Polyglycerol-functionalized nanodiamond as a platform for gene delivery: Derivatization, characterization, and hybridization with DNA

• DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.10.64
• Publication Date: 2014-03-24T09:22:35Z
• Authors: Li Zhao; Yuki Nakae; Hongmei Qin; Tadamasa Ito; Takahide Kimura; Hideto Kojima; Lawrence Chan; Naoki Komatsu
• Keywords: polypeptides; Science; Q; nanodiamond; Organic chemistry; DNA; 01 natural sciences; Full Research Paper; 0104 chemical sciences; polyglycerol; QD241-441; carbon-nanomaterials; click chemistry; gene delivery

A gene vector consisting of nanodiamond, polyglycerol, and basic polypeptide (ND-PG-BPP) has been designed, synthesized, and characterized. The ND-PG-BPP was synthesized by PG functionalization of ND through ring-opening polymerization of glycidol on the ND surface, multistep organic transformations (–OH → –OTs (tosylate) → –N3) in the PG layer, and click conjugation of the basic polypeptides (Arg8, Lys8 or His8) terminated with propargyl glycine. The ND-PG-BPP exhibited good dispersibility in water (>1.0 mg/mL) and positive zeta potential ranging from +14.2 mV to +44.1 mV at neutral pH in Milli-Q water. It was confirmed by gel retardation assay that ND-PG-Arg8 and ND-PG-Lys8 with higher zeta potential hybridized with plasmid DNA (pDNA) through electrostatic attraction, making them promising as nonviral vectors for gene delivery.