Methods of using redox-active surfactants to control polymer interactions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9592300-B2
Application number	US-45064006-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2006
Priority date	Jun 9, 2005
Publication date	Mar 14, 2017
Grant date	Mar 14, 2017

Abstract

The present invention provides methods utilizing redox-active surfactants to provide electrochemical control over polymer interactions. In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a transfection method using a redox-active transfection agent that preferentially promotes transfection dependent on the oxidation state of the transfection agent. Accordingly, certain methods according to the invention provide spatial and/or temporal control of cell transfection.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of controlling the aggregation of polymers by contact with redox active surfactants, comprising the step of contacting a polymer with a redox-active surfactant that is a cationic lipid transformable between oxidation states, wherein transforming the cationic lipid between oxidation states results in a change in charge density of said cationic lipid and the aggregation of the polymer is controlled by the oxidation state of said cationic lipid.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said polymer and redox-active surfactant are present in solution.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said redox-active surfactant bears a ferrocenyl moiety.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said polymer is a biopolymer.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said polymer is a nucleic acid, protein, polysaccharide, or derivative thereof.

6. A method for transfecting a cell, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a redox active transfection agent in the form of a lipoplex between a nucleic acid and a redox active cationic lipid that is transformable between: (i) a first oxidation state that facilitates transfection of cells; and (ii) a second oxidation state that is less effective at transfecting cells, wherein transforming the cationic lipid between said first and second oxidation states results in a change in charge density of said cationic lipid; and
(b) contacting a cell with the redox-active transfection agent in which the cationic lipid is in said first oxidation state to facilitate transfection of the cell with the nucleic acid.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of transforming the redox-active transfection agent to said first oxidation state.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the transforming step is carried out by applying an electrochemical potential to said redox-active transfection agent.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein said electrochemical potential is provided by an electrode.

10. The method according to claim 7 wherein the transforming step is carried out by the transfer of electrons between said redox-active transfection agent and an electron donor/acceptor molecule.

11. The method according to claim 7 wherein the transforming step is carried out by exposure of the redox-active transfection agent to an oxidative/reductive environment of a tissue.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein said tissue is a cancerous tissue.

13. The method according to claim 7 wherein the transforming step is spatially-controlled whereby said cell is selectively-transfected relative to a population of cells.

14. The method according to claim 7 wherein the transforming step is temporally-controlled whereby said cell is transfected at a predetermined time.

15. The method according to claim 6 wherein said method is carried out in vitro.

16. The method according to claim 6 wherein said method is carried out in vivo.

17. The method according to claim 6 wherein said redox-active cationic lipid further comprises a ferrocenyl moiety.

18. The method according to claim 6 wherein said redox-active transfection agent possesses an oxidation potential between about −2V to about +5V (vs. SCE).

19. A method for transfecting cells comprising steps of: (a) providing a molecule containing a ferrocenyl moiety; and (b) contacting a cell with a nucleic acid in the presence of the molecule containing the ferrocenyl moiety to facilitate transfection of the cell with the nucleic acid.

Assignees

• Abbott Nicholas L
• Lynn David M
• Kondo Yukishige
• Jewell Christopher M
• Hays Melissa E
• Wisconsin Alumni Res Found

Inventors

• Abbott Nicholas L
• Lynn David M
• Kondo Yukishige
• Jewell Christopher M
• Hays Melissa E

Classifications

• A61K31/295 Primary

  Iron group metal compounds · CPC title

• A61K48/0008

  characterised by an aspect of the 'non-active' part of the composition delivered, e.g. wherein such 'non-active' part is not delivered simultaneously with the 'active' part of the composition · CPC title

• A61K48/0025

  wherein the non-active part clearly interacts with the delivered nucleic acid · CPC title

• A61K31/555

  containing heavy metals, e.g. hemin, hematin, melarsoprol · CPC title

• C12N15/88

  using microencapsulation, e.g. using {amphiphile} liposome vesicle · CPC title