title: Engineered nanoscaled polyplex gene delivery systems.
abstract: Improving the transfection efficiencies of nonviral gene delivery requires properly engineered nanoscaled delivery carriers that can overcome the multiple barriers associated with the delivery of oligonucleotides from the site of administration to the nucleus or cytoplasm of the target cell. This article reviews the current advantages and limitation of polyplex nonviral delivery systems, including the apparent barriers that limit gene expression efficiency compared to physical methods such as hydrodynamic dosing and electroporation. An emphasis is placed on engineered nanoscaled polyplexes (NSPs) of modular design that both self-assemble and systematically disassemble at the desired stage of delivery. It is suggested that NSPs of increasingly sophisticated designs are necessary to improve the efficiency of the rate limiting steps in gene delivery.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Christian A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Kevin G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Rice
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057005:Bioengineering; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D004274:DNA, Recombinant / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D015195:Drug Design; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D004274:DNA, Recombinant