Investigation of DNA binding abilities of solid lipid nanoparticles based on -butylthiacalix[4]arene platform

An amphiphilic thiacalix[4]arene derivative functionalized with guanidinium groups forms stable solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) with high ζ -potential in water. Applying gel electrophoresis and fluorescent spectroscopy methods shows that the SLNs have high binding affinity to double-stranded DNA, but despite this fact, we have not observed any significant transfection activity toward three different mammalian cell lines. A UV-spectroscopic study reveals that interaction between the SLNs and the polynucleotide leads to partial denaturation of the DNA located on the surface of the nanoparticles that can hinder transfection. Amphiphilic thiacalix[4]arene functionalized with guanidinium groups forms stable solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) with high binding affinity to double-stranded DNA.