An Overview of the Synthesis and Gene Transfer Properties of Triblock Copolymers Poly(2-Methyl-2-Oxazoline-b-Tetrahydrofurane-b-2-Methyl-2-Oxazoline)

Bazoly Rasolonjatovo, Bruno Pitard, Philippe Guégan, Hervé Cheradame

Institut du Thorax, INSERM, UMR 915 8 Quai Moncousu, Nantes, France.
Laboratory LAMBE, University of Evry, UMR 8587, Bld Mitterrand, 91025 Evry cedex, France, Polytheragene, 4 rue Pierre Fontaine, Evry, France.
Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères, 94200 Ivry sur Seine, Paris, France.

DOI: 10.4236/jbnb.2014.52008                

Abstract

The synthesis of poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline-b-tetrahydrofurane-b-2-methyl-2-oxazoline) triblock copolymer of low molar mass has been carried out. Characterization of the purified polymer by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopies is described. These block copolymers did not give DNA containing polyplexes. The in vivo transfection properties were investigated by injection of tibialis muscles and intratracheal administration of female Swiss mice. These triblock copolymers with a molar ratio [2-methyl-2-oxazoline units]/[tetrahydrofurane units] in the 3 - 5 range gave a higher transfection efficiency than that of Lutrol or of PE6400 which are the gold standards of this transfection technique. Hydrolysis increased the performances of muscle transfection, showing the beneficial effect of the presence of positive charges, but was clearly detrimental to the transfection efficiency of pulmonary epithelium.

Keywords

Triblock Copolymer; Cell Transfection; Vector; Gene Therapy; Neutral Amphiphilic Block Copolymers

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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