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Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Gene-therapy Inspired Polycation Coating for Protection of DNA Origami Nanostructures
Published on: January 19, 2019
A DNA transporter based on mesoporous silica nanospheres mediated with polycation poly(allylamine hydrochloride)
Fei Qin1, Yuchuan Zhou, Jianlin Shi
1State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, China.
Abstract:
Mesoporous silica nanospheres (MPNSs) were synthesized by the sol-gel method and were investigated by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen sorption, and transmission electron microscopy. The analyses showed that the MPNSs were highly dispersed, with a diameter range of 50-250 nm. Further, the polycation poly(allylamine hydrochloride) was coated on silica MPNSs to form a positively charged surface and to facilitate the loading of DNA molecules. The composite was successfully used as a intercellular carrier of DNA molecules, and this was confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Evidently, this composite has potential to be used as a carrier for a DNA delivery system.
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