Emerging lipid–polymer hybrid nanoparticles for genome editing
Lipid–polymer hybrid nanoparticles are rapidly emerging as a major class of efficient delivery systems for biomedical applications. This review showcases and discusses the designs and major advances of lipid–polymer hybrids for genome editing strategies.
Review Article
Advancing nucleic acid delivery through cationic polymer design: non-cationic building blocks from the toolbox
The rational integration of non-cationic building blocks into cationic polymers can be devised to enhance the performance of the resulting gene delivery vectors, improving cell targeting behavior, uptake, endosomal escape, toxicity, and transfection efficiency.
Rational design of polymer-based mRNA delivery systems for cancer treatment
This review introduces the basic design principles and recent advances in polymeric mRNA therapeutics, highlighting strategies to realize cancer-selective, organ-targeted, and tissue-penetrating mRNA delivery.
Recent developments of polymeric delivery systems in gene therapeutics
A brief overview of main strategies to improve the gene transfection efficiency of PCVs recently and their applications in certain diseases.
Predictive design of multimonomeric polyelectrolytes enables lung-specific gene delivery
With a discovery engine combining polymer chemistry, biology, and AI, lung-specific pDNA delivery is demonstrated with a single multimonomeric polyelectrolyte.
Paper
Effect of molar mass of poly(2-oxazoline) based glycopolymers on lectin binding
Glyco-block copolymers with non-binding blocks can effect binding to lectins.
Functionalized polyesters based on valerolactones and [12]aneN3 as effective non-viral gene vectors in HepG2 cells
Block polyesters with BODIPY and [12]aneN3 moieties showed efficient cell-specific nucleic acid expression and anti-tumor gene therapy in vitro.
Diffusive delivery of plasmid DNA using zwitterionic carboxyalkyl poly(1-vinylimidazole) into skeletal muscle in vivo
Zwitterionic carboxyalkyl poly(1-vinylimidazole), CA1(7)-PVIm, formed the polyion complex (PIC) with plasmid DNA (pDNA), leading to the diffusive delivery of the pDNA into skeletal muscle in vivo.
Paper
Post-polymerization functionalized sulfonium nanogels for gene delivery
Cross-linked polymer nanogels with positively charged sulfonium groups were designed and synthesized. After characterization, the gene delivery propensity of these materials was evaluated, which is likely hampered by limited cell entry.
Paper
Stretched or wrinkled? Looking into the polymer conformation within polymersome membranes
This meta-study discusses if the hydropbobic parts of amphiphilic block-copolymers are in a stretched or wrinkled state within polymersomes. It depends on the nature of the polymer and the amount of repeating units in the hydrophobic block.
Paper
Polysarcosine functionalised cationic polyesters efficiently deliver self-amplifying mRNA
In this work we demonstrate the endcapping of a poly(beta-amino ester) of polysarcosine, a widely established PEG-alternative, and show its ability as a non-viral vector for self-amplifying mRNA.
Paper
PDEGMA-b-PDMAEMA-b-PLMA triblock terpolymers and their cationic analogues: synthesis, stimuli responsive self-assembly and micelleplex formation
Temperature and pH-responsive triblock terpolymers of the type PDEGMA-b-PDMAEMA-b-PLMA and their quaternized analogs are synthesized and utilized for micelleplex formation with linear DNA.
Ultra-efficient delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 using ionic liquid conjugated polymers for genome editing-based tumor therapy
Through molecular screening, ionic liquid-conjugated polymers (IL-CPs) are developed for highly efficient delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 system, which demonstrated high-performance genome editing-based tumor therapy.
Amino-modified 2-oxazoline copolymers for complexation with DNA
Novel amino-functionalized 2-oxazoline-based copolymers able to form complexes with DNA were obtained. Their efficiency of DNA condensation into polyplexes of scales appropriate for effective cellular internalization was studied.
Paper
Porous bioelectronic substrates for simple electrochemical conjugation and subsequent, controlled electrochemical release of antisense oligonucleotide drug
Electrochemically-driven terpolymer, P(EDOT-co-EDOTSAc-co-EDOTEG), offers rapid and controllable connexin43 antisense conjugation and release.
About this collection
Polymers are increasingly being studied as gene delivery vectors, with research ranging from fundamental studies to therapeutic applications. This themed collection will showcase the latest research in the field, with a focus on how the polymer’s design impacts functional properties and end use. Submitted papers will have a focus on how innovative polymer chemistry supports exciting properties, biological activity and/or therapeutic applications. Our aim for this collection is to celebrate the progress and strong contribution of polymer science in this area, and to inspire new research.
This themed collection is Guest Edited by Professor Sébastien Perrier (University of Warwick, ORCID: 0000-0001-5055-9046), Professor Youqing Shen (Zhejiang University, ORCID: 0000-0003-1837-7976), Professor Todd Emrick (University of Massachusetts Amherst, ORCID: 0000-0003-0460-1797), Professor Zhuxian Zhou (Zhejiang University, ORCID: 0000-0002-7104-9915) and Professor Marxa Figueiredo (Purdue University).