CATIONIC POLYMERS WITH D-FRUCTOSE SUBSTITUENTS

Abstract

The invention relates to new cationic polymers conjugated with D-fructose, as a result of which they can selectively interact with specific structure elements on cell surfaces. The problem was that of creating novel, biocompatible, easy-to-produce, D-fructose-conjugated cationic polymers that have a higher selectivity with respect to certain cell types. To solve this problem, the invention proposes cationic polymers with covalently bonded D-fructose of general formula (I) with the following components: a) cationic polymer: macromolecular compounds of n repeat units with one or more positive charges; b) linker: a unit that links the cationic polymer with D-fructose or derivatives of D-fructose by means of any alkyl or aryl group, any alkenyl or alkinyl group, an ether, thioether or amine, an ester, amide or other carboxylic acid derivative, a heterocycle (e.g. triazole or m maleimide), a disulphide, an imine or an imide; c) D-fructose: one or more D-fructoses or D-fructose derivatives in an open-chain, furanoid or pyranoid structure, not glycosidically linked via one of the five possible carbon atoms (1, 3, 4, 5, 6).

Claims

1. Cationic polymers with covalently bonded D-fructose of general formula (I) with the components: a) cationic polymer: macromolecular compounds of n repeating units having one or more positive charges; b) linker: a unit linking the cationic polymer to D-fructose or to derivatives of D-fructose by any alkyl or aryl radical, any alkenyl or alkynyl radical, an ether, thioether or amine, an ester, Amide or another carboxylic acid derivative, a heterocycle (e.g. triazole or maleimide), a disulfide, an imine or an imide; c) D-fructose: one or more D-fructose or D-fructose derivatives in open-chain, furanoid or pyranoid structure, non-glycosidically linked via one of the five possible carbon atoms (1, 3, 4, 5, 6).

2. Cationic polymers with covalently bonded D-fructose according to claim 1, characterized in that they have functional groups which have positive charges under appropriate conditions.

3. Cationic polymers with covalently bonded D-fructose according to at least one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that they contain functional groups which can carry positive charges at different positions once or several times in the polymer.

4. Cationic polymers with covalently bonded D-fructose according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that they can be described both as a homopolymer or as a copolymer (random and/or block and/or gradient).

5. Cationic polymers with covalently bonded D-fructose according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that they are linear or branched, wherein the latter form includes, for example, stars (dendrimers), brushes, combs, etc.

6. Cationic polymers with covalently bonded D-fructose according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that one or more D-fructose residues are bonded to individual, a plurality of or all repeating units of the cationic polymer via linkers according to claim 1.

7. Cationic polymers with covalently bonded D-fructose according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the D-fructose can contain next to free OH groups further substituents on the carbon atoms 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and/or 6.

8. Cationic polymers with covalently bonded D-fructose according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a biologically active material from the group of nucleic acids is bonded electrostatically and/or covalently.

9. Cationic polymers with covalently bonded D-fructose according to claim 8, characterized in that the bonded nucleic acid is from the group of DNA, RNA, a ribosome and/or a DNA-RNA hybrid and is double-stranded and/or single-stranded.

10. Use of the cationic polymer with covalently bonded D-fructose according to any one of claims 1 to 9 for the transport and delivery of a biologically active material into a living cell.

11. The use of the cationic polymers with covalently bonded D-fructose according to any one of claims 1 to 9 for the selective killing of certain cell types.

Description

[0032] The invention is illustrated in the following by the synthesis of D-fructose-conjugated cationic polymers (based on linear poly(ethyleneimine) (L-PEI, (I)) and branched poly(ethyleneimine) (B-PEI, (II)).

(I) Synthesis of D-Fructose-Conjugated (Unbranched) L-PEI

1. Synthesis of the SH-Functionalized D-Fructose Derivative in a Four-Step Synthesis

[0033] ##STR00002##

[0034] Schematic representation of the four-step synthesis of 1-O-(2-mercapto-ethyl)-2,3:4,5-di-O-isopropylidene--D-fructopyranoside: a) Benzyl 2-bromoethyl ether, NaH, THF, rt; b) H.sub.2/Pd (C), CH.sub.3OH, rt; c) mesyl chloride, Et.sub.3N, 4-DMAP, CH.sub.2Cl.sub.2, 0 C.; d) 1. Thiourea, butanone, 95 C., 2. K.sub.2S.sub.2O.sub.5, CH.sub.2Cl.sub.2/H.sub.2O, 50 C.

[0035] The D-fructose derivative 5 was fully characterized and all individual steps could be performed in high yields. The introduction of the thiol serves to attach the sugar to the polymer via a photocatalyzed thiol-ene click reaction.

2. Synthesis of the Block Copolymer Followed by Thiol-Ene Click Between D-Fructose and Polymer Precursor and Deprotection of the Sugar Unit

[0036] ##STR00003##

[0037] Schematic representation of the synthesis of P (EI-stat-ButEnOx-stat-FruButOx): a) 6 M HCl, 100 C., reflux; b) pyridine, 4-DMAP, 80 C.; c) D-fructose derivative (5), methanol, 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone, 25 C., UV=365 nm; d) THF/H.sub.2O, 2M HCl, 40 C.

[0038] The copolymers and corresponding intermediates have been extensively characterized. As precursor used was a copolymer containing ethyleneimine (EI) and with double bonds functionalized EI. In the last step, the sugar derivative 5 was attached via a photocatalyzed thiol-ene click reaction. Acid deprotection resulted in the water-soluble polymer P3.

(II) Synthesis of D-Fructose Conjugated, Branched Poly(Ethyleneimine) (B-PEI)

1. Synthesis of Epoxy-Functionalized D-Fructose

[0039] ##STR00004##

[0040] Proceeding from commercially available, isopropylidene-protected D-fructose, Williamson etherification with epichlorohydrin can be used to produce the epoxy-functionalized D-fructose.

2. Coupling of Epoxy-Functionalized D-Fructose with (Branched) B-PEI

##STR00005##

[0041] Schematic representation of the general ring-opening reaction between epoxides and primary amines.

##STR00006##

[0042] Schematic representation of a possible repeating unit of branched poly (ethyleneimine) (B-PEI).

[0043] By stirring at room temperature in methanol for 3 days, B-PEI can be functionalized by a ring-opening reaction with the previously synthesized D-fructose derivative. D-fructose-conjugated B-PEIs were prepared with 14%, 23%, 28%, 39% and 76% functionalized primary amino groups.

3. Cleavage of the Protecting Groups on the Fructose Residues

[0044] Acidic cleavage of the isopropylidene protecting groups in the presence of water was carried out after heating the cationic polymers with bound D-fructose derivatives at 40 C. for several days using 2M HCl. Dialysis (cellulose ester, MWCO: 500-1000 Da) against water resulted in D-fructose-functionalized B-PEIs.

[0045] The polymer P3 was subjected to intensive, biological evaluation.

a) Cytotoxicity and Hemocompatibility

[0046] FIG. 1 shows cell type dependent cytotoxicity studies by alamarBlue assay of polymers P1, P2 and P3. Untreated cells were used as a reference for 100% vitality. The cells were treated for 24 h with the indicated polymer concentrations.

[0047] Surprisingly, the D-fructose-conjugated polymer P3 showed increased toxicity to the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, while non-cancer cells (HUVEC and L929) showed no significant reduction in cell vitality. Polymers P2 and P1 showed no selectivity (FIG. 1).

[0048] FIG. 2A shows the erythrocyte aggregation assay of the polymers at indicated concentrations. B-PEI was used as a positive control, PBS as a negative control. FIG. 2B shows the hemolysis assay of the erythrocytes after incubation with the polymers at the indicated concentrations. Triton X-100 was used as a positive control (100% hemolysis) and PBS as a negative control (1.99%). A value less than 2% hemolysis is classified as non-hemolytic, 2 to 5% as slightly hemolytic, and >5% as hemolytic. The values represent the mean of three measurements (standard deviation).

[0049] The polymer P3 causes no aggregation of erythrocytes and shows no hemolysis in contrast to P1 and P2 (FIG. 2).

b) Formation Rate and Stability of Polyplex Formation

[0050] The ability to complex genetic material is of major interest with respect to the cationic polymer used. To check this, various ratios (N/P ratios) of the sum of all the nitrogen atoms (N) of the cationic polymer and of the phosphorus atoms (P) of the genetic material were tested. FIGS. 3A and 3B show the polyplex formation and stability with pDNA of polymers P1, P2 and P3. FIG. 3A particularly shows the binding affinity at indicated N/P ratios (ethidium bromide quenching assay) and FIG. 3B shows the dissociation assay of the polyplexes at an N/P ratio of 20 using heparin (0 to 60 UmL.sup.1). The values reflect the mean of three measurements again SD (n=3).

[0051] The D-fructose conjugated polymer P3 shows stable polyplex formation at an N/P ratio >15 and further shows rapid release of the genetic material in the presence of heparin (FIG. 3).

c) Size of Polyplexes

[0052]

TABLE-US-00001 Z-average Numeric average Zeta potential Polymer [d/nm] PDI [d/nm] [mV] P1 217 8 0.47 71 13 24.0 0.4 P2 264 11 0.35 109 33 24.3 1.1 P3 165 1 0.26 83 29 17.6 0.4

[0053] The table shows the size and zeta potential of the polyplexes of P1 to P3 at N/P 20 in HBG buffer (measured by dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering).

d) Cell Uptake

[0054] To support the results of the cell toxicity studies, the polymers were marked with different dyes (Cy-5 and rhodamine-SCN), incubated with the mentioned cell lines, and the results were evaluated by flow cytometry (FACS) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).

[0055] FIG. 4 shows the cell uptake studies. Polyplexes of polymers P1 to P3 were incubated with pDNA marked with YOYO-1, and L929-, HUVEC- and MDA-MB-231 cells. It is shown the relative, mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of all living cells compared to the pDNA control without polymer (dots). The values reflect the mean of three measurements SD (n=3).

[0056] P1 and P2 show herein a nonspecific uptake into all cell lines (5-60%) at all N/P ratios. P3, however, shows a significantly increased uptake into the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 for N/P=50 (60%) in comparison to P1 and P2 (20-30%). Furthermore, P3 shows a clearly decreased uptake into the non-breast cancer cell line L929 (20%) and the human primary cell line HUVEC (5%) for N/P=50. The clear difference in uptake behavior in MDA-MB-231 between the immediate precursor P2 and the D-fructose-conjugated P3 underlines a successful targeting function of the sugar molecule. The columns in FIG. 4 reflect the percentage of cells that have fluorescence by pDNA uptake.

[0057] These results were also observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy of the cells when incubated with the dye-marked polymers. For N/P 50, the fluorescence intensity of P3 in L929 was low and high in MDA-MB-231 cells, whereas polymers P1 and P2 showed a reverse trend. The results of the uptake studies in living cells are consistent with the results of the cytotoxicity assays and thus show a cell type specificity of the D-fructose-conjugated polymer P3.