title: Pharmaceutical emulsions: a new approach for gene therapy.
abstract: The concept of gene therapy involves the experimental transfer of a therapeutic gene into an individual's cells and tissues to replace an abnormal gene aiming to treat a disease, or to use the gene to treat a disease just like a medicine, improving the clinical status of a patient. The achievement of a foreigner nucleic acid into a population of cells requires its transfer to the target. Therefore, it is essential to create carriers (vectors) that transfer and protect the nucleic acid until it reaches the target. The obvious disadvantages of the use of viral vectors have directed the research for the development of a nonviral organized system such as emulsions. In fact, recently, there has been an increase of interest in its use in biotechnology as a nonviral vector for gene therapy. This review focuses on the progress of cationic emulsions and the improvement of the formulations, as a potential delivery system for gene therapy.
authors: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Laboratório de Sistemas Dispersos (LASID), Natal/RN, Brazil.
authors: Lourena Mafra
authors: LM
authors: Verissimo
authors: Lucymara Fassarela Agnez
authors: LF
authors: Lima
authors: Lucila Carmem Monte
authors: LC
authors: Egito
authors: Anselmo Gomes
authors: AG
authors: de Oliveira
authors: E Sócrates Tabosa
authors: ES
authors: do Egito
mesh_terms: D004655:Emulsions; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations