title: Major degradable polycations as carriers for DNA and siRNA.
abstract: Non-viral gene delivery systems are one of the most potential alternatives to viral vectors because of their less immunogenicity, less toxicity and easy productivity in spite of their low capacity of gene transfection using DNA or silencing using siRNA compared to that of viral vectors. Among non-viral systems, the polycationic derivatives are the most popular gene carriers since they can effectively condense nucleic acids to transfer into the cells, especially the polyethylenimine (PEI) which has been used as a golden standard polymer owing to its high buffering ability for endosomal escape of gene to be expressed. However, PEI has severe problems for its toxicity due to the high positive charge density and non-degradability although the toxicity of PEI depends on its molecular weight (MW) and structure. Therefore, a considerable attention has been paid on synthesis of degradable PEI derivatives using low MW one because low MW PEI is much less toxic than high MW PEI. Other degradable polycationic gene carriers such as polyamidoamines (PAA) and cyclodextrin (CD)-based polycations are also in a significant interest because of their high transfection efficiency with low toxicity. This review in detail explains the recent developments on these three major degradable polycations as promising carriers for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA).
authors.affiliation: Brigham and Women's Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Agricultural Biotechnology & Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-921, South Korea; Center for Food and Bioconvergence & World Class University Biomodulation Major, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, South Korea.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ariful
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Biotechnology & Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-921, South Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Eun
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Biotechnology & Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-921, South Korea.
authors.forename: Bijay
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Biotechnology & Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-921, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sushila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maharjan
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Biotechnology & Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-921, South Korea; Center for Food and Bioconvergence & World Class University Biomodulation Major, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jannatul
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Firdous
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, South Korea.
authors.forename: Myung-Haing
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Institute of Green-Bio Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Pyeongchanggun, Gangwondo 232-916, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Kee
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Biotechnology & Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-921, South Korea; Center for Food and Bioconvergence & World Class University Biomodulation Major, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, South Korea.
authors.forename: Cheol-Heui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Biotechnology & Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-921, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yun-Jaie
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Biotechnology & Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-921, South Korea. Electronic address: chocs@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Chong-Su
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D002460:Cell Line; D057846:Cell-Penetrating Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D003505:Cyclodextrins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D004355:Drug Stability; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011073:Polyamines / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D057846:Cell-Penetrating Peptides; D003505:Cyclodextrins; D004247:DNA; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008024:Ligands; D011073:Polyamines; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering
keywords: Cyclodextrin; DNA; Degradable polymer; Polyamidoamine; Polyethylenimine; siRNA