title: Nanoparticle-mediated gene delivery.
abstract: Nonviral gene delivery has been gaining considerable attention recently. Although the efficacy of DNA transfection, which is a major concern, is low in nonviral vector-mediated gene transfer compared with viral ones, nonviral vectors are relatively easy to prepare, less immunogenic and oncogenic, and have no potential of virus recombination and no limitation on the size of a transferred gene. The ability to incorporate genetic materials such as plasmid DNA, RNA, and siRNA into functionalized nanoparticles with little toxicity demonstrates a new era in pharmacotherapy for delivering genes selectively to tissues and cells. In this chapter, we highlight the basic concepts and applications of nonviral gene delivery using super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and functionalized silica nanoparticles. The experimental protocols related to these topics are described in the chapter.
authors.affiliation: College of Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Sha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Leach
authors.forename: Kaiming
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D008280:Magnetics; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; C000499:ferric oxide; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D004247:DNA