Imidazole-phosphate Polymers: Acid-base Properties, Association with Oligonucleotides and Oligosilicates

Water-soluble imidazole-phosphate copolymers were obtained by copolymerization of 1-vinylimidazole with vinyl acetate with subsequent phosphorylation under the action of phosphoric acid. The introduction of phosphate units into the vinylimidazole chain unexpectedly increased the basic properties of the polymer, the buffer capacity at pH 5–7 and activity in coordination with DNA oligonucleotides, which is important in gene therapy and genetic engineering. The condensation of silicic acid in the presence of new polymers leads to the appearance of composite nanoparticles, which are a model of silicon transport vesicles in nature, as well as a new precursor of silicon materials.