title: Cationic amphiphilic star and linear block copolymers: synthesis, self-assembly, and in vitro gene transfection.
abstract: A series of amphiphilic star and linear block copolymers were synthesized using ATRP. The core consisted of either polystyrene (PS) or poly(n-butyl acrylate) (PBuA), having different glass-transition (T(g)) values. These polymers were used as macroinitiators in the polymerization of the cationic 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA). The polymers were used to study the effects of polymer architecture and flexibility on the self-assembling properties, DNA complexation, and transfection. All polymers formed core-shell micelles in aqueous solutions and condensed plasmid DNA. Linear PDMAEMA-PBuA-PDMAEMA has transfection efficiency comparable to PEI25K in ARPE19 cell line. Glassy state of the micellar core and star-shaped architecture decreased the DNA transfection compared with the rubbery and linear polymer structures. The polymers showed low cellular toxicity at low nitrogen/phosphate (n/p) ratios.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Anu M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Alhoranta
authors.forename: Julia K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lehtinen
authors.forename: Arto O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Urtti
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Butcher
authors.forename: Vladimir O
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Aseyev
authors.forename: Heikki J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Tenhu
mesh_terms: D000179:Acrylates / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D002412:Cations / Q000737:chemistry; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D000882:Haplorhini; D006801:Humans; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008823:Micelles; D010957:Plasmids; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry; D012996:Solutions; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D014162:Transfection; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D002412:Cations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008689:Methacrylates; D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers; D011137:Polystyrenes; D012996:Solutions; C498324:poly(n-butyl acrylate); D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D004247:DNA; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; C049840:2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate