Chiral cationic polyamines for chiral microcapsules and siRNA delivery

Helical polyamines

Polymer microstructures rely on tacticity, yet exploration in polyamines has focused predominantly on atactic polymers. We introduce a method to synthesize a diverse library of ortho and para-cyanobenzenesulfonyl-activated-methyl aziridines using R, S, and racemic alaninol. Living anionic ring-opening polymerization of racemic sulfonyl aziridines yields soluble polymers, while enantiomerically-pure sulfonyl aziridines follow a dispersion polymerization with complete monomer conversion giving access to stereoblock copolymers. Removal of activation groups is achieved using dodecanethiol and tert-butylimino-tri(pyrrolidino)phosphorane to obtain isotactic or atactic linear polypropylene imines (LPPIs). High-purity L-PPIs are obtained in salt and neutral forms with high yields. Stereoblock copolymers of poly-R-block-S-polysulfonamides and respective polypropylene imine stereoblocks are synthesized, revealing helical structures in water influenced by the monomer type and sequence in CD spectroscopy. Molecular dynamics simulations confirm the helical nature of isotactic LPPIs in water. Bulk characterization demonstrates the first crystalline isotactic polyamines via spherulite growth in polarized light, atomic force microscopy and XRD analyses. In cell-transfection studies, the synthesized isotactic LPPIs exhibit lower toxicity and transfection efficiency than commercial hyperbranched polyethylene imine, with longer chains showing increased transfection efficiency. These isotactic polymers open avenues for complex macromolecular architectures with optically active polyamines akin to poly(amino acid)s but lacking hydrolytically cleavable amide links.

Practical Use of RNA Interference: Oral Delivery of Double-stranded RNA in Liposome Carriers for Cockroaches

RNA interference (RNAi) has been widely applied for uncovering the biological functions of numerous genes, and has been envisaged as a pest control tool operating by disruption of essential gene expression. Although different methods, such as injection, feeding, and soaking, have been reported for successful delivery of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), the efficiency of RNAi through oral delivery of dsRNA is highly variable among different insect groups. The German cockroach, Blattella germanica, is highly sensitive to the injection of dsRNA, as shown by many studies published previously. The present study describes a method to demonstrate that the dsRNA encapsulated with liposome carriers is sufficient to retard the degradation of dsRNA by midgut juice. Notably, the continuous feeding of dsRNA encapsulated by liposomes significantly reduces the tubulin expression in the midgut, and led to the death of cockroaches. In conclusion, the formulation and utilization of dsRNA lipoplexes, which protect dsRNA against nucleases, could be a practical use of RNAi for insect pest control in the future.

The shape and size effects of polycation functionalized silica nanoparticles on gene transfection

Silica nanoparticles are attractive candidates for the development of safe and efficient non-viral gene carriers, owing to their controlled morphologies, potential of facile surface modification and excellent biocompatibility as well as in vivo biodegradability. Conversely, the size and shape of nanoparticles are considered to have an intense influence on their interaction with cells and biological systems, but the effects of particle size and shape on gene transfection are poorly understood. In this work, a series of novel gene carriers were designed employing polycation modified silica nanoparticles with five different morphologies, while keeping uniform zeta potential and surface functionality. Then the effects of particle size and shape of these five different carriers on gene transfection were investigated. The morphology of silica nanoparticles is demonstrated to play an important role in gene transfection, especially when the amount of polycation is low. Chiral nanorods with larger aspect ratio were found to fabricate the most efficient gene carriers with compromised cytotoxicity. It was also noted that hollow nanosphere-based carriers exhibited better gene transfection performance than did solid counterparts. These results may provide new strategies to develop promising gene carriers and useful information for the application of nanoparticles in biomedical areas.