Gene Delivery

Gene Delivery refers to the use of affinity-functionalized nanotechnology platforms tailored for the precise delivery of genetic material—such as plasmid DNA, mRNA, siRNA, or CRISPR components—to specific cells or tissues.

Technical Content and Mechanism

• Nanocarrier Design for Gene Delivery:
  • Material Selection:
    Nanocarriers for gene delivery are often composed of biodegradable polymers (e.g., poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) [PLGA], chitosan, polyethyleneimine [PEI]), lipid-based systems (liposomes, lipid nanoparticles), or inorganic nanoparticles (e.g., gold, silica). 
• Affinity Functionalization:
• • Optimizing Ligand Display:
    The density, orientation, and spatial distribution of ligands are optimized to maximize binding to target cells while preventing steric hindrance, ensuring efficient receptor-mediated recognition and uptake.
• Genetic Payload Loading and Protection:
  • Complexation or Encapsulation:
    Genetic material may be electrostatically complexed with cationic polymers or encapsulated within lipid or polymeric matrices. This protects nucleic acids from nuclease degradation and immune recognition during circulation.

Applications

• Gene Therapy:
  Targeted delivery of therapeutic genes can correct genetic defects, treat cancers, or modulate disease-related pathways by introducing, silencing, or editing specific genes in affected tissues with high precision.
• RNA-Based Therapies:
  Delivery of mRNA for protein replacement, siRNA for gene silencing, or CRISPR components for genome editing to specific cells can treat a variety of diseases, including genetic disorders, cancers, and viral infections, while minimizing off-target effects.
• Vaccination and Immunotherapy:
  Delivery of genetic material encoding antigens directly into dendritic cells or other antigen-presenting cells can generate strong and specific immune responses, forming the basis of DNA/RNA vaccines and personalized immunotherapies.

Gene Delivery AffiNANOTECH leverages affinity-based targeting and sophisticated nanoparticle engineering to enable precise and efficient delivery of genetic materials to specific cells and tissues.