A new self-assembling system for targeted gene delivery

Abstract

Polyamine-containing bolaamphiphiles bind and compact DNA to form well-defined assemblies that resist nuclease attack and efficiently transfect Chinese hamster ovary cells. Nonspecific uptake is reduced by the incorporation of a low percentage of polyethylene glycol bolaamphiphile and the targeted transfection of a human T cell line has been demonstrated using an internalizing anti-CD3-antibody/bolaamphiphile conjugate incorporated at 0.004% into the supramolecular array.