Responsive polyelectrolyte complexes for triggered release of nucleic acid therapeutics

Abstract

The use of nucleic acids as therapeutics offers many potential benefits for treating disease. However, for these delicate yet potent biomolecules to be practical in the clinic, carrier vehicles are needed not only to protect the nucleic acids during transport in the body, but also release the biopolymers at the disease site. Polycations can meet the complex needs of nucleic acid delivery as they can condense the polyanionic nucleic acids to form stable polyelectrolyte complexes and, through appropriate design, can release the biotherapeutic at a target site. In this feature article, we review recent advances in the field, and indicate the ways in which future materials of this type might lead to enhanced therapies and treatments for currently untreatable diseases.

Light‐Mediated Activation of siRNA Release in Diblock Copolymer Assemblies for Controlled Gene Silencing

“…The studies presented in this work highlight the potential of mPEG- b -P(APNBMA) n polymers to direct siRNA delivery and further reveal an enhanced silencing capacity of mPEG- b -P(APNBMA) 23.6 compared to a number of light-responsive siRNA delivery carriers. [17b, 18] …”

“…In fact, delivery vehicles containing the o -nitrobenzyl ( o -NB) linker undergo structural changes in response to ultraviolet (UV) and near-infrared (NIR) irradiation and have enabled light-triggered release of siRNA. [17] For example, Li et al . recently demonstrated cationic amphiphilic macromolecules with a single photolabile NB linker between a long hydrophobic alkyl tail and a cationic/hydrophilic head for siRNA complexation.…”

Endosomolytic Reducible Polymeric Electrolytes for Cytosolic Protein Delivery

“…39,50 The concentration of glutathione (a biological thiol compound) in the cytoplasm and the nucleus ( i.e. , 0.5–20 mM) 51–53 is much higher than in the extracellular fluid ( i.e. , 2–20 µM).…”

Light and host–guest inclusion mediated salmon sperm DNA/surfactant interactions

“…The cooperative binding of cationic surfactants on DNA chains is primarily driven by both electrostatic attraction and hydrophobic effect. The cationic surfactant can be varied by the molecular structures including conventional single-tailed surfactants [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22], Gemini surfactants [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31], double-tailed surfactants [32][33][34][35], etc.…”