Degradable branched polycationic systems for nucleic acid delivery

Abstract

Nowadays, nucleic acid‐based therapy has become a promising way for the treatment of various malignant diseases like cancers. However, the process of nucleic acid delivery is hampered by several extracellular and intracellular obstacles. To overcome these obstacles, many nucleic acid delivery carriers have been developed to achieve improved safety and enhanced gene transfection performance. Among these carriers, degradable branched polycations have attracted much attention due to their good responsive degradability and impressive transfection performances. In this review, we mainly summarized the redox‐ and pH‐responsive degradable branched polycationic systems used for nucleic acid delivery. For responsive degradable branched polycationic systems, the preparation methods were introduced, where amino‐epoxy ring‐opening reaction as a novel step growth approach was mainly presented. The properties of redox‐ and pH‐responsive degradable branched polycationic systems were subsequently introduced and highlighted. We hope this brief review will motivate the delicate design of responsive degradable branched polycationic systems for potential clinical applications. This article is categorized under: Biology‐Inspired Nanomaterials > Nucleic Acid‐Based Structures

Aminoglycoside‐Based Biomaterials: From Material Design to Antibacterial and Gene Delivery Applications

“…[ 24,25 ] Besides, the aminoglycosides can also be used as monomers to synthesize hyperbranched polymers via Michael‐addition reactions [ 26 ] of the primary amine groups. [ 27,28 ] The amino groups could also perform ring opening reactions with epoxides, [ 29,30 ] affording various lipid‐modified aminoglycosides and hyperbranched aminoglycosides. [ 31,32 ]…”

Hydroxyl-rich branched polycations for nucleic acid delivery

“…3 ). 74–76 Positively-charged secondary amino groups can complex negatively-charged nucleic acids, and the hydroxyl groups provide hydrophilicity and biocompatibility. In comparison with ring-opening reactions of PGMA and Michael addition reactions, amine-epoxide ring-opening polymerization can easily achieve the degradation of polycations through the introduction of responsive moieties in the building blocks, the choice of building blocks is wider, and the reaction is more efficient.…”

Advances towards Cell‐Specific Gene Transfection: A Small‐Molecule Approach Allows Order‐of‐Magnitude Selectivity

“…Gene transfection is playing an increasingly important role in the field of biomedicine and can pave the way towards new treatment strategies for various diseases. [1] The swift development of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 [2] illustrates the potential of this concept in a dramatic way. Further promising progress occurred in the treatment of cancer [3] with artificial vectors.…”