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Polymer–Nucleic Acid Interactions

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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.

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Reprinted with permission from references [60]. Copyright 2016 American Chemical Society

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Reprinted with permission from references [81]. Copyright 2013 American Chemical Society

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Abbreviations

Dendriplex:

Dendrimer-nucleic acid complex

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid

DH:

Debye–Huckel

DPLL:

Dendritic poly-l-lysine

LP:

Linear polymer or linear polycations

LPEI:

Linear polyethylenimine

MD:

Molecular dynamics

NA:

Nucleic acid

PAMAM:

Polyamidoamine

PB:

Poisson-boltzmann

pDNA:

Plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid

PEI:

Polyethylenimine

PLL:

Poly-l-lysine

PPI:

Polypropyleneine

Polyplex:

Polymer-nucleic acid complex

PrA:

Propionic acid

RNA:

Ribonucleic acid

siRNA:

Small interfering RNA

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Nos. 21474074, 21674078 (W.-d.T.), 21374073, 21574096 (K.C.), and 91027040 (Y-q. M.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, College of Physics, Optoelectronics and Energy, Soochow University, 215006, Suzhou, China

    Zhuang-lin Shen, Yi-qi Xia, Qiu-song Yang, Wen-de Tian, Kang Chen & Yu-qiang Ma

  2. National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and Department of Physics, Nanjing University, 210093, Nanjing, China

    Yu-qiang Ma

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  1. Zhuang-lin Shen
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  2. Yi-qi Xia
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Correspondence to Wen-de Tian, Kang Chen or Yu-qiang Ma.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection “Polymeric Gene Delivery Systems”; edited by Yiyun Cheng.

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Shen, Zl., Xia, Yq., Yang, Qs. et al. Polymer–Nucleic Acid Interactions. Top Curr Chem (Z) 375, 44 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41061-017-0131-x

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