title: Lipid and polymeric carrier-mediated nucleic acid delivery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nucleic acids such as plasmid DNA, antisense oligonucleotide, and RNA interference (RNAi) molecules, have a great potential to be used as therapeutics for the treatment of various genetic and acquired diseases. To design a successful nucleic acid delivery system, the pharmacological effect of nucleic acids, the physiological condition of the subjects or sites, and the physicochemical properties of nucleic acid and carriers have to be thoroughly examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  The commonly used lipids, polymers and corresponding delivery systems are reviewed in terms of their characteristics, applications, advantages and limitations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This article aims to provide an overview of biological barriers and strategies to overcome these barriers by properly designing effective synthetic carriers for nucleic acid delivery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A thorough understanding of biological barriers and the structure-activity relationship of lipid and polymeric carriers is the key for effective nucleic acid therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 19 South Manassas St, Cancer Research Building RM 226, Memphis, TN 38103, USA.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Ram I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Mahato
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015195:Drug Design; D008055:Lipids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D010957:Plasmids; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D008055:Lipids; D009696:Nucleic Acids; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D011108:Polymers; D004247:DNA