Title
Tuning the pH-Switch of Supramolecular Polymer Carriers for siRNA to Physiologically Relevant pH
Author
Patrick Ahlers, Hendrik Frisch, Regina Holm, Daniel Spitzer, Matthias Barz, Pol Besenius
Year
2017
Journal
Macromolecular Bioscience
Abstract
The preparation of histidine enriched dendritic peptide amphiphiles and their self-assembly into multicomponent pH-switchable supramolecular polymers is reported. Alternating histidine and phenylalanine peptide synthons allow the assembly/disassembly to be adjusted in a physiologically relevant range of pH 5.3–6.0. Coassembly of monomers equipped with dendritic tetraethylene glycol chains with monomers bearing peripheral primary amine groups leads to nanorods with a tunable cationic surface charge density. These surface functional supramolecular polycations are able to reversibly bind short interfering RNA (siRNA). The nanorod-like supramolecular polymers, their complexation with siRNA, and the pH-triggered assembly/disassembly of the supramolecular carriers are characterized via circular dichroism spectroscopy, gel electrophoresis, as well as transmission electron microscopy. Multicomponent supramolecular polymers represent a modular and promising strategy for applications as responsive carrier vehicles, codelivery strategies, and gene therapy.
Instrument
J-815
Keywords
Circular dichroism, Secondary structure, Chemical stability, Polymers, Biochemistry, Materials