title: Quaternized poly(4-vinylpyridine)s as model gene delivery polycations: structure-function study by modification of side chain hydrophobicity and degree of alkylation.
abstract: To optimize polycation-based gene delivery agents, the influence of molecular characteristics of the polycations on physicochemical properties of polycation/DNA complexes and their relationships to cellular gene transfer need to be understood. With this aim, we have synthesized a series of model polymers based on quaternized poly(4-vinylpyridine)s (CnPVP-beta) with the same DP of 1600 but differing by the number n of methylene groups in N-alkyl ester substituents from 1 to 6 and/or by degree of alkylation beta from 25% to 95%. For polycations CnPVP-95, the efficiency of transfection of a plasmid vector expressing a secreted form of alkaline phosphatase started to be detectable at n = 4, noticeable at n = 5, and again undetectable at n = 6. A decrease in beta of active C5PVP-95 from 95% to 65% resulted in a further noticeable increase of activity with a 9-fold increase for C5PVP-65. This finding was attributed to the proton sponge mechanism due to protonation of non-alkylated pyridine moieties of CnPVP-beta/DNA complexes in slightly acidic media that was supported by the fluorescence quenching assay. The data demonstrate the advantages of partial alkylation of tertiary polyamines with medium-length alkyl agents for preparation of efficient nonviral gene delivery vectors.
authors.affiliation: Inserm, U698, Department of Bioengineering, X. Bichat Hospital, University Paris 7, Paris, F-75018, France.
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: San Juan
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Letourneur
authors.forename: Vladimir A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Izumrudov
mesh_terms: D000478:Alkylation; D000818:Animals; D001622:Betaine / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D005453:Fluorescence; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008954:Models, Biological; D010957:Plasmids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D011073:Polyamines / Q000737:chemistry*; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry*; D011817:Rabbits; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D001622:Betaine; D004247:DNA; D011073:Polyamines; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D011145:Polyvinyls; C019535:poly(4-vinylpyridine)