Polycations DNA complexes

Pouton CW, Lucas P, Thomas BJ, et al. Polycation-DNA complexes for gene delivery a comparison of the biopharmaceutical properties of cationic polypeptides and cationic lipids. J Control Release 1998 53 289-299. 

Kircheis, R., Blessing, T., Brunner, S., Wightman, L., Wagner, E. (2001). Tumor targeting with surface-shielded ligand-polycation DNA complexes. J. Control Release, 72, 165-170. 

Kircheis R, Wagner E (2000) Polycation/DNA complex for in vivo gene delivery. Gene Ther Regul 1 95-114... 

Polymer. The field of nonviral gene delivery using cationic polymers is at its early stage compared to that of cationic lipid. However, this system is also known to have advantages over lipid-based systems in controlling the size, charge, and other physicochemical properties. Polycation-DNA complexes, also called as polyplexes, are formed by a cooperative... 

Wagner, E., Cotton, M., Foisner, R., and Birnstiel, M. L. TVansferrin-polycation-DNA complexes The effect of polycations on the structure of the complex and DNA delivery to cells. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88 4255—4259, 1991. 

Lee LK, Mount CN, Shamlou PA. Characterization of the physical stability of colloidal polycation-DNA complexes for gene therapy and DNA vaccines. Chem Eng Sci 2001, 56, 3263-3272. 

Because polycation-DNA complexes generally are stable, a number of cationic polymers have been investigated as gene carriers, including polylysine [8], polyethyleneimine [9], polyamidoamine dendrimers [10], poly(a-(4-aminobutyl)-L-glycolic acid) [11] etc. 

Tang MX, Szoka FC Jr (1998) Structure of polycation-DNA complexes and theory of compaction. In Kabanov AV, Feigner PL, Seymour LW (eds) Self-assembling complexes for gene delivery. Wiley, New York... 

There have been few studies on the interaction of polymer/DNA complexes with serum proteins, yet these interactions may have a major effect on the circulation of these complexes. One of the few studies that has been performed is an analysis of the ability of various polymer/DNA complexes to interact with complement components and activate the complement cascade. This study showed that the complement system may be a major barrier to the systemic administration of polycation/DNA complexes. Complexes formed between DNA and polylysine, polyethyleneimine and other cationic polymers were shown to be potent activators of the complement cascade, which may limit their in vivo usefulness. 

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