From Book News, Inc.

In these twenty-three papers, molecular and cell biologists, pharmacologists, and pharmaceutical chemists describe their best methods for preparing, handling, and characterizing gene delivery agents, and for gene delivery itself. They examine several of the compounds which can be used to bind with DNA and form compact complexes facilitating cellular delivery. They also describe specific methods of transferring genes in vivo, including direct delivery by intratumoral injection and indirect delivery by cell-specific targeting of DNA complexes. Spectroscopic techniques for characterizing nonviral gene delivery agents are detailed.Book News, Inc.

Book Info

Praecis Pharmaceutical Inc., Waltham, MA. Presents examples of techniques and applications emerging in the field of nonviral gene therapy. Emphasizes specific approaches to gene delivery, and the best methods to prepare, handle, and characterize gene delivery agents. For researchers. DNLM: Genetic Vectors-therapeutic use

Book Description

Mark A. Findeis and a panel of active researchers present their best methods not only for preparing, handling, and characterizing gene delivery agents, but also for gene delivery. To help those preparing and characterizing gene transfer agents, the contributors examine a broad range of compounds that bind with DNA to form the compact condensed phases that facilitate cellular delivery-among them peptide conjugates, synthetic polymers, and lipids. They also outline specific approaches to gene transfer in vivo, including direct delivery by intratumoral injection and indirect delivery by cell-specific targeting of DNA complexes, and discuss in detail many spectroscopic techniques for characterizing nonviral gene delivery agents.

Preface
Contributors
1 Synthesis of Polyampholyte Comb-Type Copolymers Consisting of a Poly(L-lysine) Backbone and Hyaluronic Acid Side Chains for DNA Carrier 1
2 Cationic [alpha]-Helical Peptides for Gene Delivery into Cells 11
3 Supramolecular Self-Assembly of Poly(ethylene glycol)-Block-Poly(L-lysine) Dendrimer with Plasmid DNA 23
4 Water-Soluble Cationic Methacrylate Polymers for Nonviral Gene Delivery 35
5 Stabilization of Polycation-DNA Complexes by Surface Modification with Hydrophilic Polymers 61
6 Use of Disulfide Cationic Lipids in Plasmid DNA Delivery 79
7 Interactions of Lipid-Oligonucleotide Conjugates with Low-Density Lipoprotein 89
8 Coupling of Nuclear Localization Signals to Plasmid DNA 105
9 Progress Toward a Synthetic Virus: A Multicomponent System for Liver-Directed DNA Delivery 111
10 Characterization of Polyampholyte Comb-Type Copolymer DNA Carriers 123
11 Methods for Studying the Formation of Polycation-DNA Complexes and Properties Useful for Gene Delivery 131
12 Characterization of DNA Condensates by Atomic Force Microscopy 149
13 Rapid and Systematic Transfer and Recovery of Large BACs/PACs into Mammalian Cells by HAEC Retrofitting 159
14 Systemic Delivery of Therapeutic Proteins by Intramuscular Injection of Plasmid DNA 175
15 Local Delivery of Therapeutic Proteins by Intratumoral Injection of Plasmid DNA-Lipid Complexes 185
16 Nonviral DNA Delivery from Polymeric Systems 195
17 Promotion of Duplex and Triplex DNA Formation by Polycation Comb-Type Copolymers 209
18 Lyophilization of Nonviral Gene Delivery Systems 225
19 Ultraviolet Absorption and Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy of Nonviral Gene Delivery Complexes 253
20 Characterization of Synthetic Gene Delivery Vectors by Infrared Spectroscopy 285
21 Characterization of Cationic Vector-Based Gene Delivery Vehicles Using Isothermal Titration and Differential Scanning Calorimetry 319
22 Light-Scattering Techniques for Characterization of Synthetic Gene Therapy Vectors 349
23 Renal Gene Therapy 377
Index 393