Compositions and methods for transport or release of therapeutic and diagnostic agents or metabolites or other analytes from cells, compartments within cells, or through
cell layers or barriers are described. The compositions include a membrane barrier transport enhancing agent and are usually administered in combination with an
enhancer and / or
exposure to stimuli to effect disruption or altered permeability, transport or release. In a preferred embodiment, the compositions include compounds which disrupt endosomal membranes in response to the low pH in the endosomes but which are relatively inactive toward
cell membranes (at physiologic pH, but can become active toward
cell membranes if the environment is acidified below ca. pH 6.8), coupled directly or indirectly to a therapeutic or
diagnostic agent. Other disruptive agents can also be used, responsive to stimuli and / or enhancers other than pH, such as light, electrical stimuli, electromagnetic stimuli,
ultrasound, temperature, or combinations thereof. The compounds can be coupled by ionic, covalent or H bonds to an agent to be delivered or to a ligand which forms a complex with the agent to be delivered. Agents to be delivered can be therapeutic and / or diagnostic agents. Treatments which enhance delivery such as
ultrasound,
iontopheresis, and / or electrophereis can also be used with the disrupting agents.