METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING LINEAR POLYETHYLENIMINE (PEI) FOR TRANSFECTION PURPOSE AND LINEAR PEI OBTAINED WITH SUCH METHOD

摘要

The invention concerns a method of synthesising and preparing linear polyethylenimine (PEI) for use as a transfection vector, and the product obtained with such a method. It comprises drying a monomer 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline and polymerising said monomer for obtaining poly (2- ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEOX) by : using acetonitrile as solvent, adding a dried initiator of the reaction of polymerisation, and mixing them altogether, purifying said obtained PEOX by evaporation, while performing at least three times successive washing/precipitation steps with methanol and diethyl ether and corresponding filtrations, in order to obtain (i), by performing 1H-NMR tests, correct identification of said PEOX polymer, confirmation of absence of monomer to a level <1.0% and confirmation of absence of solvent to a level <5.0% and (ii), by performing Gel Permeation Chromatography, a mean of molecular weight (Mw) >23,000 Da and polydispersity (Mw/Mn) of said PEOX < 1.5, hydrolysing said PEOX.