Abstract
This article focuses on the ability of dendritic molecules to interact with nucleic acids and hence deliver them into cells. Dendritic molecules have branched structures which are made by an iterative, layer-by-layer synthesis. The control applied in their synthesis means that dendrimers are well-defined nanoscale molecular species - ideal for interacting with nanoscale bio-targets such as DNA/RNA. Binding and delivery of genetic material into cells in vivo holds out the prospect of gene therapy, and we will consider the potential advantages of dendritic vectors in this field of nanomedicine. As this article illustrates, the synthetic versatility of dendritic molecules has enabled the synthesis of a wide array of DNA binders and delivery vehicles, with different advantages. This versatility forms the basis for optimism that the dendritic approach may well yield active, highly targeted delivery vectors, suitable for in vivo application in gene therapy
Keywords: Dendrimers and dendrons, DNA, gene therapy, siRNA, vectors
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Dendrimers and the Double Helix - From DNA Binding Towards Gene Therapy
Volume: 8 Issue: 14
Author(s): David K. Smith
Affiliation:
Keywords: Dendrimers and dendrons, DNA, gene therapy, siRNA, vectors
Abstract: This article focuses on the ability of dendritic molecules to interact with nucleic acids and hence deliver them into cells. Dendritic molecules have branched structures which are made by an iterative, layer-by-layer synthesis. The control applied in their synthesis means that dendrimers are well-defined nanoscale molecular species - ideal for interacting with nanoscale bio-targets such as DNA/RNA. Binding and delivery of genetic material into cells in vivo holds out the prospect of gene therapy, and we will consider the potential advantages of dendritic vectors in this field of nanomedicine. As this article illustrates, the synthetic versatility of dendritic molecules has enabled the synthesis of a wide array of DNA binders and delivery vehicles, with different advantages. This versatility forms the basis for optimism that the dendritic approach may well yield active, highly targeted delivery vectors, suitable for in vivo application in gene therapy
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Smith K. David, Dendrimers and the Double Helix - From DNA Binding Towards Gene Therapy, Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry 2008; 8 (14) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156802608785849030
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156802608785849030 |
Print ISSN 1568-0266 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4294 |
- 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
-
The physics for the formation of cell-in-cell structures.
Current Molecular Medicine Repressing the Activity of Protein Kinase CK2 Releases Mitochondria-Mediated Apoptosis in Cancer Cells
Current Drug Targets Blocking Ca2+ Entry: A Way to Control Cell Proliferation
Current Medicinal Chemistry Clinical Applications of the Urokinase Receptor (uPAR) for Cancer Patients
Current Pharmaceutical Design Nelarabine- A New Purine Analog in the Treatment of Hematologic Malignancies
Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials Peptides as Drugs: From Screening to Application
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Comprehensive Quality Management (CQM) in the PLCO Trial
Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials The Life and Death of Protein Kinase C
Current Drug Targets Targeting Cancer Stem Cell Lines as a New Treatment of Human Cancer
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery Recent Developments in Nanoparticle Based Targeted Delivery of Chemotherapeutics
Current Bioactive Compounds Myc - What We have Learned from Flies
Current Drug Targets Induction of Regulatory T Cells by Dendritic Cells through Indoleamine 2,3- dioxygenase: A Potent Mechanism of Acquired Peripheral Tolerance
Current Medicinal Chemistry Targeting of Cancer-Related Proteins with PNA Oligomers
Current Cancer Drug Targets The Influence of Lipophilicity on the Classification of Antitumor Acridinones Evaluated by Principal Component Analysis
Current Pharmaceutical Analysis The Control of Cell Cycle in Mouse Primordial Germ Cells: Old and New Players
Current Pharmaceutical Design Mast Cells and Basophils: Trojan Horses of Conventional Lin- Stem/Progenitor Cell Isolates
Current Pharmaceutical Design Targeting Molecular Imaging of Breast Cancer by Radioimmunodetection Method in Nuclear Medicine
Current Molecular Imaging (Discontinued) Editorial [Hot Topic: Tocotrienols: Potential Drug Targets for Cardiovascular, Cancer and Neurological Diseases (Executive Guest Editor: Dipak K. Das)]
Current Pharmaceutical Design miRNAs in the Biology of Cancers and Viral Infections
Current Medicinal Chemistry Extracellular HSP90: An Emerging Target for Cancer Therapy
Current Signal Transduction Therapy