Studies on Guanidinated N-3-Aminopropyl Methacrylamide-N-2-Hydroxypropyl Methacrylamide Co-polymers as Gene Delivery Carrier

Abstract

Guanidinated N-3-aminopropyl methacrylamide (APMA)-N-2-hydroxypropyl methacrylamide (HPMA) co-polymers were prepared and evaluated to develop novel non-viral gene transfection carriers. The co-polymers were synthesized via radical co-polymerization of APMA and HPMA followed by total guanidination of amino groups, which employed guanidinated APMA (GPMA) for increasing cell-penetrating and HPMA as the positive shielding content. The molecular weight of guanidinated APMA–HPMA co-polymers (GPMA–HPMA) was determined by static light scattering. Furthermore, cytotoxicity and transfection experiments of GPMA–HPMA/pDNA complexes were conducted. A significant decrease of their parent cytotoxicity and an efficient transfection at relative low charge ratios were observed. The cellular distribution of most GPMA–HPMA/pDNA complexes was partially localized in the nucleus, as indicated by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The guanidination strategy employed may lead to non-viral gene delivery carriers that combine satisfactory transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity, which contribute to their cell-penetrating ability.

Keywords:

• GENE DELIVERY
• GUANIDINATION
• GPMA-HPMA CO-POLYMER
• CELL-PENETRATION
• TRANSFECTION EFFICIENCY