Novel polymer and lipid-based nanocarriers for gene delivery

• Author / Creator

  Fitzsimmons, Ross

• The following thesis describes original studies assessing the gene delivery efficacy of novel non-viral carrier combinations. The first panel of non-viral carriers tested are termed AVPs (artificial viral particles), in reference to their structural similarity to enveloped viruses, and were fabricated in a composite manner using a variety of polymers and lipids in order to deliver plasmid DNA. The most effective carrier found in these studies was 25 kDa PEI (polyethylenimine), with none of the AVPs showing a clear superior effect to that of 25 kDa PEI. While a highly effective gene carrier, PEI is extremely cytotoxic and hence PEI was conjugated with PEG (polyethylene glycol) in attempt to decrease its toxicity while maintaining its functionality. Ultimately, it was found that PEGylation generally decreased the transfection efficacy of PEI, but under ideal conditions of PEG substitution and polymer/DNA (w/w) ratio, this decrease in efficacy can be circumvented.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Gene delivery
  • Polymers
  • Liposomes

• Graduation date

  Spring 2012

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3CW7W

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.