title: Efficient encapsulation of plasmid DNA in pH-sensitive PMPC-PDPA polymersomes: study of the effect of PDPA block length on copolymer-DNA binding affinity.
abstract: We report the self-assembly of a series of amphiphilic diblock copolymers comprising a biocompatible, hydrophilic block, poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) and a pH-sensitive block, poly(2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDPA), into a dispersion of colloidally stable, nanometer-sized polymersomes at physiological pH and salt concentration. The pH-sensitivity of the PDPA block affords the electrostatic interaction of these block copolymers with nucleic acids at endocytic pH, as a result of the protonation of its tertiary amine groups at pH values below its pK(a). Herein we investigate the effect of PDPA block length on the binding affinity of the block copolymer to plasmid DNA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, The Krebs Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lomas
authors.forename: Jianzhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Canton
authors.forename: Jeppe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: Steven P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Armes
authors.forename: Andrew L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Battaglia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002214:Capsules; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D010767:Phosphorylcholine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D010957:Plasmids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D055672:Static Electricity; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D008689:Methacrylates; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; C511861:poly(2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate); C115766:poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl-phosphorylcholine); D010767:Phosphorylcholine; D004247:DNA