Journal of Physical Chemistry B, Vol.118, No.14, 3893-3898, 2014
A Versatile Method for Encapsulating Large-Sized DNA into Small-Sized Bioreducible Nanocapsules
Encapsulation of negatively charged plasmid DNA into a small-sized nanocapsule without using any condensing agent is very challenging up to now. Here we report a versatile method for encapsulating large-sized plasmid DNAs into small-sized bioreducible nanocapsules in which shearing force and surfactant can fold large-sized plasmid DNAs into small-sized emulsion droplets containing bioreducible branched polymers. Subsequently, temperature triggers the bioreducible branched polymers to aggregate and cross-link at the water/oil interface of the emulsion nanodroplet, forming a bioreducible shell around the nanodroplet. Thus, a small-sized nanocapsule (similar to 110 nm) containing large-sized plasmid DNA (similar to 1900 nm long) forms by removal of the surfactant.