From rationally designed polymeric and peptidic systems to sophisticated gene delivery nano-vectors.
Lack of safe, efficient and controllable methods for delivering therapeutic genes appears to be the most important factor preventing human gene therapy. Safety issues encountered with viral vectors have prompted substantial attention to in vivo investigations with non-viral vectors throughout the past decade. However, developing non-viral vectors with effectiveness comparable to viral ones has been a challenge. The strategy of designing multifunctional synthetic carriers targeting several extracellular and intracellular barriers in the gene transfer pathway has emerged as a promising approach to improving the efficacy of gene delivery systems. This review will explain how sophisticated synthetic vectors can be created by combining conventional polycationic vectors such as polyethylenimine and basic amino acid peptides with additional polymers and peptides that are designed to overcome potential barriers to the gene delivery process.
Pharmaceutical Research Center, Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 91775-1365, Mashhad, Iran.
Hamideh
H
Parhiz
Wayne Thomas
WT
Shier
Mohammad
M
Ramezani
D000818:Animals; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D010455:Peptides; D011108:Polymers
D010455:Peptides; D011108:Polymers
Gene delivery; Non-viral carriers; Peptide; Polyethylenimine; Polymer; Solid phase synthesis