β-1,3-Glucan polysaccharides as novel one-dimensional hosts for DNA/RNA, conjugated polymers and nanoparticles

Abstract

Beta-1,3-glucan polysaccharides have triple-stranded helical structures whose sense and pitch are comparable to those of polynucleotides. We recently revealed that the beta-1,3-glucans could interact with certain polynucleotides to form triple-stranded and helical macromolecular complexes consisting of two polysaccharide-strands and one polynucleotide-strand. This unique property of the beta-1,3-glucans has made it possible to utilize these polysaccharides as potential carriers for various functional polynucleotides. In particular, cell-uptake efficiency of the resultant polysaccharide/polynucleotide complexes was remarkably enhanced when functional groups recognized in a biological system were introduced as pendent groups. The beta-1,3-glucans can also interact with various one-dimensional architectures, such as single-walled carbon nanotubes, to produce unique nanocomposites, in which the single-walled carbon nanotubes are entrapped within the helical superstructure of beta-1,3-glucans. Various conductive polymers and gold nanoparticles are also entrapped within the helical superstructure in a similar manner. In addition, diacetylene monomers entrapped within the helical superstructure can be photo-polymerized to afford the corresponding poly(diacetylene)-nanofibers with a uniform diameter. These findings indicate that the beta-1,3-glucans are very attractive and useful materials not only in biotechnology but also in nanotechnology. These unique properties of the beta-1,3-glucans undoubtedly originate from their inherent, very strong helix-forming character which has never been observed for other polysaccharides.

Click Chemistry on Curdlan: A Regioselective and Quantitative Approach to Develop Artificial β-1,3-Glucans with Various Functional Appendages

“…), 9 and binding properties (with polynucleotides, single-walled carbon nanotubes, etc. ), 10 developments of these -1,3-glucan derivatives should be useful not only to prepare various chiral-/bio-materials but also to reveal mechanisms of their pharmaceutical actions.…”

“…For example, CUR-Lac would act as a hepatocyte-specific polynucleotide-carrier, since 1) the -1,3-glucan mainchain interacts with certain polynucleotides to form stable macromolecular complexes 10 and 2) the -lactoside-appendage has strong affinity toward hepatocytes. It should be noted that 2-OH of the -1,3-glucan mainchain participate in hydrogen-bondings with the polynucleotides to stabilize the macromolecular complexes.…”

Highly C6-selective and quantitative modification of cellulose: nucleoside-appended celluloses to solubilize single walled carbon nanotubes

“…For example, CD spectral monitoring was used to detect unique interactions between certain polynucleotides and b-1,3-glucans (schizophyllan, curdlan, etc.) to form triple-stranded macromolecular complexes (Sakurai and Shinkai 2000;Sakurai et al 2005). We also utilized CD spectrometer to monitor the macromolecular complex formation between poly(dA) and Cel-dT.…”

Isolierte molekulare Drähte

“…SPG bindet erstaunlich unterschiedliche Gastspezies: von hydrophoben Polymeren über Polynucleotide bis hin zu Goldnanopartikeln. [134,135] Diese Komplexe bestehen wahrscheinlich aus helicalen SPG-Strängen, die sich aber von nativem t-SPG unterscheiden müssen, das keinen Kanal aufweist. [136] Shinkai und Mitarbeiter synthetisierten Komplexe aus konjugierten Polymeren und SPG durch Polymerisation angebundener Monomere sowie durch Komplexierung vorab gebildeter Polymere.…”

“…[136] Shinkai und Mitarbeiter synthetisierten Komplexe aus konjugierten Polymeren und SPG durch Polymerisation angebundener Monomere sowie durch Komplexierung vorab gebildeter Polymere. [135] Die eindimensionale Polymerisation eines SPG-Monomer-Komplexes wurde für das Butadiin 21 nachgewiesen. [137] Die Zugabe von Wasser zu einer DMSO-Lösung von SPG und Polythiophen PT3 führt zu dem Komplex PT3&SPG, [140] dessen Circulardichroismus-Spektrum für das Vorliegen einer Schema 12.…”