Self-Assembled Dendron-Cyclodextrin Nanotubes with a Polyethylenimine Surface and Their Gene Delivery Capability

Self‐assembled dendron–cyclodextrin nanotubes (Den‐CD‐NTs) with selected surface functionalities can serve as templates for the formation of complexes with polymers, and the resulting nanotube–polymer complexes can be utilized as gene carriers. The negatively charged surfaces of Den‐CD‐NTs were covered with a positively charged polyethylenimine (PEI) layer using electrostatic interactions, and the resulting nanotube–PEI complex, having a positively charged surface exhibited intracellular uptake. Furthermore, the nanotube–PEI complex exhibited the capability for DNA complexation with reduced enzymatic degradation, and also showed higher transfection efficiency and lower cytotoxicity than PEI. Therefore, Den‐CD‐NTs, in simple complexation with a surface PEI layer, are potentially useful gene delivery vectors. A more complex delivery than usual: Intracellular uptake of self‐assembled dendron–cyclodextrin nanotubes with anionic surface was enhanced by its complexation with a cationic polyethylenimine (PEI) layer through electrostatic interactions (see figure). The nanotube–PEI complex exhibited DNA complexation with reduced enzymatic degradation, higher transfection efficiency and lower cytotoxicity than PEI alone.