[摘要]：We report a novel poly(ethylene imine) biscarbamate conjugate (PEIC) with a low molecular weight (M-W = 2800, M = 910), and low cytotoxicity which has orders of magnitude higher luciferase gene transfection activity at its optimal conditions as compared with poly(ethylene imines) (PEIs) of M-W 2000 or 25,000. This polycationic gene carrier was synthesized by reacting low molecular weight PEI (M-W = 800) with 1,4-Butanediot bis (chloroformate) to give a copolymer with biodegradable carbamate linkages. When added to a DNA solution, PEIC condensed DNA at a w/w ratio above 1 to form 53-91 nm polyplexes with 20-24 mV in zeta potential (about half of that of branched 25kDa PEI). PEIC can also transfect MeWo cells with large genes such as the 125kb Varicella-Zoster viral gene (VZV) at high activity. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
