**1.2 Interaction with lipids**

**Figure 6** shows liposomes of L-α-DMPC when interacting with cholesteric liquid crystal polyester PTOBDME, adopting hexagonal form. The structures of the lipid membranes complexed with cholesteric LC polymer were analysed by simultaneous SAXS/WAXS with synchrotron radiation source with λ = 1.5 Å on the X33

**83**

**Figure 7.**

*centre (12C\*) in PNOBDME and (4*

*bond, respectively, is indicated.*

*Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Polyesteramides: Non-Viral Vectors*

camera at EMBL (DESY, Hamburg) [20–22]. Tripalmitin was used to calibrate both linear detectors. All data were normalized for incident intensity and analysed with

**1.3 Interaction with polynucleotides and nucleic acids: non-viral vectors**

The entrance of exogenous genetic material in cells was a key stage in the development of cellular biology. The term "transfection" indicates the transfer of DNA—as a healing agent—into the nuclei of cells of higher organisms. The direct application of this technology in living organisms opened crucial possibilities, like

Synthetic molecules that can bind polynucleotide fragments (the therapeutic agent) are required to develop new non-viral vectors to transfect in cells, without

*The monomeric unit of polyesteramides: (a) PNOBDME; (b) PNOBEE. The asterisk indicates the chiral* 

*C\*) in PNOBEE. Torsion angle φ, along the 11C▬12C\* bond and 3*

*C▬<sup>4</sup> C\** 

Cationic polymers, at physiological pH, are used to condense anionic nucleic acids, through self-assembly driven by electrostatic interactions, into nano-sized complexes called "polyplexes." DNA molecules being compressed to a relatively smaller size able to enter inside the nuclei of cells, facilitating internalization, thus improving transfec-

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91317*

gene therapy and DNA vaccines [25].

stimulating an immune response.

tion efficacy [26].

Primus (ATSAS) [23, 24].

**Figure 6.** *TEM images of L-α-DMPC hexagonal liposomes complexed with PTOBDME.*

*Liquid Crystals and Display Technology*

**Figure 4.**

**Figure 5.**

*groups are also shown.*

biomedical and engineering field.

*flexible branches (chiral groups are located in the backbone).*

**1.2 Interaction with lipids**

and on the concentration [16]. They also get adsorbed on metal surfaces with reordering of the polymer in the interface [19], with a potential application on the

*Schematic representation of the cholesteric LC polymer type, with a rigid or semirigid helical chain with* 

*The monomeric unit of cholesteric liquid crystal polyesters PTOBEE (m = 1) and PTOBDME (m = 9). The three different zones of the monomer are indicated:* mesogen*,* spacer *and* flexible side chain*. The chiral Centre is indicated by an asterisk. Torsion ϕ is shown. The aromatic-end acid and aliphatic-end alcoholic* 

(neutral and cationic), polynucleotides and nucleic acids.

*TEM images of L-α-DMPC hexagonal liposomes complexed with PTOBDME.*

Besides they have proved to be biocompatible against macrophages and fibroblasts cellular lines. They are also able to interact with biomacromolecules: lipids

**Figure 6** shows liposomes of L-α-DMPC when interacting with cholesteric liquid crystal polyester PTOBDME, adopting hexagonal form. The structures of the lipid membranes complexed with cholesteric LC polymer were analysed by simultaneous SAXS/WAXS with synchrotron radiation source with λ = 1.5 Å on the X33

**82**

**Figure 6.**

camera at EMBL (DESY, Hamburg) [20–22]. Tripalmitin was used to calibrate both linear detectors. All data were normalized for incident intensity and analysed with Primus (ATSAS) [23, 24].
