Nina Flanagan, “Improving Delivery of RNAi Drugs – Abundance of vehicles are in Development Translate the Tecnology into Therapeutics” Genetic Enginnering & Biotecnology News – February 1st 2009 (Vol. 20 N. 3). February 14th 2009.
http://www.genengnews.com/articles/chitem.aspx?aid=2758
In 2002, on the heels of the discovery that RNA interference existed in human cells, Here was a part of the body's natural immune system that, it seemed, might be enlisted to fight almost every disease imaginable—brain disorders like Huntington's and Alzheimer's, deadly viral infections, cancer—every condition in which "silencing" rogue genes might stop disease onset or progression. The scientific community considers RNA interference the breakthrough biological discovery of the decade with the potential to change how diseases are treated.
RNA interference (RNAi) is a system that helps to control which genes are active and how active they are. The central of RNAi are two types of small RNA molecules – microRNA and small interfering RNA (siRNA). The miRNA regulates gene expression and siRNA can target specific genetic changes present in cancer cells but not normal cells.
The article point out the improving delivery of RNAi drugs and the abundance of vehicles that are in development in order to knock down variety of diseases and viruses. According to the article, many scientists have been focused on delivery vehicle and they are developing novel techniques to overcome the challenges of RNAi. They are using polymer such as a branched lysine and histadine polypeptide, polyethylene glycol, lipidoids and others in order to reduce the challenges as well as to eliminate limitations of the method.
Qualities and advantages
There is significant potential for RNAi therapeutics to effectively treat any disease caused by expression of unwanted genes, including cancer, viral infections, and neurodegenerative disorders. Protein replacement, which is additive, focus on providing...