Transfection reagent
The present invention relates to a polyalkyleneimine polymer having a repeat unit comprising a hydrophilic group, agents containing the same and methods for their use.
1. A composition comprising
(i) a modified cationic polyalkyleneimine polymer and
(ii) at least one nucleic acid,
where the modified cationic polyalkyleneimine polymer has a repeat unit selected from
2. An agent suitable for delivering at least one nucleic acid to a cell, said agent comprising a composition as defined in claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.
3. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the modified cationic polyalkyleneimine polymer is a homopolymer.
4. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the modified cationic polyalkyleneimine polymer is a copolymer.
5. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises one or more adjuvants.
6. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one nucleic acid is a DNA.
7. A method of delivering at least one nucleic acid to a cell comprising a step of contacting the composition of claim 1 with the cell, whereby the at least one nucleic acid is delivered to, and taken into, the cell, and where the cell is a eukaryotic cell.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein said method is carried out in vivo.
9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein said method is carried out in vitro.
10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the cell is comprised in a cultured cell line.
11. A method of making a composition as defined in claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a solution containing the at least one nucleic acid; and
(b) mixing the solution with the modified cationic polyalkyleneimine polymer, resulting in the composition of claim 1 .
12. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising conducting a polycondensation reaction between first monomers, each having two reactive groups, and second monomers, each having two reactive groups, to provide the modified cationic polyalkyleneimine polymer, wherein each of said reactive groups are selected from group consisting of —Cl, —Br, —I, tosyl, mesyl, —NH 2 and NHR.
13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the two reactive groups of the second monomers are both Br.
14. An agent suitable for delivering at least one nucleic acid to a cell comprising a composition comprising poly(2-hydroxypropyleneimine) and at least one nucleic acid.
15. A composition comprising (i) poly(2-hydroxypropyleneimine ethyleneimine) or poly(2-hydroxypropyleneimine propyleneimine) and (ii) at least one nucleic acid.
16. A composition comprising poly(2-hydroxypropyleneimine) and at least one nucleic acid.