title: Peptide nucleic acids: a review on recent patents and technology transfer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  DNA/RNA-based drugs are considered of major interest in molecular diagnosis and nonviral gene therapy. In this field, peptide nucleic acids (PNAs, DNA analogs in which the sugar-phosphate backbone is replaced by N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine units or similar building blocks) have been demonstrated to be excellent candidates as diagnostic reagents and biodrugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recent (2002 - 2013) patents based on studies on development of PNA analogs, delivery systems for PNAs, applications of PNAs in molecular diagnosis, and use of PNA for innovative therapeutic protocols.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PNAs are unique reagents in molecular diagnosis and have been proven to be very active and specific for alteration of gene expression, despite the fact that solubility and uptake by target cells can be limiting factors. Accordingly, patents on PNAs have taken in great consideration delivery strategies. PNAs have been proven stable and effective in vivo, despite the fact that possible long-term toxicity should be considered. For possible clinical applications, the use of PNA molecules in combination with drugs already employed in therapy has been suggested. Considering the patents available and the results on in vivo testing on animal models, we expect in the near future relevant PNA-based clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: University of Ferrara, Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Section , Via Fossato di Mortara n.74, 44100 Ferrara , Italy +39 532 974443 ; +39 532 974500 ; gam@unife.it.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gambari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010330:Patents as Topic; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011487:Protein Conformation; D018581:Technology Transfer; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids; D014157:Transcription Factors