Evaluation of hyperbranched poly(amino ester)s of amine constitutions similar to polyethylenimine for DNA delivery

Biomacromolecules. 2005 Nov-Dec;6(6):3166-73. doi: 10.1021/bm0504983.

Abstract

New hyperbranched poly(amino ester)s were synthesized via A3 + 2BB'B' ' approach, represented by the Michael addition polymerization of trimethylol-propane triacrylate (TMPTA) (A3-type monomers) with a double molar 1-(2-aminoethyl)piperazine (AEPZ) (BB'B''-type monomer) performed in chloroform at ambient temperature. The results obtained by in situ monitoring the polymerization using NMR and MS indicated that hyperbranched poly(TMPTA1-AEPZ2) was formed via a A(B'B'')2 intermediate, and the B' ' (the formed 2 degrees amine) was kept intact in the reaction. Therefore, poly(TMPTA1-AEPZ2) contained secondary and tertiary amines in the core and primary amines in the periphery similar to polyethylenimine (PEI). The chemistry of protonated poly(TMPTA1-AEPZ2) was further confirmed by 13C NMR, and the molecular weight, the radius of gyration (Rg), and the hydrodynamic radius (Rh) were determined using GPC, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and laser dynamic light scattering (LDLS), respectively. The ratio of Rg/Rh of ca. 1.1 verified the hyperbranched structure. Protonated hyperbranched poly(TMPTA1-AEPZ2) is degradable and less cytotoxic as compared with PEI (25 K). Gel electrophoresis reflected that stable complexes could be formed from protonated hyperbranched poly(TMPTA1-AEPZ2) and DNA, and the size and xi-potential of the complexes were characterized. Remarkably, protonated hyperbranched poly(TMPTA1-AEPZ2) showed transfection efficiency comparable to PEI (25 k) for in vitro DNA delivery.

MeSH terms

  • Acrylates / chemistry
  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
  • COS Cells
  • Cell Line
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Chloroform / chemistry
  • Chromatography
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Electrophoresis, Agar Gel
  • Esters / chemistry*
  • Gene Transfer Techniques*
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Humans
  • Hydrolysis
  • Light
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Models, Chemical
  • Molecular Conformation*
  • Piperazines / chemistry
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • Polyethyleneimine / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Protons
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Temperature
  • Tetrazolium Salts / chemistry
  • Thiazoles / chemistry
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Acrylates
  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Esters
  • Piperazines
  • Polymers
  • Protons
  • Tetrazolium Salts
  • Thiazoles
  • aminoethylpiperazine
  • trimethylolpropane triacrylate
  • Chloroform
  • Polyethyleneimine
  • DNA
  • thiazolyl blue