| abstract |
A polymer comprising recurring units represented by formula (I): n n wherein X is selected from the group consisting of C(O)OR 1 , C(O)SR 1 , C(O)NR 1 R 2 , and VZ, where R 1 and R 2 are each individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 to C 10 alkyl, and C 6 to C 10 aryl, where V is a labile linker group, and where Z is selected from the group consisting of poly(ethyleneimine), poly(propyleneimine), poly(lysine), PAMAM dendrimer, octaamine dendrimer, and hexadecaamine dendrimer; and wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of —(CH 2 ) 2 —, —(CH 2 ) 2 —O—(CH 2 ) 2 —, —(CH 2 ) 2 —O—(CH 2 ) 2 —, and —(CH 2 ) 3 —NHC(O)—(CH 2 ) 6 —C(O)NH—(CH 2 ) 3 — is useful in nucleic acid delivery applications. Polyacetals of the formula (I) are preferably made by reacting appropriate diols and divinyl ethers. In preferred embodiments, complexes formed between polyacetals of the formula (I) and polynucleotides are useful as transfection reagents. |