Construction of caged polyplexes with a reversible intracellular unpacking property to improve stability and transfection.
Cross-linking of protein macromonomers accompanies the assembly of viral particles, which provides the virus with high stability in the host. Following inspiration, caged polyplexes were fabricated via a biomimetic cross-linker. Thiolated polyethylenimine was synthesized and showed sufficient DNA condensation ability. Spherical particles with a diameter of about 150nm were formed at an N/P ratio of 10. Shell-cross-linked polyplexes were then constructed by the oxidation of thiol groups in air. All the results indicate that the cross-linking shell via disulfide bonds could improve the stability of polyplexes in the physiological condition and showed a reversible unpacking property at the intracellular GSH concentration. By selecting the proper preparation conditions, polyplexes caged via a biomimetic cross-linker could efficiently release DNA for transfection.
Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China. yx_wang@zju.edu.cn
Youxiang
Y
Wang
Ying
Y
Zhu
Qiaoling
Q
Hu
Jiacong
J
Shen
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000502:physiology*; D008422:Materials Testing; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004337:Drug Carriers; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D011094:Polyethyleneimine; D004247:DNA