title: Polymer gene delivery: overcoming the obstacles.
abstract: Recent progress in gene therapy has opened doors for the development of new and multifunctional delivery agents based on the tailored synthesis of polymers. These polymers are in their infancy compared with viral agents, which have been optimised during millions of years of evolution, making viral vectors naturally efficient transfection agents. To improve the efficiency of polymer gene delivery to the level seen in viral vectors, it is necessary to understand the challenges faced by polymer gene delivery vectors both in vitro and in vivo. In this review, we analyse and discuss those obstacles that scientists have to overcome to design a highly efficient synthetic transfection agent.
authors.affiliation: Network of Excellence for Functional Biomaterials, National University of Ireland, IDA Business Park, Dangan, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aied
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Greiser
authors.forename: Abhay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pandit
authors.forename: Wenxin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers