Recent Advances in Non-viral Vectors Based on Cationic Niosomes for Gene Delivery

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Gene and Cell Therapy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 October 2021) | Viewed by 2760

Special Issue Editors

1. NanoBioCel Research Group, Laboratory of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
2. Networking Research Centre of Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Institute of Health Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
3. Bioaraba, NanoBioCel Research Group, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
Interests: gene therapy; nonviral vectors; drug delivery; 3D bioprinting; nanotechnology
Department of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Campus Araba, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
Interests: gene therapy; non-viral vectors; drug delivery; 3D bioprinting; nanotechnology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nowadays, gene therapy is recognized as a realistic medical option to address some devastating diseases. However, its application into the regular routine of medical practice is still hampered mainly by the disposition of safe and effective gene carrier systems. In this sense, the development of nonviral vectors for gene delivery has caught the attention of the research community, due to their safer profile, lower cost, and easier production. In any case, gene delivery efficiency of nonviral vectors needs to be improved in order to beat viral vector counterparts and find a place in the gene therapy market. Among the wide variety of nonviral vectors, niosomes have recently emerged as a tunable and flexible platform to transport different genetic cargoes into target cells under different conditions and applications. This Special Issue serves as an overview of the current status, challenges, and future progress opportunities of niosomes in gene therapy.

Prof. Dr. Gustavo Puras
Dr. Ilia Villate-Beitia
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • gene therapy
  • nonviral vectors
  • niosomes
  • nanotechnology
  • biomaterials
  • gene delivery
  • non-ionic surfactant

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

22 pages, 5758 KiB  
Article
Correlation between Biophysical Properties of Niosomes Elaborated with Chloroquine and Different Tensioactives and Their Transfection Efficiency
by Myriam Sainz-Ramos, Ilia Villate-Beitia, Idoia Gallego, Nuseibah AL Qtaish, Margarita Menéndez, Laura Lagartera, Santiago Grijalvo, Ramón Eritja, Gustavo Puras and José Luis Pedraz
Pharmaceutics 2021, 13(11), 1787; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics13111787 - 26 Oct 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2084
Abstract
Lipid nanocarriers, such as niosomes, are considered attractive candidates for non-viral gene delivery due to their suitable biocompatibility and high versatility. In this work, we studied the influence of incorporating chloroquine in niosomes biophysical performance, as well as the effect of non-ionic surfactant [...] Read more.
Lipid nanocarriers, such as niosomes, are considered attractive candidates for non-viral gene delivery due to their suitable biocompatibility and high versatility. In this work, we studied the influence of incorporating chloroquine in niosomes biophysical performance, as well as the effect of non-ionic surfactant composition and protocol of incorporation in their biophysical performance. An exhaustive comparative evaluation of three niosome formulations differing in these parameters was performed, which included the analysis of their thermal stability, rheological behavior, mean particle size, dispersity, zeta potential, morphology, membrane packing capacity, affinity to bind DNA, ability to release and protect the genetic material, buffering capacity and ability to escape from artificially synthesized lysosomes. Finally, in vitro biological studies were, also, performed in order to determine the compatibility of the formulations with biological systems, their transfection efficiency and transgene expression. Results revealed that the incorporation of chloroquine in niosome formulations improved their biophysical properties and the transfection efficiency, while the substitution of one of the non-ionic surfactants and the phase of addition resulted in less biophysical variations. Of note, the present work provides several biophysical parameters and characterization strategies that could be used as gold standard for gene therapy nanosystems evaluation. Full article
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