The Effect of Molecular Shape and Microphase Segregation on the Formation of Liquid Crystal Phases in Poly-Ols
作者:Jonathan J. West、Guenola Bonsergent、Grahame Mackenzie、David F. Ewing、John W. Goodby、Thierry Benvegnu、Daniel Plusquellec、Sabrina Bachir、Phillipe Bault、Olivier Douillet、Paul Godé、Gerard Goethals、Patrick Martin、Pierre Villa
DOI:10.1080/10587250108025758
日期:2001.6.1
In this article we examine the effect of molecular shape on the formation of thermotropic phases of alkyl-substituted poly-ols. The relationship between the cross-sectional area of the hydrophilic head group with respect to the that of the hydrophilic tails determines the type of mesophase formed. The results obtained are similar to those found for the formation of lyotropic phases.
Safe and efficient in vitro and in vivogene delivery: tripodal cationic lipids with programmed biodegradability
The therapeutic use of nucleic acids has long been heralded as a panacea of medicinal opportunity, a vision enhanced by the introduction of RNA interference technology. The Achilles heel of such an approach is the in vivo delivery of the desired nucleic acid into cells, a practice that lacks selectivity, safety and/or efficiency. Herein we report the safe and efficacious in vitro and in vivo delivery of nucleic acids using tripodal biodegradable cationic lipids. Toxicity reduction and transfection potency of these novel amphiphiles were addressed by designing the compounds to undergo complete intracellular degradation thereby enhancing cargo release while minimising toxicity and potential tissue accumulation. Compounds demonstrated high-efficiency in transfecting DNA into cells both in vitro and in vivo with no signs of toxicity, thus potentially offering a safer alternative to viral transfection for gene therapy application.