1: J Control Release. 2007 Mar 12;118(1):136-44. Epub 2006 Dec 12. Copolymers of epsilon-caprolactone and quaternized epsilon-caprolactone as gene carriers. Vroman B, Mazza M, Fernandez MR, Jerome R, Preat V. Unite de Pharmacie Galenique, Universite Catholique de Louvain, Avenue E. Mounier 73.20, 1200 Brussels, Belgium. New copolymers of epsilon-caprolactone (CL) and gamma-bromo-epsilon-caprolactone quaternized by pyridine (Py+CL) were investigated as non-viral vectors for gene delivery. Copolymers with two molar compositions (50 Py+CL/50 CL and 80 Py+CL/20 CL), each with a diblock or a random structure, were used to prepare nanoparticulate complexes with DNA. Average size and surface charge of the complexes and extent of the complexation were measured. The DNA condensation by the copolymers was analysed by a gel retardation assay. Cytotoxicity and transfection efficiency of the copolymers were also evaluated in HeLa cells and compared with polyethylenimine 50 kDa. The size of the polyplexes was approximately 200 nm. The zeta potential first increased with the copolymer/DNA charge ratio and became positive for charge ratios in the 2-4 range depending on the type of copolymer. DNA was completely condensed within the nanoparticles and the degree of interaction was very high. Cytotoxicity and transfection efficiency were found to be comparable to polyethylenimine 50 kDa. The experimental results suggest that the novel copolymers can be used as novel gene delivery vectors. PMID: 17258343 [PubMed - in process] Related Links Polyethylenimine-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers: influence of copolymer block structure on DNA complexation and biological activities as gene delivery system. [Bioconjug Chem. 2002] PMID:12121141 Poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(epsilon-caprolactone) diblock copolymeric nanoparticles for non-viral gene delivery: the role of charge group and molecular weight in particle formation, cytotoxicity and transfection. [J Control Release. 2006] PMID:16750279 Amphiphilic copolymers of epsilon-caprolactone and gamma-substituted epsilon-caprolactone. Synthesis and functionalization of poly(D,L-lactide) nanoparticles. [J Biomater Sci Polym Ed. 2003] PMID:12635771 Low molecular weight linear polyethylenimine-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-polyethylenimine triblock copolymers: synthesis, characterization, and in vitro gene transfer properties. [Biomacromolecules. 2005] PMID:16283777 Preparation and characterization of chitosan and trimethyl-chitosan-modified poly-(epsilon-caprolactone) nanoparticles as DNA carriers. [AAPS PharmSciTech. 2005] PMID:16353959