Poly(vinyl ester) polymers for in vivo nucleic acid delivery

A membrane active poly(vinyl ester) random copolymer having the structure represented by:

• wherein:
• N is —NH2 or —N—CO—O—C—(CH3)3
• N′ is —NR5H, —NR5R6, —NR5R6R7, nitrogen heterocycle, aldimine, hydrazide, hydrazone, or imidazole, wherein R5, R6, and R7 are independently selected from —CH3 and —CH2—CH3,
• Y and Y′ are independently —(CH2)a— or —(CH2—CH2—0)b—(CH2)c— wherein a , b, and c are independently 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6,
• R is a hydrophobic group having 1-7 carbon atoms or an alkoxy ethyl group,
• R′ is a hydrophobic group having 12-20 carbon atoms,
• R1, R2, R3, and R4 are independently selected from hydrogen (—H) and methyl (—CH3),
• m and p are independently integers greater than zero (0),
• n and q are independently integers greater than or equal to zero (0),
• the ratio (m+n)/(p+q) is 1-9, and
• the poly(vinyl ester) random copolymer is is capable of causing red blood cell lysis.