Synthesis and characterization of polycation block copolymer Poly(l-lysine)-b-poly[N-(N′,N′-diisopropyl-aminoethyl)aspartamide] as potential pH responsive gene delivery system

Abstract A series of Poly( l -lysine) m - b -poly[N-(N′,N′-diisopropylaminoethyl) aspartamide] n copolymers, abbreviated as PLL m - b -P[Asp(DIP)] n were designed and synthesized via ring-opening polymerization(ROP), click chemistry, aminolysis and hydrolysis. Using 1 H NMR, FT-IR and GPC, the structures and compositions of these copolymers have been verified. Through feed ratio control, block copolymer PLL m - b -P[Asp(DIP)] n with different PLL and PAsp(DIP) block lengths were obtained, which can be modified to adjust the pH responsiveness and the self-assembling behaviors of the PLL m - b -P[Asp(DIP)] n . From the results of DLS, TEM and 1 H NMR, these block copolymers can form stable micelles with a partially hydrated PAsp(DIP) core and a PLL corona at pH 7.4. While as demonstrated by 1 H NMR and TEM, these PLL m - b -P[Asp(DIP)] n micelle was disassembled due to further protonation of the tertiary amine in the PAsp(DIP) block at pH 5.4. These pH responsive character of the PLL m - b -P[Asp(DIP)] n micelles made them as potential pH responsive gene delivery system which may co-deliver drug and DNA simultaneously.