Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelles: Formation, Dissociation, and Chain Exchange Kinetics

ORAL

Abstract

Polyelectrolyte complex micelles form when oppositely charged block polymers are mixed together in aqueous media. The charged blocks electrostatically associate and phase separate, leading to a dense, polymer-rich core stabilized by a neutral block corona. The resulting polyelectrolyte complex micelles are specifically beneficial for RNA therapeutic delivery because the cationic polymers can condense large nuclei acids into small structures and neutralize the negatively charged moieties on the nucleic acid chains, thereby protecting them from potential enzymatic degradation and promoting successful transfection into various cell types. Yet, little is understood on micelle kinetics, including micelle formation, dissociation, and intermicellar chain exchange. Herein, we comprehensively investigate micelle kinetics with a combination of techniques including time-resolved dynamic light scattering, stopped-flow setup equipped small-angle X-ray scattering, time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering and cryogenic transmission electron microscope. These findings will reveal the mechanisms governing micelle assembly, disassembly, and intermicellar chain exchange, and therefore will shed light on the rational design of polyelectrolyte-based gene delivery systems.

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Presenters

  • Hao Wu

    Univ of Chicago, Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago

Authors

  • Hao Wu

    Univ of Chicago, Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago

  • Jeffrey Ting

    Univ of Chicago, Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago

  • Olivia Werba

    Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Univ of Chicago

  • Samanvaya Srivastava

    Univ of California, Los Angeles, Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Institute of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Institute for Molecular Engineering, Univ of Chicago, University of California, Los Angeles

  • Matthew Tirrell

    Univ of Chicago, Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Institute of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, IME, University of Chicago, Institute for Molecular Engineering, Univ of Chicago, The University of Chicago