Amphiphilic Cationic [Dendritic poly(<scp>L</scp>‐lysine)]‐<i>block</i>‐poly(<scp>L</scp>‐lactide)<i>‐block‐</i>[dendritic poly(<scp>L</scp>‐lysine)]s in Aqueous Solution: Self‐Aggregation and Interaction with DNA as Gene Delivery Carriers

Abstract

A new series of triblock [dendritic poly(L-lysine)]-block-PLLA-block-[dendritic poly(L-lysine)]s (DL(2) -PLLA-DL(2) ) with PLLA block lengths of 11.5-26.5 and double 2-generation PLL dendrons DL(2) as model cationic amphiphiles were synthesized and characterized. Their CAC, self-aggregation and plasmid DNA binding affinities in pure water and PBS were studied. The PLLA block length dependence of particle size, morphology and ξ potential for organized pDNA/amphiphile polyplex aggregates were examined. Finally, toxicities of these DL(2) -PLLA-DL(2) amphiphiles and their polyplexes were assayed by MTT with HeLa, SMMC-7721 and COS-7 cells, and COS-7 cell luciferase and eGFP gene transfection efficacies with these amphiphiles as the delivery carriers were investigated.