Polymer-Based Non-Viral Gene Delivery Systems

POLYMER-BASED NON-VIRAL GENE DELIVERY SYSTEMS 

The two classes of non-viral vector that are being investigated most actively are the cationic lipid-based vectors and the cationic polymer-based vectors. The cationic polymer-based vectors represent the newest class of non-viral delivery system to be developed and there are a number of groups working with these vectors. As this is such a new area of research there has yet to be any standardised definition of the terms involved in this field. Complexes formed between cationic polymers and DNA have been referred to as interpolyelectrolj1 e complexes, molecular conjugates, polylysine-DNA complexes, DNA-polylysine complexes, polyplexes and so on. In this review complexes formed between poly-(L-lysine) (pLL) and DNA are referred to as polylysine/DNA complexes or abbreviated to pLL/DNA complexes. Where polymers other dian poly(L-lysine) have been used the term polymer/DNA complex is used. The forward slash (/) is used to denote a non-covalent interaction, while a hyphen (-) is used to denote a covalent link. 

Block co-polymer design of a functional synthetic vector 

Polycation Hydrophilic Tatgedng group shield (ligand/antibody) 

DNA is an extremely large molecule. The chromatin of a typical human chromosome would be about 1 mm in length if it were extended and would therefore span the nucleus more than 100 times . In its normal state it is condensed by various cellular proteins, such as the histone proteins, that allow such a large molecule to fit inside the cell nucleus. Even a plasmid DNA molecule of around 6 kb in size has an extended stmcture several hundred nanometers in diameter. In order to efficiently deliver plasmid DNA into cells it is necessary to condense them to a much smaller size. 

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Cationic Polymer-Based Non-viral Gene Delivery Systems and their Application in Gene-Engineered Stem Cells... 

Cationic Polymer-Based Non-viral Gene Delivery Systems... 

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