DEGRADABLE POLYETHYLENIMINE DERIVATIVES AS GENE CARRIERS

Nano LIFE ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 02 (01) ◽  
pp. 1230004 ◽  
Author(s):  
YOU-KYOUNG KIM ◽  
QUYNH-PHUONG LUU ◽  
MOHAMMAD ARIFUL ISLAM ◽  
YUN-JAIE CHOI ◽  
CHONG-SU CHO ◽  
...  

Gene therapy is a treatment for inborn and acquired diseases, although the development of safe and effective gene delivery system is a great challenge to make a gene therapy a success. Viral vectors have been used in a majority of clinics because of their high transfection efficiency in vitro and in vivo. However, their use has been limited because of several drawbacks, such as induction of immune response, recombination of wild-type viruses, limitation in the size of inserted gene, and difficulty in large-scale production. Nonviral vectors have been widely proposed safe alternatives to viral vectors because they have low immunogenicity, flexibility in the size of gene to be delivered, cell targetibility, and easy scalability of production, although they have low transfection efficiency compared to viral vectors. Among nonviral vectors, polyethylenimine (PEI) has been widely used as a standard gene carriers due to its high pH-buffering capacity for endosomal escape although high-molecular-weight PEI is too toxic owing to non-degradability. Recently, many types of degradable PEI have been studied due to high transfection efficiency with lower cytotoxicity. This review explains recent progress on the development of degradable PEIs as nonviral vectors. The present paper summarizes the transfection efficiency of DNA or silencing efficiency of small interfering RNA (siRNA) based on the kinds of degradable linkage between low PEI and crosslinkers. Degradable linkages, such as ester, disulfide, imines, carbamate, amide and ketal in the degradable PEIs are covered.

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (8) ◽  
pp. 698-710
Author(s):  
Roya Cheraghi ◽  
Mahboobeh Nazari ◽  
Mohsen Alipour ◽  
Saman Hosseinkhani

Gene-based therapy largely relies on the vector type that allows a selective and efficient transfection into the target cells with maximum efficacy and minimal toxicity. Although, genes delivered utilizing modified viruses transfect efficiently and precisely, these vectors can cause severe immunological responses and are potentially carcinogenic. A promising method of overcoming this limitation is the use of non-viral vectors, including cationic lipids, polymers, dendrimers, and peptides, which offer potential routes for compacting DNA for targeted delivery. Although non-viral vectors exhibit reduced transfection efficiency compared to their viral counterpart, their superior biocompatibility, non-immunogenicity and potential for large-scale production make them increasingly attractive for modern therapy. There has been a great deal of interest in the development of biomimetic chimeric peptides. Biomimetic chimeric peptides contain different motifs for gene translocation into the nucleus of the desired cells. They have motifs for gene targeting into the desired cell, condense DNA into nanosize particles, translocate the gene into the nucleus and enhance the release of the particle into the cytoplasm. These carriers were developed in recent years. This review highlights the stepwise development of the biomimetic chimeric peptides currently being used in gene delivery.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aparna Bansal ◽  
Himanshu

Introduction: Gene therapy has emerged out as a promising therapeutic pave for the treatment of genetic and acquired diseases. Gene transfection into target cells using naked DNA is a simple and safe approach which has been further improved by combining vectors or gene carriers. Both viral and non-viral approaches have achieved a milestone to establish this technique, but non-viral approaches have attained a significant attention because of their favourable properties like less immunotoxicity and biosafety, easy to produce with versatile surface modifications, etc. Literature is rich in evidences which revealed that undoubtedly, non–viral vectors have acquired a unique place in gene therapy but still there are number of challenges which are to be overcome to increase their effectiveness and prove them ideal gene vectors. Conclusion: To date, tissue specific expression, long lasting gene expression system, enhanced gene transfection efficiency has been achieved with improvement in delivery methods using non-viral vectors. This review mainly summarizes the various physical and chemical methods for gene transfer in vitro and in vivo.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Soo-Yong Park ◽  
Yang H. Yun ◽  
Bum-Joon Park ◽  
Hyung-Il Seo ◽  
Ildoo Chung

Gene therapy is a suitable alternative to chemotherapy due to the complications of drug resistance and toxicity of drugs, and is also known to reduce the occurrence of cellular mutation through the use of gene carriers. In this study, gene carrier nanoparticles with minimal toxicity and high transfection efficiency were fabricated from a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer, l-tyrosine polyurethane (LTU), which was polymerized from presynthesized desaminotyrosyl tyrosine hexyl ester (DTH) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), by using double emulsion and solvent evaporation techniques, resulting in the formation of porous nanoparticles, and then used to evaluate their potential biological activities through molecular controlled release and transfection studies. To assess cellular uptake and transfection efficiency, two model drugs, fluorescently labeled bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA) and plasmid DNA-linear polyethylenimine (LPEI) complex, were successfully encapsulated in nanoparticles, and their transfection properties and cytotoxicities were evaluated in LX2 as a normal cell and in HepG2 and MCF7 as cancer cells. The morphology and average diameter of the LTU nanoparticles were confirmed using light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering, while confocal microscopy was used to validate the cellular uptake of FITC-BSA-encapsulated LTU nanoparticles. Moreover, the successful cellular uptake of LTU nanoparticles encapsulated with pDNA-LPEI and the high transfection efficiency, confirmed by gel electrophoresis and X-gal assay transfection, indicated that LTU nanoparticles had excellent cell adsorption ability, facilitated gene encapsulation, and showed the sustained release tendency of genes through transfection experiments, with an optimal concentration ratio of pDNA and LPEI of 1:10. All the above characteristics are ideal for gene carriers designed to transport and release drugs into the cytoplasm, thus facilitating effective gene therapy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 269-284
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Gharbavi ◽  
Ali Sharafi ◽  
Saeed Ghanbarzadeh

In recent years, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a new tool for therapeutic gene delivery in clinics have attracted much attention. Their advantages cover longer lifespan, better isolation, and higher transfection efficiency and proliferation rate. MSCs are the preferred approach for cell-based therapies because of their in vitro self-renewal capacity, migrating especially to tumor tissues, as well as anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Therefore, they have considerable efficiency in genetic engineering for future clinical applications in cancer gene therapy and other diseases. For improving therapeutic efficiency, targeted therapy of cancers can be achieved through the sustained release of therapeutic agents and functional gene expression induction to the intended tissues. The development of a new vector in gene therapy can improve the durability of a transgene expression. Also, the safety of the vector, if administered systemically, may resolve several problems, such as durability of expression and the host immune response. Currently, MSCs are prominent candidates as cell vehicles for both preclinical and clinical trials due to the secretion of therapeutic agents in several cancers. In the present study, we discuss the status of gene therapy in both viral and non-viral vectors along with their limitations. Throughout this study, the use of several nano-carriers for gene therapy is also investigated. Finally, we critically discuss the promising advantages of MSCs in targeted gene delivery, tumor inhibition and their utilization as the gene carriers in clinical situations.


Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 2724
Author(s):  
Anselmo Del Prado ◽  
Ana Civantos ◽  
Enrique Martínez-Campos ◽  
Pavel A. Levkin ◽  
Helmut Reinecke ◽  
...  

Non-viral vectors are a safety tool for gene therapy to deliver therapeutic genes. Among the different non-viral vectors, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), a well-known hydrosoluble, neutral, and non-toxic polymer, satisfies the requirements and becomes a suitable candidate for gene delivery. In this study, we describe the preparation of polyvinylpyrrolidones decorated with pyrrolidine, piperidine, and piperazine groups, and evaluate them in vitro as non-viral gene carriers. The properties of these new systems are compared with those of hyperbranched polyethyleneimine (PEI) used as a positive control. Their ability to complex DNA at different N/P molar ratios, from 1:1 up to 10:1, was studied through agarose gel electrophoresis and dynamic light scattering. The resulting complexes (polyplexes) were characterized and evaluated in vitro with murine fibroblast (Swiss 3T3) as non-viral gene carriers, using luciferase as the reporter gene and a calcein cytocompatibility assay. All the copolymers condensed DNA to a particle average size between 100–400 nm when used at N/P ratios of 4:1 or higher. The copolymers with piperidine groups showed higher transfection efficiency than the pyrrolidine and piperazine modified copolymers, and even higher than the positive control of PEI at N/P ratios of 4:1 or higher. All the synthesized polyplexes from an aminated PVP displayed a general tendency of high cytocompatibility (75–95%) in comparison with the positive control PEI (55%).


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (40) ◽  
pp. 8035-8051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Zhao ◽  
Qian Li ◽  
Xuefang Hao ◽  
Xiangkui Ren ◽  
Jintang Guo ◽  
...  

Non-viral gene carriers for gene therapy have been developed for many years.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zikun Yu ◽  
Zhimin Zhang ◽  
Jing Yan ◽  
Ziyin Zhao ◽  
Chenglong Ge ◽  
...  

Guanidine-rich helical polypeptides bearing hydrophobic amino acid pendants displayed high transfection efficiency both in vitro and in vivo and low cytotoxicity toward applications in gene therapy.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1288
Author(s):  
Wendy Dong ◽  
Boris Kantor

CRISPR/Cas technology has revolutionized the fields of the genome- and epigenome-editing by supplying unparalleled control over genomic sequences and expression. Lentiviral vector (LV) systems are one of the main delivery vehicles for the CRISPR/Cas systems due to (i) its ability to carry bulky and complex transgenes and (ii) sustain robust and long-term expression in a broad range of dividing and non-dividing cells in vitro and in vivo. It is thus reasonable that substantial effort has been allocated towards the development of the improved and optimized LV systems for effective and accurate gene-to-cell transfer of CRISPR/Cas tools. The main effort on that end has been put towards the improvement and optimization of the vector’s expression, development of integrase-deficient lentiviral vector (IDLV), aiming to minimize the risk of oncogenicity, toxicity, and pathogenicity, and enhancing manufacturing protocols for clinical applications required large-scale production. In this review, we will devote attention to (i) the basic biology of lentiviruses, and (ii) recent advances in the development of safer and more efficient CRISPR/Cas vector systems towards their use in preclinical and clinical applications. In addition, we will discuss in detail the recent progress in the repurposing of CRISPR/Cas systems related to base-editing and prime-editing applications.


2013 ◽  
Vol 113 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuan Guan ◽  
David L Mack ◽  
Claudia M Moreno ◽  
Fernando Santana ◽  
Charles E Murry ◽  
...  

Introduction: Human somatic cells can be reprogrammed into primitive stem cells, termed induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). These iPSCs can be extensively expanded in vitro and differentiated into multiple functional cell types, enabling faithful preservation of individual’s genotype and large scale production of disease targeted cellular components. These unique cellular reagents thus hold tremendous potential in disease mechanism study, drugs screening and cell replacement therapy. Due to the genetic mutation of the protein dystrophin, many DMD patients develop fatal cardiomyopathy with no effective treatment. The underlying pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated. Hypothesis: We tested the hypothesis that iPSCs could be generated from DMD patients’ urine samples and differentiated into cardiomyocytes, recapitulating the dystrophic phenotype. Methods: iPSCs generation was achieved by introducing a lentiviral vector expressing Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc and Klf4 into cells derived from patient’s (n=1) and healthy volunteers’ (n=3) urine. Cardiomyocytes were derived by sequentially treating iPSCs with GSK3 inhibitor CHIR99021 and Wnt inhibitor IWP4. Differentiated cardiomyocytes were subjected to calcium imaging, electrophysiology recording, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis, and immunostaining. Results: iPSCs were efficiently generated from human urine samples and further forced to differentiate into contracting cardiomyocytes. PCR analysis and immunostaining confirmed the expression of a panel of cardiac markers. Both normal and patient iPSC derived cardiomyocytes exhibited spontaneous and field stimulated calcium transients (up to 2Hz), as well as action potentials with ventricular-like and nodal-like characteristics. Anti-dystrophin antibodies stained normal iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte membranes but did not react against DMD iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. Conclusions: Cardiomyocytes can be efficiently generated from human urine, through the cellular reprogramming technology. DMD cardiomyocytes retained the patient’s genetic information and manifested a dystrophin-null phenotype. Functional assessments are underway to determine differences that may exist between genotypes.


Author(s):  
A. A. Mikheev ◽  
E. V. Shmendel ◽  
E. S. Zhestovskaya ◽  
G. V. Nazarov ◽  
M. A. Maslov

Objectives. Gene therapy is based on the introduction of genetic material into cells, tissues, or organs for the treatment of hereditary or acquired diseases. A key factor in the success of gene therapy is the development of delivery systems that can efficiently transfer genetic material to the place of their therapeutic action without causing any associated side effects. Over the past 10 years, significant effort has been directed toward creating more efficient and biocompatible vectors capable of transferring nucleic acids (NAs) into cells without inducing an immune response. Cationic liposomes are among the most versatile tools for delivering NAs into cells; however, the use of liposomes for gene therapy is limited by their low specificity. This is due to the presence of various biological barriers to the complex of liposomes with NA, including instability in biological fluids, interaction with serum proteins, plasma and nuclear membranes, and endosomal degradation. This review summarizes the results of research in recent years on the development of cationic liposomes that are effective in vitro and in vivo. Particular attention is paid to the individual structural elements of cationic liposomes that determine the transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity. The purpose of this review was to provide a theoretical justification of the most promising choice of cationic liposomes for the delivery of NAs into eukaryotic cells and study the effect of the composition of cationic lipids (CLs) on the transfection efficiency in vitro.Results. As a result of the analysis of the related literature, it can be argued that one of the most promising delivery systems of NAs is CL based on cholesterol and spermine with the addition of a helper lipid DOPE. In addition, it was found that varying the composition of cationic liposomes, the ratio of CL to NA, or the size and zeta potential of liposomes has a significant effect on the transfection efficiency.Conclusions. Further studies in this direction should include optimization of the conditions for obtaining cationic liposomes, taking into account the physicochemical properties and established laws. It is necessary to identify mechanisms that increase the efficiency of NA delivery in vitro by searching for optimal structures of cationic liposomes, determining the ratio of lipoplex components, and studying the delivery efficiency and properties of multicomponent liposomes.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document