Open AccessPolycation‐mediated gene delivery: Challenges and considerations for the process of plasmid DNA transfection
Author(s) -
Modra Karl,
Dai Sheng,
Zhang Hu,
Shi Bingyang,
Bi Jingxiu
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
engineering in life sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.547
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1618-2863
pISSN - 1618-0240
DOI - 10.1002/elsc.201400043
Subject(s) - gene delivery , transfection , genetic enhancement , population , biology , process (computing) , computational biology , microbiology and biotechnology , nanotechnology , bioinformatics , gene , medicine , computer science , genetics , materials science , environmental health , operating system
The process of gene delivery has increasingly become a focus in biomedical research due to the growing demand by an ageing global population for targeted therapies of genetic related diseases, such as cancer, immunodeficiencies, and cystic fibrosis. In light of the safety issues that viral vectors still face in progressing through clinical trials, polycations have alternatively attracted keen attention, due to their lower safety risks and ability to interact with cells more effectively and with more stability, compared with other chemically designed nonviral vectors. In this review, a reflection of the literature pertaining to various types of polycations designed and optimized is presented, including the obstacles they face in facilitating plasmid DNA transfection. In order to design new polycations or optimize current ones that will be successful—both economically and for use in future clinical therapies—further in vivo research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms of each stage in the delivery process.