title: Lipid nanoparticles as vehicles for macromolecules: nucleic acids and peptides.
abstract: Traditional drug delivery systems are not efficient for peptide, protein and nucleic acid (plasmid DNA, oligonucleotides or short interfering RNA) delivery, thereby LNP have been exploited as potential delivery and targeting systems of these molecules. Since their discovery in the early 90's several research groups have focused their efforts on the improvement of this kind of nanocarriers in terms of effectiveness and safety. This review features the recent and most relevant patents related to these topics, with particular attention to targeting and protection from environmental agents. Moreover, in the case of nucleic acids strategies to improve transfection mediated by lipid nanoparticles (entrance to the cells, intracellular distribution or going through nuclear envelope) will be assessed. Regarding peptides and proteins, enhancement of encapsulation efficiency and absorption through mucoses are the main studied drawbacks. Finally, this work also includes a summary of the existing patents about the use of LNP as immune response adjuvants by using either plasmid DNA or proteins.
authors.affiliation: University of the Basque Country, Laboratory of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Paseo de la Universidad, 7. 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. alicia.rodriguez@ehu.es
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: del Pozo-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Solinís
authors.forename: Alicia R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Gascón
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000639:trends; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000639:trends; D004355:Drug Stability; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D010330:Patents as Topic; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles / Q000737:chemistry*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D008055:Lipids; D009696:Nucleic Acids; D010455:Peptides; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering