Protein/DNA polyplexes for gene therapy

Abstract

The development of molecular conjugates as components of Protein/DNA polyplexes has resulted in the creation of a simple, non-virus vector for the targeted delivery of nucleic acids into specific cell types. This vector has many of the positive attributes of viruses, on without the limitations that continue to plague recombinant viruses. The simplicity of this vector allows for quick analysis of nucleic acids, expression vectors, and therapeutic genes in vitro and potentially in vivo, because the time that would be involved in the generation of recombinant viral vectors is not present. Essentially, the development of this delivery vector has resulted in the creation of a "synthetic virus" that has the capability of targeted delivery without the negative attributes of viruses.