title: Preliminary studies on noncovalent hyperbranched polymers based on PNA and DNA building blocks.
abstract: In this work, we report thermodynamic, kinetic, and microrheological studies relative to the formation of PNA- and PNA/DNA-based noncovalent polymeric systems, useful tools for biotechnological and bioengineering applications. We realized two kinds of systems: a PNA-based system formed by a self-assembling PNA tridendron, and a PNA/DNA hybrid system formed by a PNA tridendron and a DNA linker. The formation of a three-dimensional polymeric network, by means of specific Watson-Crick base pairing, was investigated by a detailed UV and CD spectroscopic study. Preliminary microrheology experiments were performed on both systems to evaluate their viscoelastic properties which resulted in agreement with the formation of soluble hyperbranched polymers that could be useful for drug/gene delivery, as well as for encapsulating organic pollutants of different shapes and sizes in environmental applications.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini-CNR, via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moccia
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Musumeci
authors.forename: Giovanni N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Roviello
authors.forename: Sabato
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fusco
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.forename: Enrico M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bucci
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sapio
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pedone
authors.forename: Paolo A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Netti
mesh_terms: D020029:Base Pairing; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000737:chemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012212:Rheology; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D050091:Dendrimers; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids; D011108:Polymers; D004247:DNA