| 초록 |
Numerous natural and synthetic polycations displaying profound advantages of being non-pathogenic and non-immunogenic have been employed as non-viral vectors for gene delivery. Polycationic derivatives of poly(L-lysine) are under development for improved efficiency, reduced toxicity, and target specificity. We designed a modified poly(amino acid)s based on cationic L-lysine copolymerized with another amino acid comonomer showing high hydrophobicity, L-proline. Poly(L-lysine-co-L-proline)s with molecular weights of 13,000 and L-lysine contents of 90 % and 70 % were synthesized by ring opening polymerization of corresponding N-carboxyanhydride monomers and applied to condense pDNA at polymer/pDNA weight ratio 3:1. Although significant transfection efficiency was not achieved, the synthesized poly(amino acid) carrier presented several advantages for gene therapy including the lack of cytotoxicity and the lack of sensitivity to serum. These results reveal that Poly(L-lysine-co-L-proline) could be useful for gene delivery and L-proline residues have a critical role in condensing the pDNA and in transfection efficiency. |
