RNA-sensitive N-isopropylacrylamide/vinylphenylboronic acid random copolymer

Random copolymers of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) and 4-vinylphenylboronic acid (VPBA) were obtained by solution polymerization using 2,2′-azobisizobutyronitrile as the initiator in ethanol at 65 °C. NIPA-co-VPBA copolymer exhibited both temperature- and pH-sensitivity. Thermally reversible phase transitions were observed both in the acidic and alkaline pH region for the copolymers produced with different VPBA/NIPA feed ratios. The pH dependency of the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) was stronger for the copolymers produced with higher VPBA feed concentrations. RNA was selected as a model biomolecule having vicinal-diol and amino groups that were potentially reactive with the boronic acid groups of NIPA-co-VPBA copolymer. The effect of RNA concentration on the LCST of NIPA-co-VPBA copolymer was investigated in aqueous media at different pHs. Although no significant effect was observed at pH 4, 7 or 10.5, the LCST decreased linearly with increasing RNA concentration at a pH approximately equal to the pK_a of boronic acid. This behavior was explained by considering the binding of RNA onto the copolymer chains to occur via two types of complex formation. For the formation of these complexes, the amino and vicinal-diol groups of RNA should react with the boronic acid groups of the copolymer in the tetrahedral anionic form. The results indicated that NIPA-co-VPBA copolymer could be utilized as a new reagent for the determination of RNA concentration in aqueous media. The proposed method was valid for the RNA concentration range of 0–4 g · mL⁻¹.

The schematical representation of the possible interactions between NIPA-co-VPBA copolymer and RNA. (A) A typical structure of single-stranded RNA. (B) Tetrahedral anionic form of boronic acid groups. (C) The interaction between the amino groups of the unpaired bases of RNA and the boronic acid groups of the copolymer. (D) Cyclic borate ester formation by the interaction between vicinal diol groups located at the 3′-end of RNA and boronic acid groups of the copolymer.