title: Star-shaped cationic polymers by atom transfer radical polymerization from beta-cyclodextrin cores for nonviral gene delivery.
abstract: Cationic polymers with low cytotoxicity and high transfection efficiency have attracted considerable attention as nonviral carriers for gene delivery. Herein, well-defined and star-shaped CDPD consisting of beta-CD cores and P(DMAEMA) arms, and CDPDPE consisting of CDPD and P(PEGEEMA) end blocks (where CD = cyclodextrin, P(DMAEMA) = poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate), P(PEGEEMA) = poly(poly(ethylene glycol)ethyl ether methacrylate)) for gene delivery were prepared via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) from the bromoisobutyryl-terminated beta-CD core. The CDPD and CDPDPE exhibit good ability to condense plasmid DNA (pDNA) into 100-200 nm size nanoparticles with positive zeta potentials of 25-40 mV at nitrogen/phosphate (N/P) ratios of 10 or higher. CDPD and CDPDPE exhibit much lower cytotoxicity and higher gene transfection efficiency than high molecular weight P(DMAEMA) homopolymers. A comparison of the transfection efficiencies between CDPD and P(DMAEMA) homopolymer indicates that the unique star-shaped architecture involving the CD core can enhance the gene transfection efficiency. In addition to reducing cytotoxicity, the introduction of a biocompatible P(PEGEEMA) end block to the P(DMAEMA) arms in CDPDPE can further enhance the gene transfection efficiency.
authors.affiliation: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029 China. xufj@mail.buct.edu.cn
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Z X
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ping
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Neoh
mesh_terms: D003505:Cyclodextrins; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D008689:Methacrylates; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009757:Nylons; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003505:Cyclodextrins; D050091:Dendrimers; D008689:Methacrylates; D009757:Nylons; C407037:poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate); C524499:polyethylene glycol methacrylate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols