Virus-sized DNA nanoparticles for gene delivery based on micelles of cationic calixarenes.

Macrocyclic amphiphilic molecules based on calix[4]arenes are highly attractive for controlled supramolecular assembly of DNA into small nanoparticles, since they present a unique conical architecture and can bear multiple charged groups. In the present work, we synthesized new amphiphilic calixarenes bearing cationic groups at the upper rim and alkyl chains at the lower rim. Their self-assembly in aqueous solution was characterized by fluorescent probes, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, gel electrophoresis and atomic force microscopy.