Poly(vinyl benzyl trimethylammonium chloride) Homo and Block Copolymers Complexation with DNA

Abstract

In this work we focus on the use of novel homo and block copolymers based on poly(vinyl benzyl trimethylammonium chloride) as gene delivery vectors. The homopolymers and block copolymers were synthesized by RAFT polymerization schemes and molecularly characterized. DNA/polymer complexes (polyplexes) in a wide range of N/P (amino-to-phosphate groups) ratios were prepared. The ability of the novel polymers to form complexes with linear DNA was investigated by light scattering, zeta potential, and ethidium bromide fluorescence quenching measurements. The resulting polyplexes were in the size range of 80-300 nm and their surface potential changed from negative to positive depending on the N/P ratio. The stability of polyplexes was monitored by changes in their hydrodynamic parameters in the presence of salt. The novel vector systems were visualized by transmission electron microscopy. The influence of factors such as molar mass, content, and chemical structure of the polycationic moieties as well as presence of a hydrophilic poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate] block on the structure and stability of the polyplexes, kinetics of their formation, and effectiveness of the (co)polymers to shrink and pack DNA was discussed.

Determination of Intimate Composition of Theranostic Polyplexes Based on (Co)Polymers of Poly(vinyl benzyl trimethylammonium chloride)

“…The polyplex particles were mostly spherical (Figure c,d), as observed earlier . Objects with morphology deviating from the spherical one (appearing in the TEM images as irregular circular objects) were only occasionally observed.…”

“…Molecular characteristics and dispersity, determined by independent techniques (AF4, static light scattering, agarose gel electrophoresis), are presented in the Supporting Information. The synthesis of homopolymer PVBTMAC and block copolymer PVBTMAC–POEGMA was performed by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization in aqueous media as described elsewhere . The chemical structures and molecular characteristics of the (co)polymer are presented in Scheme and Table , respectively.…”

“…Whereas the hydrophilic–lipophilic balance is equal to 9.8 implying that PVBTMAC can be considered more hydrophobic, the covalent conjugation to a POEGMA block introduces hydrophilicity. The abilities of these and related (co)polymers to form complexes with DNA have been studied in an earlier paper, where the influence of factors such as molar mass, content, and chemical structure of the polycationic moieties as well as the presence of a hydrophilic POEGMA block on the structure and stability of the polyplexes, kinetics of their formation, and effectiveness of the (co)polymers to shrink and pack DNA were discussed . Another recent paper demonstrates that PVBTMAC‐based polymers are promising siRNA delivery vectors .…”

Thermo‐Responsive Complexes of c‐Myc Antisense Oligonucleotide with Block Copolymer of Poly(OEGMA) and Quaternized Poly(4‐Vinylpyridine)

“…Its copolymers with polycations, such as polylysine, PEI, and poly(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate), have been investigated in depth. In recent years, another thermo‐responsive polymer, poly(oligoethyleneglycol methyl ether methacrylate) (POEGMA), a brush‐shaped derivative of PEG, has been commonly used in PEC micelles owing to its higher biocompatibility and easy synthesis using controlled polymerization techniques. LCST of POEGMA can be adjusted by altering PEG chain length or combining different OEGMA monomers having varying length PEG chains .…”

Towards DNA sensing polymers: interaction between acrylamide/3-(N,N-dimethylaminopropyl)-acrylamide and DNA phage λ at various N/P ratios

“…[18][19][20][21][22] Recently, it has been suggested that novel homo and block copolymers based on poly(vinyl benzyl trimethylammonium chloride) may be used as gene delivery vectors. 14 The majority of the cationic polymers, bearing an amine function, can be protonated; the relative number of the protonable amines differs for each polymer. The resultant characteristics (size and size distribution, transfection efficiency, stability, toxicity etc.…”