title: Nanoparticle-based delivery for the treatment of inner ear disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The delivery of targetable synthetic vectors that can carry a variety of drugs, proteins, and nucleic acids, such as DNA and small interfering RNA (siRNA), to mammalian cells is important as a potential therapeutic system that avoids the problems that are associated with viruses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The so-called multifunctional nanocarriers that are equipped with several functions, such as targetability, shelter from the immune system, and opsonization, and are capable of delivering payload across the nuclear envelope, have been synthesized. To improve transfection efficiency, a group of novel peptides have been attached to the surface of the carrier that will enhance endosomal escape and promote nuclear entry. The targeting of tropomyocin receptor kinase B (TrkB) with ligands enhances uptake in spiral ganglion cell culture. Treatment cargos have included growth factors such as the Math-1 gene, short hairpin RNA, and steroids. The problems with current synthetic nanocarriers are poorer selectivity, internalization, and transfection rate compared with viral vectors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within a few years, when the synthetic vectors have been optimized, the first human drugs/proteins/gene product-based therapies will become available in a phase I study.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Tampere Medical School, Tampere, Finland. ilmari.pyykko@pshp.fi
authors: Ilmari
authors: I
authors: Pyykkö
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Zou
authors: Weikai
authors: W
authors: Zhang
authors: Ya
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D007759:Labyrinth Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000639:trends*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers