title: Low charge density cationic polymers for gene delivery: exploring the influence of structural elements on in vitro transfection.
abstract: A series of end-functionalized poly(trimethylene carbonate) DNA carriers, characterized by low cationic charge density and pronounced hydrophobicity, is used to study structural effects on in vitro gene delivery. As the DNA-binding moieties are identical in all polymer structures, the differences observed between the different polymers are directly related to the functionality and length of the polymer backbone. The transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity of the polymer/DNA complexes are thus found to be dependent on a combination of polymer charge density and functionality, highlighting the importance of such structural considerations in the development of materials for efficient gene delivery.
authors.affiliation: Ångström Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Uppsala University, Box 538, SE-751 21 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mindemark
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tabata
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bowden
mesh_terms: D002412:Cations / Q000737:chemistry*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D004146:Dioxanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D004146:Dioxanes; D011108:Polymers; C059299:polytrimethylene carbonate; D004247:DNA