Pharmaceutical emulsions: a new approach for gene therapy

Abstract

The concept of gene therapy involves the experimental transfer of a therapeutic gene into an individual’s cells and tissues to replace an abnormal gene aiming to treat a disease, or to use the gene to treat a disease just like a medicine, improving the clinical status of a patient. The achievement of a foreigner nucleic acid into a population of cells requires its transfer to the target. Therefore, it is essential to create carriers (vectors) that transfer and protect the nucleic acid until it reaches the target. The obvious disadvantages of the use of viral vectors have directed the research for the development of a nonviral organized system such as emulsions. In fact, recently, there has been an increase of interest in its use in biotechnology as a nonviral vector for gene therapy. This review focuses on the progress of cationic emulsions and the improvement of the formulations, as a potential delivery system for gene therapy.

Keywords::

• Cationic emulsions
• gene transfection
• gene therapy
• carrier systems
• delivery systems

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank RENORBIO, CNPq and CAPES for the financial support and Glenn Hawes, from the American Language Program of the University of Georgia, for editing this manuscript.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.