Supramolecular pseudo-block gene carriers based on bioreducible star polycations

A series of supramolecular pseudo-block polycations (CD-SS-pDM/Ad-pPEGs) were realized by assembling bioreducible β-cyclodextrin-cored star poly (2-dimethyl amino)ethyl methacrylate with different molecular weight and an adamantine-ended linear poly(poly(ethylene glycol)ethyl ether methacrylate) (pPEGEEMA) via the host-guest interaction. The pseudo-block CD-SS-pDM/Ad-pPEG carriers were investigated in terms of DNA binding capability, cytotoxicity, gene transfection in HepG2 and COS7 cell lines, and in vivo anti-tumor activity. The pseudo-block carriers exhibited undiminished pDNA-condensing abilities compared with the starting star carriers. Meanwhile, the pseudo-block carriers displayed lower cytotoxicity and higher gene transfection efficiencies at various N/P ratios. These results are consistent with the favorable properties of pPEGEEMA as expected. Furthermore, cellular internalization results and in vivo anti-tumor activity analysis demonstrated that assembled pPEGEEMA could enhance the stability of pseudo-block carriers, thus improving their cellular internalization and gene transfection efficiency. The present study demonstrated that supramolecular pseudo-block polycations via the host-guest interaction is an effective means to produce new gene carriers.