Nucleic acid base grafted polyethylenimine. Cytosyl pendant groups: Elucidation of structure with solution spectroscopy

In a previous paper, potassium 2-(cytos-1-yl)propanoate was grafted onto polyethylenimine of various molecular weights. These water-soluble polynucleotide analogs exhibited remarkable properties in their solution ultraviolet spectra. High hypochromicity values of 50% and 54% have been observed in alkaline aqueous solution and 50% trifluoroethanol solution, respectively. Percent hypochromicity value was observed to be directly proportional to percent graft. Red shift and hyperchromicity as a function of pH were observed for both the monomer model and the graft polymers. Light-scattering experiments on nucleic acid base grafted hydrophilic polymer backbones were carried out. Radius of gyration and second virial coefficient values indicated stiff macromolecules, rodlike in nature. Therapeutic potential of cytosyl grafted polyethylenimine was suggested by the results from continuous mixing experiments with polyinosinic acid and polyguanylic acid. Job plots showed enhanced hypochromicity, whose magnitude was dependent upon the polynucleotide and the base-base distance.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/38716/1/170230905_ftp.pd