Nanoparticles used for targeted delivery of genetic materials to liver

Iranian pharmaceutical researchers succeeded in the production of modified nanoparticles that carry genetic materials to liver tissue; the carriers are virus-free and have high performance in gene transfer to liver. At the same time, the carriers are very slightly toxic. In case the carriers are tested successfully on animals and humans, they can be widely used in medical industries. The aim of the research was to obtain polymeric nano-carriers with the ability to target liver tissue and to effectively transfer genetic material into hepatocytes cells. At the same time, the carriers should prevent the toxicity in liver cells because the polymers used in the production of nanoparticles cause toxicity in cells. This plan helps the simultaneous target gene delivery to liver cells and it modifies the amount of positive charges on nanoparticles by bonding alkyl carboxylic chains. As a result, the toxicity of the polymers reduced and hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance of the polymer was modified, and the gene delivery capacity improved. Results of the research showed that nanoparticles modified with 6-carbon chains containing galactose have the best ability to transfer gene to liver cells, to the extent that their ability is significantly higher than that of polyethylenimine 25000 Dalton, which is considered the gold standard in non-virus gene delivery. This effect shows that the amount of protein has increased noticeably in liver cells while no increase is observed in the cells that have not received the carrier. The difference proves the targeted delivery of nanoparticles to liver cells. A part of the results of the research have been published in July 2012 in Gene Therapy & Molecular Biology, vol. 12, pp. 62-71.