Polymeric Materials for Gene Delivery and DNA Vaccination

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) Vol. 21; no. 8; pp. 847 - 867
• Main Authors: Nguyen, David N., Green, Jordan J., Chan, Juliana M., Langer, Robert, Anderson, Daniel G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 23-02-2009; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: Biomedical materials; Drug delivery; Polymeric materials
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.200801478

Gene delivery holds great potential for the treatment of many different diseases. Vaccination with DNA holds particular promise, and may provide a solution to many technical challenges that hinder traditional vaccine systems including rapid development and production and induction of robust cell‐mediated immune responses. However, few candidate DNA vaccines have progressed past preclinical development and none have been approved for human use. This Review focuses on the recent progress and challenges facing materials design for nonviral DNA vaccine drug delivery systems. In particular, we highlight work on new polymeric materials and their effects on protective immune activation, gene delivery, and current efforts to optimize polymeric delivery systems for DNA vaccination.
This Review highlights recent advances in the design of novel polymeric gene delivery systems for achieving nonviral DNA vaccination. Both microparticle and nanoparticle polymeric systems can be tailored for interaction with antigen presenting cells to improve transfection efficiency, stimulate the innate immune system, and achieve strong humoral and cellular responses to plasmid‐encoded antigens.