title: A Photoactivatable AIE Polymer for Light-Controlled Gene Delivery: Concurrent Endo/Lysosomal Escape and DNA Unpacking.
abstract: Endo/lysosomal escape of gene vectors and the subsequent unpacking of nucleic acids in cytosol are two major challenges for efficient gene delivery. Herein, we report a polymeric gene delivery vector, which consists of a photosensitizer (PS) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics and oligoethylenimine (OEI) conjugated via an aminoacrylate (AA) linker that can be cleaved by reactive oxygen species (ROS). In aqueous media, the polymer could self-assemble into bright red fluorescent nanoparticles (NPs), which can efficiently bind to DNA through electrostatic interaction for gene delivery. Upon visible light irradiation, the generated ROS can break the endo/lysosomal membrane and the polymer, resulting in light-controlled endo/lysosomal escape and unpacking of DNA for efficient gene delivery. The smart polymer represents the first successful gene vector to simultaneously address both challenges with a single light excitation process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive, Singapore 117585 (Singapore).
authors.forename: Youyong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive, Singapore 117585 (Singapore).
authors.forename: Chong-Jing
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive, Singapore 117585 (Singapore). cheliub@nus.edu.sg.|Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 3 Research Link, Singapore, 117602 (Singapore). cheliub@nus.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D011992:Endosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D053758:Nanoparticles; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D004247:DNA
keywords: aggregation-induced emission; endo/lysosomes; gene delivery; polymers; reactive oxygen species