Adv Polym Sci (2014) 260: 211–236
DOI: 10.1007/12_2013_229
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
Published online: 14 September 2013
Polymer Complexes in Biological
Applications
Jana Hedrich, Yuzhou Wu, Seah Ling Kuan, Frauke Kuehn,
Eweline Pietrowski, Mike Sahl, Sandra Muth, Klaus Mu ¨ llen,
Heiko J. Luhmann, Tanja Weil, and Manfred Schmidt
Abstract This chapter summarizes the influence of polyelectrolyte topology on
biological functions and biomedical applications such as cell uptake, drug delivery,
and gene transfection. Polyelectrolytes utilized are spherical structures derived
from dendrimers and albumin or cylindrical brushes, all of which are decorated
with various polypeptide chains.
First, experiments are described that address the role of polyelectrolyte interactions
on endosomal uptake and release, followed by a discussion of the novel design of
albumin-based nanocarriers for anticancer drugs like doxorubicin. Finally, we
describe how efficient gene transfection was accomplished with both albumin-based
polycations and with cylindrical brushes having poly-L-lysine side chains.
Keywords Brain • Cylindrical brush polymer • Dendritic and protein polyelectrolytes •
Endothelial cell • Flow cytometry • Gene transfer • Polycation • Transfection
J. Hedrich, E. Pietrowski and H.J. Luhmann
Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
Y. Wu, S.L. Kuan and T. Weil
Institute of Organic Chemistry III, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11,
Ulm 89081, Germany
F. Kuehn, M. Sahl, S. Muth and M. Schmidt (*)
Institute of Physical Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University, Welderweg 11, 55099 Mainz,
Germany
e-mail: mschmidt@uni-mainz.de
K. Mu ¨llen
Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, Mainz 55128, Germany
DOI: 10.1007/12_2013_229
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
Published online: 14 September 2013
Polymer Complexes in Biological
Applications
Jana Hedrich, Yuzhou Wu, Seah Ling Kuan, Frauke Kuehn,
Eweline Pietrowski, Mike Sahl, Sandra Muth, Klaus Mu ¨ llen,
Heiko J. Luhmann, Tanja Weil, and Manfred Schmidt
Abstract This chapter summarizes the influence of polyelectrolyte topology on
biological functions and biomedical applications such as cell uptake, drug delivery,
and gene transfection. Polyelectrolytes utilized are spherical structures derived
from dendrimers and albumin or cylindrical brushes, all of which are decorated
with various polypeptide chains.
First, experiments are described that address the role of polyelectrolyte interactions
on endosomal uptake and release, followed by a discussion of the novel design of
albumin-based nanocarriers for anticancer drugs like doxorubicin. Finally, we
describe how efficient gene transfection was accomplished with both albumin-based
polycations and with cylindrical brushes having poly-L-lysine side chains.
Keywords Brain • Cylindrical brush polymer • Dendritic and protein polyelectrolytes •
Endothelial cell • Flow cytometry • Gene transfer • Polycation • Transfection
J. Hedrich, E. Pietrowski and H.J. Luhmann
Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
Y. Wu, S.L. Kuan and T. Weil
Institute of Organic Chemistry III, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11,
Ulm 89081, Germany
F. Kuehn, M. Sahl, S. Muth and M. Schmidt (*)
Institute of Physical Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University, Welderweg 11, 55099 Mainz,
Germany
e-mail: mschmidt@uni-mainz.de
K. Mu ¨llen
Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, Mainz 55128, Germany