Spermine and thermine conjugates of cholic acid condense DNA,but lithocholic acid polyamine conjugates do so more efficiently

Abstract

Polyamine amides have been prepared from cholic and lithocholic acid by acylation of tri-Boc protected spermine and thermine and their binding affinities for calf thymus DNA were determined using an ethidium bromide fluorescence quenching assay; these polyamine amides are models for lipoplex formation with respect to gene delivery (lipofection), a key first step in gene therapy.