Incorporation of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] into cationic copolymers based on poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) to improve gene delivery.

The synthesis and gene transfection efficiency of a series of novel amphiphilic triblock copolymers with two hydrophilic poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (DMAEMA) blocks flanking a central hydrophobic poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (PHB) block is reported. These copolymers have significantly lower toxicity compared to the polyethyleneimine (PEI) and PDMAEMA homopolymer. Unexpectedly, the incorporation of PHB significantly improves the gene transfection efficiency as compared to PEI or PDMAEMA homopolymers.