Va. Kabanov et Av. Kabanov, SUPRAMOLECULAR DEVICES FOR TARGETING DNA INTO CELLS - FUNDAMENTALS AND PERSPECTIVES, Macromolecular symposia, 98, 1995, pp. 601-613
Interaction of DNA polyanions with polycations results in spontaneous
electrostatic coupling of opposite charged macromolecules and formatio
n of interpolyelectrolyte complexes (IPECs). If the appropriate condit
ions are met such complexes can be obtained in the form of equilibrate
d and well defined water-soluble supramolecular (actually supramacromo
lecular) species. Soluble IPECs formed by coupling of cyclic DNA (plas
mid DNA) with Various polycations are found to be efficient devices en
hencing plasmid penetration into intact cells, probably, due to increa
se of a membrane activity of the complexed DNA. The strategy based on
certain fundamental properties of IPECs seems to be a general approach
for effective targeting of a genetic material to cells not only in vi
tro but also in vivo. These properties including those of DNA containi
ng IPECs as well as the representative examples of gene delivery using
IPEC supramacromolecular devices are reviewed and discussed.