Chain-Length Dependence of Cationic Polymers for DNA Vaccine Delivery

摘要

We have synthesized a series of poly (aminoethyl methacrylate) (PAEM) polymers with defined chain-length and narrow molecular weight distribution by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). These polymers show varying strength, based on their chain-length, to condense plasmid DNA into narrowly dispersed nanoparticles, and they have low cytotoxicity and can transfect dendritic cells (DCs) efficiently in vitro with or without serum. The transfection level depends on the chain-length of PAEMs. DCs transfected with polyplexes of PAEM and GFP-ovalbumin plasmid can activate T cells specifically to produce interferon-Y- These structurally defined polymers may serve as a model material system for understanding structure-function relationship of polymer-mediated DNA vaccine delivery.