Dendrimer/DNA complex

Particles from cationic lipids may also be useful for antisense therapy of skin disease — a nontoxic increase in the oligonucleotide uptake by cultivated keratinocytes and a sebocyte cell line has been reported [66]. Moreover, cationic dendri-mers also efficiently transfer reporter gene DNA to human keratinocytes cultivated in vitro. In the skin of hairless mice, in vivo transfection was possible with complexes, yet reporter gene expression was localized to perifollicular areas. Transfection, however, failed with the naked plasmid. For prolonged contact, biodegradable membranes coated with dendrimer/DNA complexes were used [67]. This hints at a follicular uptake of these complexes and indicates that gene transfection also may be possible with human skin, which has a thicker stratum comeum compared with mouse skin (eight to ten vs. two to three layers [58]). 

Bielinska, A. U., et al.. Application of membrane-based dendrimer/DNA complexes for solid phase transfection in vitro and in vivo. Biomaterials, 21, 877-87, 2000. 

The PAMAM dendrimer-DNA complexes have been shown to promote transfection [152-156]. The earlier studies used reporter luciferase which allows for measurement of luciferase activity in host cells [155, 156]. Although there is some dependence on the cell type being invaded [155], experiments have shown that generations 6-8 dendrimers are most efficient in transfection [155, 156]. There is little transfection with generations 2-4 PAMAM dendrimers and no further improved efficiency with generations 9 and 10 dendrimers. The preferred dendrimer to DNA stoichiometry is 5 1 or higher [155,156]. It has since... 

Roessler BJ, Bielinska AU, Janczak K, Lee I, Baker JR (2001) Substituted P-cyclodextrins interact with PAMAM dendrimer-DNA complexes and modify transfection efficiency. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 283 12-129... 

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