Abstract
The quest towards achieving a better understanding of underlying mechanisms by which genetic factors contribute to human disease has gathered considerable momentum, most notably due to the drafting of the complete human genome sequence. This has in turn accelerated research into identifying genes responsible for a plethora of genetic, infectious and metabolic diseases with the vision that therapies can then be developed. Although achieving a therapeutic intervention by gene delivery is perfectly feasible, the practical approach to achieving such a goal, at least in vivo, has proved far more challenging. Employing viruses as gene vectors has to-date proven to be the most effective method of delivery however concerns have emerged about both the short and long-term risks they pose. These fears being confirmed by incidents which led to the tragic deaths of subjects believed to have been triggered by adeno- & retroviral vectors used in clinical trials. This prompted many in the field to turn their research focus towards developing non-viral vectors deemed not only to be safer (non-immunogenic) than their viral counterparts but with a greater gene loading capacity. Polycationic dendrimers (PCDs) as vectors for this purpose have attracted significant interest due to their ease of synthesis, versatility and tolerability. This review will explore the physicochemical parameters crucial to PCD-mediated gene delivery and highlight some innovative strategies designed to maximise transfection efficacy and facilitate tissue-targeting of these elaborate macromolecules.
Keywords: Polycationic dendrimer, non-viral gene delivery, dendriplex, DNA, oligonucleotide, cell penetrating peptide, transfection, antibody
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: The Advance of Dendrimers - A Versatile Targeting Platform for Gene/Drug Delivery
Volume: 13 Issue: 27
Author(s): H. S. Parekh
Affiliation:
Keywords: Polycationic dendrimer, non-viral gene delivery, dendriplex, DNA, oligonucleotide, cell penetrating peptide, transfection, antibody
Abstract: The quest towards achieving a better understanding of underlying mechanisms by which genetic factors contribute to human disease has gathered considerable momentum, most notably due to the drafting of the complete human genome sequence. This has in turn accelerated research into identifying genes responsible for a plethora of genetic, infectious and metabolic diseases with the vision that therapies can then be developed. Although achieving a therapeutic intervention by gene delivery is perfectly feasible, the practical approach to achieving such a goal, at least in vivo, has proved far more challenging. Employing viruses as gene vectors has to-date proven to be the most effective method of delivery however concerns have emerged about both the short and long-term risks they pose. These fears being confirmed by incidents which led to the tragic deaths of subjects believed to have been triggered by adeno- & retroviral vectors used in clinical trials. This prompted many in the field to turn their research focus towards developing non-viral vectors deemed not only to be safer (non-immunogenic) than their viral counterparts but with a greater gene loading capacity. Polycationic dendrimers (PCDs) as vectors for this purpose have attracted significant interest due to their ease of synthesis, versatility and tolerability. This review will explore the physicochemical parameters crucial to PCD-mediated gene delivery and highlight some innovative strategies designed to maximise transfection efficacy and facilitate tissue-targeting of these elaborate macromolecules.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Parekh S. H., The Advance of Dendrimers - A Versatile Targeting Platform for Gene/Drug Delivery, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2007; 13 (27) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161207781757024
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161207781757024 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Has the Two Week Rule Improved Cancer Detection Rates for Gastrointestinal Cancers? A Systematic Literature Review
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews Is Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor: A Common Link Between Neurodegenerative Disorders and Cancer?
Current Alzheimer Research Receptor Tyrosine Kinases: The Main Targets for New Anticancer Therapy
Current Drug Targets Marine Sesterterpenes: An Overview
Current Organic Chemistry Channel-Like Functions of the 18-kDa Translocator Protein (TSPO): Regulation of Apoptosis and Steroidogenesis as Part of the Host-Defense Response
Current Pharmaceutical Design Microsatellite Instability (MSI) as Genomic Marker in Endometrial Cancer: Toward Scientific Evidences
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Synthesis and Biological Activity of Akt/PI3K Inhibitors
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Nanostructural Hybrid Sensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy
Current Pharmaceutical Design Natural Proteinaceous Inhibitors of Serine Proteases
Current Pharmaceutical Design Nanoparticle Engineering Enhances Anticancer Efficacy of Andrographolide in MCF-7 Cells and Mice Bearing EAC
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Unfolding the Pathophysiological Role of Bioactive Lysophospholipids
Current Drug Targets - Immune, Endocrine & Metabolic Disorders Biochemical Mechanisms of Cisplatin Cytotoxicity
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Therapeutic Peptide Mimetics Looking for a Turn to Block Aberrant Players of Malignancy
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews Enhanced Expression of miR-199b-5p Promotes Proliferation of Pancreatic β-Cells by Down-Regulation of MLK3
MicroRNA Targeting Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1: Role in Cell Signaling and the Biology of Domain-Specific Knock-in Mice
Current Drug Targets Influence of Genetic Factors on the Development of Breast Cancer in the Older Woman
Current Aging Science Flavonoids Acting on DNA Topoisomerases: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives in Cancer Therapy
Current Medicinal Chemistry Nanoscale Formulations and Diagnostics With Their Recent Trends: A Major Focus of Future Nanotechnology
Current Pharmaceutical Design Natural Products Targeting Autophagy via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway as Anticancer Agents
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Targeting Tumors Using Estrogen Receptor Ligand Conjugates
Current Cancer Drug Targets