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Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Evaluation of Polymeric Gene Delivery Nanoparticles by Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis and High-throughput Flow Cytometry
Published on: March 1, 2013
Vinyl polymers as non-viral gene delivery carriers: current status and prospects
Peter Dubruel1, Etienne Schacht
1Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials Research Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S4 Bis), B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Peter.Dubruel@UGent.be
Abstract:
Since the first application of polymers as non-viral gene delivery systems in 1965 by Vaheri and Pagano using functionalised dextran (A. Vaheri and J. S. Pagano, "Infectious poliovirus RNA: a sensitive method of assay", Virology 1965, 27, 434-6), a large number of different polymers have been developed, studied and compared for application as DNA carriers. Vinyl-based polymers are one type of polymers that have gained considerable interest. The interest in developing this particular type of polymer is partly related to the straightforward way in which large amounts of these polymers can be prepared by radical (co)polymerisation. This opens up a path for establishing a wide range of structure-property relations using polymer libraries. The present review aims to give an overview of past and ongoing research using vinyl-based gene delivery systems. The application of cationic, neutral and zwitterionic polymers as DNA carriers is summarised and discussed. [structure: see text] Chemical structure of DEAE-functionalised dextran.
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