781 results about "Gene delivery" patented technology

The present invention concerns polymer particle vaccine delivery systems in which a water insoluble protein antigen, e.g. a lipidated HpaA protein, is incorporated with particles comprising a polymer matrix. The present invention also concerns a method for incorporating such a water insoluble protein antigen with a polymer matrix in order to produce a polymer particle vaccine delivery system. In addition, the invention also provides a vaccine composition comprising the polymer particle delivery system. The vaccine can be used to treat and/or reduce the risk of for example Helicobacter infection.

A method of delivering a substance to targeted tissue comprising the steps of: delivering a plurality of magnetically responsive particles which are carrying the substance and have a hydrophobic coating into the patient's vasculature upstream of the targeted tissue; and applying a magnetic gradient in the vicinity of the targeted tissue to draw the magnetically responsive particles against the wall of the patient's vasculature in the vicinity of the targeted tissue, to allow the substance on the magnetic particles to migrate through the wall of the patent's vasculature to targeted tissue.

A method of mRNA production for use in transfection is provided, that involves in vitro transcription of PCR generated templates with specially designed primers, followed by polyA addition, to produce a construct containing 3′ and 5′ untranslated sequence (“UTR”), a 5′ cap and/or Internal Ribosome Entry Site (IRES), the gene to be expressed, and a polyA tail, typically 50-2000 bases in length. This RNA can efficiently transfect different kinds of cells. This approach results in increased efficiency (fidelity and productivity) of mRNA synthesis and is less time consuming because it does not require cloning, and also consequently eliminates the unwanted errors and effects related to RNA made on DNA templates obtained with cloning techniques. The results of transfection of RNAs demonstrate that RNA transfection can be very effective in cells that are exceedingly difficult to transfect efficiently with DNA constructs. Further, the levels of gene expression following mRNA transfection are consistent from cell to cell in an experiment and these levels can be controlled over a wide range simply by changing the amount of mRNA that is transfected, and without obvious cytotoxic effects due to the levels of RNA per se. Due to high efficiency the cells can be simultaneously transfected with multiple genetic constructs. The method can be used to deliver genes into cells not- or only poorly transfectable for DNA, in vitro and in vivo.

This invention relates to novel room-temperature process for obtaining calcium phosphate, in particular hydroxyapatite, coatings and microspheres that encapsulate drugs, proteins, genes, DNA for therapeutical use. The coatings and microspheres are designed to perform a defined biological function related to drug delivery, such as gene therapy through gene delivery. A novel method for encapsulation, and subsequent controlled release of therapeutically active agents from such biofunctional coatings and microspheres is disclosed. Such coatings and microspheres are useful for side-effects free, long-term, targeted, controlled release and delivery of drugs, proteins, DNA, and other therapeutic agents.

Methods for treating Parkinson's disease (PD) are provided. Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) virions are used to deliver genes encoding dopamine-synthesizing enzymes to the central nervous system of a primate. Once delivered, the genes are expressed, which then results in dopamine synthesis and amelioration in the clinical signs and symptoms of PD. The methods of the present invention can be used to deliver the three central dopamine synthesizing enzymes: tyrosine hydroxylase, aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase, and guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase I thereby enhancing dopamine biosynthesis and providing for enhanced therapeutic efficacy.

Nucleotide delivery polymers, compositions, and associated methods for the enhancement of gene delivery and expression in solid tissues are provided. In one aspect, for example, a nucleotide delivery polymer may include a poloxamer backbone having a metal chelator covalently coupled to at least one terminal end of the poloxamer backbone. In another aspect, the nucleotide expression polymer has a metal chelator coupled to at least two terminal ends of the poloxamer backbone.

One aspect of the present invention relates to a synthetic non-viral vector composition for gene therapy. Another aspect of the invention relates to the use of the composition for in vitro, ex vivo and/or in vivo transfer of genetic material. The invention also encompasses a pharmaceutical composition (useful for delivery of nucleic acids to a cell), containing a non-cationic amphiphilic molecule or macro-molecule; or a cationic amphiphilic molecule or macromolecule that transforms from a cationic entity to an anionic, neutral, or zwitterionic entity upon a chemical, photochemical, or biological reaction. Another aspect of the invention relates to multicationic compounds that are composed of three or more amino acids. The present invention also relates to the use of the pharmaceutical composition for delivery of nucleic acids to a cell. Moreover, the invention encompasses the non-viral vector compositions tethered to a surface. The surface-tethered compositions are useful for the delivery of nucleic acids to cells in contact with the surface. An additional embodiment of the invention relates to a hydrogel comprising a composition of the invention, and methods of using same for the delivery of genetic material to a cell.

A biodegradable, mixed polymeric micelle used to deliver a selected nucleic acid into a targeted host cell contains an amphiphilic polyester-polycation copolymer and an amphiphilic polyester-sugar copolymer. The polyester-polycation copolymer forms an electrostatic interaction with polyanionic nucleic acids, and the polyester-sugar copolymer directs the micelle-nucleic acid complex to cells in vivo. Additional copolymers with similar properties may also be included. The composition improves delivery efficiency by providing a particulate gene carrier for which particle size and charge density are easily controlled by multivariate means. Various kinds of ligands and other functional compounds may be also be introduced using the composition. The composition may be used in a method for transforming a targeted host cell with a selected nucleic acid.

The present invention provides muscle-derived cells, preferably myoblasts and muscle-derived stem cells, genetically engineered to contain and express one or more heterologous genes or functional segments of such genes, for delivery of the encoded gene products at or near sites of musculoskeletal, bone, ligament, meniscus, cartilage or genitourinary disease, injury, defect, or dysfunction. Ex vivo myoblast mediated gene delivery of human inducible nitric oxide synthase, and the resulting production of nitric oxide at and around the site of injury, are particularly provided by the invention as a treatment for lower genitourinary tract dysfunctions. Ex vivo gene transfer for the musculoskeletal system includes genes encoding acidic fibroblast growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, platelet derived growth factor, transforming growth factor-β, transforming growth factor-α, nerve growth factor and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP), bone morphogenetic protein (BMPs), cartilage derived morphogenetic protein (CDMPs), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and sonic hedgehog proteins.

Transient gene expression is a powerful tool for plant genomics studies. Recently, the use of nanomaterials has drawn great interest. Delivery with mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) has many advantages. We used surface-functionalized MSNs to deliver and express foreign DNA in Arabidopsis thaliana root cells without the aid of particle bombardment. Gene expression was detected in the epidermis layer and in the more inner cortex and endodermis root tissues. This method is superior to the conventional gene-gun method to deliver DNA, which delivers the gene to the epidermis layer only. Less DNA is needed for the MSN method. Our system is the first use of nanoparticles to deliver DNA to plants with good efficiency and without external aids. MSNs, with multifunctionality and the capability of cargo delivery to plant cells as we demonstrated, provide a versatile system for biomolecule delivery, organelle targeting, and even agriculture, such as improved nutrient uptake.

The invention includes a viral vector method and composition comprising transcomplementary replication incompetent viral vectors, preferably adenoviral vectors, which are cotransformed to a recipient cell. The two vectors complement each other and thus allow viral replication, in a synergistic combination which enhances both gene delivery and gene expression of genetic sequences contained within the vector.

In general, iPS cells are produced by delivery of stem cell-associated genes into adult somatic cells (e.g., fibroblasts). Described herein are methods for enhancing the efficiency and rate of induced pluripotent stem cell production by treating somatic cells with a transforming growth factor-beta receptor (TGFβR) inhibitor. Also described herein are iPS cell compositions made according to the methods described herein and iPS cell compositions comprising an iPS cell in an admixture with a TGFβR inhibitor. Further described herein are kits for producing iPS cells using a TGFβR inhibitor.

We have made retrovirus particles displaying a functional antibody fragment. We fused the gene encoding an antibody fragment directed against a hapten with that encoding the viral envelope protein (Pr80env) of the ecotropic Moloney murine leukemia virus. The fusion gene was co-expressed in ecotropic retroviral packaging cells with a retroviral plasmid carrying the neomycin phosphotransferase gene (neo), and retroviral particles with specific hapten biding activities were recovered. Furthermore the hapten-binding particles were able to transfer the neo gene and the antibody-envelope fusion gene to mouse fibroblasts. In principle, the display of antibody fragments on the surface of recombinant retroviral particles could be used to target virus to cells for gene delivery, or to retain the virus in target tissues, or for the construction of libraries of viral display packages.

The present invention relates to techniques of skin-targeted non-invasive gene delivery to elicit immune responses and uses thereof. The invention further relates to methods of non-invasive genetic immunization in an animal and/or methods of inducing a systemic immune or therapeutic response in an animal following topical application of vectors, products therefrom and uses for the methods and products therefrom. The methods can include contacting skin of the animal with a vector in an amount effective to induce the systemic immune or therapeutic response in the animal as well as such a method further including disposing the vector in and/or on the delivery device. The vector can be gram negative bacteria, preferably Salmonella and most preferably Salmonella typhimurium.

An isolated linear nucleic acid molecule comprising in this order: a first adeno-associated virus (AAV) inverted terminal repeat (ITR), a nucleotide sequence of interest and a second AAV ITR, wherein said nucleic acid molecule is devoid of AAV capsid protein coding sequences. The said nucleic acid molecule can be applied to a host at repetition without eliciting an immune response. Methods for producing and purifying this nucleic acid molecule, and use of the same for therapeutic purposes are also provided.