Synthesis of glycosylated polyethylenimine with reduced toxicity and high transfecting efficiency

A safe and efficient synthesis of glycosylated polyethylenimine using titanium (IV) isopropoxide and sodium borohydride has been carried out as a substitute for the highly toxic sodium cyanoborohydride method currently used. Polyplexes formed between DNA and the various glycosylated polyethylenimines appeared to be much less cytotoxic than polyethylenimine (PEI)/DNA polyplexes.