Understanding the internal packing of gene carriers is a key-factor to realize both gene protection during transport and de-complexation at the delivery site. Here, we investigate the structure of complexes formed by DNA fragments and protamine, applied in gene delivery. We found that complexes are charge-and size-tunable aggregates, depending on the protamine/DNA ratio, hundred nanometers in size. Their compactness and fractal structure depend on the length of the DNA fragments. Accordingly, on the local scale, the sites of protamine/DNA complexation assume different morphologies, seemingly displaying clumping ability for the DNA network only for shorter DNA fragments. (C) 2013 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4790588]
Nanoscale structure of protamine/DNA complexes for gene delivery / Simona, Motta; Paola, Brocca; Elena Del, Favero; Valeria, Rondelli; Laura, Cantu; Augusto, Amici; Pozzi, Daniela; Caracciolo, Giulio. - In: APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS. - ISSN 0003-6951. - ELETTRONICO. - 102:5(2013), pp. Art. n. 053703-1-Art. n. 053703-4. [10.1063/1.4790588]
Nanoscale structure of protamine/DNA complexes for gene delivery
POZZI, DANIELA;CARACCIOLO, Giulio
2013
Abstract
Understanding the internal packing of gene carriers is a key-factor to realize both gene protection during transport and de-complexation at the delivery site. Here, we investigate the structure of complexes formed by DNA fragments and protamine, applied in gene delivery. We found that complexes are charge-and size-tunable aggregates, depending on the protamine/DNA ratio, hundred nanometers in size. Their compactness and fractal structure depend on the length of the DNA fragments. Accordingly, on the local scale, the sites of protamine/DNA complexation assume different morphologies, seemingly displaying clumping ability for the DNA network only for shorter DNA fragments. (C) 2013 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4790588]I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
