RNA interference and receptors

@article{montellano_fullerene_2011,

title = {Fullerene C₆₀ as a multifunctional system for drug and gene delivery},

author = {Alejandro Montellano and Tatiana Da Ros and Alberto Bianco and Maurizio Prato},

doi = {10.1039/c1nr10783f},

issn = {2040-3372},

year  = {2011},

date = {2011-10-01},

journal = {Nanoscale},

volume = {3},

number = {10},

pages = {4035--4041},

abstract = {The fullerene family, and especially C(60), has delighted the scientific community during the last 25 years with perspective applications in a wide variety of fields, including the biological and the biomedical domains. Several biomedical uses have been explored using water-soluble C(60)-derivatives. However, the employment of fullerenes for drug delivery is still at an early stage of development. The design and synthesis of multifunctionalized and multimodal C(60) systems able to cross the cell membranes and efficiently deliver active molecules is an attracting challenge that involves multidisciplinary strategies. Promising results have emerged in the last years, bringing fullerenes again to the front of interest. Herein, the state of the art of this emerging field is presented and illustrated with some of the most representative examples.},

keywords = {DNA, Drug Carriers, Fullerenes, Gene Transfer Techniques, I2CT, Immunoconjugates, Plasmids, Team-Bianco},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{klumpp_multifunctionalised_2007,

title = {Multifunctionalised cationic fullerene adducts for gene transfer: design, synthesis and DNA complexation},

author = {Cédric Klumpp and Lara Lacerda and Olivier Chaloin and Tatiana Da Ros and Kostas Kostarelos and Maurizio Prato and Alberto Bianco},

doi = {10.1039/b708435h},

issn = {1359-7345},

year  = {2007},

date = {2007-01-01},

journal = {Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)},

number = {36},

pages = {3762--3764},

abstract = {Cationic poly-N,N-dimethylfulleropyrrolidinium derivatives have been designed and synthesised to complex plasmid DNA for gene delivery.},

keywords = {DNA, Electrophoresis, Fullerenes, Gene Transfer Techniques, I2CT, Molecular Structure, Plasmids, Team-Bianco},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{singh_binding_2005,

title = {Binding and condensation of plasmid DNA onto functionalized carbon nanotubes: toward the construction of nanotube-based gene delivery vectors},

author = {Ravi Singh and Davide Pantarotto and David McCarthy and Olivier Chaloin and Johan Hoebeke and Charalambos D Partidos and Jean-Paul Briand and Maurizio Prato and Alberto Bianco and Kostas Kostarelos},

doi = {10.1021/ja0441561},

issn = {0002-7863},

year  = {2005},

date = {2005-03-01},

journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society},

volume = {127},

number = {12},

pages = {4388--4396},

abstract = {Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) constitute a class of nanomaterials that possess characteristics suitable for a variety of possible applications. Their compatibility with aqueous environments has been made possible by the chemical functionalization of their surface, allowing for exploration of their interactions with biological components including mammalian cells. Functionalized CNTs (f-CNTs) are being intensively explored in advanced biotechnological applications ranging from molecular biosensors to cellular growth substrates. We have been exploring the potential of f-CNTs as delivery vehicles of biologically active molecules in view of possible biomedical applications, including vaccination and gene delivery. Recently we reported the capability of ammonium-functionalized single-walled CNTs to penetrate human and murine cells and facilitate the delivery of plasmid DNA leading to expression of marker genes. To optimize f-CNTs as gene delivery vehicles, it is essential to characterize their interactions with DNA. In the present report, we study the interactions of three types of f-CNTs, ammonium-functionalized single-walled and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (SWNT-NH3+; MWNT-NH3+), and lysine-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT-Lys-NH3+), with plasmid DNA. Nanotube-DNA complexes were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, surface plasmon resonance, PicoGreen dye exclusion, and agarose gel shift assay. The results indicate that all three types of cationic carbon nanotubes are able to condense DNA to varying degrees, indicating that both nanotube surface area and charge density are critical parameters that determine the interaction and electrostatic complex formation between f-CNTs with DNA. All three different f-CNT types in this study exhibited upregulation of marker gene expression over naked DNA using a mammalian (human) cell line. Differences in the levels of gene expression were correlated with the structural and biophysical data obtained for the f-CNT:DNA complexes to suggest that large surface area leading to very efficient DNA condensation is not necessary for effective gene transfer. However, it will require further investigation to determine whether the degree of binding and tight association between DNA and nanotubes is a desirable trait to increase gene expression efficiency in vitro or in vivo. This study constitutes the first thorough investigation into the physicochemical interactions between cationic functionalized carbon nanotubes and DNA toward construction of carbon nanotube-based gene transfer vector systems.},

keywords = {carbon, Cations, DNA, Electron, Gene Transfer Techniques, Genetic Vectors, I2CT, Lysine, Microscopy, Nanotubes, Plasmids, Quaternary Ammonium Compounds, scanning, Surface Plasmon Resonance, Team-Bianco},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{bianco_biomedical_2005,

title = {Biomedical applications of functionalised carbon nanotubes},

author = {Alberto Bianco and Kostas Kostarelos and Charalambos D Partidos and Maurizio Prato},

doi = {10.1039/b410943k},

issn = {1359-7345},

year  = {2005},

date = {2005-01-01},

journal = {Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)},

number = {5},

pages = {571--577},

abstract = {The organic functionalisation of carbon nanotubes can improve substantially their solubility and biocompatibility profile; as a consequence, their manipulation and integration into biological systems has become possible so that functionalised carbon nanotubes hold currently strong promise as novel systems for the delivery of drugs, antigens and genes.},

keywords = {Antigens, carbon, Chemical, Drug Delivery Systems, Gene Transfer Techniques, Humans, I2CT, Models, Molecular Structure, nanotechnology, Nanotubes, Team-Bianco, Vaccines},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{bianco_carbon_2004,

title = {Carbon nanotubes for the delivery of therapeutic molecules},

author = {Alberto Bianco},

doi = {10.1517/17425247.1.1.57},

issn = {1742-5247},

year  = {2004},

date = {2004-11-01},

journal = {Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery},

volume = {1},

number = {1},

pages = {57--65},

abstract = {Functionalised carbon nanotubes (f-CNTs) are emerging as new tools in the field of nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine. This is because they can be easily manipulated and modified by encapsulation with biopolymers or by covalent linking of solubilising groups to the external walls and tips. The possibility of incorporating f-CNTs into biological systems has opened the way to the exploration of their potential applications in biology and medicinal chemistry. Within the different fields of applications (i.e., biosensors, composite materials, molecular electronics), one use of CNTs is as new carrier systems for the delivery of therapeutic molecules. Research discussed in this review is focused on recent advances in the development of CNT technology for the delivery of drugs, antigens and genes.},

keywords = {carbon, Drug Carriers, Gene Transfer Techniques, I2CT, Nanotubes, Pharmaceutical Preparations, Team-Bianco},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}