH-dependent permeability, BSA release profiles from the microcapsules could be readily modulated by varying medium pH values or adding an HA digesting enzyme (hyaluronidase) in the incubation medium.

The influence of lateral ligand mobility on cell attachment and receptor clustering has previously been explored for membrane-anchored molecules involved in cell-cell adhesion. In this study, we considered instead a cell binding motif from the extracellular matrix. Even though the lateral mobility of extracellular matrix ligands in membranes does not occur in vivo, we believe it is of interest for cell engineering in vitro. As is the case for cell-cell adhesion molecules, lateral mobility of extracellular matrix ligands could influence cell attachment and, subsequently, cell behavior in cell culture. In this paper, the accessibility and functionality of extracellular matrix ligands presented at surfaces were evaluated for the conditions of laterally mobile versus non-mobile ligands by studying ligand-antibody binding events and early cell attachment as a function of ligand concentration. We compare the initial attachment of rat-derived adult hippocampal progenitor (AHP) cells on laterally mobile, supported phospholipid bilayer membranes to non-mobile, poly-L-lysine-grafted-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLL-g-PEG) polymer films functionalized with a range of laminin-derived IKVAV-containing peptide densities. To this end, synthesis of a new PLL-g-PEG/PEG-IKVAV polymer is described. The characterization of available IKVAV peptides on both surface presentations schemes was explored by studying the mass uptake of anti-IKVAV antibodies using a combination of the surface-sensitive techniques quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring, surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy, and optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy. IKVAV-containing peptides presented on laterally mobile, supported phospholipid bilayers and non-mobile PLL-g-PEG were recognized by the anti-IKVAV antibody in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that the amount of available IKVAV ligands increases proportionally with ligand density over the concentrations tested. Attachment of AHP cells to IKVAV-functionalized PLL-g-PEG and supported phospholipid bilayers followed a sigmoidal dependence on peptide concentration, with a critical concentration of approximately 3 pmol/cm2 IKVAV ligands required to support initial AHP cell attachment for both surface modifications. There appeared to be little influence of IKVAV peptide mobility on the initial attachment of AHP cells. Although the spread in the cell attachment data was larger for the PLL-g-PEG surface modification, this was reduced when observed after 24 h, indicating that the cells might need longer times to establish attachment strengths equivalent to those observed on peptide-functionalized supported lipid bilayers. The present study is a step toward understanding the influence of extracellular-matrix-derived ligand mobility on cell fate. Further analysis should focus on the systematic tuning of lateral ligand diffusion, as well as a comparison between the response of non-spreading cells (i.e., AHPs), versus spreading cells (i.e., fibroblasts).

The aim of this work was to study changes in homopolypeptide chain conformation as a function of the number of residues by the modeling of the electrophoretic mobility. For this purpose, the frictional coefficients of poly(N(epsilon)-trifluoroacetyl-L-lysine) with different number of residues (up to 11) were determined from the absolute ionic mobilities and modeled by the hydrodynamic frictional coefficient of an equivalent cylinder. This approach allowed determination of geometrical parameters of the polypeptide chain in a liquid phase (nonaqueous solution of the BGE). The fact that the BGE and analyte are dissolved in mixed (methanol-ACN) organic solvent implied to take into account different effects and corrections that are generally not considered in aqueous solvent: namely, the effect of ion-pairs between constituents of the BGE for the calculation of the ionic strength, the effect of ion-pairs between the solutes and the electrolyte counterions and the correction due to the dielectric friction (Hubbard-Onsager equations). In addition, the influence of the ionic strength on the electrophoretic mobility was corrected using the Pitts equation, and the effect of lateral charges due to a slight deprotonation of the -NH- group in the lateral chain was also considered. From this modeling, molecular geometrical parameters relative to the linear and helicoïdal conformations were obtained with very good correlation coefficients. Interestingly, this work also points out that the use of ionic mobility modeling for extracting molecular geometrical parameters can also be applied to end-charged polypeptides with slightly charged lateral chains (3% of elementary charge per residue).

As part of the search of novel degradable polymers, amphiphilic and cationic poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-g-poly(l-lysine) (PCL-g-PlL) copolymers have been synthesized following a grafting "onto" or a grafting "from" method both applied to a macropolycarbanionic PCL derivative. The first approach led to PCL-g-PZlL containing 36% of epsilon-caprolactone and 64% of N-epsilon-Z-l-lysine units, by reaction of activated poly(N-epsilon-Z-l-lysine) on the macropolycarbanion derived from PCL. The second route was based on the anionic ring opening polymerization of N-carboxyanhydride of N-epsilon-benzyloxycarbonyl-l-lysine initiated by the macropolycarbanion derived from PCL and led to a similar copolymer containing 45% of of epsilon-caprolactone and 55% of N-epsilon-Z-l-lysine units. After deprotection of the lysine units, PCL-g-PlL copolymers were obtained. These copolymers are water-soluble and form nanometric micelle-like objects with mean diameters between 60 and 500 nm in distilled water depending on the synthesis route.

Purpose: To evaluate the potential use of dendritic alpha,epsilon-poly(L-lysine)s (DPL) for the efficient cellular delivery of antisense oligonucleotides., Methods: A series of dendritic alpha,epsilon-polylysines of various generations were prepared. Their physical properties and the ability to form complex with oligonucleotide were investigated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), agarose gel electrophoresis, fluorescence titration and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The efficiency to deliver oligonucleotide to HeLa cells, stably transfected with plasmid pLuc/705, was evaluated by using antisense splicing correction assay and confocal microscopy., Results: DPLs formed the complexes with antisense oligonucleotide with modest cytotoxicity. The charge ratio of oligonucleotide to DPL and the size (generation) of DPLs were all critical variables for the antisense effect. Compared to low generation DPLs, high generation DPLs were more effective in delivering oligonucleotide into cells., Conclusions: High generation DPL-oligonucleotide complexes were moderately effective for delivery antisense oligonucleotide. The complex formation provides a promise for in vivo therapeutic application of DPLs or their derivatives in the delivery of gene or oligonucleotide.

This report describes direct formation of giant vesicles from a series of poly(L-lysine)-block-poly(L-phenylalanine) (PLL-b-PPA) block copolymers from their water solution. These polymers are prepared by successive ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of the two alpha-amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides and then removing the side chain protecting groups by acidolysis. The structures of the copolymers are confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The vesicles are studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Rhodamine B is used as a fluorescent probe to confirm the existence of the vesicle with an aqueous interior. The vesicle size is in the range 0.55-6 microm, depending on the absolute and relative lengths of the two blocks, on initial polymer concentration, and on solution pH. The vesicles are still stable in water for 2 months after preparation. Addition of the copolymer to DNA solution results in complex formation with it. The complex assumes the morphology of irregular particles of less than 2 microm. It is expected to be used in drug and gene delivery.

Altered gene expression in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC) is associated with a variety of aspects of liver pathophysiology. It is, therefore, possible to envision a new therapeutic strategy for treatment of intractable liver diseases and achievement of graft-specific immunotolerance through modulation of SEC functions by genetic engineering. The SEC possesses unique hyaluronan receptors that recognize and internalize hyaluronic acid (HA). This characteristic was used in the development of a system for targeting foreign DNA to SEC. A gene carrier system was prepared by coupling HA oligomers to poly L-lysine (PLL) in a 1:1 weight ratio by reductive amination reaction. The resulting copolymer (PLL-g-HA) was mixed with various amounts of DNA in 154 mM NaCl. Inter-polyelectrolyte complex formation between PLL-g-HA and DNA exhibited minimal self-aggregation, explaining the highly soluble nature of the complex. Complex formation between PLL-g-HA and DNA was further assessed with a gel retardation assay. The titration point representing the minimum proportion of PLL-g-HA required to retard the DNA completely occurred at a 1:1 copolymer (based on PLL) to DNA charge ratio. Following intravenous injection of (32)P-labeled pSV beta-Gal plasmid complexed to PLL-g-HA in Wistar rats, >90% of the injected counts were shown to be taken up by the liver. Further, it was shown that the PLL-g-HA/DNA complex was distributed exclusively in the SEC. At 72 h after injection of 90 mug of pSV beta-Gal in a PLL-g-HA-complexed form, a large number of SEC expressing beta-galactosidase were detected. So, the PLL-g-HA/DNA system permits targeted delivery of exogenous nucleotide agents selectively to the liver SEC, providing a novel strategy for manipulation of SEC functions.

This study communicates the molecular design, preparation, and biological application of novel symmetric amphiphilic polycationic dendritic poly(L-lysine)-b-poly(L-lactide)-b-dendritic poly(L-lysine) D2-LLA15-D2 bearing two two-generation poly(L-lysine) PLL dendrons D2 and a central hydrophobic biodegradable poly(L-lactide) block LLA15. First, an amino-protected precursor of L1-OH was designed and synthesized and was further employed to prepare L1-LLA15 with an organic 4-(dimethylamino)-pyridine-mediated living-ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide. Subsequently, the hydroxy end-capped L1-LLA15 was coupled to synthesize a new triblock L1-LLA15-L1 with two one-generation amino-protected PLL dendrons L1. Furthermore, with a repeated trifluoroacetic-acid-mediated amino deprotection-protection cycle, new amphiphilic triblock D2-LLA15-D2 was successfully prepared. By means of NMR, mass spectrometry, and gel permeation chromatography, these synthetic precursors and final amphiphilic product were characterized to bear well-defined triblock structures. In addition, this synthesized amphiphilic triblock polycationic macromolecule was applied as a new polycationic plasmid DNA carrier, and its DNA binding affinity was examined via an agarose electrophoresis and a fluorescence titration assay along with two important references of hydrophilic dendritic D2-HEX-D2 and double-hydrophilic D2-PEG-4K-D2 bearing the same two D2 dendrons; much enhanced DNA binding affinity was interestingly revealed for the new amphiphilic structural D2-LLA15-D2. Moreover, the assembled polyplex microparticles of plasmid DNA/polycationic carrier were further analyzed by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy, indicating their averaged nanoparticle size around 150-200 nm. As for the cytotoxicity of the new D2-LLA15-D2, MTT assays were conducted with a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (SMMC-7721), indicating a very low cytotoxicity as compared with commercial linear PLL-23K and PEI-2K, and a DNase I degradation of the assembled polyplex particles was also done in the HBS buffer solution to evaluate their stabilities. Finally, employing the new amphiphilic D2-LLA15-D2 as gene carrier, in vitro gene transfection experiments were conducted with the SMMC-7721 cell line, indicating a transfection efficiency increase of at least 10 times higher than that of the naked plasmid DNA under a N/P charge ratio of 10. Therefore, these interesting results may provide a new possible way to construct efficient polycationic macromolecular gene carriers with low toxicity and less expensive low-generation PLL dendrons.

Polypeptide/polysaccharide graft copolymers poly(L-lysine)-graft-chitosan (PLL-g-Chi) were prepared by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of epsilon-benzoxycarbonyl L-lysine N-carboxyanhydrides (Z-L-lysine NCA) in the presence of 6-O-triphenylmethyl chitosan. The PLL-g-Chi copolymers were thoroughly characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The number-average degree of polymerization of PLL grafted onto the chitosan backbone could be adjusted by controlling the feed ratio of NCA to 6-O-triphenylmethyl chitosan. The particle size of the complexes formed from the copolymer and calf thymus DNA was measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS). It was found in the range of 120 approximately 340 nm. The gel retardation electrophoresis showed that the PLL-g-Chi copolymers possessed better plasmid DNA-binding ability than chitosan. The gene transfection effect in HEK 293T cells of the copolymers was evaluated, and the results showed that the gene transfection ability of the copolymer was better than that of chitosan and was dependent on the PLL grafting ratio. The PLL-g-Chi copolymers could be used as effective gene delivery vectors.

Nucleic acids bearing glycans of various structures have been under vigorous investigation in the past decade. The carbohydrate moieties of such complexes can serve as recognition sites for carbohydrate-binding proteins-lectins-and initiate receptor-mediated endocytosis. Therefore, carbohydrates can enhance cell targeting and internalization of nucleic acids that are associated with them and thus improve the bioavailability of nucleic acids as therapeutic agents. This review summarizes nucleic acid glycosylation in nature and approaches for the preparation of both non-covalently associated and covalently-linked carbohydrate-nucleic acid complexes.

The conjugate of bacterial cytosine deaminase (bCD) and poly-l-lysine (PLL) that was functionalized with biotin, rhodamine, and Gd3+-DOTA was synthesized and characterized. It demonstrated high relaxivity, improved enzymatic specificity to prodrug 5-fluorocytosine, low cytotoxicity, efficient cell uptake, and high enzymatic stability in fresh mouse serum and human breast cancer cell culture.

In this study, we synthesized dendritic poly(L-lysine)s (DPKs), dendritic poly(L-ornithine)s (DPOs), which are constructed as novel amino acid dendrimers, and PEGylated KG6 (the sixth generation of DPKs), and evaluated the physicochemical properties and biodistribution characteristics of these dendrimers. The particle size of DPKs and DPOs was well controlled in the nanometer range. The zeta-potential of these dendrimers was slightly positive and this gradually increased in association with their generation. After intravenous administration to mice, all tested dendrimers cleared rapidly from blood flow and mainly accumulated in the liver and kidney. The hepatic and renal accumulation changed in a generation-dependent manner. In contrast, no significant distributional differences between same generation of DPK and DPO were observed, although the constituent amino acids, particle size, and zeta-potential were different. However, PEGylation of KG6 caused great changes in particle size, zeta-potential, blood retention and organ distribution in vivo, indicating that the PEGylation is applicable strategy to improve biodistribution characteristics of dendrimeric molecules. The information provided by this study will be helpful for the development of future drug delivery systems using amino acid dendrimers as safe drug carriers.

We have prepared two peptides based on the hydrophobic core (Lys-Leu-Val-Phe-Phe) of amyloid beta-protein (Abeta) that contain alpha,alpha-disubstituted amino acids at alternating positions, but differ in the positioning of the oligolysine chain (AMY-1, C-terminus; AMY-2, N-terminus). We have studied the effects of AMY-1 and AMY-2 on the aggregation of Abeta and find that, at stoichiometric concentrations, both peptides completely stop Abeta fibril growth. Equimolar mixtures of AMY-1 and Abeta form only globular aggregates as imaged by scanning force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. These samples show no signs of protofibrillar or fibrillar material even after prolonged periods of time (4.5 months). Also, 10 mol % of AMY-1 prevents Abeta self-assembly for long periods of time; aged samples (4.5 months) show only a few protofibrillar or fibrillar aggregates. Circular dichroism spectroscopy of equimolar mixtures of AMY-1 and Abeta show that the secondary structure of the mixture changes over time and progresses to a predominantly beta-sheet structure, which is consistent with the design of these inhibitors preferring a sheet-like conformation. Changing the position of the charged tail on the peptide, AMY-2 interacts with Abeta differently in that equimolar mixtures form large ( approximately 1 mum) globular aggregates which do not progress to fibrils, but precipitate out of solution. The differences in the aggregation mediated by the two peptides is discussed in terms of a model where the inhibitors act as cosurfactants that interfere with the native ability of Abeta to self-assemble by disrupting hydrophobic interactions either at the C-terminus or N-terminus of Abeta.

Four alkyne-functionalized poly(lysine) derivatives have been synthesized and characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. In the first poly(lysine) derivative, phenylpropiolate moieties are directly bound to the aminic arms, whereas in the other derivatives, propargylamine moieties are bound to the aminic poly(lysine) arms through glucaric acid and diethylene glycol (DG) chains, respectively. para-Hydrogenation of the alkyne-functionalized poly(lysine) compounds has been investigated and the results have been discussed in terms of spin lattice relaxation properties of the hydrogenated products. It is shown that the longer the mobile chain separating the unsaturation from the poly(lysine) backbone, the more intense the polarized signals when para-hydrogenation is carried out. This is due to (a) the maintenance of short reorientational times on the unsaturated ends, and therefore a sufficiently long T(1) of the protons added during hydrogenation, and (b) the minor effect of steric hindrance by the poly(lysine) backbone that decreases interaction of the unsaturation with the catalyst, allowing higher hydrogenation rates.

The cationic peptide dendrons synthesized and studied are lower generation polylysine-based partial dendrimers with or without lipid chains in the core. The dendrons with lipidic chains can be utilized as protein and liposomal mimics because of their unique structural properties. The full assignments of three different dendrons (L)7(NH2)8, (C14)1(L)7(NH2)8 and (C14)3(L)7(NH2)8 were obtained in D2O and H2O/D2O using a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer. The hydrophobic lipidic core of branched polylysine dendrons was found to induce aggregation upon increasing concentration. Because non-lipidic dendrons do not self-assemble, the behaviour and internal structural features of two different dendrons with one and three C14 hydrocarbon chains were explored. The critical association concentration clearly depends on the number of core hydrophobic residues and the association starts at 0.025 mM for (C14)1(L)7(NH2)8 and 0.05 mM for (C14)3(L(7(NH2)8. Chemical shift analysis also revealed that the hydrophobic chains of the dendrons associate in the core, whereas the polar head groups (NH2) are mainly located at the surfaces of the aggregates. The T1 relaxation time measurements showed that the mobility of the hydrocarbon chain is greater with the monomeric form of dendron (C14)1(L)7(NH2)8) than that of monomer (C14)3(L)7(NH2)8. The inter-chain hydrophobic interactions restrict the flexibility of the dendron with three hydrocarbon chains. As expected, the flexibility of the monomeric form is higher than that of the aggregated state for both of the dendrons., (Copyright 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Studies on the synthesis, structural elucidation, and biological evaluation of new conjugates of poly-S-lysine with meso-substituted porphyrins are described. The new conjugates were used in the photoinactivation of antibiotic-resistant Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus strains ATCC 25923 and MRSA 110) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli strain O4). The results show that the cationic conjugates are able to photosensitize the efficient inactivation of both types of bacteria.

Understanding the conformation, orientation, and specific activity of proteins bound to surfaces is crucial for the development and optimization of highly specific and sensitive biosensors. In this study, the very efficient enzyme beta-lactamase is used as a model protein. The wild-type form was genetically engineered by site-directed mutagenesis to introduce single cysteine residues on the surface of the enzyme. The cysteine thiol group is subsequently biotinylated with a dithiothreitol (DTT)-cleavable biotinylation reagent. beta-Lactamase is then immobilized site-specifically via the biotin group on neutral avidin-covered surfaces with the aim to control the orientation of the enzyme molecule at the surface and study its effect on enzymatic activity using Nitrocefin as the substrate. The DTT-cleavable spacer allows the release of the specifically bound enzyme from the surface. Immobilization of the enzyme is performed on a monolayer of the polycationic, biotinylated polymer PLL-g-PEG/PEG-biotin assembled on niobium oxide (Nb2O5) surfaces via neutral avidin as the docking site. Two different assembly protocols, the sequential adsorption of avidin and biotinylated beta-lactamase and the immobilization of preformed complexes of beta-lactamase and avidin, are compared in terms of immobilization efficiency. In situ optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy and colorimetric analysis of enzymatic activity were used to distinguish between specific and unspecific enzyme adsorption, to sense quantitatively the amount of immobilized enzyme, and to determine Michaelis-Menten kinetics. All tested enzyme variants turned out to be active upon immobilization at the polymeric surface. However, the efficiency of immobilized enzymes relative to the soluble enzymes was reduced about sevenfold, mainly because of impaired substrate (Nitrocefin) diffusion or restricted accessibility of the active site. No significant effect of different enzyme orientations could be detected, probably because the enzymes were attached to the surface through long, flexible PEG chain linkers.