title: Microscopic insight into the DNA condensation process of a zwitterion-functionalized polycation.
abstract: Zwitterion-functionalized polycations are ideal gene carriers with long circulation, high cellular uptaking and low cell viability. However, the trade-off between the DNA condensation efficiency and the cell viability must be addressed. The purpose of this study is to provide a microscopic insight into the DNA condensation process and to explore the effect of a zwitterionic block of zwitterion-functionalized polycation, which is of great significance in designing novel gene delivery systems. Poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate-b-(sulfobetaine methacrylate)] (PDMAEMA-b-PSBMA) copolymers were synthesized and used as the model systems. Different from the conventional concept that the PSBMA zwitterionic block act only as the "stealthy" groups, the subtle differences in physical and colloidal characteristics between the polycation/DNA polyplexes show that the PSBMA segment is capable of wrapping DNA attributed to the quaternary ammonium cations, without compromising the DNA condensation capability. On the other hand, the incorporation of PSBMA block reduces the surface charge of the polyplexes, which substantially result in the inefficient transfection and the reduced cytotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.|Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Department of Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Department of Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.
authors.forename: Xiaolu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Department of Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.
authors.forename: Honglai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009757:Nylons / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008689:Methacrylates; D009757:Nylons; C407037:poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate); C521589:sulfobetaine methacrylate polymer; D004247:DNA
keywords: ATRP; DNA condensation; PDMAEMA; gene vector; sulfobetaine