Hyperbranched polymers and polyplexes and dna or rna delivery systems including the same

Abstract

A hyperbranched polymer includes a hyperbranched, hydrophobic molecular core, respective low molecular weight polyethyleneimine chains attached to at least three branches of the hyperbranched, hydrophobic molecular core, and respective polyethylene glycol chains attached to at least two other branches of the hyperbranched, hydrophobic molecular core. Examples of the hyperbranched polymer may be used to form hyperbranched polyplexes, and may be included in DNA or RNA delivery systems.

1 . A hyperbranched polymer, comprising:
 a hyperbranched, hydrophobic molecular core, wherein the hyperbranched, hydrophobic molecular core is a hyperbranched polyester;   respective low molecular weight polyethyleneimine chains attached to terminal groups two or more branches of the hyperbranched polyester, wherein the low molecular weight polyethyleneimine chains each have a molecular weight ranging from about 400 g/mol to about 5,000 g/mol; and   respective polyethylene glycol chains attached to terminal groups of two or more other branches of the hyperbranched polyester.   
     
     
         2 . The hyperbranched polymer as defined in  claim 1  wherein the hyperbranched polyester includes at least 4 terminal hydroxyl groups. 
     
     
         3 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The hyperbranched polymer as defined in  claim 1  wherein the hyperbranched polyester is selected from the group consisting of hyperbranched bis-MPA polyester-8-hydroxyl, generation 1; hyperbranched bis-MPA polyester-16-hydroxyl, generation 2; hyperbranched bis-MPA polyester-32-hydroxyl, generation 3; and hyperbranched bis-MPA polyester-64-hydroxyl, generation 4. 
     
     
         17 . The hyperbranched polymer as defined in  claim 16  wherein:
 the terminal groups of the two or more other branches of the hyperbranched polyester are terminal carboxyl groups converted from terminal hydroxyl groups; and 
 the respective low molecular weight polyethyleneimine chains are attached to the terminal carboxyl groups of the two or more other branches of the hyperbranched polyester. 
 
     
     
         18 . The hyperbranched polymer as defined in  claim 16  wherein:
 the terminal groups of the two or more branches of the hyperbranched polyester are terminal carboxyl groups converted from terminal hydroxyl groups; 
 the hyperbranched polymer further comprises azido groups attached to the terminal carboxyl groups of the two or more branches of the hyperbranched polyester; and 
 the respective low molecular weight polyethyleneimine chains are attached to the azido groups through a click reaction. 
 
     
     
         19 . A method for making a hyperbranched polymer, the method comprising:
 converting hydroxyl groups of a hyperbranched polyester to carboxyl groups, thereby forming a first modified hyperbranched polyester;   introducing polyethylene glycol chains and azido groups onto the first modified hyperbranched polyester to form a second modified hyperbranched polyester; and   conjugating low molecular weight polyethyleneimine chains to the second modified hyperbranched polyester.   
     
     
         20 . The method as defined in  claim 19  wherein the hydroxyl groups of the hyperbranched polyester are transferred to the carboxyl groups through a reaction with succinic anhydride at room temperature. 
     
     
         21 . The method as defined in  claim 19  wherein the polyethylene glycol chains and azido groups are introduced via a condensation reaction. 
     
     
         22 . The method as defined in  claim 19  wherein the low molecular weight polyethyleneimine chains have a nitrile end group and are conjugated to the azido groups of the second modified hyperbranched polyester through a click reaction.