Highly branched poly(β-amino ester)s for gene delivery in hereditary skin diseases

• Published in: Advanced drug delivery reviews Vol. 176; p. 113842
• Main Authors: Zeng, Ming, Xu, Qian, Zhou, Dezhong, A, Sigen, Alshehri, Fatma, Lara-Sáez, Irene, Zheng, Yue, Li, Ming, Wang, Wenxin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.09.2021
• Subjects: Animals; Cutaneous gene delivery; Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica - genetics; Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica - pathology; Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica - therapy; Gene Transfer Techniques; Genetic Therapy - methods; Hereditary skin diseases; Highly branched poly(β-amino ester)s; Humans; Polymeric vectors; Polymers - chemistry; Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa; Skin Diseases, Genetic - genetics; Skin Diseases, Genetic - pathology; Skin Diseases, Genetic - therapy; Translational Research, Biomedical - methods; Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa; Hereditary skin diseases; Highly branched poly(β-amino ester)s; Polymeric vectors; Cutaneous gene delivery
• ISSN: 0169-409X; 1872-8294
• DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.113842

[Display omitted] Non-viral gene therapy for hereditary skin diseases is an attractive prospect. However, research efforts dedicated to this area are rare. Taking advantage of the branched structural possibilities of polymeric vectors, we have developed a gene delivery platform for the treatment of an incurable monogenic skin disease – recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) – based on highly branched poly(β-amino ester)s (HPAEs). The screening of HPAEs and optimization of therapeutic gene constructs, together with evaluation of the combined system for gene transfection, were comprehensively reviewed. The successful restoration of type VII collagen (C7) expression both in vitro and in vivo highlights HPAEs as a promising generation of polymeric vectors for RDEB gene therapy into the clinic. Considering that the treatment of patients with genetic cutaneous disorders, such as other subtypes of epidermolysis bullosa, pachyonychia congenita, ichthyosis and Netherton syndrome, remains challenging, the success of HPAEs in RDEB treatment indicates that the development of viable polymeric gene delivery vectors could potentially expedite the translation of gene therapy for these diseases from bench to bedside.