Revealing two distinct molecular binding modes in polyethyleneimine-DNA polyplexes using infrared spectroscopy.

Rusul Mustafa, Danielle Diorio, Madeline Harper, David Punihaole

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in Soft matter, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

1citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

From Cell-Derived Vesicles to Hybrid Nanovectors: Biological Membranes as Functional Blueprints for Gene Delivery.Advanced healthcare materials · 2026
Review

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Rusul MustafaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Vermont, 82 University Place, Burlington, Vermont, USA. David.Punihaole@uvm.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3175-2427

Danielle DiorioDepartment of Chemistry, University of Vermont, 82 University Place, Burlington, Vermont, USA. David.Punihaole@uvm.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-2256-8502

Madeline HarperDepartment of Chemistry, University of Vermont, 82 University Place, Burlington, Vermont, USA. David.Punihaole@uvm.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-9894-1875

David PunihaoleDepartment of Chemistry, University of Vermont, 82 University Place, Burlington, Vermont, USA. David.Punihaole@uvm.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4637-9672

Funding

Vermont Center for Cardiovascular and Brain HealthP20GM135007 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT & ST AGRIC COLLEGE · PI Diego Adrianzen Herrera · 2020 to 2026

$17.4M

Strategic inhibition of EGFR-family signaling using novel peptidomimetic inhibitors of HER-2 for the treatment of osteosarcomaP20GM135000 · NIGMS · LOUISIANA STATE UNIV A&M COL BATON ROUGE · PI CHAMCHEU, JEAN CHRISTOPHER · 2021 to 2025

$11.3M

NIGMS NIH HHS P20 GM135000NIGMS NIH HHS P20 GM135007

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

In this study, we use infrared spectroscopy to investigate the molecular binding modes of DNA with linear and branched polyethylenimine (LPEI and BPEI). PEI-based polymers are widely studied as non-viral gene delivery vectors, but their low transfection efficiency limits their clinical success. One key factor affecting their performance is how they bind DNA as it directly impacts the packaging, protection, and release of the cargo in cells. While PEI-DNA binding has traditionally been viewed through the lens of electrostatics, computational models suggest additional binding mechanisms may be involved. Our findings reveal that LPEI and BPEI exhibit two distinct molecular binding modes, which influence DNA packaging into polyplexes. Identifying these binding modes provides critical insights into polymer complexation mechanisms to nucleic acids that can guide the rational design of more efficient and versatile PEI-based gene delivery systems.

Indexed as

DNAPolyethyleneimineGene Transfer TechniquesSpectrophotometry, InfraredDNAPolyethyleneimine

Identifiers

PMID40326406

DOI10.1039/d5sm00213c

PMCPMC12053835

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LicenceCC BY

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.