Poly(N-methylvinylamine)-based copolymers for improved gene transfection

Poly(N-methylvinylamines) with secondary amines can form complexes with plasmid DNA (pDNA) and provide transfection efficiency in HeLa cells in the same order as linear polyethyleneimine but with higher cell viability. Chemical modifications of poly(N-methylvinylamine) backbones are performed to further improve transfection efficiency while maintaining low degree of cytotoxicity. In a first type of polymer, primary amino groups are incorporated via a copolymerization strategy. In a second one, primary amino and imidazole groups are incorporated also via a copolymerization strategy. In a third one, secondary amino groups are substituted with methylguanidine functions through a postpolymerization reaction. Thus, novel polymers of various molecular masses are synthesized, characterized, and their interaction with pDNA studied. Then, their transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity are tested in HeLa cells. Two polymethylvinylamine-based copolymers, one containing 20% of imidazole moieties and another one composed of 12% of guanidinyl units allow remarkable transfection efficiency of HeLa, pulmonary (16HBE), skeletal muscle (C2C12), and dendritic (DC2.4) cells. Overall, this work thus identifies new promising DNA carriers and chemical modifications that improve the transfection efficiency while maintaining low degree of cytotoxicity.