TITLE:
Preparation of Zn2+-Chelated Carboxymethyl Poly(1-Vinylimidazole) for Intracellular Zn2+ Delivery
AUTHORS:
Akito Endo, Shoichiro Asayama
KEYWORDS:
Zinc Ion (Zn2+), Carboxymethyl Poly(1-Vinylimidazole), Intracellular Delivery
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering,
Vol.7 No.5,
September
2,
2019
ABSTRACT: Zinc ions (Zn2+), known to be a novel intracellular second messenger related to various biological functions, have been delivered inside cells. For the intracellular Zn2+ delivery, Zn2+ has been chelated to carboxymethyl poly(1-vinylimidazole) (CM-PVIm) by mixing zinc chloride (ZnCl2) or zinc acetate (Zn(OAc)2) with CM-PVIm. The resulting Zn2+-chelated CM-PVIm, that is, Zn2+/CM-PVIm complex by mixing ZnCl2 exhibited smaller particle size below 10 nm and possessed larger amount of Zn2+ ions, as compared to the Zn2+/CM-PVIm by mixing Zn(OAc)2. The both Zn2+/CM-PVIm complexes exhibited no significant cytotoxicity, leading to intracellular Zn2+ delivery. The Zn2+/CM-PVIm by mixing ZnCl2 delivered larger amount of intracellular Zn2+ ions than that by mixing Zn(OAc)2. These results suggest that the optimal Zn2+/CM-PVIm complex is a useful tool for intracellular Zn2+ delivery to control various biological functions.