Cationic Polymers for Gene Delivery

Cationic polymers provide a safer alternative to viral vectors that have the disadvantage of causing immune response. Specifically, positively charged polymers have the ability to bind the negatively charged genetic material, hence creating a neutral or slightly positively charged polymer / DNA complex that can pass through the hydrophobic and negatively charged cellular membrane. Thus, the gene is delivered into the cell.
The aim of this thesis will be to identify important design criteria. Thus well-defined cationic polymers of different architectures, compositions and molar masses will be synthesised and systematically investigated in terms of their ability to delivery genetic material.