Well-defined polypeptide-based systems as non-viral vectors for cytosolic delivery

2017

A convenient cytosolic drug delivery constitutes a very powerful tool for the treatment and/or prevention of several relevant human diseases. Along with recent advances in therapeutic technologies based on biomacromolecules (e.g. oligonucleotides or proteins), we also require the development of technologies which improve the transport of therapeutic molecules to the cell of choice. This has led to the emergence of a variety of promising methods over the last 20 years. Despite significant progress, these methods still suffer from several shortcomings including low/variable delivery efficiency, high cytotoxicity, and perhaps most importantly, ineffective endosomal/lysosomal escape. In this co…