W. Zauner et al., POLYLYSINE-BASED TRANSFECTION SYSTEMS UTILIZING RECEPTOR-MEDIATED DELIVERY, Advanced drug delivery reviews, 30(1-3), 1998, pp. 97-113
Receptor-mediated gene transfer is a promising gene delivery technique
. It employs a DNA-binding polycation, such as polylysine, to compact
plasmid DNA to a size that can be taken up by cells (<100-200 nm). To
allow internalization by receptor-mediated endocytosis, cell binding l
igands, such as asialoglycoproteins or galactose for hepatocytes, anti
-CD3 and anti-CDS for T-cells, and transferrin, have been covalently a
ttached to polylysine. Intracellular barriers for successful gene tran
sfer include release of DNA complexes from endosomes or lysosomes, nuc
lear import of DNA complexes, and disassembly of the DNA-polylysine pa
rticles. Release of particles from internal vesicles has been achieved
by the addition of lysosomotropic agents or glycerol to the transfect
ion medium, or by the incorporation of endosomolytic compounds, such a
s viruses or membrane active peptides. This technique has already been
used to transfect certain organs in vivo, including liver and lung. (
C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.