LIPID FUSION IN OLIGONUCLEOTIDE AND GENE DELIVERY WITH CATIONIC LIPIDS

Delivery of oligonucleotides and genes to their intracellular targets is a prerequisite for their successful use in medical therapy. Cationi c liposomes are among the most commonly used and promising delivery sy stems for oligonucleotides and genes. Lipid fusion plays an important role in the cationic liposome-mediated delivery of these compounds. Fu sion is involved in the complex formation between the nucleotides and the lipids, in the interactions between extracellular materials with t he complexes, as well as in the intracellular trafficking of the deliv ery system and its load. Since lipid fusion is such a crucial factor i n polynucleotide delivery, its controlled use is important for the suc cess in oligonucleotide and DNA delivery. In this article we are revie wing the current knowledge on lipid fusion phenomena associated with t he delivery of oligonucleotides and genes. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B .V. All rights reserved.