Bioreducible comb-shaped conjugates composed of secondary amine and hydroxyl group-containing backbones and disulfide-linked side chains with tertiary amine groups for facilitating gene delivery

Bioconjug Chem. 2014 Jan 15;25(1):155-64. doi: 10.1021/bc400467h. Epub 2013 Dec 11.

Abstract

Comb-shaped polymeric vectors (SS-PGEADMs) consisting of ethanolamine/cystamine-functionalized poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (SS-PGEA-NH2) backbones and bioreducible poly((2-dimethyl amino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMEAMA) side chains were prepared by a combination of the ring-opening reaction and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The SS-PGEA-NH2 backbones, which were prepared via the ring-opening reaction of the pendant epoxide groups of poly(glycidyl methacrylate) with the amine moieties of ethanolamine/cystamine, possess plentiful flanking secondary amine and hydroxyl groups and some flanking disulfide bond-containing cystamine derivatives. The primary amine groups of the cystamine derivatives were activated to produce bromoisobutylryl-terminated SS-PGEA (SS-PGEA-Br) as multifunctional initiators for subsequent ATRP of DMAEMA. The resultant disulfide-linked short PDMEAMA side chains possess pendant tertiary amine groups and are biocleavable. Such SS-PGEADMs can effectively condense pDNA. The cytotoxicity of SS-PGEADMs could be controlled by adjusting the grafting amount of PDMEAMA side chains. In comparison with the pristine SS-PGEA-NH2, the moderate introduction of PDMEAMA side chains can further enhance the gene transfection efficiency in different cell lines. The present approach to well-defined comb-shaped vectors with multifunctional groups could provide a versatile means for tailoring the functional structures of advanced gene/drug vectors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amines / chemistry*
  • Amines / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • COS Cells
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Disulfides / chemistry*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Gene Transfer Techniques*
  • Genetic Vectors / chemistry*
  • Genetic Vectors / pharmacology
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Hydroxides / chemistry*
  • Mice
  • Molecular Structure
  • Polymethacrylic Acids / chemistry*
  • Polymethacrylic Acids / pharmacology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Amines
  • Disulfides
  • Hydroxides
  • Polymethacrylic Acids
  • polyglycidyl methacrylate
  • hydroxide ion