Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Abdullah A. Alamoudi, Paula A. Mendez, David Workman, Andreas G. Schatzlein, Ijeoma F. Uchegbu
Summary: Therapeutic gene silencing in the brain can be achieved through intranasal administration of siRNA-poly(ethylene glycol) based polyplexes. These polyplexes have low toxicity and can effectively silence specific genes in brain cells.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhen Zhang, Nasha Qiu, Shuling Wu, Xin Liu, Zhuxian Zhou, Jianbin Tang, Yanpeng Liu, Ruhong Zhou, Youqing Shen
Summary: The stability and endocytosis pathway of cationic polymer complexes determine their transfection dose-dependence. Polyplexes with optimal hydrophobicity can remain integrated at low concentrations and enter cells via macropinocytosis, achieving dose-independent DNA transfection.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Taewon Jeon, David C. Luther, Ritabrita Goswami, Charlotte Bell, Harini Nagaraj, Yagiz Anil Cicek, Rui Huang, Javier A. Mas-Rosario, James L. Elia, Jungkyun Im, Yi-Wei Lee, Yuanchang Liu, Federica Scaletti, Michelle E. Farkas, Jesse Mager, Vincent M. Rotello
Summary: Polyplexes of siRNA and an engineered cationic polymer (PONI-Guan) can efficiently regulate pro-inflammatory gene expression in pulmonary tissue, showing anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in vivo.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
David Perez-Alfonso, Manuel Lopez-Lopez, Pilar Lopez-Cornejo, Lucia Romero-Azogil, Elena Benito, Maria de Gracia Garcia-Martin, Clara B. Garcia-Calderon, Ivan V. Rosado, Fernando R. Balestra, Pablo Huertas, Margarita Garcia-Calderon, Maria Luisa Moya
Summary: In this study, a sugar-based cationic polymer PUArab derived from l-arabinitol was prepared and its interactions with linear calf thymus DNA and circular plasmid pEGFP-C1 were investigated at different N/P ratios. The polyplexes were characterized by several techniques, showing charge inversion and conformational changes in response to the nucleic acid architecture. PUArab exhibited low toxicity in various cell lines and showed potential as a vector in gene transfection based on transfection efficiency at different N/P ratios.
NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Naoto Yoshinaga, Joyce K. Zhou, Cong Xu, Chai Hoon Quek, Yuefei Zhu, Ding Tang, Lin Yung Hung, Sarah A. Najjar, Chin Ying Angela Shiu, Kara Gross Margolis, Yeh-Hsing Lao, Kam W. Leong
Summary: Effective delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 components is crucial and oral delivery has not been explored due to the degradative nature of the gastrointestinal tract. In this study, we developed novel PBA-functionalized CS-PEI polymers for oral CRISPR delivery, which showed effective penetration in the intestinal mucosa and achieved downregulation of the target protein and reduction in cholesterol. This study demonstrates the potential of addressing the needs of gene editing in a patient-compliant manner.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Thavasyappan Thambi, Jeongmin Lee, A-Rum Yoon, Dayananda Kasala, Chae-Ok Yun
Summary: In this study, a pH- and glutathione-responsive polymer was developed to increase the transduction efficiency of adenoviruses in cancer gene therapy.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Yu-Rong Zhan, Juan Tan, Meng-Wei Hei, Shi-Yong Zhang, Ji Zhang, Xiao-Qi Yu
Summary: Combined chemo-gene therapy is a promising approach for enhanced anti-cancer treatment efficacy. However, effectively delivering therapeutic genes and drugs into target cells and tissues remains a challenge. In this study, a GSH-responsive cationic fluoropolymer PSSF was designed and synthesized as a co-delivery platform for genes and drugs, showing good loading ability and fast release in a GSH-rich environment. The results demonstrated that PSSF could efficiently deliver genes and drugs into tumor cells, achieving effective treatment.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Lan Chang, Haixue Yan, Jiang Chang, Julien E. Gautrot
Summary: The researchers successfully utilized bioresorbable mesoporous silica nanoparticles to design brush-based gene delivery systems, regulating resorption by varying calcium doping levels. They demonstrated the growth of PDMAEMA brushes from these nanoparticles, studied some of their physico-chemical properties, and controlled brush release from the nanomaterials through calcium content and surface erosion, proving the feasibility of designing bioresorbable brush-based gene delivery vectors.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2021)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Kai Ma, Chun-Liu Mi, Xiang-Xiang Cao, Tian-Yun Wang
Summary: Gene delivery systems are crucial for gene therapy and recombinant protein production, with non-viral vector gene delivery reagents offering advantages such as large packaging load capacity and low immunogenicity. Liposomes and non-liposome cationic polymers are commonly used as gene delivery reagents, with different head structures including quaternary ammonium salt, amine, amino acid, polypeptide, guanidine salt, and a heterocyclic ring.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Molly K. Grun, Alexandra Suberi, Kwangsoo Shin, Teresa Lee, Victoria Gomerdinger, Zoe M. Moscato, Alexandra S. Piotrowski-Daspit, W. Mark Saltzman
Summary: The study found that low concentrations of PACE-PEG can improve polyplex stability but also inhibit transfection efficiency. In vivo, the effect of PACE-PEG incorporation on transfection varied by delivery route, and excess PEGylation was detrimental to vehicle function.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Varvara Chrysostomou, Hector Katifelis, Maria Gazouli, Konstantinos Dimas, Costas Demetzos, Stergios Pispas
Summary: Research on improving and fabricating polymeric systems for non-viral gene delivery carriers is necessary for gene therapy. In this study, a random copolymer was synthesized and shown to form stable complexes with DNA, with excellent biocompatibility demonstrated in various breast cancer cell lines.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Jyoti Chandra, Nagashekhara Molugulu, Sivakumar Annadurai, Shadma Wahab, Ritu Karwasra, Surender Singh, Rahul Shukla, Prashant Kesharwani
Summary: Cancer is a complex disease that develops in response to a combination of hereditary and environmental risk factors, resulting in genomic changes. CD44, a transmembrane glycoprotein, serves as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for cancer stem cells. Hyaluronic acid, a polysaccharide, shows affinity for the CD44 receptor, making it a promising candidate for selectively targeting CD44-positive cancer cells.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Asya Petkova, Ilona Kubajewska, Alexandra Vaideanu, Andreas G. Schatzlein, Ijeoma F. Uchegbu
Summary: Gene delivery to the cerebral cortex can be achieved via intranasal administration of hyaluronidase-coated polyplexes (GCPH).
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Joshua Woo, Jeoung Soo Lee
Summary: The study showed that Lyo. PgP/pGFP polyplexes prepared with 5% sucrose as a lyoprotectant remained stable for up to 6 months and retained transfection efficiency for up to 4 months. This indicates that polyplexes based on Lyo. PgP retain bioactivity during extended storage, potentially facilitating transport to remote regions and less stable settings for gene therapy.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Dingcheng Zhu, Huijie Yan, Zhuxian Zhou, Jianbin Tang, Xiangrui Liu, Raimo Hartmann, Wolfgang J. Parak, Youqing Shen, Neus Feliu
Summary: The protein corona can significantly influence the gene expression and mRNA transcription of PEI/DNA complexes. However, the behavior of gene expression at the single cell level remains similar between cells, including mitosis-dependent expression, onset time distribution, and expression kinetics in successfully transfected cells. Comparison of single cell and ensemble data indicates that the protein corona does not alter the transfection process post-nuclear entry.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2021)