Gene therapy brings us opportunity to treat diseases such as disorders of the retina, cancers and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s. Now, the new technology which employs SLNs, solid lipid nanoparticles, is developed in Spain, to deliver therapeutic genes.
These particles are size of one micron with a positive surface charge. As SLNs consist of well tolerated substances, they can bind DNA directly through electostatic interactions and mediate gene transfer in vitro. Thus they can transport genes to the interior of the cells so this can be employed in gene therapy. As a result, this can be used as remedial tool to cure illnesses which currently only have a palliative treatment of symptoms.In addition, in this new technique, peptide that enhances the entry of the genes into the cells, were combined to optimise the function of SLNs.
Gene therapies normally use natural capacity of viruses to penetrate the nucleus of a cell and so take the DNA or RNA there. This results in transporting genes to the interior of cells. However, this method of gene therapy can have negative effect on cell immunity. Thus using simple non-viral gene therapy vector like SLNs is advantageous in this point as well.
ScienceDaily (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090518103225.htm) accessed on 30/05/09
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