title: Cell membranes as barriers for the use of antisense therapeutic agents.
abstract: Antisense oligonucleotides are promising therapeutical agents for numerous diseases resulting from overexpression of genes, expression of mutant genes and viral infections. As most oligonucleotides are polyanions they can not readily pass cellular membranes in adequate amounts to show activity. Therefore, different types of carrier systems and modifications have been developed to enhance absorption and distribution at the level of tissues and cells. The current state of delivery systems will be reviewed with a major part devoted to the commonly used cationic lipids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Kuopio, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211, Finland. Ilpo.Jaaskelainen@uku.fi
authors.forename: Ilpo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jääskeläinen
authors.forename: Arto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urtti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense