EP1233671A1 - Compositions and methods for drug delivery using amphiphile binding molecules - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to the delivery of desired compounds (e.g., nucleic acids) into cells using noncovalent delivery systems which include complexing nucleic acids, amphipathic binding agents, and amphiphiles.

Description

COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR DRUG DELIVERY USING AMPHIPHILE BINDING MOLECULES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the delivery of desired compounds (e.g., drugs and nucleic acids) into cells using noncovalent delivery systems. The present invention provides compositions and methods for the delivery and release of a compound of interest to a cell.

BACKGROUND

Drug Delivery

A variety of methods and routes of administration have been developed to deliver pharmaceuticals that include small molecular drugs and biologically active compounds such as peptides, hormones, proteins, and enzymes to their site of action. Parenteral routes of administration include intravascular (intravenous, intraarterial), intramuscular, intraparenchymal, intradermal, subdermal, subcutaneous, intratumor, intraperitoneal, and intralymphatic injections that use a syringe and a needle or catheter. The blood circulatory system provides systemic spread of the pharmaceutical. Polyethylene glycol and other hydrophilic polymers have provided protection of the pharmaceutical in the blood stream by preventing its interaction with blood components and to increase the circulatory time of the pharmaceutical by preventing opsonization , phagocytosis and uptake by the reticuloendothelial system. For example, the enzyme adenosine deaminase has been covalently modified with polyethylene glycol to increase the circulatory time and persistence of this enzyme in the treatment of patients with adenosine deaminase deficiency.

The controlled release of pharmaceuticals after their administration is under intensive development. Pharmaceuticals have also been complexed with a variety of biologically-labile polymers to delay their release from depots. These polymers have included copolymers of poly(lactιc/ glycohc acid) (PLGA) (Jain, R et al Drug Dev Ind Pharm 24, 703-727 (1998), ethylvinyl acetate/polyvinyl alcohol (Metπkin, DC and Anand, R, Curr Opin Ophthalmol 5, 21-29, 1994) as typical examples of biodegradable and non-degradable sustained release systems respectively Transdermal routes of administration have been effected by patches and lonotophoresis Other epithelial routes include oral, nasal, respiratory, and vaginal routes of administration These routes have attracted particular interest for the delivery of peptides, proteins, hormones, and cytokines which are typically administered by parenteral routes using needles For example, the delivery of insulin via respiratory, oral, or nasal routes would be very attractive for patients with diabetes melhtus For oral routes, the acidity of the stomach (pH less than 2) is avoided for pH-sensitive compounds by concealing peptidase- sensitive polypeptides inside pH-sensitive hydrogel matrix (copolymers of polyethyleneglycol and polyacryhc acid) After passing low pH compartments of gastrointestinal tract such structures swells at higher pH releasing thus a bioactive compound (Lowman AM et al J Pharm Sci 88, 933-937 (1999) Capsules have also been developed that release their contents within the small intestine based upon pH-dependent solubility of a polymer Copolymers of polymethacrylic acid (Eudragit S, Rohm America) are known as polymers which are insoluble at lower pH but readily solubihzed at higher pH, so they are used as entenc coatings (Z Hu et al J Drug Target , 7, 223, 1999) Biologically active molecules may be assisted by a reversible formation of covalent bonds Quite often, it is found that the drug admimstered to a patient is not the active form of the drug, but is what is a called a prodrug that changes into the actual biologically active compound upon interactions with specific enzymes inside the body In particular, anticancer drugs are quite toxic and are admimstered as prodrugs which do not become active until they come in contact with the cancerous cell (Sezaki, II , Takakura, Y , Hashida, M Ad\ Drug Delivery Reviews 3, 193, 1989)

Recent studies have found that pH in solid tumors is 0 5 to 1 units lower than in normal tissue (Gerweck LE et al Cancer Res 56, 1 194 (1996) Hence, the use of pH- sensitive polymers for tumor targeting is justified However, this approach was demonstrated only in vitro (Berton, M, Eur J Pharm Biopharm 47, 1 19-23, 1999)

Liposomes were also used as drug delivery vehicles for low molecular weight drugs and macromolecules such as amphoteπcin B for systemic fungal infections and candidiasis Inclusion of anti-cancer drugs such as adπamycin have been developed to increase their delivery to tumors and reduce it to other tissue sites (e g heart) thereby decreasing their toxicity pH-sensitive polymers have been used m conjunction with posomes for the triggered release of an encapsulatede drug For example, hydrophobically-modified N- lsopropylacrylamide-methacryhc acid copolymer can render regular egg phosphatidyl chloline hposomes pH-sensitive by pH-dependent interaction of grafted aliphatic chains with hpid bilayer (O Meyer et al FEBS Lett , 421 , 61, 1998)

Gene And Nucleic Acid-Based Delivery

Gene or polynucleotide transfer is the cardinal process of gene therapy The gene needs to be transferred across the cell membrane and enter the nucleus where the gene can be expressed Gene transfer methods currently being explored included viral vectors and physical-chemical methods

Viruses have evolved over millions of year to transfer their genes into mammalian cells Viruses can be modified to carry a desired gene and become a "vector" for gene therapy Using standard recombinant techniques, the harmful or superfluous viral genes can be removed and replaced with the desired normal gene This was first accomplished with mouse retroviruses The development of retroviral vectors were the catalyst that promoted current gene therapy efforts However, they cannot infect all cell types very efficiently, especially in vivo Other viral vectors based on Herpes virus are being developed to enable more efficient gene transfer into brain cells Adenoviral and adenoassociated vectors are being developed to mfect lung and other cells

Besides using viral vectors, it is possible to directly transfer genes into mammalian cells Usually, the desired gene is placed within bacteπal plasmid DNA along with a mammalian promoter, enhancer, and other sequences that enable the gene to be expressed in mammalian cells Several milligrams of the plasmid DNA contaimng all these sequences can be prepared and puπfied from the bacterial cultures The plasmid DNA containing the desired gene can be incorporated into hpid vesicles (hposomes including catiomc pids such as Lipofectin) that then transfer the plasmid DNA into the target cell Plasmid DNA can also be complexed with proteins that target the plasmid DNA to specific tissues )ust as certain proteins are taken up (endocytosed) by specific cells Also, plasmid DNA can be complexed with polymers such as polylysme and polyethylemmine Another plasmid-based technique involves "shooting" the plasmid DNA on small gold beads into the cell using a "gun" Finally, muscle cells in vivo have the unusual ability to take up and express plasmid DNA

Gene therapy approaches can be classified into direct and indirect methods Some of these gene transfer methods are most effective when directly injected into a tissue space Direct methods using many of the above gene transfer techniques are being used to target tumors, muscle, liver, lung, and brain Other methods are most effective when applied to cells or tissues that have been removed from the body and the genetically-modified cells are then transplanted back into the body Indirect approaches in conjunction with retroviral vectors are being developed to transfer genes into bone marrow cells, lymphocytes, hepatocytes, myoblasts and skin cells

Gene Therapy And Nucleic Acid-Based Therapies

Gene therapy promises to be a revolutionary advance in the treatment of disease It is a fundamentally new approach for treating disease that is different from the conventional surgical and pharmaceutical therapies Conceptually, gene therapy is a relatively simple approach If someone has a defective gene, then gene therapy would fix the defective gene The disease state would be modified by manipulating genes instead of their products, l e proteins, enzymes, enzyme substrates and enzyme products Although, the initial motivation for gene therapy was the treatment of genetic disorders, it is becoming increasingly apparent that gene therapy will be useful for the treatment of a broad range of acquired diseases such as cancer, infectious disorders (AIDS), heart disease, arthritis, and neurodegenerative disorders (Parkinson's and Alzheimer's)

Gene therapy promises to take full-advantage of the major advances brought about by molecular biology While, biochemistry is mainly concerned with how the cell obtains the energy and matter that is required for normal function, molecular biology is mainly concerned with how the cell gets the information to perform its functions Molecular biology wants to discover the flow of information in the cell Using the metaphor of computers, the cell is the hardware while the genes are the software In this sense, the purpose of gene therapy is to provide the cell with a new program (genetic information) so as to reprogram a dysfunctional cell to perform a normal function The addition of a new cellular function is provided by the insertion of a foreign gene that expresses a foreign protein or a native protein at amounts that are not present in the patient

The inhibition of a cellular function is provided by anti-sense approaches (that is acting against messenger R A) and that includes o gonucleotides complementary to the messenger RNA sequence and πbozymes Messenger RNA (mRNA) is an intermediate in the expression of the DNA gene The mRNA is translated into a protein "Anti-sense" methods use a RNA sequence or an ohgonucleotide that is made complementary to the target mRNA sequence and therefore binds specifically to the target messenger RNA When this anti-sense sequence binds to the target mRNA, the mRNA is somehow destroyed or blocked from being translated Ribozymes destroy a specific mRNA by a different mechanism Ribozymes are RNA's that contain sequence complementary to the target messenger RNA plus a RNA sequence that acts as an enzyme to cleave the messenger RNA, thus destroying it and preventing it from being translated When these anti-sense or nbozyme sequences are introduced into a cell, they would inactivate their specific target mRNA and reduce their disease-causing properties

Several recessive genetic disorders are being considered for gene therapy One of the first uses of gene therapy in humans has been used for the genetic deficiency of the adenosine deaminase (ADA) gene Other clinical gene therapy trials have been conducted for cystic fibrosis, familial hypercholesteremia caused by a defectiv e LDL-receptor gene and partial ornithine transcarbomylase deficiency Both indirect and direct gene therapy approaches are being developed for Duchenne muscular dystrophy Patients with this type of muscular dystrophy eventually die from loss of their respiratory muscles Direct approaches include the intramuscular injection of naked plasmid DNA or adenoviral vectors

A wide variety of gene therapy approaches for cancer are under investigation in animals and in human clinical tπals One approach is to express in lymphocytes and in the tumor cells, cytokine genes that stimulate the immune system to destroy the cancer cells The cytokme genes would be transferred into the lymphocytes by removing the lymphocytes from the body and infecting them with a retroviral vector carrying the cytokme gene The tumor cells would be similarly genetically modified by this indirect approach to express cytokines within the tumor Direct approaches involving the expression of cytokines in tumor cells in situ are also being considered Other genes besides cytokines may be able to induce an immune response against the cancer One approach that has entered clinical tπals is the direct injection of HLA-B7 gene (which encodes a potent immunogen) within lipid vesicles mto malignant melanomas m order to induce a more effective immune response against the cancer

"Suicide" genes are genes that kill cells that express the gene For example, the diphtheria toxin gene directly kills cells The Herpes thymidme kinase (TK) gene kills cells in conjunction with acyclovir (a drug used to treat Herpes viral infections) Other gene therapy approaches take advantage of our knowledge of oncogenes and suppressor tumor genes- also known as anti- oncogenes The loss of a functioning anti- oncogene plays a decisive role in childhood tumors such as retinoblastoma, osteosarcoma and Wilms tumor and may play an important role in more common tumors such as lung, colon and breast cancer Introduction of the normal anti- oncogene back mto these tumor cells may convert them back to normal cells The activation of oncogenes also plays an important role in the development of cancers Since these oncogenes operate in a "dominant" fashion, treatment will require mactivation of the abnormal oncogene This can be done using either "anti-sense" or nbozyme methods that selectively inactivate a specific messenger RNA in a cell

Gene therapy can be used as a type of vaccination to prevent infectious diseases and cancer When a foreign gene is transferred into a cell and the protein is made, the foreign protein is presented to the immune system differently from simply injecting the foreign protein into the body This different presentation is more likely to cause a cell-mediated immune response which is important for fighting latent viral infections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV causes AIDS), Herpes and cytomegalovirus Expression of the viral gene withm a cell simulates a viral infection and induces a more effective immune response by fooling the body that the cell is actually infected by the virus, without the danger of an actual viral infection One direct approach uses the direct intramuscular injection of naked plasmid DNA to express a viral gene in muscle cells The "gun" has also been shown to be effective at inducing an immune response by expressing foreign genes in the skin Other direct approaches involving the use of retroviral, vaccima or adenoviral vectors are also being developed An indirect approach has been developed to remove fibroblasts from the skin, infect them with a retroviral vector carrying a viral gene and transplant the cells back into the body The envelope gene from the AIDS virus (HIV) is often used for these purposes Many cancer cells express specific genes that normal cells do not Therefore, these genes specifically expressed in cancer cells can be used for immunization against cancer

Besides the above immunization approaches, several other gene therapies are being developed for treating infectious disease Most of these new approaches are being developed for HIV infection and AIDS Many of them will involve the delivery of anti-sense or nbozyme sequences directed against the particular viral messenger RNA These anti-sense or nbozyme sequences will block the expression of specific viral genes and abort the viral infection without damaging the infected cell Another approach somewhat similar to the an. - sense approaches is to overexpress the target sequences for these regulatory HIV sequences Gene therapy efforts would be directed at lowering the nsk factors associated with atherosclerosis Overexpression of the LDL receptor gene would lower blood cholesterol in patients not only with familial hypercholesteremia but with other causes of high cholesterol levels The genes encoding the proteins for HDL ("the good cholesterol") could be expressed also in vanous tissues This would raise HDL levels and prevent atherosclerosis and heart attacks Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) protein is being given to patients immediately after their myocardial infarction to digest the blood clots and open up the blocked coronary blood vessels The gene for tPA could be expressed m the endothehal cells lining the coronary blood vessels and thereby deliver the tPA locally without providing tPA throughout the body Another approach for coronary vessel disease is to express a gene in the heart that produces a protein that causes new blood vessels to grow This would increase collateral blood flow and prevent a myocardial infarction from occurring

Neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases are good candidates for early attempts at gene therapy Arthritis could also be treated by gene therapy Several proteins and their genes (such as the IL- 1 receptor antagonist protein) have recently been discovered to be anti-inflammatory Expression of these genes in joint (synovial) fluid would decrease the joint inflammation and treat the arthritis

In addition, methods are being developed to directly modify the sequence of target genes and chromosomal DNA The delivery of a nucleic acid or other compound that modifies the genetic instruction (e g , by homologous recombination) can coπect a mutated gene or mutate a functioning gene

Polymers for Drug and Nucleic Acid Delivery

Polymers are used for drug delivery for a vanety of therapeutic purposes Polymers have also been used in research for the delivery of nucleic acids (polynucleotides and o gonucleotides) to cells with an eventual goal of providing therapeutic processes Such processes have been termed gene therapy or anti-sense therapy One of the several methods of nucleic acid delivery to the cells is the use of DNA-polycation complexes It has been shown that catiomc proteins like histones and protamines or synthetic polymers like polylysme, polyarginine, polyor thine, DEAE dextran, polybrene, and polyethylemmine may be effective mtracellular delivery agents while small polycations like sperm e are ineffective The following are some important principles involving the mechanism by which polycations facilitate uptake of DNA

Polycations provide attachment of DNA to the cell surface The polymer forms a cross-bridge between the polyaniomc nucleic acids and the polyaniomc surfaces of the cells As a result the main mechanism of DNA translocation to the mtracellular space might be non-specific adsorptive endocytosis which may be more effective then liquid endocytosis or receptor-mediated endocytosis Furthermore, polycations are a convenient linker for attaching specific hgands to DNA and as result, DNA- polycation complexes can be targeted to specific cell types

Polycations protect DNA in complexes against nuclease degradation This is important for both extra- and mtracellular preservation of DNA Gene expression is also enabled or increased by preventing endosome acidification with NH4CI or chloroquine Polyethylemmine, which facilitates gene expression without additional treatments, probably disrupts endosomal function itself Disruption of endosomal function has also been accomplished by linking to the polycation endosomal-disruptive agents such as fusion peptides or adenoviruses

Polycations can also facilitate DNA condensation The volume which one DNA molecule occupies in a complex with polycations is drastically lower than the volume of a free DNA molecule The size of a DNA/polymer complex is probably critical for gene delivery in vivo In terms of intravenous injection, DNA needs to cross the endothehal barrier and reach the parenchymal cells of interest The largest endothelia fenestrae (holes in the endothehal barrier) occur in the liver and have an average diameter of 100 n The trans- epithehal pores in other organs are much smaller, for example, muscle endothehum can be descπbed as a structure which has a large number of small pores with a radius of 4 nm, and a very low number of large pores with a radius of 20-30 nm The size of the DNA complexes is also important for the cellular uptake process After binding to the cells the DNA- polycation complex should be taken up by endocytosis Since the endocytic vesicles have a homogenous internal diameter of about 100 nm m hepatocytes and are of similar size in other cell types, DNA complexes smaller than 100 nm are preferred

Condensation of DNA

A significant number of multivalent cations with widely different molecular structures have been shown to induce condensation of DNA

Two approaches for compacting (used herein as an equivalent to the term condensing)

DNA 1 Multivalent cations with a charge of three or higher have been shown to condense

3+ 3+ DNA These include spermidine, spermme, Co(NH3)6 ,Fe , and natural or synthetic polymers such as histone HI, protamine, polylysme, and polyethylemmine Analysis has shown DNA condensation to be favored when 90% or more of the charges along the sugar- phosphate backbone are neutralized

2 Polymers (neutral or anionic) which can increase repulsion between DNA and its surroundings have been shown to compact DNA Most significantly, spontaneous DNA self- assembly and aggregation process have been shown to result from the confinement of large amounts of DNA, due to excluded volume effect

Depending upon the concentration of DNA, condensation leads to three mam types of structures

1) In extremely dilute solution (about 1 ug/mL or below), long DNA molecules can undergo a monomolecular collapse and form structures described as toroid

2) In very dilute solution (about 10 ug/mL) microaggregates form with short or long molecules and remain in suspension Toroids, rods and small aggregates can be seen in such solution

3) In dilute solution (about 1 mg/mL) large aggregates are formed that sediment readily

Toroids have been considered an attractive form for gene delivery because they have the smallest size While the size of DNA toroids produced within single preparations has been shown to vary considerably, toroid size is unaffected by the length of DNA being condensed DNA molecules from 400 bp to genomic length produce toroids similar in size Therefore one toroid can include from one to several DNA molecules The kinetics of DNA collapse by polycations that resulted in toroids is very slow For example DNA condensation by Co(NH3)6Cl3 needs 2 hours at room temperature

The mechanism of DNA condensation is not clear The electrostatic force between unperturbed helices aπses pπmaπly from a counteπon fluctuation mechanism requinng multivalent cations and plays a major role in DNA condensation The hydration forces predominate over electrostatic forces when the DNA helices approach closer then a few water diameters In a case of DNA - polymeric polycation interactions, DNA condensation is a more complicated process than the case of low molecular weight polycations Different polycationic proteins can generate toroid and rod formation with different size DNA at a ratio of positive to negative charge of two to five T4 DNA complexes with polyargimne or histone can form two types of structures, an elongated structure with a long axis length of about 350 nm (like free DNA) and dense spherical particles Both forms exist simultaneously in the same solution The reason for the co-existence of the two forms can be explained as an uneven distribution of the polycation chains among the DNA molecules The uneven distnbution generates two thermodynamically favorable conformations

The electrophoretic mobility of DNA -polycation complexes can change from negative to positive in excess of polycation It is likely that large polycations do not completely align along DNA but form polymer loops that interact with other DNA molecules The rapid aggregation and strong intermolecular forces between different DNA molecules may prevent the slow adjustment between helices needed to form tightly packed orderly particles As previously stated, preparation of polycation-condensed DNA particles is of particular importance for gene therapy, more specifically, particle delivery such as the design of non-viral gene transfer vectors Optimal transfection activity in vitro and in vivo can require an excess of polycation molecules However, the presence of a large excess of polycations may be toxic to cells and tissues Moreover, the non-specific binding of cationic particles to all cells forestalls cellular targeting Positive charge also has an adverse influence on biodistπbution of the complexes in vivo

Several modifications of DNA-cation particles have been created to circumvent the nonspecific interactions of the DNA-cation particle and the toxicity of cationic particles Examples of these modifications include attachment of steπc stabilizers, e g polyethylene glycol, which inhibit nonspecific interactions between the cation and biological polyamons Another example is recharging the DNA particle by the additions of polyamons, which interact with the cationic particle, thereby lowering its surface charge, l e recharging of the DNA particle U S 09/328,975 Another example is cross-linking the polymers and thereby caging the complex descπbed in U S 08/778,657, U S 09/000,692, U S 09/070299, and U S 09/464,871 Nucleic acid particles can be formed by the formation of chemical bonds and template polymeπzation descπbed in U S 08/778,657, U S 09/000,692, U S 09/070299, and U S 09/464,871

A potential problem with these modifications is that they may be irreversible rendeπng the particle unable to interact with the cell to be transfected, and/or incapable of escaping from the lysosome once taken into a cell, and/or incapable of entering the nucleus once inside the cell A method for formation of DNA particles that is reversible under conditions found in the cell may allow for effective delivery of DNA The conditions that cause the reversal of particle formation may be, but not limited to, the pH, ionic strength, oxidative or reductive conditions or agents, or enzymatic activity

DNA Template Polymerization Low molecular weight cations with valency < +3 fail to condense DNA in aqueous solutions under normal conditions However, cationic molecules w ith the charge <+3 can be polymerized in the presence of DNA and the resulting polymers can cause DNA to condense into compact structures Such an approach is known in synthetic polymer chemistry as template polymerization Duπng this process, monomers (which are initially weakly associated with the template) are positioned along template's backbone, thereby promoting their polymerization Weak elecrostatic association of the nascent polymer and the template becomes stronger with chain growth of the polymer Trubetskoy et al used two types of polymerization reactions to achieve DNA condensation step polymeπzation and chain polymeπzation (VS Trubetskoy, VG Budker, LJ Hanson, PM Slattum, JA Wolff, LE Hagstrom Nucleic Acids Res 26 4178-4185, 1998) U S 08/778,657, U S 09/000,692, U S 97/24089, U S 09/070299, and U S 09/464,871 Bιs(2-amιnoethyl)- l ,3-propanedιamιne (AEPD), a tetraamine with 2 5 positive charges per molecule at pH 8 was polymerized in the presence of plasmid DNA using cleavable disulfide amino-reactive cross-linkers dithiobis (succimmidyl propionate) and dimethyl-3,3'-dithiobispropionimidate Both reactions yielded DNA/polymer complexes with significant retardation m agarose electrophoresis gels demonstrating significant binding and DNA condensation Treatment of the polymenzed complexes with 100 mM dithiothreitol (DTT) resulted in the pDNA returning to its normal supercoiled position following electrophoresis proving thus cleavage the backbone of the The template dependent polymerization process was also tested using a 14 mer peptide encoding the nuclear localizing signal (NLS) of SV40 T antigen (CGYGPKKKRKVGGC) as a cationic "macromonomer" Other studies included pegylated comonomer (PEG-AEPD) into the reaction mixture and resulted in "worm"-hke structures (as judged by transmission electron microscopy) that have previously been observed with DNA complexes formed from block co-polymers of polylysme and PEG ( MA Wolfert, EH Schacht, V Toncheva, K Ulbrich, O Nazarova, LW Seymour Human Gene Ther 7 2123-2133, 1996) Blessing et al used bisthiol deπvative of spermine and reaction of thiol-disulfide exchange to promote chain growth The presence of DNA accelerated the polymerization reaction as measured the rate of disappearance of free thiols in the reaction mixture (T Blessing, JS Remy, JP Behr J Am

Chem Soc 120 8519-8520, 1998) "Caging" of polycati on-condensed DNA particles

The stability of DNA nanoassembhes based on DNA condensation is generally low in vivo because they easily engage in polyion exchange reactions with strong polyamons The process of exchange consists of two stages 1 ) rapid formation of a triple DNA-polycation- polyamon complex, 2) slow substitution of one same -charge polyion with another At equilibrium conditions, the whole process eventually results in formation of a new binary complex and an excess of a third polyion The presence of low molecular weight salt can greatly accelerate such exchange reactions, which often result in complete disassembly of condensed DNA particles Hence, it is desirable to obtain more colloidally stable structures where DNA would stay in its condensed form in complex with coπesponding polycation independently of environment conditions

The complete DNA condensation upon neutralization of only 90% of the polymer's phosphates results m the presence of unpaired positive charges in the DNA particles If the polycation contains such reactive groups, such as primary amines, these unpaired positive charges may be modified This modification allows practically limitless possibilities of modulating colloidal properties of DNA particles via chemical modifications of the complex We have demonstrated the utility of such reactions using traditional DNA-poly-L-lysme (DNA/PLL) system reacted with the cleavable cross-linking reagent dimethy 1-3,3 '- dithiobispropiommidate (DTBP) which reacts with pπmary ammo groups with formation of amidines (VS Trubetskoy, A Loomis, PM Slattum. JE Hagstrom, VG Budker, JA Wolff Bioconjugate Chem 10 624-628, 1999) U S 08/778,657. U S 09/000,692, U S 97/24089, U S 09/070299, and U S 09/464,871 Similar results were achieved with other polycations including poly(allylamιne) and histone HI The use of another bifucntional reagent, glutaraldehyde, has been descnbed for stabilization of DNA complexes with cationic peptide CWK18 (RC Adam, KG Rice J Pharm Sci 739-746, 1999)

Recharging

The cagmg approach described above could lead to more colloidally stable DNA assemblies However, this approach may not change the particle surface charge Cagmg with bifunctional reagents, which preserve positive charge of ammo group, keeps the particle positive However, negative surface charge would be more desirable for many practical applications, l e in vivo delivery The phenomenon of surface recharging is well known in colloid chemistry and is descπbed in great detail for lyophobic/lyophihc systems (for example, silver hahde hydrosols) Addition of polyion to a suspension of latex particles with oppositely-charged surface leads to the permanent absorption of this polyion on the surface and, upon reaching appropπate stoichiometry, changing the surface charge to opposite one This whole process is salt dependent with flocculation to occur upon reaching the neutralization point

We have demonstrated that similar layering of polyelectrolytes can be achieved on the surface of DNA/polycation particles (VS Trubetskoy, A Loomis, JE Hagstrom, VG Budker, JA Wolff Nucleic Acids Res 27 3090-3095, 1999) The pπncipal DNA-polycation (DNA/pC) complex used in this study was DNA/PLL (1 3 charge ratio) formed in low salt 25 mM HEPES buffer and recharged with increasing amounts of various polyamons The DNA particles were characterized after addition of a third polyion component to a DNA/polycation complex using a new DNA condensation assay (VS Trubetskoy, PM Slattum, JE Hagstrom, JA Wolff, VG Budker Anal Biochem 267 309-313, 1999) and static light scatteπng It has been found that certain polyamons such as poly(methacryhc acid) and poly(aspartιc acid) decondensed DNA in DNA/PLL complexes Suprisingly, polyamons of lower charge density such as succinylated PLL and poly(glutamιc acid), even when added in 20-fold charge excess to condensing polycation (PLL) did not decondense DNA in DNA/PLL (1 3) complexes Further studies have found that displacement effects are sak-dependent In addition, polyglutamate but not the relatively weaker polyanion succinylated poly-L-lysine (SPLL) displaces DNA at higher sodium chloride concentrations Measurement of z-potential of

DNA/PLL particles duπng titration with SPLL revealed the change of particle surface charge at approximately the charge equivalency point Thus, it can be concluded that addition of low charge density polyanion to the cationic DNA PLL particles results in particle surface charge reversal while maintaining condensed DNA core intact Finally, DNA/polycation complexes can be both recharged and crosslinked or caged U S 08/778,657, U S 09/000,692, U S 97/24089, U S 09/070299, and U S 09/464,871

The Use of pH-Sensitive Lipids, Amphipathic Compounds, and Liposomes for Drug and

Nucleic Acid Delivery After the landmark description of DOTMA (N-[l -(2,3-dιoleyloxy)propyl]-N.N,N- tπmethylammon m chloride) [Feigner, P L, Gadek, T R, Holm, M, et al Lipofection a highly efficient, pid-mediated DNA-transfection procedure Proc Natl Acad Sci USA

1987,84 7413-7417], a plethora of cationic lipids have been synthesized Basically, all the cationic lipids are amphipathic compounds that contain a hydrophobic domain, a spacer, and positively-charged amine The hydrophobic domains are typically hydrocarbon chains such as fatty acids derived from oleic or mynstic acid The hydrocarbon chains are often joined either by ether or ester bonds to a spacer such as glycerol Quaternary amines often compose the cationic groups Usually, the cationic lipids are mixed with a fusogemc lipid such as DOPE (dioleoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamme) to form hposomes The mixtures are mixed in chloroform that is then dπed Water is added to the dried lipid film and umlamellar hposomes form duπng somcation Multilamellar cationic hposomes and cationic hposomes/DNA complexes prepared by the reverse-phase evaporation method have also been used for transfection Cationic hposomes have also been prepared by an ethanol injection technique.

Several cationic lipids contain a spermine group for binding to DNA DOSPA, the cationic lipid within the Lipofect AMINE formulation (Life Technologies) contains a spermine linked via a amide bond and ethyl group to a tπmethyl, quaternary amine [Hawley- Nelson, P, Ciccarone, V and Jessee, J Lipofectamine reagent A new, higher efficiency polycationic posome transfection reagent Focus 1993, 15 73-79] A French group has synthesized a series of cationic lipids such as DOGS (dioctadecylglycinespermine) that contain spermine [Remy, J-S, Sirlm, C, Vierhng, P, et al Gene transfer with a series of lipophihc DNA-binding molecules Bioconjugate Chem 1994,5 647-654] DNA has also been transfected by lipophihc polylysines which contain dipalmotoylsuccinylglycerol chemically-bonded to low molecular weight (~3000 MW) polylysme [Zhou, X, Kilbanov, A and Huang, L Lipophihc polylysines mediate efficient DNA transfection in mammalian cells Biochim Bιoph\s Ada 1991 , 1065 8- 14 Zhou, X and Huang, L DNA transfection mediated by cationic hposomes containing hpopolylysme Characterization and mechanism of action Biochim Biophys Ada 1994, 1195-203] Other studies have used adjuvants with the cationic hposomes Transfection efficiency into Cos cells was increased when amphiphihc peptides derived from influenza virus hemagglutinm were added to DOTMA/DOPE hposomes [Kamata, H, Yagisawa, H, Takahashi, S, et al Amphiphihc peptides enhance the efficiency of hposome-mediated DNA transfection Nucleic Acids Res 1994,22 536-537] Cationic lipids have been combined with galactose gands for targeting to the hepatocyte asialoglycoprotem receptor [Remy, J-S, Kichler, A, Mordvinov, V, et al Targeted gene transfer into hepatoma cells with lipopolyamine -condensed DNA particles presenting galactose hgands A stage toward artificial viruses Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1995,92 1744-1748] Thiol-reactive phosphohpids have also been incorporated into cationic hpid/pDNA complexes to enable cellular binding even when the net charge of the complex is not positive [Kichler, A, Remy, J-S, Boussif, O, et al Efficient gene delivery with neutral complexes of pospermine and thiol-reactive phosphohpids Biochem s Res Comm 1995,209 444-450] DNA- dependent template process converted thiol-containmg detergent possessing high critical micelle concentration into dimeric hpid-hke molecule with apparently low water solubility (JP Behr and colleagues)

Cationic hposomes may deliver DNA either directly across the plasma membrane or via the endosome compartment Regardless of its exact entry point, much of the DNA withm cationic hposomes does accumulate in the endosome compartment Several approaches have been investigated to prevent loss of the foreign DNA in the endosomal compartment by protecting it from hydrolytic digestion within the endosomes or enabling its escape from endosomes mto the cytoplasm They include the use of acidotropic (lysomotrophic), weak amines such as chloroquine that presumably prevent DNA degradation by inhibiting endosomal acidification [Legendre, J & Szoka, F Delivery of plasmid DNA into mammalian cell lines using pH-sensitive hposomes Comparison with cationic hposomes Pharmaceut Res 9, 1235-1242 (1992)] Viral fusion peptides or whole virus have been included to disrupt endosomes or promote fusion of hposomes with endosomes, and facilitate release of DNA into the cytoplasm [Kamata, H , Yagisawa, H , Takahashi, S & Hirata, H Amphiphihc peptides enhance the efficiency of hposome-mediated DNA transfection Nucleic Acids Res 22, 536-537 (1994) Wagner, E , Cunel, D & Cotten, M Delivery of drugs, proteins and genes into cells using transferπn as a hgand for receptor-mediated endocytosis Advanced Drug Delιver\> Reviews 14, 1 13- 135 (1994)]

Knowledge of lipid phases and membrane fusion has been used to design potentially more versatile hposomes that exploit the endosomal acidification to promote fusion with endosomal membranes Such an approach is best exemplified by anionic, pH-sensitive hposomes that have been designed to destabilize or fuse with the endosome membrane at acidic pH [Duzgunes, N , Straubmger, R M , Baldwin, P A & Papahadjopoulos, D PH- sensitive hposomes (eds Wilschub, J & Hoekstra, D ) p 713-730 (Marcel Deker INC, 1991 )] All of the anionic, pH-sensitive hposomes have utilized phosphatidylethanolamme (PE) bilayers that are stabilized at non-acidic pH by the addition of lipids that contain a carboxyhc acid group Liposomes containing only PE are prone to the inverted hexagonal phase (H j) In pH-sensitive, anionic liposomes, the carboxyhc acid's negative charge increases the size of the lipid head group at pH greater than the carboxyhc acid's pK and thereby stabilizes the phosphatidylethanolamme bilayer At acidic pH within endosomes, the uncharged or reduced charge species is unable to stabilize the phosphatidylethanolamme -rich bilayer Anionic, pH-sensitive liposomes have delivered a variety of membrane-impermeant compounds including DNA However, the negative charge of these pH-sensitive liposomes prevents them from efficiently taking up DNA and interacting w ith cells, thus decreasing their utility for transfection We have described the use of cationic, pH-sensitive liposomes to mediate the efficient transfer of DNA into a variety of cells in culture U S 08/530,598, and U S 09/020,566

The Use of pH-Sensitive Polymers for Drug and Nucleic Acid Delivery

Polymers that pH-sensitive are ha\ e found broad application in the area of drug delivery exploiting various physiological and mtracellular pH gradients for the purpose of controlled release of drugs (both low molecular weight and polymeric) pH sensitivity can be broadly defined as any change in polymer's physico-chemical properties over certain range of pH More naπow definition demands significant changes in the polymer's ability to retain (release) a bioactive substance (drug) in a physiologically tolerated pH range (usually pH 5 5 - 8) pH-sensitivity presumes the presence of lomzable groups in the polymer (polyion) All polyions can be divided into three categoπes based on their ability to donate or accept protons in aqueous solutions polyacids, polybases and polyampholytes Use of pH-sensitive polyacids in drug delivery applications usually relies on their ability to become soluble with the pH increase (acid/salt conversion), to form complex with other polymers over change of pH or undergo significant change in hydrophobicity/hydrophihcity balance Combinations of all three above factors are also possible

Copolymers of polymethacryhc acid (Eudragit S. Rohm America) are known as polymers which are insoluble at lower pH but readily solubihzed at higher pH, so they are used as enteπc coatings designed to dissolve at higher intestinal pH (Z Hu et al J Drug Target , 7, 223, 1999) A typical example of pH-dependent complexation is copolymers of polyacrylate(graft)ethyleneglycol which can be formulated into various pH-sensitive hydrogels which exhibit pH-dependent swelling and drug release (F Madsen et al , Biomateπals, 20, 1701 , 1999) Hydrophobically-modified N-isopropylacrylamide- methacryhc acid copolymer can render regular egg PC liposomes pH-sensitive by pH- dependent interaction of grafted aliphatic chains with lipid bilayer (O Meyer et al , FEBS Lett , 421, 61, 1998) Polymers with pH -mediated hydrophobicity (like polyethylacryhc acid) can be used as endosomal disruptors for cytoplasmic drug delivery (Murthy, N , Robichaud, J R , Tirrell, D A , Stayton, P S , Hoffman, A S J Controlled Release 61 , 137, 1999) Polybases have found broad applications as agents for nucleic acid delivery m transfection/gene therapy applications due to the fact they are readily interact with polyacids A typical example is polyethylemmine (PEI) This polymer secures nucleic acid electrostatic adsorption on the cell surface followed by endocytosis of the whole complex Cytoplasmic release of the nucleic acid occurs presumably via the so called "proton sponge" effect according to which pH-sensitivity of PEI is responsible for endosome rupture due to osmotic swelling during its acidification (O Boussif et al Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92, 7297, 1995) Cationic acrylates possess the similar activity (for example, poly-((2-dιmethylamιno)ethyl methacrylate) (P van de Weteπng et al J Controlled Release 64, 193, 2000) However, polybases due to their polycationic nature pH-sensitive polybases have not found broad in vivo application so far, due to their acute systemic toxicity in vivo (JH Senior, Biochim Biophys Acta, 1070, 173, 1991) Milder polybases (for example, linear PEI) are better tolerated and can be used systemically for in vivo gene transfer (D Goula et al Gene Therapy 5, 712, 1998)

Endosome Disruption

Many biologically active compounds, in particular large and/or charged compounds, are incapable of crossing biological membranes In order for these compounds to enter cells they must either be taken up by the cells via endocytosis, into endosomes, or there must be a disruption of the cellular membrane to allow the compound to cross In the case of endosomal entry, the endosomal membrane must be disrupted to allow for the entrance of the compound in the enteπor of the cell Therefore, either entry pathway into the cell requires a disruption of the cellular membrane There exist compounds termed membrane active compounds that disrupt membranes One can imagine that if the membrane active agent were operative in a certain time and place it would facilitate the transport of the biologically active compound across the biological membrane The control of when and where the membrane active compound is active is crucial to effective transport If the membrane active compound is too active or active at the wrong time, then no transport occurs or transport is associated with cell rupture and thereby cell death Nature has evolved various strategies to allow for membrane transport of biologically active compounds including membrane fusion and the use membrane active compounds whose activity is modulated such that activity assists transport without toxicity Many hpid-based transport formulations rely on membrane fusion and some membrane active peptides' activities are modulated by pH In particular, viral coat proteins are often pH-sensitive, inactive at neutral or basic pH and active under the acidic conditions found in the endosome

Small Molecular Endosomolytic Agents

A cellular transport step that has attracted attention for gene transfer is that of DNA release from mtracellular compartments such as endosomes (early and late), lysosomes, phagosomes, vesicle, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi apparatus, trans golgi network (TGN), and sarcoplasmic reticulum Release includes movement out of an mtracellular compartment into cytoplasm or mto an organelle such as the nucleus A number of chemicals such as chloroqume, bafilomyc or Brefeldm Al have been used to disrupt or modify the trafficking of molecules through mtracellular pathways Chloroqume decreases the acidification of the endosomal and lysosomal compartments but also affects other cellular functions Brefeldm A, an isoprenoid fungal metabolite, collapses reversibly the Golgi apparatus into the endoplasmic reticulum and the early endosomal compartment into the trans-Golgi network (TGN) to form tubules Bafilomycm A\ , a macrohde antibiotic is a more specific inhibitor of endosomal acidification and vacuolar type IT^-ATPase than chloroqume

Viruses, Proteins and Peptides for Disruption of Endosomes and Endosomal Function Viruses such as adenovirus have been used to induce gene release from endosomes or other mtracellular compartments (D Cunel, Agarwal, S , Wagner, E , and Cotten, M PNAS 88 8850, 1991) Rhmovirus has also been used for this purpose (W Zauner et al J Virology 69 1085-92, 1995) Viral components such as influenza virus hemagglutimn subunit HA-2 analogs has also been used to induce endosomal release (E Wagner et al PNAS 89 7934, 1992) Amphipathic peptides resembling the N-terminal HA-2 sequence has been studied (K Mechtler and E Wagner, New J Chem 21 105- 1 1 1 , 1997) Parts of the pseudonmonas exotoxin and diptheπa toxm have also been used for drug delivery (I Pastan and D FitzGerald J Biol Chem 264 15157. 1989)

A variety of synthetic amphipathic peptides been used to enhance transfection of genes (N Ohmori et al Biochem Biophys Res Commun 235 726, 1997) The ER-retainmg signal (KDEL sequence) has been proposed to enhance delivery to the endoplasmic reticulum and prevent delivery to lysosomes (S Seetharam et al J Biol Chem 266 17376, 1991) Other Cellular and Intracellular Gradients Useful for Delivery

Nucleic acid and gene delivery may involve the biological pH gradient that is active withm organisms as a factor in delivering a polynucleotide to a cell Different pathways that may be affected by the pH gradient include cellular transport mechanisms, endosomal disruption/breakdown, and particle disassembly (release of the DNA) Other gradients that can be useful m gene therapy research involve ionic gradients that are related to cells For example, both Na and K have large concentration gradients that exist across the cell membrane Systems containing metal-binding groups can utilize such gradients to influence delivery of a polynucleotide to a cell Changes in the osmotic pressure in the endosome also have been used to disrupt membranes and allow for transport across membrane layer

Buffering of the endosome pH may cause these changes in osmotic pressure For example, the "proton sponge" effect of PEI (O Boussif et al Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92, 7297, 1995) and certain polyamons (Murtfiy, N , Robichaud, J R , Tiπell, D A , Stayton, P S , Hoffman, A S Journal of Controlled Release 1999, 61, 137) are postulated to cause an increase in the ionic strength inside of the endosome, which causes a increase in osmotic pressure This pressure increase results m membrane disruption and release of the contents of the endosome

In addition to pH and other ionic gradients, there exist other difference in the chemical environment associated with cellular activities that may be used in gene delivery In particular enzymatic activity both extra and intracellularly may be used to deliver the gene of interest either by aiding in the delivery to the cell or escape from mtracellular compartments Proteases, found in serum, lysosome and cytoplasm, may be used to disrupt the particle and allow its interaction with the cell surface or cause it fracture the mtracellular compartment, e g endosome or lysosome, allowing the gene to be released intracellularly

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to noncovalent amphiphile binding systems for use in biologic systems More particularly, amphiphile-bindmg agents and polymers of amphrphile-binding agents are utilized in the delivery of molecules, polymers, nucleic acids and genes to cells

Described in a preferred embodiment is a process for obtaining an expression product by de veπng a polynucleotide to a cell, comprising the step of associating an amphiphile binding agent, an amphiphile, and a polynucleotide to form a complex Then, dehvenng the complex to the cell and expressing the polynucleotide m the cell

In another prefened embodiment, a complex is described for delivering and expressing DNA in a mammal, comprising an amphiphile binding agent, an amphiphile, and DNA in complex

Another preferred embodiment is a process for obtaining an expression product in vivo, comprising forming a complex with a cyclodextnn, an amphiphile and a polynucleotide Then, delivering the complex to a cell in a mammal which expresses the polynucleotide

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following descπption provides exemplary embodiments of the systems, compositions, and methods of the present invention These embodiments include a variety of systems that have been demonstrated as effective delivery systems The invention is not limited to these particular embodiments

Cyclodextnn structure and binding properties

Cyclodextπns are naturally occumng cyclic ohgomers of glucose in 1 -4 α linkages (structure 1)

Cyclodextnn composed of six glucose units (N=6) is called -cyclodextrm, 7 units is called β-cyclodextπn, and 8 is called γ-cyclodextπn The cyclic structure is toπoidal in shape with the center of the toπoid relatively nonpolar compared to water For this reason, cyclodextnns will bind to nonpolar sections of amphipathic compounds, also known as amphiphihc compounds or amphiphiles, in water Amphiphiles are compounds that contain both hydrophilic and hydrophobic functional groups Examples include lipids, acyl-glycerol, sterols, polyethyleneglycol, and ammo acids Hydrophilic groups indicate in qualitative terms that the chemical moiety is water-preferring Typically, such chemical groups are water soluble, and are hydrogen bond donors or acceptors with water Examples of hydrophilic groups include compounds with the following chemical moieties, carbohydrates, polyoxyethylene, peptides, ohgonucleotides and groups containing amines, amides alkoxy amides, carboxyhc acids, sulfurs, or hydroxyls Hydrophobic groups indicate in qualitative terms that the chemical moiety is water-avoiding Typically, such chemical groups are not water soluble, and tend not to hydrogen bonds Hydrocarbons are hydrophobic groups Amphipathic compounds bound by cyclodextnns include hydrophobic ammo acids (e g leucine and phenylalanme), surfactants (e g sodium dodecylsulfate and Triton X-100), and lipids (e g palmitic acid) The strength of the interaction between cyclodextnn and an amphiphihc compound depends on the size of both the hydrophobic part of the amphiphile and the cyclodextnn For example, α-cyclodextnn will bind linear alkyl chains, but not branched tertiary alkyl groups, which are bound by β-cyclodextrm (Stella, V J , Rajewski, R A Pharm Res 1997, 14, 556 Stella, V J , Rao, V M , Zannov, E A , Zia, V Ad\ Drug Del Rev 1999, 36, 3 )

Nucleic Acid delivery by polycations and cationic lipids

There are many nonviral nucleic acid complexes that have been shown to aid in delivery of DNA into cells Nucleic acid includes DNA (plasmid DNA, antisense, ohgonucleotides) and RNA (πbozymes, ohgonucleotides, artificial messenger RNA) In general, these nonviral complexes may be grouped into two classes cationic lipid complexes ( poplexes) and catiomc polymer (polyplexes) complexes In either case, the polyaniomc DNA is complexed with a cation In hpoplexes, the cations are associated noncovalently by hydrophobic hpid- hpid interactions to form a polycation In polymer complexes, the positive charges are attached covalently to form a polycation Nucleic acids are delivered to cells for the purpose of gene therapy and antisense therapy

Nucleic Acids Complexes Containing Cyclodextnns

As mentioned previously, cyclodextnns form complexes with amphipathic molecules that may be positively or negatively charged Therefore, a polymer composed of cyclodextnns will become a polyion, a noncovalent amphiphihc electrolyte, when associated with a charged amphiphile For example, association between a polymer composed of cyclodextnns and a catiomc amphiphile will result in a polycation that may interact with DNA In a preferred embodiment, a cyclodextπn-containmg polymers are constructed by reacting cyclodextnn with epichlorohydrin under alkaline conditions to produce cyclodextπn- epichlorohydnn copolymer This cyclodextnn- epichlorohydrin copolymer, compacts pDN A upon addition of cations such as 1 -adamantanamine or 1 -dodecylamine The complex of cyclodextnn- epichlorohydrin copolymer and 1 -adamantanamine or 1 -dodecylamine is a cationic noncovalent amphiphihc polyelectrolyte, which is capable of condensing DNA In addition, cationic amphiphiles that are polymers that are bound to monomeπc or polymeric amphiphile binding agents may be used to compact DNA Such DNA-containing complexes may be used for transfection of cells

Amphiphile binding agents may also be used to create anionic noncovalent amphiphihc polyelectrolytes Association between a polymer composed of cyclodextnns and an anionic amphiphile will result in a polyanion that will interact with a positively-charged DNA-polycation complex, I e "recharge" the DNA complex In a preferred embodiment, the complex between cyclodextnn- epichlorohydπn copolymer and 4-t-butylbenzoιc acid, to form an anionic noncovalent amphiphihc polyelectrolyte, was added to particles of DNA and poly-L-lysine The resulting particles were found to transfect cells in vitro In addition, anionic amphiphiles that are polymers that are bound to monomeπc or polymeric amphiphile binding agents may be used to "recharge" DNA particles For example, succinyloleoylpoly- L-lysine is an anionic polymeric amphiphile which complexes with the amphiphile binding agent β-cyclodextπn and interacts ("recharges") a poly-L-lysme condensed DNA particle The addition of the cyclodextnn increased the transfection of the recharged particle 33 fold over recharged particle in the absence of cyclodextnn

Not only is the cyclodextnn the basis for the DNA-polyion interaction, but cyclodextπn-based polyions may have properties (e g surface charge and stability) different from standard polyions In contrast to standard polyions, the polyions deπved from cyclodextrin-containing polymers and charged amphiphiles are reversible The existence of the polyion is dependent upon the concentration of the cyclodextrin-containing polymer and the charged amphiphile, such that the disruption of the polyion maybe tπgger by simple dilution of either cyclodextnn or charged amphiphile Monomeπc cyclodextnns may also be incorporated into nucleic acid complexes by association with amphiphile molecules in a DNA complex In this case, the cyclodextnns are not the basis for the DNA-electrolyte interactions, but may be used to change the properties of the DNA-electrolyte complex, e g stability or surface charge The addition of cyclodextnn into a DNA particle also adds hydrophilic, but not chaiged, moieties to the particle Hydrophilic molecules (e g PEG) have been shown to increase solubility of DNA particles, decrease the surface charge and thereby increase their stability Cyclodextπns have the ability to bind to other noniomc hydrophilic molecules such as PEG Therefore, addition of PEG to a cyclodextrin-containing DNA particle will result in PEG-particle interactions, which may confer the particle with added stability Unlike other examples of PEG stabilization of DNA particles, the interaction between DNA particle and PEG is transient and may release under dilute, delivery conditions The rate at which the PEG may be released may be altered by the number of PEG molecules incorporated, the number of cyclodextπns, and the incorporation of PEG derivatives with strong cyclodextnn binding regions (e g t-octylphenyl group of Triton X- 100) In a prefeπed embodiment, addition of the PEG-deπved detergent Triton X-100 to particles of DNA and poly-L-lysine-succinyl-β- cyclodextπn resulted in particles that were more stable than particles without addition of the Tnton X-100

Likewise, cell targeting hgands aid m transport to a cell but may not be necessary, and may inhibit, transport mto a cell In all of these cases, the reversible attachment of the interaction modifier, through a labile bond, would be beneficial

The present invention provides for the transfer of polynucleotides, and other biologically active compounds into cells in culture (also known as ".« \ iti o") Compounds or kits for the transfection of cells in culture is commonly sold as "transfection reagents" or "transfection kits" The present invention also provides for the transfer of polynucleotides, and biologically active compounds into cells within tissues in situ and m \ ιvo, and delivered intravasculary (U S patent application serial number 08/571,536), lntrarteπally, intravenous, orally, intraduodenaly. \ ιa the jejunum (or lleum or colon), rectally, transdermally, subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intrapeπtoneally, intraparenterally, via direct injections mto tissues such as the liver, lung, heart, muscle, spleen, pancreas, brain (including lntraventncular), spinal cord, ganglion, lymph nodes, lymphatic system, adipose tissues, thryoid tissue, adrenal glands, kidneys, prostate, blood cells, bone marrow cells, cancer cells, tumors, eye retina, via the bile duct, or via mucosal membranes such as in the mouth, nose, throat, vagina or rectum or into ducts of the salivary or other exocnne glands Compounds for the transfection of cells in vivo in a whole organism can be sold as "in vivo transfection reagents" or ".« vivo transfection kits" or as a pharmaceutical for gene therapy

Definitions

To facilitate an understanding of the present inve ntion, a number of terms and phrases are defined below

Amphiphile Binding Agent Amphiphile binding agents are compounds with molecular weight 1,300 or less that bind through a noncovalent interaction amphiphihc compounds in water The basis for this interaction is contact between hydrophobic portions of the amphiphile with hydrophobic portions of the amphiphile binding agent In particular α, β and γ-cyclodextπns. and their derivatives, are amphiphile binding agents

Polymeric Amphiphile Binding Agent

Polyermic amphiphile binding agent is a polymer composed of monomers that are amphiphile binding agents

Noncovalent Amphiphilic Electrolytes

Noncovalent amphiphihc polyelectrolytes are systems composed of amphiphile binding agents and charged amphiphiles, which are bound by the amphiphile binding agents The interaction between charged amphiphile and polymer results in a complex that has a different charge than the amphiphile binding agent alone The amphiphile binding agent ma\ be uncharged, charge positive or neutral, but upon interaction with a charged amphiphile the charge of the complex is different than the amphiphile binding agent alone

Biologically active compound

A biologically active compound is a compound having the potential to react with biological components More particularly, biologically active compounds utilized in this specification are designed to change the natural processes associated with a living cell For purposes of this specification, a cellular natural process is a process that is associated with a cell before delivery of a biologically active compound In this specification, the cellular production of, or inhibition of a material, such as a protein, caused by a human assisting a molecule to an in vivo cell is an example of a delivered biologically active compound Pharmaceuticals, proteins, peptides, polypeptides, enzyme inhibitors, hormones, cytokines, antigens, viruses, ohgonucleotides, enzymes and nucleic acids are examples of biologically active compounds

Peptide and Polypeptide

Peptide and polypeptide refer to a series of ammo acid residues, more than two, connected to one another by amide bonds between the beta or alpha-ammo group and carboxyl group of contiguous ammo acid residues The amino acids may be naturally occumng or synthetic Polypeptide includes proteins and peptides, modified proteins and peptides, and non-natural proteins and peptides Enzymes are proteins evolved by the cells of living organisms for the specific function of catalyzing chemical reactions A chemical reaction is defined as the formation or cleavage of covalent or ionic bonds Bioactn e compounds may be used interchangeably with biologically active compound for purposes of this application

Cyclodextrin

A cyclic ohgomer of alpha-D-glucopyranose

Delivery of Biologically active compound

The delivery of a biologically active compound is commonly known as "drug delivery" "Delivered" means that the biologically active compound becomes associated with the cell or organism The compound can be in the circulatory system, intravessel, extracellular, on the membrane of the cell or inside the cytoplasm, nucleus, or other organelle of the cell

Parenteral routes of administration include intravascular (intravenous, mtraartenal), intramuscular, mtraparenchymal, intradermal, subdermal, subcutaneous, mtratumor lntrapeπtoneal, intrathecal, subdural, epidural, and mtralymphatic inactions that use a synnge and a needle or catheter An intravascular route of administration enables a polymer or polynucleotide to be delivered to cells more evenly distributed and more efficiently expressed than direct injections Intravascular herein means withm a tubular structure called a vessel that is connected to a tissue or organ within the body Within the cavity of the tubular structure, a bodily fluid flows to or from the body part Examples of bodily fluid include blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), lymphatic fluid, or bile Examples of vessels include arteries, arteπoles, capillaries, venules, sinusoids, veins, lymphatics, and bile ducts The intravascular route includes delivery through the blood vessels such as an artery or a vein An administration route involving the mucosal membranes is meant to include nasal, bronchial, inhalation into the lungs, or via the eyes Other routes of administration include intraparenchymal into tissues such as muscle (intramuscular), liver, bram, and kidney Transdermal routes of administration have been effected by patches and lonotophoresis Other epithelial routes include oral, nasal, respiratory, and vaginal routes of administration Delivery System

Delivery system is the means by which a biologically active compound becomes delivered That is all compounds, including the biologically active compound itself, that are required for delivery and all procedures required for delivery including the form (such volume and phase (solid, liquid, or gas)) and method of administration (such as but not limited to oral or subcutaneous methods of delivery)

Nucleic Acid

The term "nucleic acid" is a term of art that refers to a polymer containing at least two nucleotides "Nucleotides" contain a sugar deoxynbose (DNA ) or πbose (RNA), a base, and a phosphate group Nucleotides are linked together through the phosphate groups "Bases" include purmes and pyπmidmes, which further include natural compounds adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosme, uracil, inosme, and natural analogs, and synthetic denvatives of purmes and pynmidmes, which include, but are not limited to, modifications which place new reactive groups such as, but not limited to, amines, alcohols, thiols, carboxylates, and alkylhahdes Nucleotides are the monomeπc units of nucleic acid polymers A "polynucleotide" is distinguished here from an "o gonucleotide" by containing more than 80 monomeπc units, ohgonucleotides contain from 2 to 80 nucleotides The term nuclei acid includes deoxynbonucleic acid (DNA) and nbonucleic acid (RNA) The term encompasses sequences that include any of the known base analogs of DNA and RNA including, but not limited to, 4-acetylcytosme, 8-hydroxy-N6-methyladenosme. aziπdmylcytosine, pseudoisocytosine, 5-(carboxyhydroxylmethyl) uracil, 5-fluorouracιl, 5-bromouracιl, 5- carboxymethylamιnomethyl-2-thιouracιl, 5-carboxymethylamιnomethyluracιl, dihydrouracil, inosme, N6-ιsopentenyladenme, 1 -methyladenme, 1-methylpseudouracιl, 1 -methylguanine,

1 -methy nosine, 2,2-dιmethylguanιne, 2-methylademne, 2-methylguanιne, 3-methylcytosιne,

5-methylcytosιne, N6-methyladenιne, 7-methylguamne, 5-rnethylamιnomethyluracιl, 5- methoxyamιnomethyl-2-thιourac il, beta-D-mannosylqueosine, 5'-methoxycarbonylmethyluracιl, 5-methoxyuracιl, 2-methylthιo-N6-ιsopentenyladenιne, uracil- 5-oxyacetιc acid methylester, uracιl-5-oxyacetιc acid, oxybutoxosine, pseudouracil, queosine, 2-thιocytosιne, 5-methyl-2-thιouracιl, 2-thιouracιl, 4-thιouracιl, 5-methyluracιl, N- uracιl-5-oxyacetιc acid methylester, uracil- 5-oxyacetιc acid, pseudouracil, queosine, 2- thiocytosme, and 2,6-dιamιnopuπne

DNA may be in the form of anti-sense, plasmid DNA, parts of a plasmid DNA, product of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), vectors (PI, PAC, BAC, YAC, artificial chromosomes), expression cassettes, chimeπc sequences, chromosomal DNA, or derivatives of these groups RNA may be in the form of ohgonucleotide RNA, tRNA (transfer RNA), snRNA (small nuclear RNA), rRNA (ribosomal RNA), mRNA (messenger RNA), anti-sense RNA, πbozymes, chimeπc sequences, or derivatives of these groups

"Anti-sense" is a polynucleotide that interferes with the function of DNA and/or RNA This may result in suppression of expression Natural nucleic acids have a phosphate backbone, artificial nucleic acids may contain other types of backbones and bases These include PNAs (peptide nucleic acids), phosphothionates, and other variants of the phosphate backbone of native nucleic acids In addition, DNA and RNA may be single, double, tnple, or quadruple stranded

The term "recombinant DNA molecule" as used herein refers to a DNA molecule that is comprised of segments of DNA joined together by means of molecular biological techniques "Expression cassette" refers to a natural or recombinantly produced polynucleotide molecule that is capable of expressing proteιn(s) A DNA expression cassette typically includes a promoter (allowing transcription initiation), and a sequence encoding one or more proteins Optionally, the expression cassette may include trancπptional enhancers, non-coding sequences, splicing signals, transcription termination signals, and polyadenylation signals An RNA expression cassette typically includes a translation initiation codon (allowing translation initiation), and a sequence encoding one or more proteins Optionally, the expression cassette may include translation termination signals, a polyadenosine sequence, internal πbosome entry sites (IRES), and non-coding sequences A nucleic acid can be used to modify the genomic or extrachromosomal DNA sequences This can be achieved by delivering a nucleic acid that is expressed Alternatively, the nucleic acid can effect a change in the DNA or RNA sequence of the target cell This can be achieved by homologous recombination, gene conversion, or other, yet to be described, mechanisms Gene

The term "gene" refers to a nucleic acid (e g , DNA) sequence that comprises coding sequences necessary for the production of a polypeptide or precursor (e g -myosm heavy chain) The polypeptide can be encoded by a full length coding sequence or by any portion of the coding sequence so long as the desired activity or functional properties (e g , enzymatic activity, hgand binding, signal transduction, etc ) of the full-length or fragment are retained The term also encompasses the coding region of a structural gene and the including sequences located adjacent to the coding region on both the 5' and 3' ends for a distance of about 1 kb or more on either end such that the gene corresponds to the length of the full- length mRNA The sequences that are located 5' of the coding region and which are present on the mRNA are refeπed to as 5' non-translated sequences The sequences that are located 3' or downstream of the coding region and which are present on the mRNA are referred to as 3' non-translated sequences The term "gene" encompasses both cDNA and genomic forms of a gene A genomic form or clone of a gene contains the coding region interrupted with non-coding sequences termed "introns" or "intervening regions" or "intervening sequences " Introns are segments of a gene which are transcnbed into nuclear RNA (hnRNA), introns may contain regulatory elements such as enhancers Introns are removed or "spliced out" from the nuclear or pπmary transcnpt, introns therefore are absent in the messenger RNA (mRNA) transcript The mRNA functions during translation to specify the sequence or order of ammo acids m a nascent polypeptide

As used herein, the terms "nucleic acid molecule encoding," "DNA sequence encoding," and "DNA encoding" refer to the order or sequence of deoxyπbonucleotides along a strand of deoxyπbonucleic acid The order of these deoxyπbonucleotides determines the order of amino acids along the polypeptide (piotem) chain The DNA sequence thus codes for the amino acid sequence

As used herein, the terms "an oligonucleotide having a nucleotide sequence encoding a gene" and "polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence encoding a gene," means a nucleic acid sequence comprising the coding region of a gene or in other words the nucleic acid sequence which encodes a gene product The coding region may be present m either a cDNA, genomic DNA or RNA form When present in a DNA form, the oligonucleotide or polynucleotide may be single-stranded (i e , the sense strand) or double-stranded Suitable control elements such as enhancers/promoters, splice junctions, polyadenylation signals, etc may be placed in close proximity to the coding region of the gene if needed to permit proper initiation of transcription and or correct processing of the pπmary RNA transcript Alternatively, the coding region utilized in the expression vectors of the present invention may contain endogenous enhancers/promoters, splice junctions, intervening sequences, polyadenylation signals, etc or a combination of both endogenous and exogenous control elements The term "isolated" when used m relation to a nucleic acid, as in "an isolated oligonucleotide" or "isolated polynucleotide" refers to a nucleic acid sequence that is identified and separated from at least one contaminant nucleic acid with which it is ordinarily associated in its natural source Isolated nucleic acid is such present in a form or setting that is different from that in which it is found in nature In contrast, non-isolated nucleic acids as nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA found in the state they exist in nature For example, a given DNA sequence (e g , a gene) is found on the host cell chromosome in proximity to neighboring genes, RNA sequences, such as a specific mRNA sequence encoding a specific protein, are found in the cell as a mixture with numerous other mRNAs that encode a multitude of proteins However, isolated nucleic acid encoding a given protein includes, by way of example, such nucleic acid in cells ordinaπly expressing the given protein where the nucleic acid is in a chromosomal location different from that of natural cells, or is otherwise flanked by a different nucleic acid sequence than that found m nature The isolated nucleic acid, oligonucleotide, or polynucleotide may be present m single-stranded or double-stranded form When an isolated nucleic acid, oligonucleotide or polynucleotide is to be utilized to express a protein, the oligonucleotide or polynucleotide will contain at a minimum the sense or coding strand (. e , the oligonucleotide or polynucleotide may be single-stranded), but may contain both the sense and anti-sense strands (. e , the oligonucleotide or polynucleotide may be double-stranded)

Gene Expression

As used herein, the term "gene expression" refers to the process of converting genetic information encoded in a gene into RNA (e g , mRNA, rRNA, tRNA, or snRNA) through

"transcnption" of the gene (i e , via the enzymatic action of an RNA polymerase), and for protein encoding genes, into protein through "translation" of mRNA Gene expression can be regulated at many stages in the process "Up-regulation" or "activation" refers to regulation that increases the production of gene expression products (t e , RNA or protein), while

"down-regulation" or "repression" refers to regulation that decrease production Molecules

(e g , transcnption factors) that are involved in up-regulation or down-regulation are often called "activators" and "repressors," respectively Delivery of Nucleic Acids

The process of delivering a polynucleotide to a cell has been commonly termed "transfection" or the process of "transfecting" and also it has been termed "transformation" The polynucleotide could be used to produce a change in a cell that can be therapeutic The delivery of polynucleotides or genetic material for therapeutic and research purposes is commonly called "gene therapy" The delivery of nucleic acid can lead to modification of the DNA sequence of the target cell

The polynucleotides or genetic material being delivered are generally mixed with transfection reagents prior to delivery The term "transfection" as used herein refers to the introduction of foreign DNA into eukaryotic cells Transfection may be accomplished by a vanety of means known to the art including calcium phosphate-DNA co-precipitation, DEAE-dextran-mediated transfection, polybrene-mediated transfection, electroporation, micromjection, hposome fusion, hpofection, protoplast fusion, retroviral infection, and biohstics

The term "stable transfection" or 'stably transfected" refers to the introduction and integration of foreign DNA into the genome of the transfected cell The term "stable transfectant" refers to a cell which has stably integrated foreign DNA into the genomic DNA The term "transient transfection" or "transiently transfected" refers to the introduction of foreign DNA into a cell where the foreign DNA fails to integrate into the genome of the transfected cell The foreign DNA persists in the nucleus of the transfected cell for several days Duπng this time the foreign DNA is subject to the regulatory controls that govern the expression of endogenous genes in the chromosomes The term "transient transfectant" refers to cells which have taken up foreign DNA but have failed to integrate this DNA The term "naked polynucleotides" indicates that the polynucleotides are not associated with a transfection reagent or other delivery vehicle that is required for the polynucleotide to be delivered to a cell

A "transfection reagent" or "delivery vehicle" is a compound or compounds that bιnd(s) to or complex(es) with ohgonucleotides, polynucleotides, or other desired compounds and mediates their entry into cells Examples of transfection reagents include, but are not limited to, cationic liposomes and lipids, polyamines, calcium phosphate precipitates, histone proteins, polyethylemmine, and polylysme complexes (polyethylemmine and polylysme are both toxic) Typically, when used for the delivery of nucleic acids, the transfection reagent has a net positive charge that binds to the polynucleotide's negative charge For example, cationic liposomes or polylysme complexes have net positive charges that enable them to bind to DNA or RNA

Enzyme Enzyme is a protein that acts as a catalyst That is a protein that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change The chemical reactions that are catalyzed by an enzyme are termed enzymatic reactions and chemical reactions that are not are termed nonenzymatic reactions

Complex

Two molecules are combined, to form a complex through a process called complexation or complex formation, if the are in contact with one another through noncovalent interactions such as electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding interactions, and hydrophobic interactions

Modification

A molecule is modified, to fo rm a modification through a process called modification, by a second molecule if the two become bonded through a covalent bond That is, the two molecules form a covalent bond between an atom form one molecule and an atom from the second molecule resulting in the formation of a new single molecule A chemical covalent bond is an interaction, bond, between two atoms in which there is a shaπng of electron density

Osmosis Osmosis is the passage of a solvent through a semipermeable membrane, a membrane through which solvent can pass but not all solutes, separating two solutions of different concentrations There is a tendency for the separated solutions to become the same concentration as the solvent passes from low concentration to high concentration Osmosis will stop when the two solutions become equal in concentration or when pressure is applied to the solution containing higher concentration When the higher concentrated solution is in a closed system, that is when system is of constant volume, there is a build up of pressure as the solvent passes from low to high concentration This build up of pressure is called osmotic pressure Salt

A salt is any compound containing ionic bonds, that is bonds in which one or more electrons are transferred completely from one atom to another

Interpolyelectrolyte Complexes

An interpolyelectrolyte complexe is a noncovalent interaction between polyelectrolytes of opposite charge

Charge, Polarity, and Sign The charge, polarity, or sign of a compound refers to whether or not a compound has lost one or more electrons (positive charge, polarity, or sign ) or gained one or more electrons (negative charge, polarity, or sign)

Cell Targeting Signals Cell targeting signal (or abbreviated as the Signal) is defined in this specification as a molecule that modifies a biologically active compounds such as drug or nucleic acid and can direct it to a cell location (such as tissue) or location in a cell (such as the nucleus) either in culture or in a whole orgamsm. By modifying the cellular or tissue location of the foreign gene, the function of the biologically active compound can be enhanced The cell targeting signal can be a protein, peptide, lipid, steroid, sugar, carbohydrate,

(non-expresssing) polynucleic acid or synthetic compound The cell targeting signal enhances cellular binding to receptors, cytoplasmic transport to the nucleus and nuclear entry or release from endosomes or other mtracellular vesicles

Nuclear localizing signals enhance the targeting of the pharmaceutical into proximity of the nucleus and/or its entry into the nucleus Such nuclear transport signals can be a protein or a peptide such as the SV40 large T ag NLS or the nucleoplasmin NLS These nuclear localizing signals interact with a variety of nuclear transport factors such as the NLS receptor (karyophenn alpha) which then interacts with karyophenn beta The nuclear transport proteins themselves could also function as NLS's since they are targeted to the nuclear pore and nucleus For example, karyophenn beta itself could target the DNA to the nuclear pore complex Several peptides have been derived from the SV40 T antigen These include a short NLS (H-CGYGPKKKRKVGG-OH) or long NLS's (H- CKKKSSSDDEATADSQHSTPPKKKRKVEDPKDFPSELLS-OH and H-

CKKKWDDEATADSQHSTPPKKKRKVEDPKDFPSELLS-OH) Other NLS peptides have been denved from M9 protein (CYNDFGNYNNQSSNFGPMKQGNFGGRSSGPY), El A (H-CKRGPKRPRP-OH), nucleoplasmin (H-CKKAVKRPAATKKAGQAKKKKL-OH),and c-myc (H-CKKKGPAAKRVKLD-OH)

Signals that enhance release from mtracellular compartments (releasing signals) can cause DNA release from mtracellular compartments such as endosomes (early and late), lysosomes, phagosomes, vesicle, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi apparatus, trans golgi network (TGN), and sarcoplasmic reticulum Release includes movement out of an mtracellular compartment into cytoplasm or into an organelle such as the nucleus Releasing signals include chemicals such as chloroqume, bafilomycm or Brefeldm A 1 and the ER-retaining signal (KDEL sequence), viral components such as influenza virus hemagglutimn subumt HA-2 peptides and other types of amphipathic peptides

Cellular receptor signals are any signal that enhances the association of the biologically active compound with a cell This can be accomplished by either increasing the binding of the compound to the cell surface and/or its association with an mtracellular compartment, for example hgands that enhance endocytosis by enhancing binding the cell surface This includes agents that target to the asialoglycoprotein receptor by using asiologlycoproteins or galactose residues Other proteins such as insulin, EGF, or transfemn can be used for targeting Peptides that include the RGD sequence can be used to target many cells Chemical groups that react with thiol, sulfhydryl, or disulfide groups on cells can also be used to target many types of cells Folate and other vitamins can also be used for targeting Other targeting groups include molecules that interact with membranes such as lipids, fatty acids, cholesterol, dansyl compounds, and amphoteπcin denvatives In addition viral proteins could be used to bind cells

Interaction Modifiers

An interaction modifier changes the way that a molecule interacts with itself or other molecules, relative to molecule containing no interaction modifier The result of this modification is that self-interactions or interactions with other molecules are either increased or decreased For example cell targeting signals are interaction modifiers that change the interaction between a molecule and a cell or cellular component Polyethylene glycol is an interaction modifier that decreases interactions between molecules and themselves and with other molecules

Reporter or Marker Molecules Reporter or marker molecules are compounds that can be easily detected Typically they are fluorescent compounds such as fluorescein, rhodamine, Texas red, cy 5, cy 3 or dansyl compounds They can be molecules that can be detected by infrared, ultraviolet or visible spectroscopy or by antibody interactions or by electron spin resonance Biotm is another reporter molecule that can be detected by labeled avidin Biotin could also be used to attach targeting groups

Linkages

An attachment that provides a covalent bond or spacer between two other groups (chemical moieties) The linkage may be electronically neutral, or may bear a positive or negative charge The chemical moieties can be hydrophilic or hydrophobic Preferred spacer groups include, but are not limited to C1-C12 alkyl, C 1-C 12 alkenyl, C1-C12 alkynyl, C6- C18 aralkyl, C6-C18 aralkenyl, C6-C18 aralkynyl, ester, ether, ketone. alcohol, polyol, amide, amine, polyglycol, polyether, polyamine, thiol, thio ether, thioester, phosphorous containing, and heterocyc c

Bifunctional

Bifunctional molecules, commonly referred to as crosshnkers, are used to connect two molecules together, l e form a linkage between two molecules Bifunctional molecules can contain homo or heterobifunctiona ty

Crosslinking

Crosslinkmg refers to the chemical attachment of two or more molecules with a bifunctional reagent A bifunctional reagent is a molecule with two reactive ends The reactive ends can be identical as in a homobifunctional molecule, or different as in a heterobifucnctional molecule

Amphiphihc and Amphipathic Compounds

Amphipathic, or amphiphihc, compounds have both hydrophilic (water-soluble) and hydrophobic (water-insoluble) parts Hydrophilic groups indicate m qualitative terms that the chemical moiety is water-prefemng Typically, such chemical groups are water soluble, and are hydrogen bond donors or acceptors with water Examples of hydrophilic groups include compounds with the following chemical moieties, carbohydrates, polyoxyethylene, peptides, ohgonucleotides and groups containing amines, amides, alkoxy amides, carboxyhc acids, sulfurs, or hydroxyls Hydrophobic groups indicate in qualitative terms that the chemical moiety is water-avoiding Typically, such chemical groups are not water soluble, and tend not to hydrogen bonds Hydrocarbons are hydrophobic groups

Detergent

Detergents or surfactants are water-soluble molecules containing a hydrophobic portion (tail) and a hydrophilic portion (head), which upon addition to water decrease water's surface tension The hydrophobic portion can be alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or aromatic The hydrophilic portion can be charged with either net positive (cationic detergents), negative (anionic detergents), uncharged (nonionic detergents), or charge neutral (zwittenomc detergent) Examples of anionic detergents are sodium dodecyl sulfate, glycohc acid ethoxylate(4 units) 4-terr-butylphenylether, palmitic acid, and oleic acid Examples of catiomc detergents are cetyltπmethylammonium bromide and oleylamme Examples of nonionic detergents include, laurylmaltoside, Triton X-100, and Tween Examples of zwittenomc detergents include 3-[(3-cholamιdopropyl)dιmthylammonιo] l-propane-sulfonate (CHAPS), and N-tetradecyl-N,N-dιmethyl-3-ammonιu- 1 -propanesulfonate

Surface Tension

The surface tension of a liquid is the force acting over the surface of the liquid per unit length of surface that is perpendicular to the force that is acting of the surface Surface charge has the units force per length, e g Newtons/meter

Membrane Active Compound

Membrane active agents or compounds are compounds (typically a polymer, peptide or protein) that are able alter the membrane structure This change in structure can be shown by the compound inducing one or more of the following effects upon a membrane, an alteration that allows small molecule permeability, pore formation in the membrane, a fusion and/or fission of membranes, an alteration that allows large molecule permeability, or a dissolving of the membrane This alteration can be functionally defined by the compound's activity in at least one the following assays red blood cell lysis (hemolysis), posome leakage, hposome fusion, cell fusion, cell lysis and endosomal release An example of a membrane active agent in our examples is the peptide mehttm, whose membrane activity is demonstrated by its ability to release heme from red blood cells (hemolysis). In addition, dimethylmaleamic-modified mellitin (DM- Mel) reverts to mehttm in the acidic environment of the endosome causes endosomal release as seen by the diffuse staining of fluorescein- labled dextran in our endosomal release assay

More specifically membrane active compounds allow for the transport of molecules with molecular weight greater than 50 atomic mass units to cross a membrane This transport may be accomplished by either the total loss of membrane structure, the formation of holes (or pores) m the membrane structure, or the assisted transport of compound through the membrane In addition, transport between liposomes, or cell membranes, may be accomplished by the fusion of the two membranes and thereby the mixing of the contents of the two membranes

Membrane active peptides.

Membrane active peptides are peptides that have membrane activity There are many naturally occurring membrane active peptides such as cecropin (insects), magainm, CPF 1 , PGLa, Bombimn BLP-1 (all three from amphibians), mehttm (bees), semmalplasmm (bovine), lndo cidin, bactenecin (both from bovine neutrophils), tachyplesm 1 (crabs), protegnn (porcine leukocytes), and defensins (from human, rabbit, bovine, fungi, and plants) Gramicidin A and gramicidin S (bacillus brevis), the lantibiotics such as nisin (lactococcus lactis), androctomn (scorpion), cardiotoxin I (cobra), caeπn (frog htoria splendida), dermaseptm (frog) Viral peptides have also been shown to have membrane activity, examples include hemagglutinm subunit HA-2 (influenza virus), El (Semliki forest virus), FI (Sendai and measles viruses), gp41 (HIV), gp32 (SIV), and vpl (Rhmo, polio, and coxsackie viruses) In addition synthetic peptides ha\ e also been shown to have membrane activity Synthetic peptides that are rich in leucines and lysines (KL or KL_n motif) have been shown to hav e membiane activity In particular, the peptide H2N- KLLKLLLKLWLKLLKLLLKLL-CO2, termed KL3, is membrane active

Poh mers

A polymer is a molecule built up by repetitiv e bonding together of smaller units called monomers In this application the term polymer includes both ohgomers which have two to about 80 monomers and polymers having more than 80 monomers The polymer can be linear, branched network, star, comb, or ladder types of polymer The polymer can be a homopolymer m which a single monomer is used or can be copolymer in which two or more monomers are used Types of copolymers include alternating, random, block and graft The main chain of a polymer is composed of the atoms whose bonds are required for propagation of polymer length For example in poly-L-lysme, the carbonyl carbon, a-carbon, and a-amine groups are required for the length of the polymer and are therefore mam chain atoms The side chain of a polymer is composed of the atoms w hose bonds are not required for propagation of polymei length For example in poly-L-lysme the β, γ, δ, and ε -carbons, and ε -nitrogen are not required for the propagation of the polymer and are therefore side chain atoms

To those skilled in the art of polymerization, there are several categories of polymerization processes that can be utilized in the described process The polymenzation can be chain or step This classification description is more often used that the pre\ ιous terminology of addition and condensation polymer "Most step-reaction polymerizations aie condensation processes and most chain-reaction polymerizations are addition processes" (M P Stevens Polymer Chemistry An Introduction New York Oxford University Press 1990) Template polymerization can be used to form polymers from daughter polymers

Step Polymenzation

In step polymenzation, the polymerization occurs in a stepwise fashion Polymer growth occurs by reaction between monomers, ohgomers and polymers No initiator is needed since there is the same reaction throughout and there is no termination step so that the end groups are still reactive The polymerization rate decreases as the functional groups are consumed

Typically, step polymeπzation is done either of two different ays One way, the monomer has both reactive functional groups (A and B) in the same molecule so that

A-B yields -[A-B]-

Or the other approach is to hav e two difunctional monomers

A-A + B-B yields -[A-A-B-B]-

Generally, these reactions can involve acylation or alkylation Acylation is defined as the introduction of an acyl group (-COR) onto a molecule Alkylation is defined as the introduction of an alkyl group onto a molecule If functional group A is an amme then B can be (but not restncted to) an isothiocyanate, isocyanate, acyl azide, N-hydroxysuccimmide, sulfonyl chloπde, aldehyde (including formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde), ketone, epoxide, carbonate, lmidoester. carboxylate, or alkylphosphate, arylhahdes (difluoro-dmitrobenzene), anhydeπdes or acid hahdes, p- mtrophenyl esters, o- mtrophenyl pentachlorophenyl esters, or pentafluorophenyl esters In other terms when function A is an amine then function B can be acylatmg or alkylatmg agent or ammation

If functional group A is a thiol, sulfhydryl, then function B can be (but not restricted to) an lodoacetyl derivative, maleimide, aziπdine derivative, acryloyl deπvative. fluorobenzene derivatives, or disulfide derivativ e (such as a pyπdyl disulfide or 5-thιo-2- mtrobenzoic acιd{TNB} derivatives)

If functional group A is carboxylate then function B can be (but not restricted to) a diazoacetate or an amine in which a carbodnmide is used Other additives may be utilized such as carbonyldπmidazole, dimethylaminopyπdme. N-hydroxysuccinimide or alcohol using carbodnmide and dimethylaminopyπdine

If functional group A is an hydroxyl then function B can be (but not restricted to) an epoxide, oxirane, or an amine m which carbonyldπmidazole or N, N'-disuccmimidyl carbonate, or N-hydroxysuccinimidyl chloroformate or other chloroformates are used

If functional group A is an aldehyde or ketone then function B can be (but not restncted to) an hydrazine, hydrazide derivative, amine (to form a imme or iminium that may or may not be reduced by reducing agents such as NaCNBH3 ) or hydroxyl compound to form a ketal or acetal

Yet another approach is to have one difunctional monomer so that

A-A plus another agent yields -[A-A]-

If function A is a thiol, sulfhydr l, group then it can be converted to disulfide bonds by oxidizing agents such as iodine (b ) or NaIθ4 (sodium peπodate), or oxygen (O2) Function A can also be an amme that is con erted to a thiol, sulfhydryl, group by reaction with 2- Immothiolate (Traut's reagent) which then undergoes oxidation and disulfide formation Disulfide derivatives (such as a pyπdyl disulfide or 5-thιo-2-mtrobenzoιc acιd{TNB| denvatives) can also be used to catalyze disulfide bond formation Functional group A or B m any of the above examples could also be a photoreactive group such as aryl azides, halogenated aryl azides, diazo, benzophenones, alkynes or diazinne derivatives

Reactions of the amme, hydroxyl, thiol sulfhydryl carboxylate groups yield chemical bonds that are descπbed as amide, amidme, disulfide, ethers, esters, enamme, urea isothiourea, isourea, sulfonamide, carbamate, carbon-nitrogen double bond ( imme), alkylamme bond (secondary amine), carbon-nitrogen single bonds in which the carbon contains a hydroxyl group, thio-ether, diol, hydrazone, diazo, or sulfone

Cham Polymerization In chain-reaction polymerization growth of the polymer occurs by successive addition of monomer units to limited number of growing chains The initiation and propagation mechanisms are different and there is usually a chain-terminating step The polymerization rate remains constant until the monomer is depleted

Monomers containing vinyl, acrylate, methacrylate, acrylamide. methaacrylamide groups can undergo chain reaction which can be radical, anionic , or cationic Chain polymerization can also be accomplished by cycle or ring opening polymerization Several different types of free radical lmtiatiors could be used that include peroxides, hydroxy peroxides, and azo compounds such as 2,2'-Azobιs(-amιdιnopropane) dihydrochloπde ( AAP) A compound is a material made up of two or more elements

Types of Monomers A wide vaπety of monomers can be used in the polymeπzation processes These include positive charged organic monomers such as amines, lmidine, guamdine, imme, hydroxylamme, hydrozyine, heterocycles (like lmidazole, pyπdine, morphohne, pyπmidme, or pyrene The amines could be pH-sensitive in that the pKa of the amme is withm the physiologic range of 4 to 8 Specific amines include spermine spermidme, N,N'-bιs(2-ammoethyl)-l ,3-propanedιamιne (AEPD), and 3.3 '-Dιamιno-N,N- dimethyldipropylammonium bromide

Monomers can also be hydrophobic, hydrophilic or amphipathic Monomers can also be intercalating agents such as acπdine, thiazole organge. or ethidium bromide

Other Components of the Monomers and Polymers The polymers have other groups that increase their utility These groups can be incorporated mto monomers prior to polymer formation or attached to the polymer after its formation These groups include Targeting Groups- such groups are used for targeting the polymer-nucleic acid complexes to specific cells or tissues Examples of such targeting agents include agents that target to the asialoglycoprotem receptor by using asiologlycoprotems or galactose residues Other proteins such as insulin, EGF, or transferπn can be used for targeting Protein refers to a molecule made up of 2 or more amino acid residues connected one to another as in a polypeptide The amino acids may be naturally occurring or synthetic Peptides that include the RGD sequence can be used to target many cells Chemical groups that react with thiol, sulfhydryl, or disulfide groups on cells can also be used to target many types of cells Folate and other vitamins can also be used for targeting Other targeting groups include molecules that interact with membranes such as fatty acids, cholesterol, dansyl compounds, and amphoteπcin denvatives

After interaction of the supramolecular complexes with the cell, other targeting groups can be used to increase the delivery of the drug or nucleic acid to certain parts of the cell For example, agents can be used to disrupt endosomes and a nuclear localizing signal (NLS) can be used to target the nucleus

A variety of ligands have been used to target drugs and genes to cells and to specific cellular receptors The hgand may seek a target withm the cell membrane, on the cell membrane or near a cell Binding of ligands to receptors typically initiates endocytosis Ligands could also be used for DNA delivery that bind to receptors that are not endocytosed For example peptides containing RGD peptide sequence that bind mtegπn receptor could be used In addition viral proteins could be used to bind the complex to cells Lipids and steroids could be used to directly insert a complex into cellular membranes

The polymers can also contain cleavable groups within themselves When attached to the targeting group, cleavage leads to reduce interaction between the complex and the receptor for the targeting group Cleavable groups include but are not restricted to disulfide bonds, diols, diazo bonds, ester bonds, sulfone bonds, acetals, ketals, enol ethers, enol esters enamines and lmmes

Polyelectrolyte

A polyelectrolyte, or polyion, is a polymer possessing charge, that is the polymer contains a group (or groups) that has either gained or lost one or more electrons A polycation is a polyelectrolyte possessing net positiv e charge, for example poly-L-lysme hydrobromide The polycation can contain monomer units that are charge positiv e, charge neutral, or charge negative, however, the net charge of the polymer must be positive A polycation also can mean a non-polymeric molecule that contains two or more positive charges A polyanion is a polyelectrolyte containing a net negative charge The polyanion can contain monomer units that are charge negative, charge neutral, or charge positive, however. the net charge on the polymer must be negative A polyanion can also mean a non-polymenc molecule that contains two or more negative charges The term polyelectrolyte includes polycation, polyanion, zwittenomc polymers, and neutral polymers The term zwittenomc refers to the product (salt) of the reaction between an acidic group and a basic group that are part of the same molecule

Chelator

A chelator is a polydentate hgand, a molecule that can occupy more than one site in the coordination sphere of an ion, particularly a metal ion, primary amine, or single proton Examples of chelators include crown ethers, cryptates, and non-cyclic polydentate molecules A crown ether is a cyclic polyether containing (— X-(CRl-2)n)m units, where n = 1-3 and m = 3-8 The X and CR1-2 moieties can be substituted, or at a different oxidation states X can be oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur, carbon, phosphorous or any combination thereof. R can be H, C, O, S, N, P A subset of crown ethers described as a cryptate contain a second (-X-(CR1- 2)n)z strand where z=3-8. The beginning X atom of the strand is an X atom in the (-X-(CR1- 2)n)m unit, and the terminal CH2 of the new strand is bonded to a second X atom m the (-X- (CRl-2)n)m unit Non-cyclic polydentate molecules containing (-X-(CRl-2)n)m unιt(s), where n = 1-4 and m = 1-8 The X and CR1-2 moieties can be substituted, or at a different oxidation states X can be oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur, carbon, phosphorous or any combination thereof.

Polychelator

A polychelator is a polymer associated with a plurality of chelators by an ionic or covalent bond and can include a spacer The polymer can be catiomc, anionic, zwittenomc, neutral, or contain any combination of catiomc, anionic, zwittenomc, or neutral groups with a net charge being cationic, anionic or neutral, and may contain steπc stabilizers, peptides, proteins, signals, or amphipathic compound for the formation of micellar. reverse micellar. or umlamellar structures Preferably the amphipathic compound can have a hydrophilic segment that is catiomc, anionic. or zwittenomc, and can contain polymeπzable groups, and a hydrophobic segment that can contain a polymeπzable group

Steric Stabilizer

A steric stabilizer is a hydrophilic group that prevents aggregation of a polymer or particle by steπcally hmdeπng particle to particle electrostatic interactions Examples include- alkyl groups, PEG chains, polysacchaπdes, hydrogen molecules, alkyl amines. Electrostatic interactions are the non-covalent association of two or more substances due to attractiv e forces between positive and negative charges

Buffers Buffers are made from a weak acid or weak base and their salts Buffer solutions resist changes in pH when additional acid or base is added to the solution

Biological, Chemical, or Biochemical reactions

Biological, chemical, or biochemical reactions involv e the formation or cleavage of ionic and/ or covalent bonds Reacth e

A compound is reactive if it is capable of forming either an ionic or a covalent bond with another compound The portions of reactive compounds that are capable of forming covalent bonds are refeπed to as reactive functional groups

Lipids

Lipids are compounds that are insoluble m water but soluble in organic solvent which have the general structure composed of two distinct hydrophobic sections, that is two separate sections of uninterrupted carbon-carbon bonds The two hydrophobic sections are connected through a linkage that contains at least one heteroatom, that is an atom that is not carbon (e g nitrogen, oxygen, silicon, and sulfur) Examples include esters and amides of fatty acids and include the glyceπdes ( 1 ,2-dιoleoylglycerol (DOG)), glycohpids, phosphohpids (dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamme (DOPE ) )

Hydrocarbon

Hydrocarbon means containing carbon and hydrogen atoms, and halohydrocarbon means containing carbon, halogen (F, Cl, Br, I), and hydrogen atoms

Alk>l, alkene, alkyne, aryl

3 Alkyl means any sp -hybridized carbon-containing group, alkenyl means containing

2 two or more sp hybridized carbon atoms, aklkynyl means containing tw o or more sp hybndized carbon atoms, aralkyl means containing one or more aromatic nng(s) in addition

3 containing sp hybridized carbon atoms, aralkenyl means containing one or more aromatic nng(s) in addition to containing two or more sp~ hybridized carbon atoms, aralkynyl means containing one or more aromatic πng(s) in addition to containing two or more sp hybndized carbon atoms, steroid includes natural and unnatural steroids and steroid derivatives

Steroid

A steroid derivative means a sterol, a sterol in which the hydroxyl moiety has been modified (for example, acylated), or a steroid hormone, or an analog thereof The modification can include spacer groups, linkers, or reactive groups

Carbohydrate

Carbohydrates include natural and unnatural sugars (for example glucose), and sugar derivatives (a sugar derivative means a system m which one or more of the hydroxyl groups on the sugar moiety has been modified (for example, but not limited to, acylated), or a system m which one or more of the hydroxyl groups is not present)

Polyoxyethylene

Polyoxyethylene means a polymer having ethylene oxide units (-(CH2CH2θ)_n-, where n=2-3000)

Compound

A compound is a material made up of two or more elements

Electron Withdrawing and Donating Groups

Electron withdrawing group is any chemical group oi atom composed of electronegative atom(s), that is atoms that tend to attract electrons Electron donating group is any chemical group or atom composed of electropositive atom(s), that is atoms that tend to attract electrons

Resonance Stabilization Resonance stabilization is the ability to distribute charge on multiple atoms through pi bonds The inductive effectiv e, in a molecule, is a shift of electron density due to the polarization of a bond by a nearby electronegative or electropositive atom Activated Carboxylate

An activated carboxylate is a carboxyhc acid derivative that reacts with nucleophiles to form a new covalent bond Nucleophiles include nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur-containing compounds to produce ureas, amides, carbonates, carbamates, esters, and thioesters The carboxyhc acid may be activated by various agents including carbodnmides, carbonates, phosphomums, uromums to produce activated carboxylates acyl ureas, acylphosphonates, acid anhydπdes, and carbonates Activation of carboxyhc acid may be used in conjunction with hydroxy and amine-contaimng compounds to produce activated carboxylates N- hydroxysuccimmide esters, hydroxybenzotπazole esters, N-hydroxy-5-norbornene-endo-2,3- dicarboximide esters, p-mtrophen\ 1 esters, pentafluorophenyl esters, 4- dimethylammopyπdinium amides, and acyl lmidazoles

Nucleophile

A nucleophile is a species possessing one or more electron-rich sites, such as an unshared pair of electrons, the negative end of a polar bond, or pi electrons

Cleavage and Bond Breakage

Cleavage, or bond breakage is the loss of a covalent bond between two atoms Cleavable means that a bond is capable of being cleaved

Substituted Group or Substitution

A substituted group or a substitution refers to chemical group which is placed onto a parent system instead of a hydrogen atom For the compound methylbenzene (toluene), the methyl group is a substituted group, substituent, or substitution on the parent system benzene The methyl groups on 2,3-dιmethylmaleιc anhydride are substituted groups, or substitutions on the parent compound (or system) maleic anhydnde

Primary and Secondary Amine

A primary amme is a mtrogen-contaming compound which is derived by monosubstitution of ammonia (NH3) by a carbon-contaming group A primary amine is a nitrogen-containing compound which is derived bv disubstitution of ammonia (NH3 ) by a carbon-contaming group Examples

The following examples are provided m order to demonstrate and further illustrate certain preferred embodiments and aspects of the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the scope thereof

Example 1 Synthesis of succinyl- β-cvclodextπn β-Cyclodextπn (0 5 gm, 0 38 mmol) and succinic anhydride (0 5 gm. 5 mmol) were dissolved in anhydrous pyπdme (10 mL) for 4 h The succinyl- β-cyclodextπn was then precipitated by addition of 40 mL isopropyl alcohol The precipitate was then washed 3 times with 10 mL isopropyl alcohol

Example 2 Synthesis of polv-L-lysme-succinyl- β-cyclodextrm

Succmyl- β-cyclodextπn (75 mg, 0 05 mmol) and poly-L-lysine (2 mg, MW 52,000, 0 01 mmol amines) were dissolved in 1 mL water To this mixture was added N-(3- dιmethylammopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodnmιde hydrochloπde (40 mg, 0 2 mmol) and the reaction was allowed to proceed overnight The reaction mixture was then placed mto a dialysis bag (12,000 molecular weight cutoff) and dialyzed against 3x1 L water for 72 hr Lyophihzation resulted in 6 7 mg of poly-L-lysine-succinyl- β-cyclodextπn, which is 35% modification of the amine residues The polymer was then dissolved in 0 2 mL of water

Example 3 Synthesis of oleoyl poly-L-lysme

Poly-L-lysme (5 mg, 0 02 mmol amines) was dissolved in 0 5 mL water, to this solution was added oleoyl chloride (0 5 mg, 0 002 mmol) m 20 μL of acetonitπle

Example 3 Synthesis of succinyloleoylpoly-L-lysine

To a solution of poly-L-lysine-oleoyl amide (2 mg) in 200 mL water was added succinic anhydride (20 mg, 0 2 mmol) and potassium carbonate (100 mg 0 7 mmol) After 5 minutes the succmylpoly-L-lysme -oleoyl amide was precipitated by addition of 1 mL isopropyl alcohol

Example 3 Synthesis of epichlorohydrin- β-cyclodextπn copolymer β-Cyclodextπn (0 5 gm, 0 38 mmol) and sodium hydroxide (0 18 gm, 4 5 mmol) were dissolved m water (0 8 mL) and heated to 30 °C To this solution was added epichlorohydrin (0.345 mL, 4.4 mmol) and the immiscible solutions were stirred at 30 °C for 3.5 h, dunng which time the epichlorohydrin dissolved in the aqueous solution The epichlorohydnn- β- cyclodextrm copolymer was then precipitated by the addition of acetone (10 mL). The acetone was decanted and the precipitate was dissolved in water (20 mL) and dialyzed in 14,000 molecular weight cutoff tubmg against 2xlL water for 48 h The polymer was then isolated by lyophihzation to yield 0.3 gm of polymer

Example 4" Characterization of particles formed by poly-L-lvsine. epichlorohydnn- - cvclodextπn copolymer, and 4-. -butylbenzoιc acid To a solution of epichlorohydnn- β-cyclodextrm copolymer ( 100 μg/mL) and poly-L-lysine

(100 μg/mL) was added 4-.-butylbenzoιc acid (3 mM) The size of the particle formed by the three agents was 100 nm, measured by a Brookhaven ZetaPlus Particle Sizer. Particle formation is observed only in the presence of all three components and is independent of the order of addition of each component

Example 5 : Characterization of particles formed by plasmid DNA, epichlorohydnn- β- cvclodextπn copolymer, and oleoylamine.

To a solution of epichlorohydnn- β-cyclodextπn copolymer (50 μg/mL) and plasmid DNA

(10 μg/mL) was added oleoylamine (0.1 mM). The size of the particle formed by the three agents was 78 nm, measured by a Brookhaven ZetaPlus Particle Sizer Particle formation is observed only in the presence of all three components and is independent of the order of addition of each component

Example 6 Characterization of particles formed between plasmid DNA and poly-L-lysine- succinyl- β-cyclodextπn

To a solution of plasmid DNA (10 μg/mL) was added poly-L-lysme-succinyl- β-cyclodextπn (30 μg/mL) The size of the particle formed was 88 nm and its charge was 1 1+7 mV, measured by a Brookhaven ZetaPlus Particle Sizer To these particle was added Triton X- 100 (0.2 mg/mL) resulting in a particle that was 140 nm in size with a charge of 22±4 mV Addition of sodium chloride ( 100 mM) to these particles resulted in particles that were 115 nm in size with a charge of 7+2 mV If Tnton x- 100 is not added to the particles prior to the addition of sodium chloride the particles become large, >200 nm Example 7 In vitro Transfection with DNA-poly-L-lysine- succinylpoly-L-lysine-oleoyl amide particles in the presence of β-cyclodextnn

To plasmid DNA pCILuc ( 10 μg/mL, 2 6 μg/μL pCIluc, prepared according to Danko I, Williams P, Herweijer H, Zhang G, Latendresse JS, Bock I Wolff JA Hum Mol Genet 1997, 6, 1435) in 0 5 mL of 0 or 3 mM aqueous β-cyclodextnn was added poly-L-lysme (30 μg/mL) Subsequently, 0 15 mg/mL of succinyloleoylpoly-L-lysme was added The DNA complexes were then added (200 μL) to a well containing 3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblast cells in 290 mM glucose and 5 mM HEPES buffer pH 7 5 After 1 5 h, the glucose solution was replaced with Dubelco's modified Eagle Media and the cells were allowed to incubate for 48 h The cells were then harvested and then assayed for luciferase activity Luciferase activity in the presence of β-cyclodextrm was 33-fold higher (324 305 relative light units) than in the absence of β-cyclodextrm (RLU=9,924)

Example 8 In vitro Transfection with DNA-poly-L-lysine- epichlorohydnn- β-cyclodextnn copolymer in the presence of p-t-butyl-benzoic acid

To plasmid DNA pCIluc (10 μg/mL, 2 6 μg/μL pCIluc) in 0 5 mL of aqueous 0 or 3 mM 4-t- butylbenzoic acid was added poly-L-lysine (30 μg/mL) Subsequently, 0 15 mg/mL of succinylated poly-L-lysine or epichlorohydnn- β-cyclodextπn copolymer was added The DNA complexes were then added (200 μL) to a well containing 3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblast cells in Dubelco's modified Eagle Media After 1 5 h, the media was changed and the cells were allowed to incubate for 48 h The cells were then harvested and then assay for luciferase activity Luciferase activity for the particles composed of epichlorohydnn- β- cyclodextnn copolymer was 81 -fold higher (314166 relative light umts(RLU)) than those particles composed of succinylated poly-L-lysine (3868 RLU)

Example 9 Characterization of Complexes of plasmid DNA, dodecylamine, and β- cyclodextrm- epichlorohydnn copolymer

To a solution of plasmid DNA ( 10 μg/mL) and β-cyclodextrm- epichlorohydnn copolymer (50 μg/mL) was added dodecylamine (100 μM) The size of the particle formed was 181 nm as measured by a Brookhaven ZetaPlus Particle Sizer Prior to the addition of dodecylamine there were no particles formed and solutions of β-cyclodextnn epichlorohydnn copolymer and dodecyl amme do no not form particles

Example 10 Characterization of Complexes of plasmid DNA, 1-adamantamme. and β- cyclodextπn- epichlorohydnn copolymer

To a solution of plasmid DNA (10 μg/mL) and β-cyclodextπn- epichlorohydnn copolymer (50 μg/mL) was added various amounts of 1 -adamantanamine ( 100-600 μM) The size of the particle formed was 181 nm as measured by a Brookhaven ZetaPlus Particle Sizer Prior to the addition of dodecylamine there were no particles formed and solutions of β-cyclodextrm epichlorohydnn copolymer and dodecyl amme do no not form particles

Example 11 In vivo expression of complexes of plasmid DNA, 1 -adamantamine, and β- cyclodextπn- epichlorohydnn copolymer

A complex of pCI Luc (50 μg/mL) , 250 μg/mL β-cyclodextπn- epichlorohydnn copolymer, and 6 mM 1 -adamantamine in 0 2 mL were diluted to 2 5 mL in Ringers solution Tail vein injections of 2 5 mL of the complex were performed as previously descnbed (Zhang, G , Budker, V , Wolff, J A Hum Gene Ther 1999, 10, 1735 ) Luciferase expression was determined as previously reported (Wolff, J A , Malone, R W , Williams, P , Chong, W , Acsadi, G . Jam, A and Feigner, P L Direct gene transfer mto mouse muscle in vivo Science, 1465-1468, 1990 ) A Lumat LB 9507 (EG&G Berthold, Bad-Wildbad. Germany) luminometer was used

Example 12 In vivo expression of complexes of digoxin-labeled plasmid DNA and γ- cyclodextnn

Plasmid DNA was labeled with Mirus' Labellt^κ digoxin labeling kit according to protocol A complex of digoxin-labeled pCI Luc (2 μg) and γ-cyclodextπn (17 mg) were formulated m 2 5 mL in R gers solution Tail vein injections of the complex were performed as previously described (Zhang, G , Budker, V , Wolff, J A Hum Gene Ther 1999, 10 1735 ) Luciferase expression was determined as previously reported (Wolff, J A , Malone, R W , Williams, P , Chong, W , Acsadi, G , Jam, A and Feigner, P L Direct gene transfer into mouse muscle m vivo Science, 1465-1468, 1990 ) A Lumat LB 9507 (EG&G Berthold, Bad- Wildbad, Germany) luminometer was used

All publications and patents mentioned m the above specification are herein incorporated by reference Various modifications and variations of the described method and system of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in cell biology, chemistry, molecular biology, biochemistry or related fields are intended to be withm the scope of the following claims

Claims

We Claim:

1 A process for obtaining an expression product by delivering a polynucleotide to a cell, comprising a associating an amphiphile binding agent, an amphiphile, and a polynucleotide thereby forming a complex, b dehvenng the complex to the cell, and c expressing the polynucleotide

2 The process of claim 1 wherein the amphiphile binding agent consists of a cyclodextnn

3 The process of claim 1 wherein the amphiphile binding agent is polymeric

4 The process of claim 1 further comprising complexing the polynucleotide with a polycation

5 The process of claim 1 further compπsing associating a polyanion in step (a)

6 The process of claim 1 wherein the amphiphile consists of a polymer

7 The process of claim 1 wherein the amphiphile consists of an interaction modifier

8 The process of claim 1 wherein the cell is in a mammal

9 The process of claim 1 wherein the polynucleotide consists of DNA

10 The process of claim 1 wherein the polynucleotide consists of a gene

11 A complex for delivering and expressing DNA in a mammal, comprising an amphiphile binding agent, an amphiphile, and DNA in complex

12 The complex of claim 1 1 wherein the amphiphile is attached to the DNA The complex of claim 12 wherein the amphiphile is covalently attached to DNA

The complex of claim 1 1 wherein the amphiphile binding agent consists of a cyclodextnn

A process for obtaining an expression product in vivo, comprising a forming a complex with a cyclodextnn, an amphiphile and a polynucleotide, b dehvenng the complex to a cell in a mammal, c expressing the polynucleotide

The process of claim 15 wherein the amphiphile binding agent is polymeric

The process of claim 15 further compnsing complexing the polynucleotide with a polycation

The process of claim 15 further comprising associating a polyanion in step (a)

The process of claim 15 wherein the amphiphile consists of a polymer

The process of claim 15 wherein the amphiphile consists of an interaction modifier