Title:Polyethyleneimine-Based Nanocarriers for Gene Delivery
Volume: 21
Issue: 42
Author(s): Xia Wang, Dechao Niu, Chen Hu and Pei Li
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Polyethyleneimine, nanocarrier, PEI/Polymer nanocarriers, PEI/Inorganic nanocarriers, gene delivery, synergistic therapy.
Abstract: There is a tremendous progress in the design and synthesis of nano-scaled, non-viral carriers in the previous
two decades. The nanodelivery systems can significantly improve biopharmaceutical features, pharmacokinetic
properties and therapeutic efficacy of entrapped drugs. Branched polyethylenimine (PEI) is a cationic polymer
that contains primary, secondary and tertiary amino groups. Such type of water-soluble polymer having high
density of amines is one of the most promising cationic vectors for gene delivery. Hence, constructing nanocarriers
that contain PEI have attracted much research effort in gene therapy because of the synergy effects of PEI molecules for their efficient
transfection and the multi-functionality of nanoparticles in delivery. In this review, we focus on the recent development on the design and
synthesis of four types of PEI-based nanocarriers: 1) PEI-based polymeric micelles systems; 2) PEI-based polymeric nanoparticle system;
3) PEI/silica nanoparticle systems; and 4) PEI/metal nanoparticle systems. Their in vitro gene transfaction and in vivo gene therapy will
be also discussed. Results from these studies have demonstrated that PEI-based nanocarriers are promising delivery systems because of
their efficient gene transfection, negligible toxicity, capability to co-deliver nucleic acids and chemotherapy drugs, ease of modification
with the targeting molecules, and good responsiveness to external stimulus.
