title: Polymer-Nucleic Acid Interactions.
abstract: Gene therapy is an important therapeutic strategy in the treatment of a wide range of genetic disorders. Polymers forming stable complexes with nucleic acids (NAs) are non-viral gene carriers. The self-assembly of polymers and nucleic acids is typically a complex process that involves many types of interaction at different scales. Electrostatic interaction, hydrophobic interaction, and hydrogen bonds are three important and prevalent interactions in the polymer/nucleic acid system. Electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds are the main driving forces for the condensation of nucleic acids, while hydrophobic interactions play a significant role in the cellular uptake and endosomal escape of polymer-nucleic acid complexes. To design high-efficiency polymer candidates for the DNA and siRNA delivery, it is necessary to have a detailed understanding of the interactions between them in solution. In this chapter, we survey the roles of the three important interactions between polymers and nucleic acids during the formation of polyplexes and summarize recent understandings of the linear polyelectrolyte-NA interactions and dendrimer-NA interactions. We also review recent progress optimizing the gene delivery system by tuning these interactions.
authors.affiliation: Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, College of Physics, Optoelectronics and Energy, Soochow University, 215006, Suzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhuang-Lin
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, College of Physics, Optoelectronics and Energy, Soochow University, 215006, Suzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Qi
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, College of Physics, Optoelectronics and Energy, Soochow University, 215006, Suzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qiu-Song
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, College of Physics, Optoelectronics and Energy, Soochow University, 215006, Suzhou, China. tianwende@suda.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Wen-de
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, College of Physics, Optoelectronics and Energy, Soochow University, 215006, Suzhou, China. kangchen@suda.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, College of Physics, Optoelectronics and Energy, Soochow University, 215006, Suzhou, China. myqiang@nju.edu.cn.|National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and Department of Physics, Nanjing University, 210093, Nanjing, China. myqiang@nju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yu-Qiang
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D011108:Polymers; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA
keywords: DNA; Electrostatic interaction; Gene therapy; Hydrogen bond; Hydrophobic interaction; Nucleic acid; Polymer; siRNA