title: Biophysical characterization of quaternary pyridinium functionalized polynorbornenes for DNA complexation and their cellular interactions.
abstract: Cationic polymers with hydrophobic side chains have gained great interest as DNA carriers since they form a compact complex with negatively charged DNA phosphate groups and interact with the cell membrane. Amphiphilic polyoxanorbornenes with different quaternary alkyl pyridinium side chains with ethyl-p(OPy2) and hexyl units-p(OPy6) bearing 10 kDa MWT were synthesized by living Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization method. The physicochemical characteristics: critical micellar concentration, size distribution, surface charge, and condensation of polymer/DNA complex were investigated. Morphology of complexes was monitored by Atomic force microscopy. Cytotoxicity and interaction of these complexes with model lipid vesicles mimicking the cell membrane were examined. These polymers were enabled to form small sized complexes of DNA, which interact with model membrane vesicles. It was found that the nature of hydrophobicity of the homopolymers significantly impacts rates of DNA complexation and the surface charge of the resulting complexes. These results highlight the prospect of the further examinations of these polymers as gene carriers.
authors.affiliation: TUBITAK Marmara Research Center Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Institute, Gebze 21, Kocaeli, 41470, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zeliha
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guler Gokce
authors.affiliation: TUBITAK Marmara Research Center Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Institute, Gebze 21, Kocaeli, 41470, Turkey.
authors.forename: Semra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zuhal Birol
authors.affiliation: TUBITAK Marmara Research Center, Chemistry Institute, Gebze 21, Kocaeli, 41470, Turkey.|Chemistry Department, Yildiz Technical University, Davutpasa, Istanbul, 34210, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tarık
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eren
authors.affiliation: TUBITAK Marmara Research Center Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Institute, Gebze 21, Kocaeli, 41470, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sebnem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ercelen Ceylan
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004247:DNA / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D010969:Plastics / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D011725:Pyridines / Q000737:chemistry*; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D011725:Pyridines; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes; C071464:polynorbornen; D004247:DNA
keywords: DNA condensation; biomembrane; cationic polymer; micelle-like structure; polyoxanorbornene derivative