title: Synthesis of alkylated poly(1-vinylimidazole) for a new pH-sensitive DNA carrier.
abstract: The poly(1-vinylimidazole) (PVIm) with sever al alkyl groups has been synthesized as a new pH-sensitive DNA carrier. The resulting alkylaed PVIm (PVIm-R) was water -soluble in spite of the hydrophobic alkyl groups and the deprotonation of the imidazole groups at physiological pH. Hemolysis assay showed the PVIm-R enhanced membrane disruptive ability at endosomal pH, owing to the protonation of the imidazole groups with a pK(a) value around 6.0. Agarose gel retardation assay proved that the quaternary alkylated imidazole groups worked as DNA binding groups. The resulting PVIm-R/DNA binary complex showed significant gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoe
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hakamatani
authors.forename: Shoichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asayama
authors.forename: Hiroyoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawakami
mesh_terms: D000478:Alkylation; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D015870:Gene Expression; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D011145:Polyvinyls; C524090:poly(1-vinylimidazole); D004247:DNA