Linear poly(ethylene imine)-based hydrogels for effective binding and release of DNA

A series of copolymers containing both amine groups of linear poly(ethylene imine) (LPEI) and double bonds of poly(2-(3-butenyl)-2-oxazoline) (PButEnOx) was prepared. To this end, a poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEtOx) precursor was hydrolyzed to the respective LPEI and functionalized in an amidation reaction with butenyl groups resulting in the double bond containing poly(2-(3-butenyl-2-oxazoline)-co-ethylene imine) (P(ButEnOx-co-EI)). Hydrogels were obtained by cross-linking with dithiols under UV-irradiation resulting in networks with different properties in dependence of the content of double bonds. The developed method allows the exact control of the amount of ethylene imine units within the copolymer and, thus, within the resulting hydrogels. The gel structures were characterized by solid state NMR and infrared spectroscopy. In addition the water uptake behavior from the liquid and the gas phase was investigated. It was shown by an ethidium bromide assay (EBA) that the copolymers and the respective hydrogels were able to bind and release DNA. Furthermore, the influence of the ethylene imine content on this interaction was investigated.