Supramolecular self-assembly of DNA with a cationic polythiophene -From polyplexes to fibers

Maxime Leclercq (1) , Jenifer Rubio Magnieto (1) , Danahe Mohammed (2) , Sylvain Gabriele (2) , L Leclercq (3, 4) , Herve Cottet (3) , Sebastien Richeter (5) , Sebastien Clement (5) , Mathieu Surin (1)

1 Laboratory for Chemistry of Novel Materials
2 UMONS - University of Mons [Belgium]
3 IBMM - Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron [Pôle Chimie Balard]
4 UM - Université de Montpellier
5 ICGM - Institut Charles Gerhardt Montpellier - Institut de Chimie Moléculaire et des Matériaux de Montpellier

Cationic polythiophenes constitute an interesting class of polymers for prospective applications in imaging, gene delivery and biosensing, as they combine solubility in aqueous media and have sensitive optical properties for the detection of biomolecules such as DNA. Here, we study the supramolecular self-assembly of poly[3-(6'-(trimethylphosphonium)hexyl)thiophene-2,5-diyl] (P3HT-PMe3) with different types of DNA, such as single-stranded oligonucleotides or long genomic DNA. Self-assembly in buffered aqueous solution yields polyplexes (polymer/DNA complexes) with hydrodynamic radius ranging from 7 nm to around 25 nm, as observed by Taylor Dispersion Analysis. In these polyplexes, the achiral polymer presents chiroptical signals induced by supramolecular organization along chiral DNA. When the solution of long DNA/P3HT-PMe3 is deposited on surfaces, tens of µm-long fibers are formed by condensation of DNA and compaction of the polyplexes, as evidenced by microscopy techniques.

Domaines: Polymères

Maxime Leclercq, Jenifer Rubio Magnieto, Danahe Mohammed, Sylvain Gabriele, L Leclercq, et al.. Supramolecular self-assembly of DNA with a cationic polythiophene -From polyplexes to fibers. ChemNanoMat, 2019, 5 (6), pp.703-709. ⟨10.1002/cnma.201900022⟩. ⟨hal-03036249⟩