title: Design of polyphosphoester-DNA nanoparticles for non-viral gene delivery.
abstract: Development of safe and effective non-viral gene carriers is still critical to the ultimate success of gene therapy. This review highlights our attempt to design the gene carriers in a systematic manner. We have synthesized a series of polymers with a phosphoester backbone containing different charge groups in the sidechain connected to the backbone through a phosphate (P-O) or a phosphoramide (P-N) bond. These gene carriers have different charge groups, sidechain lengths, and branching structures, but they are structurally related to allow a systematic investigation of the structure-property relationship, including DNA binding capacity, cytotoxicity, DNA protection, biodegradability, DNA release kinetics, and transfection efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Hai-Quan
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Kam W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Leong
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport / Q000502:physiology; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D049329:Nanostructures; D010755:Organophosphates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D010755:Organophosphates; D011108:Polymers; D004247:DNA