PGMA-Based Cationic Nanoparticles with Polyhydric
Iodine Units for Advanced Gene Vectors
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Abstract
It is crucial for
successful gene delivery to develop safe, effective,
and multifunctional polycations. Iodine-based small molecules are
widely used as contrast agents for CT imaging. Herein, a series of
star-like poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA)-based cationic vectors
(II-PGEA/II) with abundant flanking polyhydric iodine units are prepared
for multifunctional gene delivery systems. The proposed II-PGEA/II
star vector is composed of one iohexol intermediate (II) core and
five ethanolamine (EA) and II-difunctionalized PGMA arms. The amphipathic
II-PGEA/II vectors readily self-assemble into well-defined cationic
nanoparticles, where massive hydroxyl groups can establish a hydration
shell to stabilize the nanoparticles. The II introduction improves
cell viabilities of polycations. Moreover, by controlling the suitable
amount of introduced II units, the resultant II-PGEA/II nanoparticles
can produce fairly good transfection performances in different cell
lines. Particularly, the II-PGEA/II nanoparticles induce much better
in vitro CT imaging abilities in tumor cells than iohexol (one commonly
used commercial CT contrast agent). The present design of amphipathic
PGMA-based nanoparticles with CT contrast agents would provide useful
information for the development of new multifunctional gene delivery
systems