Enhanced gene transfection capability of polyethylenimine by incorporating boronic acid groups.

Phenylboronic acid-modified PEI was prepared by the reaction of 1800 Da PEI with 4-(bromomethyl)phenylboronic acid. It is much more effective than unmodified PEI for gene delivery. The covalently incorporated boronic acid groups achieve the greatly enhanced gene delivery efficiency partially through improving condensation ability to DNA, and partially through facilitating cell uptake due to interaction with ligands in cells.