Papers, explained in our own words

673. pH-Responsive Polydopamine Nanoparticles for Photothermally Promoted Gene Delivery

Peng Zhang, Qinan Xu, Xinfang Li, Youxiang Wang

Non-viral gene vectors must overcome multiple extracellular and intracellular barriers: stability in blood, efficient cellular uptake, endosomal escape, and intracellular gene release. Stimuli-responsive carriers can address some barriers, but a carrier capable of overcoming multiple barriers simultaneously is still…

• Nanoparticles
• Gene delivery
• DNA
• Endosomal escape
• Transfection
• Polyethylenimine
• Cellular uptake

674. Synthesis and Characterization of Acetalated Dextran Polymer and Microparticles with Ethanol as a Degradation Product

Kevin J. Kauffman, Clement Do, Sadhana Sharma, Matthew D. Gallovic, Eric M. Bachelder, Kristy M. Ainslie

Acetalated dextran (Ac-DEX) is a pH-sensitive, biodegradable polymer useful for drug delivery, but it degrades to methanol, which can be toxic at high concentrations or with repeated dosing. A safer analog that degrades to ethanol instead of methanol is needed for high-volume clinical applications such as multiple…

• Polymeric
• PLGA
• Macrophages
• Drug delivery
• Nanocarriers
• Gene delivery
• Nanoparticles

675. Immunoenhancement effects of chitosan-modified ginseng stem-leaf saponins-encapsulated cubosomes as an adjuvant

Qiu T, Gu P, Wusiman A, Ni H, Xu S, Zhang Y, Zhu T, He J, Liu Z, Hu Y, Liu J, Wang D

Conventional adjuvants such as aluminium and Freund’s adjuvants have limitations, including poor cell-mediated immunity and local toxicity. Ginseng stem-leaf saponins (GSLS) have immunomodulatory/adjuvant activity, but improved delivery systems are needed. Cubosomes are stable lipid cubic liquid crystalline…

• Chitosan
• T cells
• Nanoparticles
• Macrophages
• Cellular uptake
• Vaccine delivery
• Biodistribution

676. Delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids via transferrin and transferrin receptors lipoplexes and other carriers

The transferrin receptor (TfR) is overexpressed on many cancer cells and is efficiently internalised, making it a useful target for delivering small-molecule drugs and nucleic acid therapeutics while reducing non-target effects. The review summarises TfR biology, Tf-lipoplex development, and therapeutic applications…

• Nucleic acids
• Polymeric
• DNA
• Transfection
• Liposomes
• siRNA
• mRNA