In Vitro and In Vivo Effects of the Combination of Polypurine Reverse Hoogsteen Hairpins against HER-2 and Trastuzumab in Breast Cancer Cells.

Therapeutic oligonucleotides are powerful tools for the inhibition of potential targets involved in cancer. We describe the effect of two Polypurine Reverse Hoogsteen (PPRH) hairpins directed against the gene, which is overexpressed in positive HER-2 breast tumors. The inhibition of their target was analyzed by cell viability and at the mRNA and protein levels.

Trioleyl Pyridinium, a Cationic Transfection Agent for the Lipofection of Therapeutic Oligonucleotides into Mammalian Cells.

Background: One of the most significant limitations that therapeutic oligonucleotides present is the development of specific and efficient delivery vectors for the internalization of nucleic acids into cells. Therefore, there is a need for the development of new transfection agents that ensure a proper and efficient delivery into mammalian cells.

Methods: We describe the synthesis of 1,3,5-tris[(4-oelyl-1-pyridinio)methyl]benzene tribromide (TROPY) and proceeded to the validation of its binding capacity toward oligonucleotides, the internalization of DNA into the cells, the effect on cell viability, apoptosis, and its capability to transfect plasmid DNA.