Cationic liposomes for gene delivery: Novel cationic lipids and enhancement by proteins and peptides

ORCiD

Nejat Düzgüneş: 0000-0001-6159-1391

Department

Biomedical Sciences

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Current Medicinal Chemistry

ISSN

0929-8673

Volume

10

Issue

14

DOI

10.2174/0929867033457403

First Page

1213

Last Page

1220

Publication Date

1-1-2003

Abstract

Cationic liposome-DNA complexes, also called "lipoplexes", constitute a potentially viable alternative to viral vectors for the delivery of therapeutic genes. Here we review the mechanisms of lipoplex-mediated gene delivery, the barriers to efficient gene expression, and novel cationic lipids used for transfection. We also describe methods for enhancing gene transfer via the use of proteins, including transferrin, albumin and asialofetuin, and synthetic peptides, including GALA and nuclear localization signal peptides. We underscore the importance of understanding the mechanisms of cytoplasmic and nuclear entry of DNA and its dissociation from lipoplexes. We emphasize that the in vitro transfection activity of new lipoplex constructs should be tested in the presence of high serum concentrations to emulate in vivo conditions.

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