About this Materials Science article

Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Copolymers of a Polyaspartylhydrazide Bearing Positive Charges as Vector for Gene Therapy by Gennara Cavallaro; Mariano Licciardi; Delia Mandracchia; Giovanna Pitarresi; Gaetano Giammona is a Materials Science article available to read on EtoBox.

## Abstract BACKGROUND: The design of polymeric vectors for gene delivery provided with specific properties is one of the most critical aspects for a successful gene therapy. These polymers should be biocompatible as well as able to carry efficiently DNA to target tissues and to transfect it into cells. RESULTS: The formation of complexes of poly[(α,β‐asparthylhydrazide)–poly(ethylene glycol)] and poly[(α,β‐asparthylhydrazide)–hexadecylamine] copolymers functionalised with glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (PAHy–PEG‐GTA and PAHy–C~16~‐GTA, respectively) with DNA was studied. The effects of the introduction of hydrophilic (PEG) or hydrophobic (C~16~) moieties on the chains of PAHy–GTA copolymers, such as the stabilising effect on the DNA structure, were evaluated. In particular, we observed a high DNA protection by PAHy–PEG‐GTA copolymers. Degradation studies led us to suppose a particular aqueous conformation of the polyionic complex of PAHy–PEG~2000~‐GTA in which DNA should be internalised into an inner core surrounded by a PEG hydrophilic shell; while no significant protection was detected with PAHy–C~16~‐GTA in which DNA should be disposed on the surface of the complex, freely

Author

Gennara Cavallaro; Mariano Licciardi; Delia Mandracchia; Giovanna Pitarresi; Gaetano Giammona

Publisher

John Wiley and Sons; Wiley (John Wiley & Sons); John Wiley & Sons Inc.; Wiley (ISSN 0959-8103)

Published

2008

Language

EN

Field

Materials Science (Physical Sciences)