Gene delivery specific types

Formation of a complex between DNA and polycationic compounds appears to be the initial and quite possibly a critical parameter for nonviral gene delivery. Several synthetic vector systems, which are generally cationic in nature, including poly(lysines), cationic liposomes or various types of block copolymers and recently dendrimers, have been shown to self-assemble with plasmid DNA [13-15] [16]. Specific physicochemical properties manifested by these DNA complexes depend on the type of cationic agent used however, interesting patterns for such interactions are beginning to evolve [17, 18]. Under certain conditions, the interaction of DNA with polyvalent cations results in... 

Cell-Specific Targeting. Peptides that can home in on specific cell types have enormous potential both in basic research and therapeutic applications (121). Therapeutic applications include identification of specific cell surface proteins in diseased cells as diagnostic agents and gene delivery agents. 

For cell-specific delivery, the receptor-mediated endocytosis (RME) systems possessed by various cell types would be useful, and a number of gene delivery systems have been developed to introduce foreign DNA into specific cells using this the RME approach [37, 38]. Hepatocytes exclusively express large numbers of high-affmi-ty cell-surface receptors that can bind asia-... 

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