title: Investigating polymer thiolation in gene delivery.
abstract: Thiolated polymers containing disulfide linkages are commonly researched in gene delivery with the assumption that the thiolated complexes form disulfide bonds. This study investigates the extent of disulfide linking in a thiol-containing polymer and determines the impact that free thiols have on the polymer's delivery potential. A fluorescent cationic polymer containing thiol pendant chains was prepared from poly(allylamine) and 2-iminothiolate (Traut's reagent). Polymer fluorescence was determined by UV plate readings and fluorescent microscopy. Transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity were assessed in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Results show that thiolated polymers exhibited fluorescence at ex/em ∼595/620. Fluorescent measurements, microscopy imaging, and DNA electrophoresis show that thiolated polymers are not internalized by cells in a culture, yet, they bind to the cell surface, perhaps valuable for applications requiring cell adhesion.
authors: Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Bacalocostantis
authors: Viraj P
authors: VP
authors: Mane
authors: Addison S
authors: AS
authors: Goodley
authors: William E
authors: WE
authors: Bentley
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Muro
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Kofinas
mesh_terms: D002452:Cell Count; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004228:Dithionitrobenzoic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007096:Imidoesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011073:Polyamines / Q000737:chemistry*; D011485:Protein Binding; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D007096:Imidoesters; D011073:Polyamines; C063994:polyallylamine; C005905:methyl 4-mercaptobutyrimidate; D004247:DNA; D004228:Dithionitrobenzoic Acid