Dendrimers in gene delivery: structural analysis of dendrimer complexes with DNA and RNA by AFM, affinity capillary electrophoresis, FTIR, CD and fluorescence spectroscopic methods

在聚合物中，树枝状大分子是唯一的具有高度支化结构和球状结构的纳米级合成大分子，能够高效地传输DNA、RNA和药物。本研究旨在利用激光诱导荧光毛细管电泳法、傅立叶变换红外光谱、圆二色谱和原子力显微镜研究树枝状大分子与DNA和RNA形成的络合物的结构组成。在我们实验室最近的报告中，我们分析了阳离子脂类与DNA和RNA的复合体的结构组织，并研究了它们在基因传递方面的潜在应用(1，2)。在不断寻找在体内传递基因的设计工具的过程中，各种合成聚合物已经被测试和使用。最常见的聚酰胺酰胺树状大分子(PAMAM)在生理pH下带正电荷，并与DNA和RNA发生强烈反应。

Among polymers, dendrimers are unique synthetic macromolecules of nanometer dimensions with highly branched structure and globular shape capable of transporting DNA, RNA and drug with high efficiency. This research proposal is designed to study the structural organization of dendrimer complexes with DNA and RNA, using laser induced fluorescence capillary electrophoresis, FTIR, CD spectroscopic methods and atomic force microscopy (AFM). In recent reports from our laboratory, we have analysed the structural organizations of cationic lipid complexes with DNA and RNA and examined their potential applications in gene delivery (1, 2). In a constant search for designing tools to deliver gene in vivo, a variety of synthetic polymers have been tested and used. The most common polyamidoamide dendrimers (PAMAM)) are positively charged at physiological pH and strongly react with DNA and RNA.