Effect of hydrophobic interactions on properties and stability of DNA-polyelectrolyte complexes

0341720 - ÚMCH 2011 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Filippov, Sergey K. - Koňák, Čestmír - Kopečková, P. - Starovoytova, Larisa - Špírková, Milena - Štěpánek, Petr
Effect of hydrophobic interactions on properties and stability of DNA-polyelectrolyte complexes.
Langmuir. Roč. 26, č. 7 (2010), s. 4999-5006. ISSN 0743-7463
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA202/09/2078
EU Projects: European Commission(XE) 512087 - GIANT
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z40500505
Keywords : DNA * polyplex * cholesterol
Subject RIV: BO - Biophysics
Impact factor: 4.269, year: 2010

Polyplexes are polyelectrolyte complexes of DNA and polycations, designed for potential gene delivery. We investigated the properties of new polyplexes formed from cholesterol-modified polycations and DNA. Three complexes were tested; their cholesterol contents were 1.4, 6.3, and 8.7 mol %. UV spectroscopy and fluorescence assay using ethidium bromide proved the formation of polyplexes. The kinetics of turbidity of polyplexes solutions in physiological solution showed that the colloid stability of polyplexes increases with increasing content of cholesterol in polycations. DLS, SLS, electrophoretic light scattering, SAXS, and atomic force microscopy were used for characterization of polyplexes. The observed hydrodynamic radii of polyplexes were in the range of 30-60 nm. The properties of polyplex particles depend, in addition to polycation structure, on the rate of polycation addition to DNA solutions.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0005836