Supramolecular host-guest pseudocomb conjugates composed of multiple star polycations tied tunably with a linear polycation backbone for gene transfection.

A series of novel supramolecular pseudocomb polycations (l-PGEA-Ad/CD-PGEAs) were synthesized by tying multiple low-molecular-weight β-cyclodextrin (CD)-cored, ethanolamine-functionalized poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGEA) star polymers (CD-PGEAs) with an adamantine-modified linear PGEA (l-PGEA-Ad) backbone via the host-guest interaction. The pseudocomb carriers were studied in terms of their DNA binding capabilities, cytotoxicities, and gene transfection efficiencies in the HepG2 and HEK293 cell lines. The pseudocomb l-PGEA-Ad/CD-PGEAs exhibited better plasmid DNA-condensing abilities than their counterparts, CD-PGEA and l-PGEA. Meanwhile, the pseudocomb carriers displayed low cytotoxicity, similar to CD-PGEA and l-PGEA. Moreover, the gene transfection efficiencies of the pseudocomb carriers were much higher than those of CD-PGEA and l-PGEA at various PGEA nitrogen/DNA phosphate molar ratios. Such supramolecular preparation of pseudocomb gene carriers could provide a flexible approach for adjusting the structure and functionality of supramolecular polymers via the proper use of non-covalent interactions.