Synthesis of bifunctional cationic compound for gene delivery

Bifunctional cationic compound carrying trivalent galactosides as the cell targeting ligand and DAB-dendr-(NH2)(8) (generation 2.0) as the DNA binding domain was synthesized for gene delivery to hepatocytes. DAB-dendr-(NH,), (generation 1.0) conjugated with a hydrocarbon chain was used as a scaffold for the attachment of three galactosides, while the other hydrocarbon end was linked with DAB-dendr-(NH2)(8) (generation 2.0) through a carbamate bon d. This design provided an effective entry for the synthesis of a polyamine compound having the cell targeting galactosyl ligand. Preliminary in vitro transfection results demonstrated that the bifunctional cationic compound could effectively deliver the gene into HepG2 cells. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scie nce Ltd. All rights reserved.