Packaging pDNA by Polymeric ABC Micelles Simultaneously Achieves Colloidal Stability and Structural Control

Compaction of DNA by oppositely charged nanoparticles is a fundamental phenomenon in nature and of great interest to developing therapeutics. In addition, the ability to orthogonally control the composition and structure of interpolyelectrolyte complexes is needed to develop materials for diverse applications. Herein, we systematically investigate the complexation of plasmid DNA and polymeric cationic AB and ABC micelles to explore the influence of micelle outer nonionic corona length on the colloidal stability, size, composition, and structure of the resulting “micelleplexes”. The micelles were self-assembled from amphiphilic block polymers, poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly((2-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(n-butyl methacrylate) (PEG-b-PDMAEMA-b-PnBMA), and PDMAEMA-b-PnBMA with the same Mn of PDMAEMA. These spherical micelles have similar hydrodynamic radii and core sizes, but the Mn of the outer PEG block ranged from 0 to 10 kDa. The colloidal stability of micelleplexes as a function of st...