Drug delivery applications intracellular targeting

It is not always appreciated that the application of in vivo gene therapy actually represents a drug delivery protocol. By the incorporation of plasmids into e.g. adenoviral or hposomal coats they are protected from degradation. Subsequent interaction with the target cells leads to intracellular delivery and then to nuclear localization of the plasmid. Although transfec-... 

Other applications of pH-responsive polymers for drug-delivery systems have also been explored such as the incorporation of fibroblast growth factors to improve angiogenesis in infracted myocardium (Garbem et al., 2011) the incorporation of ketoprofen for colon-targeted delivery (Kulkami et al., 2012) intracellular delivery of ovalbumin to dendritic cells (a class of cells intimately involved with adaptive immunity) (Hn et al., 2007) and for controlling drug release in nocturnal asthma treatment (Tran et al., 2013). 

Fig. 3.2 Challenges of systemic in vivo siRNA delivery. The in vivo application, especially systemic delivery of siRNA, is facing challenges from multiple hurdles in the extracellular environment and various barriers for the intracellular uptake. Addressing those issues is critical for efficient in vivo delivery of siRNA in prechnical animal models for drug target vahdation and potential therapeutics...

We have hypothesized and then experimentally demonstrated that antibody-directed liposomes specific for an intracellular cytoskeletal antigen can have two important medical applications prevention of hypoxia-induced release of intracellular contents and subsequent cell death by sealing (plugging) membrane lesions with such ILs, and use of ILs for the targeted intracellular delivery of pharmacologically important substances, such as drugs or genetic constructs. 

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