title: Shape Transformation Following Reduction-Sensitive PEG Cleavage of Polymer/DNA Nanoparticles.
abstract: PEGylated polycation/DNA micellar nanoparticles have been developed that can undergo shape transformation upon cleavage of the PEG grafts in response to an environmental cue. As a proof-of-principle, DNA nanoparticles with higher PEG grafting density adopting long, worm- and rod-like morphologies, transition to more condensed nanoparticles with spherical and short-rod morphologies upon cleavage of a fraction of the PEG grafts from the copolymer. This shape transformation leads to increased surface charges, correlating with improved transfection efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 ; Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218 ; Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287.
authors.forename: John-Michael
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Williford
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218 ; Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218 ; Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218D.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205.
authors.forename: Deng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218 ; Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218 ; Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287.
authors.forename: Hai-Quan
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Mao