title: Structural studies of the formation of lipoplexes between siRNA and selected bis-imidazolium gemini surfactants.
abstract: Dicationic (gemini) surfactants are agents that can be used for the preparation of stable complexes of nucleic acids, particularly siRNA for therapeutic purposes. In this study, we demonstrated that bis-imidazolium gemini surfactants with variable lengths of dioxyalkyl linker groups (from dioxyethyl to dioxydodecyl) and dodecyl side chains are excellent for the complexation of siRNA. All of these compounds effectively complexed siRNA in a charge ratio range (p/n) of 1.5-10. The low resolution structure of siRNA oligomers was characterised by small angle scattering of synchrotron radiation (SR-SAXS) and ab initio modelling. The structures of the formed complexes were also analysed using SR-SAXS, circular dichroism studies and electrophoretic mobility tests. The most promising agents for complexation with siRNA were the surfactants that contained dioxyethyl and dioxyhexyl spacer groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Macromolecular Physics, Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Andrzejewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Macromolecular Physics, Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pietralik
authors.affiliation: Department of Macromolecular Physics, Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skupin
authors.affiliation: Department of Macromolecular Physics, Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań, Poland; Joint SAXS Laboratory, Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań, Poland. Electronic address: mkozak@amu.edu.pl.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kozak
mesh_terms: D002942:Circular Dichroism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000737:chemistry*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D013501:Surface-Active Agents
keywords: Circular dichroism; Drug delivery; Electrophoresis; Gemini surfactants; Lipoplex; SR-SAXS; siRNA