Polymeric vesicles from amino acid homopolymers

摘要

Non viral gene delivery systems are being developed from poly-L-lysine incorporating targeting ligands which form a transfection competent ionic complex with the gene of interest. These systems are found to transfect cells well in culture but in vivo gene expression is very low and of a transient nature. A system capable of sustained transfection is obviously required. Previously we have developed polymeric vesicles by the simple attachment of hydrophobic groups to a carbohydrate polymer - glycol chitosan and in this communication report the development of polymeric vesicles from amino acid homopolymers poly-L-lysine and poly-L-ornithine. Previously poly-L-lysine gene delivery systems have been prepared by the attachment of hydrophobic groups (phospholipids) and hydrophilic groups (polyethylene glycol). However the current approach describes the conjugation of both hydrophobic groups (palmitoyl) and hydrophilic groups (polyethylene glycol) to poly-L-lysine or poly-L-ornithine.