title: Discovery of cationic polymers for non-viral gene delivery using combinatorial approaches.
abstract: Gene therapy is an attractive treatment option for diseases of genetic origin, including several cancers and cardiovascular diseases. While viruses are effective vectors for delivering exogenous genes to cells, concerns related to insertional mutagenesis, immunogenicity, lack of tropism, decay and high production costs necessitate the discovery of non-viral methods. Significant efforts have been focused on cationic polymers as non-viral alternatives for gene delivery. Recent studies have employed combinatorial syntheses and parallel screening methods for enhancing the efficacy of gene delivery, biocompatibility of the delivery vehicle, and overcoming cellular level barriers as they relate to polymer-mediated transgene uptake, transport, transcription, and expression. This review summarizes and discusses recent advances in combinatorial syntheses and parallel screening of cationic polymer libraries for the discovery of efficient and safe gene delivery systems.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering, 501 E. Tyler Mall, ECG 303, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-6106, USA.
authors.forename: Sutapa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barua
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Thrimoorthy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Potta
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Huang-Chiao
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montanez
authors.forename: Kaushal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rege
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002412:Cations / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D020650:Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D011108:Polymers; D004247:DNA