Bioreducible polyspermine as less toxic and efficient gene carrier

Bioreducible polymers have attracted intense attention as a gene carrier due to their low cell toxicity compared to other polymer-based gene delivery counterparts. We have synthesized low-molecular-weight spermine-originated bioreducible polyspermines (BPSs) to serve as a plasmid DNA (pDNA) carrier complex with low cytotoxicity and high transfection efficiency. Spermine is biogenic and ubiquitous and is of benefit to nucleic acid delivery in many respects. We found that the BPSs formed nano-sized, positively charged complexes with pDNA. In addition, they showed a high buffering capacity from the polyamine-based proton sponge effect which facilitates endosomal escape. With degradable characteristics in thiol-rich (intracellular) environments, BPSs exhibited significantly improved cell viability and suitable transfection efficiency across several cell lines in comparison to linear and branched polyethylenimine, the current gold standards of non-viral gene carriers. BPSs appear to be promising polymers for use as effective pDNA carriers. Copyright (c) 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.