Novel nanoparticles

Development of novel chemically modified and target cell-specific nanoparticles

The overall goal is the development of specific and high-performing compounds comprising of optimal PEIs, cell-specific high-affinity binding molecules and target gene-specific siRNAs. These complexes will represent target cell-specific as well as target gene-specific drugs which allow the selective reduction of the selected gene product in vitro and in vivo. They will be directed against gene products of previously demonstrated relevance and may offer an avenue to highly specific gene therapy approaches. Strategies include various chemical modifications or polymer graftings, and the covalent coupling of protein ligands.

Furthermore, the combination of PEI complexes with liposomes („lipopolyplexes“) is explored. To this end, different lipopolypolexes are prepared and analysed with regard to physical / physicochemical and biological properties in vitro and in vivo.