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Methionine Functionalized Biocompatible Block Copolymers for Targeted Plasmid DNA Delivery
Published on: August 6, 2019
PEO-PPO block copolymer vectors do not interact directly with DNA but with lipid membranes
Jocelyne Gau-Racine1, Jyotsana Lal, Mehdi Zeghal
1Laboratoire MPI-LRP, UMR CNRS 7581, Université d'Evry Val d'Essonne, 91025 Evry cedex, France. jocelyne.racine@laposte.net
Abstract:
Small angle neutron (SANS) and light scattering was used to study the interaction between fragments of double stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and a synthetic triblock [poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide)] amphiphilic polymer, known as L64, a potential vector for gene therapy. The mechanism of action of this vector is yet unknown. The contrast variation method was used to separate the partial structure factors of the different components in mixtures of triblock and DNA. It has been found that the copolymer and DNA molecules exhibit repulsive interactions. Further, the interaction between the copolymer and a model lipid membrane was investigated in order to explain the action of the vector. Electrical measurements on black lipid membranes indicated that the main effect of L64 as a vector is to permeabilize the cell's membrane.
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