Abstract

DIAZ-ARIZA, Ivonne Lorena; SIERRA, César Augusto  and  PEREZ-PEREZ, León Darío. Development of genetic vectors based on synthetic polymers: PEI and PDMAEMA. Rev. colomb. cienc. quim. farm. [online]. 2018, vol.47, n.3, pp.350-374. ISSN 0034-7418.  https://doi.org/10.15446/rcciquifa.v47n3.77370.

During recent years, the use of genetic therapies has taken relevance in the treatment of high-incidence diseases such as cancer. Usually, they are based on the release of genetic material, as plasmids, into the cell nucleus, which corrects a function or induces the production of a deficient protein at the physiological level. To carry out gene therapy, vectors capable of encapsulating the genetic material and guaranteeing its delivery in the target cell nucleus are required. Synthetic cationic polymers have attracted great attention as vectors due to their ability to condense nucleic acids to form particles that protect them from enzymatic degradation and facilitate their cellular uptake. Polyethylenimine and poly (N, N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) are the most effective cationic polymers for gene delivery. However, these polymers require specific chemical modifications to either avoid or diminish their high cytotoxicity and low biodegradability. This review analyzes some of these modifications, focusing on recent advances in the development of amphiphilic copolymers as precursors of nanoparticles used as gene vectors.

Keywords : Gene therapy; polymeric vectors; amphiphilic copolymers; polyethyleneimine; poly (N; N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate).

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