			Home About us Contact

Cationic Polymers (cationic + polymer)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Polymers and Materials Science	32%
Life Sciences	32%
Chemistry	19%

Distribution within Polymers and Materials Science

General & Introductory Materials Science	59%
Polymer Science & Technology General	37%

Selected Abstracts

Ultrathin Multilayered Films Assembled from "Charge-Shifting" Cationic Polymers: Extended, Long-Term Release of Plasmid DNA from Surfaces,

ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 23 2007
J. Zhang
Ultrathin multilayered films can be designed to release plasmid DNA for three months by using side-chain functionalized ,charge-shifting' cationic polymers. Slow hydrolysis of the side chains of these polymers facilitates film disruption and release of DNA over periods longer than films fabricated using degradable cationic polymers, and suggests approaches to the fabrication of thin films for the localized and long-term release of DNA, proteins, or other agents from surfaces. [source]

Recent progress in the use of soluble ionic polymers as pseudostationary phases for electrokinetic chromatography

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 23-24 2004
Christopher P. Palmer
Abstract This review concerns the development, characterization, and application of soluble ionic polymeric materials as pseudostationary phases for electrokinetic chromatography since 2002. Cationic polymers, anionic siloxanes, polymerized surfactants (micelle polymers), and chiral polymers are considered. The use of stable suspensions of polymer nanoparticles in electrokinetic chromatography is also reviewed. [source]

Conditioning polymers in today's shampoo formulations , efficacy, mechanism and test methods

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 1 2000
Hössel
Synopsis Today's shampoo formulations are beyond the stage of pure cleansing of the hair. Additional benefits are expected, e.g. conditioning, smoothing of the hair surface, improvement of combability and lather creaminess. Cationic polymers play an important role in providing many of those features. Therefore, within the last few years their use in shampoos has increased greatly. In the only last two decades, shampoo designation has gradually changed from ,2-in-1' to ,3-in-1' and then to ,multifunctional', as at present. The consumer demands products which live up to their promises. Modern shampoos contain a wide variety of ingredients such as co-surfactants, vitamins and pro-vitamins, protein derivatives, silicones, natural-based plant extracts and other ,active ingredients', but there is still a need for conditioning polymers. The specific objective of this study is to assess the conditioning efficacy of cationic polymers and to investigate their mechanisms in a shampoo system. The investigations were carried out on formulations that contained sodium lauryl ether sulphate and different cationic polymers, e.g. Polyquaternium 7, 10, 11, cationic guar gum and Luviquat Care (Polyquaternium 44), a new branched copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone (VP) and quaternized vinylimidazolium salts (QVI). We used test methods relevant to the applications in question, such as combing force measurements, the feel of the hair and the creaminess of the lather, to assess the efficacy. Atomic force microscopy and electrokinetics (streaming potential) were used to detect polymer residues on treated hair. All the polymers under investigation improved the overall performance of the shampoo formulations. This was demonstrated by means of combing force measurements, sensorial tests and analytical methods, namely zeta potential measurement and atomic force microscopy. Polyquaternium 44 exhibited the best conditioning properties on wet hair without sacrificing removability or absence of build-up. The latter are the most striking weaknesses of cationic Guar Gum-based polymers. Polyquaternium 10 can also be removed from the hair after rinsing with anionic surfactant but it does not perform as well as Polyquaternium 44 in the fields of wet combability and sensorial criteria such as lather creaminess and feel of the hair. We postulate that the outstanding properties of Polyquaternium 44 as a conditioning agent for shampoos are due to its tailor-made ,branched' structure. There is a clear correlation between the molecular weight and the efficacy of the new copolymers of VP and QVI. Only cationic polymers with a very high molecular weight are effective as conditioners in shampoos based on anionic surfactants. Surprisingly, they do not have to have a high cationic charge. On the basis of all our results, our postulation is that the polymer residue which is responsible for conditioning does not form a flat layer on the hair. Rather, the polymer residue adsorbs with the few cationic moieties, while the uncharged part of the polymer forms loops, which are orientated away from the hair and which are responsible for the reduced friction between hairs. Résumé Les formulations actuelles de shampoing font plus qu'un simple nettoyage des cheveux. On en attend un intérêt supplémentaire, par exemple après-shampoing, lissage de la surface du cheveu, amélioration de la coiffabilité et aspect crémeux du savon. Les polymères cationiques jouent un rôle important dans l'apport de nombre de ces caractéristiques. Par conséquent, ces quelques dernières années leur utilisation a considérablement augmenté dans les shampoings. Dans les seules deux dernières décades, l'appellation du shampoing est progressivement passée de "2 en 1"à"3 en 1" puis ensuite à"multifonctionnel", comme actuellement. Le consommateur recherche des produits qui tiennent leurs promesses. Les shampoings modernes contiennent une grande diversité d'ingrédients tels que des co-tensioactifs, des vitamines et des provitamines, des dérivés de protéines, des silicones, des extraits à base de plantes naturelles et autres "ingrédients actifs", mais il existe toujours un besoin pour des polymères d'après shampoing. L'objectif spécifique de cette étude est d'évaluer l'efficacité comme après-shampoing de polymères cationiques et de rechercher leurs mécanismes dans le système de shampoing. Les recherches ont été menées sur des formulations qui contiennent du sulfate de lauryl éther sodium et différents polymères cationiques, par exemple du Polyquaternium 7, 10, 11, de la gomme de guar cationique et du Luviquat Care (Polyquaternium 44), un nouveau copolymère ramifié de vinylpyrrolidone (VP) et de sels quaternaires de vinylimidazolium (QVI). Nous avons utilisé les procédés de contrôle appropriées aux applications en question, tels que les mesures de force de coiffage, le toucher du cheveu et l'aspect crémeux du savon, pour évaluer l'efficacité. La microscopie atomique et l'électrocinétique (potentiel d'écoulement) ont été utilisées pour détecter les résidus de polymère sur le cheveu traité. Tous les polymères étudiés améliorent le comportement global des formulations de shampoing. Ceci est démontré au moyen des mesures de force de coiffage, des tests sensoriels et des méthodes analytiques, en l'occurrence la mesure du potentiel zêta et la microscopie atomique. Le Polyquaternium 44 présente les meilleures propriétés d'après-shampoing sur cheveu mouillé sans diminuer sa capacité d'élimination ou l'absence d'accumulation. Ces dernières sont les faiblesses les plus frappantes des polymères à base de gomme de guar cationique. Le Polyquaternium 10 peut aussi être éliminé du cheveu après rinçage avec un tensioactif anionique mais il ne se comporte pas aussi bien que le Polyquaternium 44 dans les domaines de la coiffabilitéà l'état mouillé et des critères sensoriels tels que l'aspect crémeux du savon et du toucher du cheveu. Nous supposons que les propriétés exceptionnelles du Polyquaternium 44 comme agent après-shampoing pour shampoings sont dues à sa structure "ramifiée" conçue sur mesure. Il existe une corrélation claire entre le poids moléculaire et l'efficacité des nouveaux copolymères de VP et QVI. Seuls les polymères cationiques avec un poids moléculaire très élevé sont efficaces comme après shampoings dans des shampoings à base de tensioactifs anioniques. Etonnamment, ils n'ont pas besoin d'avoir une charge cationique élevée. Sur la base de tous nos résultats, notre hypothèse est que le fragment de polymère qui est responsable du traitement ne forme pas une couche plate sur le cheveu. Le fragment de polymère adsorbe plutôt les quelques fragments cationiques, tandis que la partie non chargée du polymère forme des boucles, qui sont orientées à l'extérieur du cheveu et qui sont responsables de la friction réduite entre les cheveux. [source]

Multilayer Assemblies Consisting of Tri-Vanadium-Substituted Heteropolyanions and Its Electrocatalytic Properties

ELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 14 2003
Shengyong Zhai
Abstract We describe the controlled fabrication of ultrathin multilayer films consisting of tri-vanadium- substituted heteropolytungstate anions (denoted as P2W15V3) and a cationic polymer of quaternized poly (4-vinylpyridine) partially complexed with osmium bis(2,2,-bipyridine) (denoted as QPVP-Os) on the 4-aminobenzoic acid (4-ABA) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface based on layer-by-layer assembly. Cyclic voltammetry and UV-vis absorption spectrometry have been used to easily monitor the thickness and uniformity of thus-formed multilayer films. The V-centered redox reaction of P2W15V3 in the multilayer films can effectively catalyze the reduction of BrO and NO. The resulting P2W15V3/QPVP-Os multilayer film modified electrode behaves as a much promising electrochemical sensor because of the low overpotential for the catalytic reduction of BrO and NO, and the catalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid. [source]

Protein separations using polyelectrolyte multilayer coatings with molecular micelles in open tubular capillary electrochromatography

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 4 2008
Candace A. Luces
Abstract Novel polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) coatings for enhanced protein separations in open tubular CEC (OT-CEC) are reported. Use of four cationic polymers (poly- L -lysine, poly- L -ornithine, poly- L -lysine-serine, and poly- L -glutamic acid-lysine), and three anionic molecular micelles, sodium poly(N -undecanoyl- L -leucyl-alaninate) (poly- L -SULA), sodium poly(N -undecanoyl- L -leucyl-valinate) (poly- L -SULV), and sodium poly(undecylenic sulfate) (poly-SUS) were investigated in PEM coatings for protein separations. The simultaneous effects of cationic polymer concentration, number of bilayers, temperature, applied voltage, and pH of the BGE on the separation of four basic proteins (,-chymotrypsinogen A, lysozyme, ribonuclease A, and cytochrome c) were analyzed using a Box Behnken experimental design. The influence of NaCl on the run-to-run reproducibility was investigated for PEM coatings containing each cationic polymer. All coatings exhibited excellent reproducibilities with a %RSD of the EOF less than 1% in the presence of NaCl. Optimal conditions were dependent on both the cationic and anionic polymers used in the PEM coatings. Poly- L -glutamic acid-lysine produced the highest resolution and longest migration time. The use of molecular micelles to form PEM coatings resulted in better separations than single cationic coatings. Chiral poly- L -SULA and poly- L -SULV resulted in higher protein resolutions as compared to the achiral, poly-SUS. Furthermore, the use of poly- L -SULV reversed the elution order of lysozyme and cytochrome c when compared to poly- L -SULA and poly-SUS. [source]

Wastewater treatment polymers identified as the toxic component of a diamond mine effluent

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 9 2004
Simone J. C. de Rosemond
Abstract The EkatiÔ Diamond Mine, located approximately 300 km northeast of Yellowknife in Canada's Northwest Territories, uses mechanical crushing and washing processes to extract diamonds from kimberlite ore. The processing plant's effluent contains kimberlite ore particles (,0.5 mm), wastewater, and two wastewater treatment polymers, a cationic polydiallydimethylammonium chloride (DADMAC) polymer and an anionic sodium acrylate polyacrylamide (PAM) polymer. A series of acute (48-h) and chronic (7-d) toxicity tests determined the processed kimberlite effluent (PKE) was chronically, but not acutely, toxic to Ceriodaphnia dubia. Reproduction of C. dubia was inhibited significantly at concentrations as low as 12.5% PKE. Toxicity identification evaluations (TIE) were initiated to identify the toxic component of PKE. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), sodium thiosulfate, aeration, and solid phase extraction with C-18 manipulations failed to reduce PKE toxicity. Toxicity was reduced significantly by pH adjustments to pH 3 or 11 followed by filtration. Toxicity testing with C. dubia determined that the cationic DADMAC polymer had a 48-h median lethal concentration (LC50) of 0.32 mg/L and 7-d median effective concentration (EC50) of 0.014 mg/L. The anionic PAM polymer had a 48-h LC50 of 218 mg/L. A weight-of-evidence approach, using the data obtained from the TIE, the polymer toxicity experiments, the estimated concentration of the cationic polymer in the kimberlite effluent, and the behavior of kimberlite minerals in pH-adjusted solutions provided sufficient evidence to identify the cationic DADMAC polymer as the toxic component of the diamond mine PKE. [source]

B,Z DNA Transition Triggered by a Cationic Comb-Type Copolymer

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 22 2009
Naohiko Shimada
Abstract The conformational transition from right-handed B,DNA to left-handed Z,DNA,the B,Z transition,has received increased attention recently because of its potential roles in biological systems and its applicability to bionanotechnology. Though the B,Z transition of poly(dG,dC),·,poly(dG,dC) is inducible under high salt concentration conditions (over 4,M NaCl) or by addition of multivalent cations, such as hexaamminecobalt(III), no cationic polymer were known to induce the transition. In this study, it is shown by circular dichroism and UV spectroscopy that the cationic comb-type copolymer, poly(L -lysine)- graft -dextran, but not poly(L -lysine) homopolymer or a basic peptide, induces the B,Z transition of poly(dG,dC),·,poly(dG,dC). At a cationic amino group concentration of 10,4,M the copolymer stabilizes Z,DNA. The transition pathway from the B to the Z form is different to that observed previously. We speculate that the cationic backbone of the copolymer, which reduces electrostatic repulsion among DNA phosphate groups, and the hydrophilic dextran chains, which reduce activity of water, cooperate to induce the B,Z transition. The copolymer specifically modified the micro-environment around DNA molecules to induce Z,DNA formation through stable and spontaneous inter-polyelectrolyte complex formation. [source]

Abstracts: In vitro/in vivo and analytical evaluation of sunless tanning formulations containing different rheology modifiers

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 5 2010
O. V. Dueva-Koganov
pp. 73,83 In vitro data suggest that different in vivo performances are expected for two dihydroxyacetone (DHA)-containing formulations with similar concentrations of DHA and excipients but different commercially available rheology modifiers: one with a cationic polymer-based rheology modifier (blend) [dimethylacrylamide/ethyltrimonium chloride methacrylate copolymer (and) propylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate (and) PPG-1 trideceth-6 (and) C10-11 isoparaffin]; and the other with a polyacrylamide-based rheology modifier (blend) [polyacrylamide (and) C13-14 isoparaffin (and) laureth-7]. Both rheology modifiers (blends) contained comparable levels of polymers and were used at 3% w/w (as supplied). Differences in color development were illustrated in vitro with respect to the yellow/red and lightness/chroma parameters, which were confirmed in the followup in vivo studies. The test article with the cationic polymer-based rheology modifier produced a more natural sunless tan, comparable to a desirable sun-induced tan, for all panelists, one that was more uniform and lasted longer compared with the sunless tan generated by the test article with the polyacrylamide-based rheology modifier. A method for HPLC analysis of DHA in sunless tanning formulations was established and utilized to confirm concentrations of DHA in test articles. [source]

In vitro release of complexed pDNA from biodegradable polymer films

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 1 2008
Y. Ramgopal
Abstract The controlled delivery of low-molecular weight drugs and proteins from biodegradable polymers has received considerable attention. However, controlled release studies of pDNA from such polymers have not been reported to date. In this study, a plasmid DNA was complexed with the cationic polymer called polyethylenimine (PEI). This gene vector has been shown to be very effective in transfecting cells. The complexed DNA were then incorporated into different types of poly-lactic- co -glycolic acid (PLGA) film; PLGA 53/47 (Mw 90 kDa), 50/50 (Mw 11 kDa, end group is lauryl ester) and 75/25 (Mw 120 kDa). Their release profiles from a buffer solution were studied. An initial (small) burst release of PEI-DNA from film was observed in PLGA 53/47 and 50/50, followed by a plateau phase and finally a rapid erosion-controlled release. For PLGA 50/50, the rapid release started after 14 days; erosion-controlled release for PLGA 53/47 started after 9 days; for PLGA 75/25, the release rate was governed by an initial burst release (10%) followed by a slow release controlled by diffusion. No obvious erosion-controlled release rate was observed for this polymer up to 27 days. Thus, the controlled release of complexed DNA follows the general features exhibited by lower- Mw drugs. This is of significance in designing gene vector matrices that offer the promise of more lasting gene therapy compared with particulate formulations. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source]

Effects of cationic polymer on start-up and granulation in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors

JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 3 2004
Ying Wang
Abstract The upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) has been used successfully to treat a variety of industrial wastewaters. It offers a high degree of organics removal, low sludge production and low energy consumption, along with energy production in the form of biogas. However, two major drawbacks are its long start-up period and deficiency of active biogranules for proper functioning of the process. In this study, the influence of a coagulant polymer on start-up, sludge granulation and the associated reactor performance was evaluated in four laboratory-scale UASB reactors. A control reactor (R1) was operated without added polymer, while the other three reactors, designated R2, R3 and R4, were operated with polymer concentrations of 5 mg dm,3, 10 mg dm,3 and 20 mg dm,3, respectively. Adding the polymer at a concentration of 20 mg dm,3 markedly reduced the start-up time. The time required to reach stable treatment at an organic loading rate (OLR) of 4.8 g COD dm,3 d,1 was reduced by more than 36% (R4) as compared with both R1 and R3, and by 46% as compared with R2. R4 was able to handle an OLR of 16 g COD dm,3 d,1 after 93 days of operation, while R1, R2 and R3 achieved the same loading rate only after 116, 116 and 109 days respectively. Compared with the control reactor, the start-up time of R4 was shortened by about 20% at this OLR. Granule characterization indicated that the granules developed in R4 with 20 mg dm,3 polymer exhibited the best settleability and methanogenic activity at all OLRs. The organic loading capacities of the reactors were also increased by the addition of polymer. The maximum organic loading of the control reactor (R1) without added polymer was 19.2 g COD dm,3 d,1, while the three polymer-assisted reactors attained a marked increase in organic loading of 25.6 g COD dm,3 d,1. Adding the cationic polymer could result in shortening of start-up time and enhancement of granulation, which may in turn lead to improvement in the efficiency of organics removal and loading capacity of the UASB system. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry [source]

Recent advances in rational gene transfer vector design based on poly(ethylene imine) and its derivatives

THE JOURNAL OF GENE MEDICINE, Issue 8 2005
Michael Neu
Abstract The continually increasing wealth of knowledge about the role of genes involved in acquired or hereditary diseases renders the delivery of regulatory genes or nucleic acids into affected cells a potentially promising strategy. Apart from viral vectors, non-viral gene delivery systems have recently received increasing interest, due to safety concerns associated with insertional mutagenesis of retro-viral vectors. Especially cationic polymers may be particularly attractive for the delivery of nucleic acids, since they allow a vast synthetic modification of their structure enabling the investigation of structure-function relationships. Successful clinical application of synthetic polycations for gene delivery will depend primarily on three factors, namely (1) an enhancement of the transfection efficiency, (2) a reduction in toxicity and (3) an ability of the vectors to overcome numerous biological barriers after systemic or local administration. Among the polycations presently used for gene delivery, poly(ethylene imine), PEI, takes a prominent position, due to its potential for endosomal escape. PEI as well as derivatives of PEI currently under investigation for DNA and RNA delivery will be discussed. This review focuses on structure-function relationships and the physicochemical aspects of polyplexes which influence basic characteristics, such as complex formation, stability or in vitro cytotoxicity, to provide a basis for their application under in vivo conditions. Rational design of optimized polycations is an objective for further research and may provide the basis for a successful cationic polymer-based gene delivery system in the future. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Retrovirus-Polymer Complexes: Study of the Factors Affecting the Dose Response of Transduction

BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 2 2007
Natalia Landázuri
We have previously shown that complexes of Polybrene (PB), chondroitin sulfate C (CSC), and retrovirus transduce cells more efficiently than uncomplexed virus because the complexes are large and sediment, reaching the cells more rapidly than by diffusion. Transduction reaches a peak at equal weight concentrations of CSC and PB and declines when the dose of PB is higher or lower than CSC. We hypothesized that the nonlinear dose response of transduction was a complex function of the molecular characteristics of the polymers, cell viability, and the number of viruses incorporated into the complexes. To test this hypothesis, we formed complexes using an amphotropic retrovirus and several pairs of oppositely charged polymers and used them to transduce murine fibroblasts. We examined the effect of the type and concentration of polymers used on cell viability, the size and charge of the complexes, the number of viruses incorporated into the complexes, and virus binding and transduction. Transduction was enhanced (2.5- to 5.5-fold) regardless of which polymers were used and was maximized when the number of positive charge groups was in slight excess (15,28%) of the number of negative charge groups. Higher doses of cationic polymer were cytotoxic, whereas complexes formed with lower doses were smaller, contained fewer viruses, and sedimented more slowly. These results show that the dose response of transduction by virus-polymer complexes is nonlinear because excess cationic polymer is cytotoxic, whereas excess anionic polymer reduces the number of active viruses that are delivered to the cells. [source]

Protein separations using polyelectrolyte multilayer coatings with molecular micelles in open tubular capillary electrochromatography

Recent progress in the development, characterization and application of polymeric pseudophases for electrokinetic chromatography

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 22-23 2002
Christopher P. Palmer
Abstract This review article details the development, characterization and application of polymeric materials as pseudostationary phases for electrokinetic chromatography over the past two years. Recent developments in cationic polymers and anionic siloxane, acrylamide and polymerized surfactants (micelle polymers) are reviewed. Also reviewed is recent progress in the development and characterization of chiral polymeric phases for chiral separations by electrokinetic chromatography, and application of a polymeric pseudophase with electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection. [source]

Implication of polymer toxicity in a municipal wastewater effluent

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 8 2000
Carolyn D. Rowland
Abstract The use of cationic polymers as flocculants and coagulant aids to control suspended solid levels in the water and wastewater treatment industry is widespread in most developed countries. Today, the most frequently used clarification polymers, polyacrylamides, are often proprietary, and little information exists on the ecological impacts of these products. Following standard U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) whole effluent toxicity testing (WET) protocols, effluent toxicity can be detected via organism response, yet methods to positively characterize cationic polymers in effluents are not provided in U.S. EPA Phase I toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) protocols. Implication of cationic polymer toxicity in a municipal wastewater effluent was achieved through a series of Ceriodaphnia dubia toxicity testing with toxicant elimination steps that included extensive effluent characterization and effluent manipulation. Key in the identification was a discrepancy in effluent toxicity with respect to the type of container in which the effluents were stored. All effluent toxicity was lost within 48 h of storage in plastic containers, while on the contrary, effluent toxicity persisted in glass-contained samples for up to 4 weeks of 4°C storage. A weight-of-evidence approach suggested that the cationic polyacrilamide polymer, Hyperfloc®, was the primary source of acute toxicity in the effluent. Removal of this polymer significantly reduced effluent toxicity. This study suggests that cationic polymer-related toxicity might not be detected if effluent samples are stored in plastic containers. [source]

Functionalization of Chitosan via Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization for Gene Delivery

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 18 2010
Yuan Ping
Abstract It is of crucial importance to modify chitosan-based polysaccharides in the designing of biomedical materials. In this work, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was employed to functionalize chitosan in a well-controlled manner. A series of new degradable cationic polymers (termed as PDCS) composed of biocompatible chitosan backbones and poly((2-dimethyl amino)ethyl methacrylate) (P(DMAEMA)) side chains of different length were designed as highly efficient gene vectors via ATRP. These vectors, termed as PDCS, exhibited good ability to condense plasmid DNA (pDNA) into nanoparticles with positive charge at nitrogen/phosphorus (N/P) ratios of 4 or higher. All PDCS vectors could well protect the condensed DNA from enzymatic degradation by DNase I and they displayed high level of transfectivity in both COS7, HEK293 and HepG2 cell lines. Most importantly, in comparison with high-molecular-weight P(DMAEMA) and ,gold-standard' PEI (25 kDa), the PDCS vectors showed considerable buffering capacity in the pH range of 7.4 to 5, and were capable of mediating much more efficient gene transfection at low N/P ratios. At their own optimal N/P ratios for trasnsfection, the PDCS/pDNA complexes showed much lower cytotoxicity. All the PDCS vectors were readily to be degradable in the presence of lysozyme at physiological conditions in vitro. These well-defined PDCS polymers have great potentials as efficient gene vectors in future gene therapy. [source]

Ultrathin Multilayered Films that Promote the Release of Two DNA Constructs with Separate and Distinct Release Profiles,

ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 21 2008
Xianghui Liu
,Charge-shifting' cationic polymers are used to fabricate ultrathin multilayered films that promote the release of two different DNA constructs with separate and essentially nonoverlapping release profiles. This approach could contribute to the development of thin films and functional coatings capable of regulating the localized release of different DNA constructs (or other agents) to cells or tissues in a broad range of fundamental and applied contexts. [source]

Ultrathin Multilayered Films Assembled from "Charge-Shifting" Cationic Polymers: Extended, Long-Term Release of Plasmid DNA from Surfaces,

Hair breakage,How to measure and counteract

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 2 2010
H.-M. Haake
J. Cosmet. Sci., 60, 143,151 (March/April 2009) Synopsis A system to determine the efficacy of hair treatments in terms of anti-breakage and split end prevention was developed which involves the repeated combing of hair strands. The device allows ten hair strands to be combed simultaneously. First, the influences of chemical hair treatments like bleaching on hair breakage were examined. In a next step, the protective effects of benchmark products from the market were studied. Since nearly all commercial products with anti-breakage claims contain silicones combined with cationic polymers, alternative actives were searched. In a test series with different waxes in shampoo formulations with a variable number of parameters, the particle size was found to be the factor with the strongest influence on the amount of wax deposited on the shampooed hair. Therefore, a targeted development was started, resulting in a combination of several ethers dispersed in sodium laureth sulfate. Excellent conditioning, anti-breakage and split ends protection properties of the compound were found, showing also a dosage dependency. The latter could be explained by analyzing the amounts of waxes applied on treated hair. In these experiments, a dependency on the concentration in the shampoo was found. [source]

Conditioning polymers in today's shampoo formulations , efficacy, mechanism and test methods

Bile acid sequestrants based on cationic dextran hydrogel microspheres.

JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 6 2001

Abstract Cationic dextran hydrogel microspheres with pendant quaternary ammonium groups having alkyl substituents (C2,C12) at quaternary nitrogen were synthesized. The in vitro sorption of sodium salts of four bile acids (glycocholic, cholic, taurocholic, and deoxycholic acids) with these hydrogels was studied as a function of substituent alkyl chain length and bile acid hydrophobicity. Sorption experiments were performed in phosphate buffer solutions (pH 7.4) containing one bile salt (individual sorption) or mixtures of several bile salts (competitive sorption). Parameters for individual sorption were calculated taking into consideration the stoichiometric and cooperative binding of bile salts to oppositely charged polymer hydrogels. The results show that the increase in the length of the alkyl chain of the substituent leads to an increase in both ionization constant K0 and overall stability constant of binding K, but decreases the cooperativity parameter u. The competitive sorption studies indicate that the hydrogels display a good affinity for both dihydroxylic and trihydroxylic bile salts. The molar ratio of maximum amounts bound for the two types of bile acid is 2 to 1, which is much lower than those reported for other cationic polymers recommended as bile acid sequestrants. The binding constants for the sorption of bile salts by some dextran hydrogels are 20,30 times higher than those obtained for cholestyramine under similar sorption conditions. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 90:681,689, 2001 [source]

Synthesis of poly(vinyl ether) polyols with pendant oxyethylene chains and properties of hydrophilic, thermo-responsive polyurethanes prepared therefrom

JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 7 2010
Tamotsu Hashimoto
Abstract Hydroxy-terminated telechelic poly(vinyl ether)s with pendant oxyethylene chains were synthesized by the reaction of the CH3CH(OCOCH3)O[CH2]4OCH(OCOCH3)CH3/Et1.5AlCl1.5/THF-based bifunctional living cationic polymers of 2-methoxyethyl vinyl ether (MOVE), 2-ethoxyethyl vinyl ether (EOVE), and 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl vinyl ether (MOEOVE) with water and the subsequent reduction of the aldehyde polymer terminals with NaBH4. The obtained poly(vinyl ether) polyols were reacted with an equimolar amount of toluene diisocyanates [a mixture of 2,4- (80%) and 2,6- (20%) isomers] to give water-soluble polyurethanes. The aqueous solutions of these polyurethanes caused thermally induced precipitation at a particular temperature depending on the sort of the thermosensitive poly(vinyl ether) segments containing oxyethylene side chains. These polyurethanes also function as polymeric surfactants, lowered the surface tension of their aqueous solutions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1641,1648, 2010 [source]

Brush-Like Amphoteric Poly[isobutylene- alt -(maleic acid)- graft -oligoethyleneamine)]/DNA Complexes for Efficient Gene Transfection

MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, Issue 13 2010
Majad Khan
Abstract Synthetic gene delivery vectors, especially cationic polymers have attracted enormous attention in recent decades because of their ease of manufacture, targettability, and scaling up. However, certain issues such as high cytotoxicity and low transfection efficiency problems have hampered the advance of nonviral gene delivery. In this study, we designed and synthesized brush-like amphoteric poly[isobutylene- alt -(maleic acid)- graft -oligoethyleneamine] capable of mediating highly efficient gene transfection. The polymers are composed of multiple pendant oligoethyleneimine molecules with alternating carboxylic acid moiety grafted onto poly[isobutylene- alt -(maleic anhydride)]. The polymer formed from pentaethylenehexamine {i.e., poly[isobutylene- alt -(maleic acid)- graft -pentaethylenehexamine)]} was able to condense DNA efficiently into nanoparticles of size around 200,nm with positive zeta potential of about 28,30,mV despite its amphoteric nature. Luciferase expression level and percentage of GFP expressing cells induced by this polymer was higher than those mediated with polyethyleneimine (branched, 25,kDa) by at least one order of magnitude at their optimal N/P ratios on HEK293, HepG2, and 4T1 cells. In vitro cytotoxicity testing revealed that the polymer/DNA complexes were less cytotoxic than those of PEI, and the viability of the cells after being incubated with the polymer/DNA complexes at the optimal N/P ratios was higher than 85%. This polymer can be a promising gene delivery carrier for gene therapy. [source]

A Facile Approach to Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube/Poly(allylamine) Nanocomposites,

MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, Issue 3 2007
Jong-Boem Kim
Abstract A facile approach to polymer nanocomposites with single-wall carbon nanotubes and cationic polymers is reported. The composite material was synthesized by producing carboxylic acid groups at the nanotube termini followed by a reaction with poly(allylamine) in water. Fourier transform infrared spectral and thermogravimetric analyses corroborate that the poly(allylamine) chains were wrapped on the surface of the carbon nanotubes. The scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image shows that the nanotubes were dispersed with little aggregation, thus, strongly suggesting that the poly(allylamine) chains have covered the single-wall carbon nanotubes, which was further evidenced by transmission electron microscopy. The composites are soluble in water, and this solubilization process opens up new opportunities in the solution chemistry on pristine nanotubes. [source]

Recent advances in rational gene transfer vector design based on poly(ethylene imine) and its derivatives

Physicochemical characterization of branched chain polymeric polypeptide carriers based on a poly-lysine backbone

BIOPOLYMERS, Issue 3 2003
I. B. Nagy
Abstract A systematic study is reported on the physicochemical characteristics of two branched chain polymers (based on a poly- L -lysine backbone) with a general formula poly[Lys-(DL -Alam - Xi)], where X = Orn (OAK) or N -acetyl-Glu (Ac-EAK) and m , 3, using surface pressure and fluorescence polarization methods. These data are compared with those of the linear poly(L -Lys) from which OAK and Ac-EAK are derived. These two polymers show a moderate surface activity, able to form stable monomolecular layers at the air-water interface. Poly(L -Lys), the most hydrophilic, has the lowest surface activity. The interaction of these polymers with phospholipid bilayers either neutral or negatively charged was studied with vesicles labeled with two fluorescent probes: ANS and DPH. Results indicate that these polymers are able to accommodate in their internal structure, mainly through electrostatic interactions, a certain amount of ANS marker molecules, but fluorescence increases of the ANS-polypeptide complexes were so low that its influence in further polarization measurements could be discarded. After interaction with liposomes, these polymers induce an increase in the polarization of the probes, thus indicating a rigidification of the bilayers. Electrostatic forces seem to be very important in this interaction; cationic polymers are clearly more active, with PG-containing liposomes, than Ac-EAK. Moreover, in these assays poly(L -Lys) behaves as the more active compound. This fact is probably due to its major ability to form ,-helical structures that could insert easily in the bilayers. These results indicate that the polymeric structures studied can be used as carriers for biologically active molecules, because their interactions with bilayers remain soft and have a positive effect on the stability of the membranes. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 70: 323,335, 2003 [source]

Design of Cell-Surface-Retained Polymers for Artificial Ligand Display

CHEMBIOCHEM, Issue 2 2009
Ryosuke Kamitani
We propose a cell-surface modification method based on the use of synthetic polymers that can be retained on the cell surface without rapid internalization. Secondary amine-displaying cationic polymers act as an effective scaffold for the display of artificial ligands, thus affording a new technique for the control of cell adhesion events through the specific recognition of these ligands. [source]