Pugsley, CE orcid.org/0000-0002-9200-5663, Isaac, RE orcid.org/0000-0003-4792-6559, Warren, NJ orcid.org/0000-0002-8298-1417 et al. (1 more author) (2022) Linear ABC Amphiphilic Triblock Copolymers for Complexation and Protection of dsRNA. Polymer Chemistry, 13 (40). pp. 5707-5717. ISSN 1759-9954
Abstract
We herein report the synthesis and characterisation of linear ABC triblock copolymers, investigation of their self-assembly in aqueous solution, and complexation and protection with double stranded-RNA (dsRNA). The amphiphilic triblock copolymers were synthesised via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerisation. The precisely controlled polymerisation allowed for modification of the degree of polymerisation of quaternised 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (QDMAEMA, Q), tert-butyl acrylamide (tBAA, B) and N,N-dimethyl acrylamide (DMA, D) blocks, tailoring hydrophobicity. The Q homopolymer was synthesised as a macromolecular chain-transfer agent. The cationic functionality provides the ability for electrostatic interaction of the triblock copolymers with anionic biomolecules, such as dsRNA, for therapeutic or agrochemical delivery applications. The B second block was designed to provide strong anchoring of the assembled structures for enhanced stability. As illustrated by 1H NMR spectroscopy, Q-b-B-b-D linear ABC triblock copolymers were prepared with molecular weights 30, 37 and 44 kDa. The self-assembly of these amphiphilic triblock copolymers in aqueous solution was confirmed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, the potential of these tailored block copolymers as vehicles for dsRNA delivery was demonstrated through complexation and protection of the anionic biomolecule dsRNA against destabilisation at high salt concentration and enzymatic degradation by RNase A, confirmed by ethidium bromide exclusion and agarose gel electrophoresis assays.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2022. This is an open access article under the terms of the CC-BY 3.0 licence. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Chemical & Process Engineering (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Biological Sciences (Leeds) > School of Biology (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Food Science and Nutrition (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 12 Oct 2022 15:43 |
Last Modified: | 25 Jun 2023 23:07 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Royal Society of Chemistry |
Identification Number: | 10.1039/d2py00914e |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:191217 |