Controlling polymer molecular weight to optimise DNA complexation in PolyHIPlex-based systems

Title

Controlling polymer molecular weight to optimise DNA complexation in PolyHIPlex-based systems

Subject

Chemistry

Creator

Nicole Bernstein

Contributor

Supervisors: Dr. Santhosh Kalash Rajendrakumar and Professor Sebastien Perrier (Perrier Group)

Abstract

Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) polymerisation enables precise control over polymer molecular weight and dispersity, allowing the synthesis of structurally controlled polymers for gene delivery applications. This project investigated how polymer molecular weight influences DNA complexation in PolyHIPlex-based systems, which offer an alternative to lipid nanoparticles for nucleic acid delivery. The polymers were synthesised using controlled RAFT conditions and characterised via NMR and GPC, confirming successful polymerisation and tunable molecular weights. These findings support the development of more efficient and adaptable PolyHIPlex systems for DNA delivery.

Meta Tags

Polymer molecular weight
PolyHIPlex
Cationic polymers
Gene delivery
Biomedical applications
Nanoparticle formation

Files

Citation

Nicole Bernstein, “Controlling polymer molecular weight to optimise DNA complexation in PolyHIPlex-based systems,” URSS SHOWCASE, accessed November 1, 2025, https://urss.warwick.ac.uk/items/show/1027.