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Bioreducible Zinc (II)-Coordinative Polyethylenimine with Low Molecular Weight for Robust Gene Delivery of Primary and Stem Cells

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Gene Delivery

Part of the book series: Biomaterial Engineering ((BIOENG))

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Abstract

Low molecular weight (LMW) cationic polymers show safety profile and biocompatibility, but are hindered of limited efficacy in gene delivery. This protocol describes a zinc(II) coordinative strategy to transform common LMW cationic polymers to highly efficient and safe gene vehicles. LMW cationic polymers exhibit lower efficacy compared to their high molecular weight counterparts, largely attributed to weaker nucleic acid binding. From this point of view, zinc dipicolylamine (Zn-DPA) analogs showing high phosphate binding affinity are used to functionalize LMW cationic polymers to obtain higher DNA encapsulation. In addition, for the purpose of DNA release, a bioreducible disulfide bond is introduced between cationic polymers and Zn-DPA analogues, which can be cleaved by abundant glutathione in cytoplasm. The Zn coordination strategy dramatically enhances transfection efficacy of LMW cationic polymers across diverse cell types, including primary and stem cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, China

    Shuai Liu

  2. College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, China

    Tianying Guo

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  1. Shuai Liu
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  2. Tianying Guo
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Correspondence to Tianying Guo .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, China

    Huayu Tian

  2. Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, China

    Xuesi Chen

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Liu, S., Guo, T. (2021). Bioreducible Zinc (II)-Coordinative Polyethylenimine with Low Molecular Weight for Robust Gene Delivery of Primary and Stem Cells. In: Tian, H., Chen, X. (eds) Gene Delivery. Biomaterial Engineering. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6198-0_20-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6198-0_20-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-33-6198-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-33-6198-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference EngineeringReference Module Computer Science and Engineering

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