Pharmaceutical research

Dendrimeric alkylated polyethylenimine nano-carriers with acid-cleavable outer cationic shells mediate improved transfection efficiency without increasing toxicity

TWJ Steele, WT Shier

Index: Steele, Terry W. J.; Shier, Wayne Thomas Pharmaceutical Research, 2010 , vol. 27, # 4 p. 683 - 698

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Citation Number: 24

Abstract

Abstract Purpose Improved polycation-based non-viral DNA vectors were sought by preparing dendrimers with polyethylenimine cores surrounded by various shells incorporating structural features intended to facilitate steps in transfection mechanisms. Dendrimeric vectors were designed with (a) an outer oligocation shell, intended to facilitate DNA release inside cells,(b) a hydrophobic C-16 alkyl shell, and (c) a polycationic core, ...