The synthesis of well-defined polymers with pre-determined compositions and structures are essential in improving the transfection efficiencies. Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) polymerization technique allows successful and facile synthesis of cationic glycopolymers of varying compositions, architectures and molecular weights, in the absence of protecting group chemistry. The linear (block and statistical) and hyperbranched (statistical) cationic glycopolymers of pre-determined molar masses and narrow polydispersities ranging from 3-60 kDa has been synthesized using RAFT polymerization technique. These polymers differ from each other in their architectures (block versus random, linear versus hyperbranched), molecular weights, and monomer ratios (carbohydrate to cationic segment). It is shown that the above-mentioned parameters can largely affect the toxicity, DNA condensation ability and gene delivery efficacy of these polymers in different cell lines. Linear statistical copolymers of high degree of polymerization show superior gene expression than their block analogues. The transfection efficacies of branched copolymers are better than linear copolymers. These statistical copolymers show lower toxicity and higher gene expression in the presence and absence of serum. This is the first example of well-defined synthetic glycopolymers of varying architectures as DNA carriers that works both in the presence and absence of serum proteins.

Study of transfection efficacies of cationic glycopolymers of varying molecular weights, compositions, and architectures

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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