Eur. Phys. J. E (2018) 41: 132
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2018-11743-3

Regular Article

Polynucleotide transport through lipid membrane in the presence of starburst cyclodextrin-based poly(ethylene glycol)s

¹ LAMBE, Univ Evry, CNRS, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, 91025, Evry, France
² LAMBE, Université Cergy-Pontoise, Université Paris-Seine, 91025, Evry, France
³ INSERM UMR 1078, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université Européenne de Bretagne, 22 avenue Camille Desmoulins, 29238, Brest Cedex 3, France
⁴ Plateforme SynNanoVect, Biogenouest, SFR 148 ScInBioS, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Faculté de Médecine, 22 avenue Camille Desmoulins, 29238, Brest Cedex 3, France
⁵ Laboratoire de génétique moléculaire et d’histocompatibilité, CHRU de Brest, 5 avenue du Maréchal Foch, 29609, Brest Cedex 3, France
⁶ DUMG, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Faculté de Médecine, 22 avenue Camille Desmoulins, 29238, Brest Cedex 3, France
⁷ Matière et Systèmes Complexes, CNRS-UMR 7057, Université Paris-Diderot, 10 rue Alice Domon et Léonie Duquet, 75205, Paris cedex 13, France
⁸ Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut Parisien de Chimie Moléculaire, Equipe Chimie des Polymères, 4 place Jussieu, F-75005, Paris, France

^* e-mail: philippe.guegan@sorbonne-universite.fr

Received: 27 June 2018
Accepted: 12 October 2018
Published online: 15 November 2018

Abstract

Symmetrical cyclodextrin-based 14-arm star polymers with poly(ethylene glycol) PEG branches were synthesized and characterized. Interactions of the star polymers with lipid bilayers were studied by the “black lipid membrane” technique in order to demonstrate the formation of monomolecular artificial channels. The conditions for the insertion are mainly based on dimensions and amphiphilic properties of the star polymers, in particular the molar mass of the water-soluble polymer branches. Translocation of single-strand DNA (ssDNA) through those synthetic nanopores was investigated, and the close dimension between the cross-section of ssDNA and the cyclodextrin cavity led to an energy barrier that slowed down the translocation process.