Polycationic polymers

A polycationic agent having the following formula:

• wherein
• n is an integer from 10 to 100 resulting in a repeating trimer wherein two R1 groups of each trimer are neutral and one R1 group of each trimer is cationic;
• R2 and R3 are hydrogen for each monomer:
• Ta and Tc are terminating groups;
• said cationic R1 groups are selected from the group consisting of ammoniumalkyl, aminoalkyl, guanidinoalkyl, amidinoalkyl, aminocyclohexyl, piperidyl, guanidinobenzyl, guanidino-α-methylbenzyl, amidinobenzyl, amidino-α-methylbenzyl, an aliphatic hydrazide, an aromatic hydrazide;
• pyridylmethyl, wherein the pyridyl ring is optionally further substituted with a group selected from methyl, methoxy, fluoro, chloro, bromo, and nitro;
• and aminobenzyl, wherein the benzyl ring is optionally further substituted with a group selected from methyl, methoxy, fluoro, chloro, bromo, and nitro;
• wherein “ammonium” is trimethylammonium, triethylammonium, methyldiethylammonium, or ethyldimethylammonium, and “alkyl” is —CH(R)—(CH2)m—, where R is H or Me, and m is 1-6;
• and said neutral R1 groups are selected from the group consisting of a neutral moiety comprising an aromatic ring and having a molecular weight of 250 daltons or less, cyclohexyl methyl, 2-methoxyethyl, and 6-galactosyl;
• wherein said polycationic agent comprises at least 25% positively charged monomers, excluding the terminating groups, and
• wherein said polycationic agent exhibits a net positive electrical charge at a physiological pH.