title: High DNA-Binding Affinity and Gene-Transfection Efficacy of Bioreducible Cationic Nanomicelles with a Fluorinated Core.
abstract: During the last two decades, cationic polymers have become one of the most promising synthetic vectors for gene transfection. However, the weak interactions formed between DNA and cationic polymers result in low transfection efficacy. Furthermore, the polyplexes formed between cationic polymers and DNA generally exhibit poor stability and toxicity because of the large excess of cationic polymer typically required for complete DNA condensation. Herein, we report the preparation of a novel class of bioreducible cationic nanomicelles by the use of disulfide bonds to connect the cationic shell to the fluorocarbon core. These bioreducible nanomicelles form strong interactions with DNA and completely condense DNA at an N/P ratio of 1. The resulting nanomicelle/DNA polyplexes exhibited high biocompatibility and performed very effectively as a gene-delivery system.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026 (China).
authors.forename: Long-Hai
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190 (P.R. China).
authors.forename: De-Cheng
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026 (China).
authors.forename: Hang-Xun
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026 (China). yzyou@ustc.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Ye-Zi
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: You
mesh_terms: D002412:Cations; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D005461:Fluorine / Q000737:chemistry*; D008823:Micelles; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D049329:Nanostructures; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D008823:Micelles; D005461:Fluorine; D004247:DNA
keywords: DNA-binding affinity; biotechnology; gene delivery; nanomicelles; nanostructures