DNA delivery systems based on copolymers of poly (2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline) and polyethyleneimine: Effect of polyoxazoline moieties on the endo‐lysosomal escape

• DOI: 10.1002/app.49400
• Publication Date: 2020-06-23T05:40:59Z
• Authors: Emi Haladjova; Maroš Smolíček; Iva Ugrinova; Denitsa Momekova; Pavletta Shestakova; Zuzana Kroneková; Juraj Kronek; Stanislav Rangelov
• Keywords: Polyethylenimine; Cationic polymerization; Internalization; Oxazoline; Degree of polymerization; Zeta potential

Abstract Poly(2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline)‐polyethylenimine (PMeOx‐co‐PEI) copolymers differing by degree of polymerization (DP = 50 and 200) PEI content (from 37 to 99 mol%) were synthesized living cationic ring‐opening 2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline, followed partial hydrolysis. Upon mixing with DNA in a wide range N/P ratios, they formed well‐defined polyplex particles small size (typically below 100 nm) narrow distribution. The polyplexes demonstrated good colloidal stability very low vitro cytotoxicity. exhibited buffering capacity over 50% relative that the reference implying effective endo‐lysosomal escape polyplexes. Increased cellular internalization both PCR fragments plasmid DNA, attributable strongly positive ζ potential polyplexes, was observed. In spite these favorable prerequisites, transfection efficiency (below 20% control PEI) attributed retarded swelling particles, rupture, release.