Abstract
We report a physiologically stable and cytocompatible glucose-responsive nonviral gene delivery system made up of boronate functionalized polymeric material. Herein, we utilize boronate cis-diol interactions to develop a glucose-responsive submicron particle (SMP) system. The stability of the boronate interaction at a physiological pH was achieved by copolymerization of dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) with acrylamidophenylboronic acid (AAPBA) and the formation of a complex with polyvinylalcohol (PVA) which is governed by cis-diol interactions. The shift in hydrodynamic diameter of SMPs was observed and correlated with increasing glucose concentrations at a physiological pH. Optimal transfection was observed for a 5 µg dose of the gaussia luciferase reporter gene in NIH3T3 cells without any adverse effect on cellular viability. The destabilization of the AAPBA-PVA complex by interacting with glucose allowed the release of encapsulated bovine serum albumin (BSA) in a glucose-responsive manner. In total, 95% of BSA was released from SMPs at a 50 mM glucose concentration after 72 h. A two-fold increase in transfection was observed in 50 mM glucose compared to that of 10 mM glucose.