Author(s)

Akito Endo, Shoichiro Asayama^*

Department of Applied Chemistry, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan.

Zinc ions (Zn²⁺), known to be a novel intracellular second messenger related to various biological functions, have been delivered inside cells. For the intracellular Zn²⁺ delivery, Zn²⁺ has been chelated to carboxymethyl poly(1-vinylimidazole) (CM-PVIm) by mixing zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) or zinc acetate (Zn(OAc)₂) with CM-PVIm. The resulting Zn²⁺-chelated CM-PVIm, that is, Zn²⁺/CM-PVIm complex by mixing ZnCl₂ exhibited smaller particle size below 10 nm and possessed larger amount of Zn²⁺ ions, as compared to the Zn²⁺/CM-PVIm by mixing Zn(OAc)₂. The both Zn²⁺/CM-PVIm complexes exhibited no significant cytotoxicity, leading to intracellular Zn²⁺ delivery. The Zn²⁺/CM-PVIm by mixing ZnCl₂ delivered larger amount of intracellular Zn²⁺ ions than that by mixing Zn(OAc)₂. These results suggest that the optimal Zn²⁺/CM-PVIm complex is a useful tool for intracellular Zn²⁺ delivery to control various biological functions.

Zinc Ion (Zn²⁺), Carboxymethyl Poly(1-Vinylimidazole), Intracellular Delivery

Endo, A. and Asayama, S. (2019) Preparation of Zn²⁺-Chelated Carboxymethyl Poly(1-Vinylimidazole) for Intracellular Zn²⁺ Delivery. Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering, 7, 213-220. doi: 10.4236/jmmce.2019.75016.