Development of carbon nanotubes for non-viral gene transfer

基因转染，将核酸引入细胞，使基因能够被递送到细胞核中， 目标细胞。目前，基因转移试剂的功效是高度可变的，并且还取决于基因转移的效率。 靶细胞类型。由于某些病毒具有将其病毒基因组递送到细胞中的先天能力， 已经开发了包封外源基因感染的病毒颗粒用于基因转染。 然而，病毒介导的基因转染在很大程度上取决于细胞类型，并且还存在以下问题： 致病性和致癌性。目前非病毒基因转移程序的主要局限之一是 无法将基因转运到靶细胞的细胞核中。我们最近发现了一种新的核武器 进入机制所使用的杆状病毒，我们建议从这种病毒的蛋白质嫁接到碳纳米管; 然后这些蛋白质可以将纳米管引导到细胞核。这些纳米管也将共轭 与DNA结合，并用于将基因转移到组织培养细胞的细胞核中。这种新型的非病毒基因转移 该方法将具有与任何细胞系统一起工作的优点。作为一个领导者，在开发试剂， 在生命科学研究领域，STEMCELL Technology致力于开发高效转染试剂 其靶向广泛的细胞类型，并可广泛用于生物医学研究。这种合作 与STEMCELL的合作为开发用于非病毒基因转移的碳纳米管提供了一个很好的机会。在 除了开发一种新的基因转染技术用于生命科学研究外， 对开发有效和成功的非病毒基因疗法的努力产生重大影响。

Gene transfection, the introduction of nucleic acids into cells, enables genes to be delivered into the nucleus of the target cell. Currently, the efficacy of gene transfer reagents is highly variable and also dependents on the target cell type. Due to the innate ability of certain viruses to deliver their viral genomes into the cell they infect, viral particles encapsulating an exogenous gene have been developed for gene transfection. Virus-mediated gene transfection, however, depends greatly on cell type and also has the problem of pathogenicity and oncogenicity. One of the major limitations of current non-viral gene transfer procedures is the inability to transport the gene into the nucleus of the target cell. We have recently discovered a new nuclear entry mechanism used by baculoviruses, and we propose to graft proteins from this virus to carbon nanotubes; these proteins can then direct the nanotube to the nucleus of cells. These nanotubes will also be conjugated with DNA and used for gene transfer to the nucleus of tissue-cultured cells. This novel non-viral gene transfer methodology will have the advantage of working with any cell system. As a leader in developing reagents for life science research, STEMCELL Technology is interested in developing high efficiency transfection reagents that target a broad range of cell types and can be used extensively in biomedical research. This collaboration with STEMCELL offers a great opportunity to develop carbon nanotubes for non-viral gene transfer. In addition to the development of a new gene transfection technology for life science research, this project will have a significant impact on efforts to develop efficient and successful non-viral gene therapies.