Title: Self-Assembling Nucleic Acid Delivery Vehicles via Linear, Water-Soluble, Cyclodextrin-Containing Polymers
Volume: 11
Issue: 2
Author(s): M. E. Davis, S. H. Pun, N. C. Bellocq, T. M. Reineke, S. R. Popielarski, S. Mishra and J. D. Heidel
Affiliation:
Keywords:
cyclodextrin-polymers, nucleic acid delivery, non-viral delivery, self-assembly, supramolecular structures, gene delivery
Abstract: Non-viral (synthetic) nucleic acid delivery systems have the potential to provide for the practical application of nucleic acid-based therapeutics. We have designed and prepared a tunable, non-viral nucleic acid delivery system that self-assembles with nucleic acids and centers around a new class of polymeric materials; namely, linear, water-soluble cyclodextrin-containing polymers. The relationships between polymer structure and gene delivery are illustrated, and the roles of the cyclodextrin moieties for minimizing toxicity and forming inclusion complexes in the self-assembly processes are highlighted. This vehicle is the first example of a polymer-based gene delivery system formed entirely by self-assembly.
