Synthesis of a library of polycationic lipid core dendrimers and their evaluation in the delivery of an oligonucleotide with hVEGF inhibition.

This article follows on from our previous work in the area of non-viral gene delivery using polycationic dendrimers (PCDs). Herein we report on the synthesis and efficacy of a new library of lipid core PCDs in the delivery of the anti-angiogenic oligonucleotide (ODN-1) to retinal pigment epithelial cells. ELISA was used to monitor hVEGF levels in cells transfected with dendriplexes, Cytofectin GSV and control (non-transfected). At 48 h, hVEGF titres had returned to that of the untransfected control for Cytofectin GSV however, a number of dendriplexes continued to exhibit a marked reduction in hVEGF titres.