Fluorinated Polyamine Polymers for Higher Cell Transfection Viability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cationic polymers like polyethyleneimines and poly(amidoamine) dendrimers have low transfection efficacy and poor cell viability, limiting their commercial and clinical applications for delivering biomolecules into cells.

Innovation Solution

Modified polyamine polymers with fluorinated substituents, such as polyethyleneimine and poly(amidoamine) dendrimers, are used to enhance delivery efficiency and cell viability by improving affinity for cell membranes and facilitating transport across lipid bilayers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If cationic polymers like polyethyleneimines and poly(amidoamine) dendrimers are used as carriers to introduce exogenous genes into cells, then ease of manufacture is improved, but transfection efficacy and cell viability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidtransfection efficacy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical structure of cationic polymers by introducing fluorinated substituents (e.g., -CF3 groups) at specific positions on the polymer backbone. This parameter change in molecular structure enhances the polymer's ability to interact with cell membranes and facilitates endosomal escape, thereby improving transfection efficacy while maintaining ease of manufacture through established polymerization methods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates composite polymeric structures by combining cationic polymer backbones with fluorinated side chains or substituents. This composite approach integrates the advantageous properties of both the cationic polymer (ease of manufacture, gene complexing ability) and the fluorinated groups (membrane affinity, endosomal disruption), resolving the contradiction between manufacturability and transfection efficacy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If cationic polymers like polyethyleneimines and poly(amidoamine) dendrimers are used as carriers to introduce exogenous genes into cells, then ease of manufacture is improved, but cell viability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidcell viability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By modifying the polymer structure with fluorinated substituents, the patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the carrier system. The fluorinated groups reduce the polymers' cytotoxicity by altering membrane interaction mechanisms, allowing for less damaging cellular uptake and endosomal escape processes while maintaining ease of manufacture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful strong cationic character of the polymers into a beneficial effect by adding fluorinated groups. These groups modulate the polymer's interaction with cellular membranes, transforming the harmful cytotoxic effect into a controlled, beneficial cellular uptake mechanism that improves cell viability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If modified polyamine polymers with fluorinated substituents are used to enhance delivery efficiency, then transfection efficacy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransfection efficacyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves improved transfection efficacy by changing the chemical parameters of the polymer (adding fluorinated substituents) rather than by increasing structural complexity. The modifications are introduced at specific positions on the polymer backbone, providing enhanced membrane affinity and endosomal escape capability without creating complex multi-component systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The fluorinated substituents are placed at specific local positions on the polymer structure (e.g., at the N-terminal or at specific repeat units) rather than uniformly throughout. This local modification approach provides targeted functional enhancement for membrane interaction while keeping the overall polymer structure relatively simple and easy to characterize

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The modified polymers demonstrate improved transfection efficacy and cell viability, enabling effective delivery of biomolecules such as DNA, RNA, and proteins into various cell types.

Implementation Method 1

improving affinity for cell membranes and facilitating transport across lipid bilayers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobic interaction: Hydrophobe

Data Source

PatentEP4721762A2Modified polyamine polymers for delivery of biomolecules into cells
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 PROMEGA CORP
  • EP4721762A2 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4721762A2 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4721762A2 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

Provided herein are compounds, compositions, and methods for delivering biomolecules to cells. In particular, the present disclosure provides modified polyamine polymers, including polyamine polymers having fluorinated substituents.