Intracellular
protein delivery enables selective regulation of
cellular metabolism, signaling, and development through introduction
of defined protein quantities into the cell. Most applications require
that the delivered protein has access to the cytosol, either for protein
activity or as a gateway to other organelles such as the nucleus.
The vast majority of delivery vehicles employ an endosomal pathway
however, and efficient release of entrapped protein cargo from the
endosome remains a challenge. Recent research has made significant
advances toward efficient cytosolic delivery of proteins using polymers,
but the influence of polymer architecture on protein delivery is yet
to be investigated. Here, we developed a family of dendronized polymers
that enable systematic alterations of charge density and structure.
We demonstrate that while modulation of surface functionality has
a significant effect on overall delivery efficiency, the endosomal
release rate can be highly regulated by manipulating polymer architecture.
Notably, we show that large, multivalent structures cause slower sustained
release, while rigid spherical structures result in rapid burst release.