Bioengineering a non-genotoxic vector for genetic modification of mesenchymal stem cells.

Vectors used for stem cell transfection must be non-genotoxic, in addition to possessing high efficiency, because they could potentially transform normal stem cells into cancer-initiating cells. The objective of this research was to bioengineer an efficient vector that can be used for genetic modification of stem cells without any negative somatic or genetic impact. Two types of multifunctional vectors, namely targeted and non-targeted were genetically engineered and purified from E.

Practical Issues with the Use of Stem Cells for Cancer Gene Therapy.

Stem cell-based drug delivery for cancer therapy has steadily gained momentum in the past decade as several studies have reported stem cells' inherent tropism towards tumors. Since this science is still in its early stages and there are many factors that could significantly impact tumor tropism of stem cells, some contradictory results have been observed. This review starts by examining a number of proof-of-concept studies that demonstrate the potential application of stem cells in cancer therapy.

Reducing the Visibility of the Vector/DNA Nanocomplexes to the Immune System by Elastin-Like Peptides.

Purpose: One of the major hurdles facing nanomedicines is the antibody production against nanoparticles that subsequently results in their opsonization and clearance by macrophages. The objective of this research was to examine and identify the sequence of a low-immunogenic peptide based on recombinant elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) that does not evoke IgG response and can potentially be used for masking the surfaces of the nanoparticles.

Methods: Biopolymers composed of a DNA condensing domain in fusion with anionic, neutral and cationic elastin-like peptides were genetically engineered.

A recombinant biopolymeric platform for reliable evaluation of the activity of pH-responsive amphiphile fusogenic peptides.

Over the past couple of decades, the sequences of several cationic and anionic pH-responsive amphiphile fusogenic peptides (FPs) have been reported in the literature. Due to their endosome membrane disrupting activity, these peptides have been routinely used for enhancing the efficacy of drug/gene delivery systems. However, no accurate comparative study has been performed to establish the precise correlation between FP sequence and its impact on enhancing drug/gene delivery efficiency.

Systematic engineering of uniform, highly efficient, targeted and shielded viral-mimetic nanoparticles.

In the past decades, numerous types of nanomedicines have been developed for the efficient and safe delivery of nucleic acid-based drugs for cancer therapy. Given that the destination sites for nucleic acid-based drugs are inside cancer cells, delivery systems need to be both targeted and shielded in order to overcome the extracellular and intracellular barriers. One of the major obstacles that has hindered the translation of nanotechnology-based gene-delivery systems into the clinic has been the complexity of the design and assembly processes, resulting in non-uniform nanocarriers with unpredictable surface properties and efficiencies.

Use of biotin targeted methotrexate-human serum albumin conjugated nanoparticles to enhance methotrexate antitumor efficacy.

Biotin molecules could be used as suitable targeting moieties in targeted drug delivery systems against tumors. To develop a biotin targeted drug delivery system, we employed human serum albumin (HSA) as a carrier. Methotrexate (MTX) molecules were conjugated to HSA.