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Polyamine–DNA interactions and development of gene delivery vehicles

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Abstract

Polyamines are positively charged organic cations under physiologic ionic and pH conditions and hence they interact with negatively charged macromolecules such as DNA and RNA. Although electrostatic interaction is the predominant mode of polyamine–nucleic acid interactions, site- and structure-specific binding has also been recognized. A major consequence of polyamine–DNA interaction is the collapse of DNA to nanoparticles of approximately 100 nm diameter. Electron and atomic force microscopic studies have shown that these nanoparticles are spheroids, toroids and rods. DNA transport to cells for gene therapy applications requires the condensation of DNA to nanoparticles and hence the study of polyamines and related compounds with nucleic acids has received technological importance. In addition to natural and synthetic polyamines, several amine-terminated or polyamine-substituted agents are under intense investigation for non-viral gene delivery vehicles.

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Abbreviations

PBAE:

Poly(β-aminoester)

PDMA:

Poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate

PEG:

Polyethylene glycol

PEI:

Polyethyleneimine

PEO:

Poly(ethyleneoxide)

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported, in part, by a grant (PC28-13) from the Foundation of UMDNJ (currently New Jersey Health Foundation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, USA

    T. J. Thomas

  2. Formerly Department of Environmental and Community Medicine, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, USA

    Thresia Thomas

  3. Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, 08903, USA

    T. J. Thomas

  4. Département de Chimie-Biologie, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, C. P. 500, Trois-Rivières, QC, G9A 5H7, Canada

    H. A. Tajmir-Riahi

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  1. T. J. Thomas
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  2. H. A. Tajmir-Riahi
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  3. Thresia Thomas
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Correspondence to T. J. Thomas.

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This research did not involve the participation of human subjects. No animals were also used.

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Handling Editor: E. Agostinelli.

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Thomas, T.J., Tajmir-Riahi, H.A. & Thomas, T. Polyamine–DNA interactions and development of gene delivery vehicles. Amino Acids 48, 2423–2431 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-016-2246-8

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