142results about "Naked nucleic acid ingredients" patented technology

The invention provides a method for generating an oligonucleotide with which an exon may be skipped in a pre-mRNA and thus excluded from a produced mRNA thereof. Further provided are methods for altering the secondary structure of an mRNA to interfere with splicing processes and uses of the oligonucleotides and methods in the treatment of disease. Further provided are pharmaceutical compositions and methods and means for inducing skipping of several exons in a pre-mRNA.

A method for preventing or treating cardiomyopathy due to energy failure in a subject in need thereof is provided. The method comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a vector which comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a gene that can reverse energy failure. An exemplary cardiomyopathy is that which is associated with Friedreich ataxia and an exemplary nucleic acid sequence comprises a nucleic acid that encodes frataxin (FXN).

The present invention is directed to protocells for specific targeting of hepatocellular and other cancer cells which comprise a nanoporous silica core with a supported lipid bilayer; at least one agent which facilitates cancer cell death (such as a traditional small molecule, a macromolecular cargo (e.g. siRNA or a protein toxin such as ricin toxin A-chain or diphtheria toxin A-chain) and / or a histone-packaged plasmid DNA disposed within the nanoporous silica core (preferably supercoiled in order to more efficiently package the DNA into protocells) which is optionally modified with a nuclear localization sequence to assist in localizing protocells within the nucleus of the cancer cell and the ability to express peptides involved in therapy (apoptosis / cell death) of the cancer cell or as a reporter, a targeting peptide which targets cancer cells in tissue to be treated such that binding of the protocell to the targeted cells is specific and enhanced and a fusogenic peptide that promotes endosomal escape of protocells and encapsulated DNA. Protocells according to the present invention may be used to treat cancer, especially including hepatocellular (liver) cancer using novel binding peptides (c-MET peptides) which selectively bind to hepatocellular tissue or to function in diagnosis of cancer, including cancer treatment and drug discovery.

In various embodiments, the present invention describes materials and methods for the local reprogramming of cells in a location where the treatment is applied. The invention can be used to replace lost cells or to restore function to tissue damaged due to disease, injury or genetic defect. In various embodiments, the treatment includes a semisolid hydrogel embedded with liposomes. The liposomes can contain an effector molecule or molecules. When phagocytic cells such as monocytes infiltrate the hydrogel, they encounter the liposomes and incorporate the liposomes carrying the effector molecules into the cells. In some embodiments, the effector molecules can be genetic material encoding the expression of specific proteins such as transcription factors, the expression of which can initiate the reprogramming of the cells. In other embodiments, the effector molecules can induce angiogenesis. In other embodiments, the effector molecules are tumor antigens. The matrix can contain other effector molecules designed to attract specific cells to the matrix. The cells can be released from the matrix as the matrix degrades or by active migration from the matrix. The cells can also remain in the matrix and secret molecules such as proteins and hormones that will diffuse through the matrix material to the surrounding tissue.

Provided are methods and compositions for nanoparticle delivery of payloads (e.g., nucleic acid and / or protein payloads) to cells. In some embodiments, a subject nanoparticle includes a core and a sheddable layer encapsulating the core, where the core includes (i) an anionic polymer composition; (ii) a cationic polymer composition; (iii) a cationic polypeptide composition; and (iv) a nucleic acid and / or protein payload; and where: (a) the anionic polymer composition includes polymers of D-isomers of an anionic amino acid and polymers of L-isomers of an anionic amino acid, and / or (b) the cationic polymer composition comprises polymers of D-isomers of a cationic amino acid and polymers of L-isomers of a cationic amino acid. In some cases, the polymers of D-isomers of an anionic and / or cationic amino acid are present at a ratio, relative to the polymers of L-isomers, in a range of from 10:1 to 1:10.