SUPRAMOLECULAR DEVICES FOR TARGETING DNA INTO CELLS - FUNDAMENTALS AND PERSPECTIVES

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.