Polyfunctional branched nitrogen-containing p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene derivatives as efficient agents for packaging calf thymus DNA

Polyfunctional p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arenes tetrasubstituted at the lower rim with nitrogen-containing fragments in the cone, partial cone, and 1,3-alternate conformations were investigated in the processes of calf thymus DNA packaging. The influence of the macrocycle structure and composition on their ability to pack DNA into nano-sized particles was considered. UV spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering results showed that the synthesized p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arenes functionalized at the lower rim with polyamine fragments in the cone and 1,3-alternate conformations can compact calf thymus DNA into nanosized particles (<100 nm). A new type of synthetic receptors based on the 1,3-alternate stereoisomer of p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene with ester, hydroxy, and tertiary amino groups was suggested for packaging DNA to nanoparticles of 51—85 nm in size.