Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization is of particular significance for the development of polymeric nucleic acid delivery vehicles due to the ability to synthesize well-defined polymers and block copolymers from a wide variety of functional monomers. Building prior work, we utilized RAFT polymerization to synthesize a library of cationic block copolymers comprised of a hydrophilic stabilizing block of oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate or 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine and an ammonium- or phosphonium-based cationic block for nucleic acid complexation. This series of block copolymers allowed the investigation of the influence of the cationic species, the effect of cationic block length, and the effect of the alkyl substituent length on the binding, colloidal stabilization, delivery of siRNA, and gene knockdown of MYC in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

RAFT polymerization for the synthesis of block copolymer-based siRNA delivery vehicles

ACS Spring 2022

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