Gene delivery: intelligent but just at the beginning.
Gene therapy is used to treat genetic disorders, which may be achieved both ex vivo and in vivo. Gene-delivery systems usually include a carrier system which both protects the gene expression plasmid and allows its extracellular and intracellular trafficking. Viruses are used in most of the clinical trials today; however, they do have important drawbacks. Non-viral vectors based on lipids, water-soluble polycations, other non-condensing polymers and nano- or microparticles/capsules have been proposed. Cationic polymers, especially carrying novel targeting ligands. are receiving increasing attention. Intelligent polymers with temperature, pH, and light sensitivities for a controllable and effective non-viral transfection have recently been introduced but are just at the beginning. Our preliminary studies showed that block copolymers of N-isopropylacrylamide-acrylic acid with poly(ethylene imine) could be one example of these novel non-viral vectors.
Pişkin
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Hacettepe University, Chemical Engineering Department and Bioengineering Division, Beytepe, Ankara, Turkey. piskin@hacettepe.edu.tr
Dinçer
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Türk
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D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008027:Light; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D010957:Plasmids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D011073:Polyamines / Q000737:chemistry; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D011108:Polymers; D013696:Temperature; D014162:Transfection
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008055:Lipids; D011073:Polyamines; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D011108:Polymers