Carboxymethyl poly( l-histidine) (CM-PLH) as a new pH-sensitive polypeptide has enhanced polyplex gene delivery. Agarose gel retardation assay and zeta potential measurement proved that the anionic CM-PLH at physiological pH coated the PEI/DNA binary complexes. The resulting CM-PLH/PEI/DNA ternary complexes showed the gene expression value 300 times higher than that of the PEI/DNA binary complexes. These results suggest that the synergistic effect of the pH-sensitive imidazole groups at endosomal pH and the anionic carboxymethyl groups at physiological pH in the CM-PLH enhanced polyplex gene delivery.

No abstract

No abstract

We investigated biodegradation and biocompatibility of poly(organophosphazenes). We prepared poly(organophosphazenes) having different side chain groups. The blood compatibility of poly(organophosphazenes) containing fluorinated side groups, poly(bis[trifluoroethoxy]phosphazene) (PbFP) and poly([trifluoroethoxy][ethyl glycinate]phosphazene) (PFGP), without heparinization were evaluated in vitro. The deformation and aggregation of platelets adhered on PbFP and PFGP were not observed and they suppressed platelet activation. Additionally, PbFP and PFGP showed a higher degradation rate, despite their high hydrophobic nature. We found that the high mobility of water in PbFP and PFGP was one of the important factors facilitating their degradation. Their polymer structures were formed in a more open nature, indicating that water easily attacked the backbone of the phosphorus and nitrogen atoms in the poly(organophosphazene). On the other hand, the proliferation of HeLa cells cultured on poly(organophosphazene) was reduced compared with that on the control tissue culture polystyrene.

No abstract