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Updated: May 2, 2026
CD Spectroscopy to Study DNA-Protein Interactions
Published on: February 10, 2022
Biophysical and structural characterisation of nucleic acid complexes with modified cyclodextrins using circular
Aoife M O'Mahony1, Michael F Cronin, Anthony McMahon
1Pharmacodelivery Group, School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Modified cyclodextrins show potential as non-viral gene delivery vectors. Biophysical characterization reveals how cyclodextrin chemistry and formulation impact nucleic acid complexes, influencing their stability and conformation under varying conditions.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Materials Science
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Modified cyclodextrins (CDs) are promising non-viral vectors for gene and siRNA delivery.
- Understanding their interaction with nucleic acids is crucial for optimizing delivery systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To structurally and biophysically characterize selected CDs and their complexes with nucleic acids.
- To investigate the effects of formulation, temperature, and pH on these complexes.
Main Methods:
- Dynamic light scattering (DLS) for size analysis.
- Zeta potential measurements for surface charge determination.
- Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy for conformational analysis of nucleic acids.
Main Results:
- CD chemistry and formulation significantly influenced complex size, surface charge, and nucleic acid conformation.
- DNA and siRNA conformation changed upon complexation with CDs and under varying pH and temperature.
- siRNA was more susceptible to conformational changes, but CD complexation offered stabilization.
Conclusions:
- Biophysical characterization provides insights into cyclodextrin-nucleic acid interactions.
- Formulation and environmental factors (pH, temperature) critically affect the properties of gene delivery complexes.
- Modified cyclodextrins demonstrate potential for stabilizing nucleic acids during delivery.
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