Mixed-surface polyamidoamine polymer variants retain nucleic acid-scavenger ability with reduced toxicity.

Nucleic acid-binding polymers can have anti-inflammatory properties and beneficial effects in animal models of infection, trauma, cancer, and autoimmunity. PAMAM G3, a polyamidoamine dendrimer, is fully cationic bearing 32 protonable surface amines. However, while PAMAM G3 treatment leads to improved outcomes for mice infected with influenza, at risk of cancer metastasis, or genetically prone to lupus, its administration can lead to serosal inflammation and elevation of biomarkers of liver and kidney damage.