Complexation and release of DNA in polyplexes formed with reducible linear poly(β-amino esters).

Designing nanocarriers for gene delivery is a multidisciplinary challenge that involves not only DNA condensation with biocompatible polymers, but also DNA-release processes. Once the genetic material is introduced into the cell, the rupture of degradable bonds permits the unpacking and release of the load. In this work, a dual-degradable polycation - composed by a linear poly(β-amino ester) chain in which ester and disulfide bonds coexist - has been used to condense a DNA plasmid.

The role of hydrophobic alkyl chains in the physicochemical properties of poly(β-amino ester)/DNA complexes.

Two degradable poly(β-amino ester)s with an average molecular weight of 2kDa, referred to as B1 and B2, have been synthesized to be tested as non-viral gene delivery systems. B2 polymer exhibits two additional non-polar ethyl groups at both ends. This paper describes the influence of that subtle difference on the compaction ability and temporal stability of the complexes formed with plasmid DNA.