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Introducing PeptoPlexes: Polylysine‐ block ‐Polysarcosine Based Polyplexes for Transfection of HEK 293T Cells
Author(s) -
Heller Philipp,
Birke Alexander,
Huesmann David,
Weber Benjamin,
Fischer Karl,
ReskeKunz Angelika,
Bros Matthias,
Barz Matthias
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
macromolecular bioscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.924
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1616-5195
pISSN - 1616-5187
DOI - 10.1002/mabi.201400167
Subject(s) - polylysine , transfection , chemistry , hek 293 cells , dispersity , peg ratio , sarcosine , biophysics , polymerization , amine gas treating , polymer chemistry , biochemistry , polymer , amino acid , organic chemistry , glycine , finance , biology , economics , gene
A series of well‐defined polypeptide–polypeptoid block copolymers based on the body's own amino acids sarcosine and lysine are prepared by ring opening polymerization of N ‐carboxyanhydrides. Block lengths were varied between 200–300 for the shielding polysarcosine block and 20–70 for the complexing polylysine block. Dispersity indexes ranged from 1.05 to 1.18. Polylysine is polymerized with benzyloxycarbonyl as well as trifluoroacetyl protecting groups at the ϵ ‐amine group and optimized deprotection protocols for both groups are reported. The obtained block ionomers are used to complex pDNA resulting in the formation of polyplexes (PeptoPlexes). The PeptoPlexes can be successfully applied in the transfection of HEK 293T cells and are able to transfect up to 50% of cells in vitro (FACS assay), while causing no detectable toxicity in an Annexin V assay. These findings are a first indication that PeptoPlexes may be a suitable alternative to PEG based non‐viral transfection systems.