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Thermally sensitive polypeptide-based copolymer for DNA complexation into stable nanosized polyplexes

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Abstract

Gene therapy based on non-viral synthetic delivery vectors has attracted much attention in the past two decades. However, it is still in clinical trial stages, mainly due to the lack of safe and efficient delivery vehicles. Herein, we report on the synthesis and DNA complexation ability of novel, hybrid copolymer comprising poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) block with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) side chains and a polycationic block of poly(l-lysine) (PLLys). The copolymer was synthesized in a two-step procedure. In the first step, a thermally sensitive PNIPAm-g-PEG copolymer with terminal ammonium hydrochloride group was prepared. The second step involves controlled ring-opening polymerization of Z-l-lysine N-carboxyanhydride initiated by the PNIPAm-g-PEG macroinitiator. The hybrid copolymer obtained show high ability to condense DNA into stable polyplexes with sizes below 100 nm. Cytotoxicity evaluation of both hybrid copolymer and its polyplex with DNA indicates that it might be a good candidate for gene-delivery applications.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the Bulgarian National Science Fund through a project “Ideas” DO 02-247/2008.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Polymers, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Emilya Ivanova & Ivaylo Dimitrov

  2. Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Rahila Kozarova & Margarita Apostolova

  3. Department of Materials Science, Prof. Assen Zlatarov University, 8010, Burgas, Bulgaria

    Emilya Ivanova & Sevdalina Turmanova

Authors
  1. Emilya Ivanova
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  2. Ivaylo Dimitrov
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  3. Rahila Kozarova
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  4. Sevdalina Turmanova
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  5. Margarita Apostolova
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Correspondence to Ivaylo Dimitrov.

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Ivanova, E., Dimitrov, I., Kozarova, R. et al. Thermally sensitive polypeptide-based copolymer for DNA complexation into stable nanosized polyplexes. J Nanopart Res 15, 1358 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-012-1358-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-012-1358-7

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