Self-Organization and supramolecular transformation of amide dendron with focal azobenzene unit

Nanotubular self-organization of amide dendrons with focal β-sheet forming peptide units

To develop rational design principles for a self-organized structure using dendron-peptide conjugates, a β-sheet forming short peptide (VVLL) was introduced to the focal point of a second-generation amide dendron (2G-VVLL) and its self-organization characteristics were investigated. 2G-VVLL self-organized into a nanotubular structure in the aqueous phase. The twisted β-sheet structure of the focal peptide unit was essential for the construction of the nanotubular structure. The design principle could be applied to another dendron-peptide conjugate (2G-AAVV). These findings are expected to assist in the construction of novel precisely controlled nanoarchitectures using amide dendrons with focal peptide units.

Self-Assembled Dendron-Cyclodextrin Nanotubes with a Polyethylenimine Surface and Their Gene Delivery Capability

Self-assembled dendron-cyclodextrin nanotubes (Den-CD-NTs) with selected surface functionalities can serve as templates for the formation of complexes with polymers, and the resulting nanotube-polymer complexes can be utilized as gene carriers. The negatively charged surfaces of Den-CD-NTs were covered with a positively charged polyethylenimine (PEI) layer using electrostatic interactions, and the resulting nanotube-PEI complex, having a positively charged surface exhibited intracellular uptake. Furthermore, the nanotube-PEI complex exhibited the capability for DNA complexation with reduced enzymatic degradation, and also showed higher transfection efficiency and lower cytotoxicity than PEI. Therefore, Den-CD-NTs, in simple complexation with a surface PEI layer, are potentially useful gene delivery vectors.