With the continuous influx of knowledge about the role of genes involved in acquired or hereditary diseases, the delivery of regulatory genes or nucleic acids into affected cells is a potentially promising strategy. During the past few decades, a large number of systems have been explored to modify the biodistribution and bioavailability of biomolecules by using carrier systems such as liposomes, micelles and nanoparticles. Amongst various nanoparticles prepared from polycationic polymers, polyethylenimine (PEI) takes a prominent position due to its high transfection efficiency owing to its...

Gene therapy is emerging as a new class of therapeutics for the treatment of inherited and acquired diseases. However, poor cellular uptake and instability of DNA in the physiological milieu limits its therapeutic potential, hence a vector which can protect and efficiently transport DNA to the target cells must be developed. Nanotechnology-based non-viral vectors have been proposed as potential candidates. Various polymeric nanoparticles have been shown to be suitable, with high cellular uptake efficiencies and reduced cytotoxicity. These delivery vectors form condensed complexes with DNA...