Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelle Formation with PEGylated DNA and Polylysine
발표자
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초록
내용
Positively and negatively charged polymers are known to form polyelectrolyte complexes through electrostatic interactions. Nucleic acid based complexes have recently drawn much attention as negatively charged nucleic acids can complex with cationic polymers such as polylysine (PLys). When the nucleic acids are PEGylated to form charged-neutral block copolymers, their complexation with cationic polymers is expected to form polyelectrolyte complex micelles (PCMs) comprised of a pseudo-neutral polyplex core and neutral hydrophilic corona. In this study, we investigate PCMs formed by PLys and single-stranded DNA-b-poly(ethylene glycol) (ssDNA-b-PEG). The complexation behavior and PCM morphology are determined for DNA block copolymers of different PEG chain lengths. The stability of the PCMs against enzymatic degradation and salt addition is also examined.