Antisense oligomer conjugates complementary to a selected target site in the human dystrophin gene to induce exon 52 skipping are described.

The present invention generally relates to composition matters and methods useful for gene delivery and an option for therapeutic treatment of various diseases. Particularly, this disclosure relates to a plasmid vector comprising a fusion of a plurality of genes comprising a gene of a chemokine or a cytokine, a gene for a targeting polypeptide and genes for one or more polypeptide linkers. Methods of use and composition matters are within the scope of this disclosure.

A novel nucleic acid delivery system is provided containing a linear histidine-lysine rich cysteine-containing peptide bearing a targeting function, and a four branched histidine-lysine rich polypeptide. The delivery system includes a nucleic acid, such as an siRNA. The components form a nanoparticle complex through multiple non-covalent interactions between the phosphates of siRNA and histidine/lysine of the polypeptide, with reduced toxicity. The stable complex selectively delivers the genetic material to cells. The targeting function enhances the efficiency of the nucleic acid delivery and transfection.

Carrier molecules also are provided that have the ability to deliver a therapeutic molecule to a specific cell within a tissue in the body. The carrier molecule is modified with a targeting ligand capable of binding to specific receptors present or upregulated on the cell to be targeted. The therapeutic molecule is an siRNA, miRNA, or other oligonucleotide. The targeting moiety is a small molecule, peptide, or protein that shows an affinity for a receptor present on the cell to be targeted.

Certain exemplary embodiments are directed to a biologically active composition of matter (and uses thereof) configured for targeted delivery of biotin to mitochondria, the composition comprising a first D-biotin conjugated to a water-soluble, cell-permeable, peptide sequence, wherein the peptide sequence is selected from a polypeptide group with an alternating aromatic-cationic motif.

The present invention relates to a composition for preventing or treating macular degeneration, containing a cell permeable nucleic acid complex as an active ingredient and, more specifically, to a pharmaceutical composition for preventing, ameliorating, or treating macular degeneration comprising, a cell-permeable nucleic acid complex containing a bioactive nucleic acid targeting an NLRP3 gene; and a carrier peptide nucleic acid which are complementarily bound to said bioactive nucleic acid, as an active ingredient. The cell permeable nucleic acid complex, in which the bioactive nucleic acid targeting the NLRP3 gene and the carrier peptide nucleic acid are complementarily bound to each other, according to the present invention, has high cell permeability and thus inhibits the expression of NLRP3 without direct injection, and thereby is useful for preventing, ameliorating, or treating macular degeneration.

The present disclosure provides methods for treating and improving b1osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) in a subject by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that binds and neutralizes transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β).

In one aspect, the present invention relates to thermo-reversible hydrogel drug delivery compositions comprising at least one biodegradable copolymer drug carrier. In certain embodiments, the hydrogel compositions of the invention are optically clear and suitable for use in local delivery of ocular therapeutics. In other embodiments, the hydrogel compositions of the invention provide a means for controlled or sustained drug delivery.

Antisense molecules capable of binding to a selected target site in the human dystrophin gene to induce exon 44 skipping are described.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides methods for continuously generating uniform polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) nanoparticles comprising: flowing a first stream comprising one or more water-soluble polycationic polymers at a first variable flow rate into a confined chamber; flowing a second stream comprising one or more water-soluble polyanionic polymers at a second variable flow rate into the confined chamber; and impinging the first stream and the second stream in the confined chamber until the Reynolds number is from about 1,000 to about 20,000, thereby causing the one or more water-soluble polycationic polymers and the one or more water-soluble polyanionic polymers to undergo a polyelectrolyte complexation process that continuously generates PEC nanoparticles. Compositions produced from the presently disclosed methods and a device for producing the compositions are also disclosed.

A nucleic acid complex having a novel structure, which may introduce a bioactive nucleic acid into cells, a composition for treating or diagnosing disease including the same, and a method of regulating target gene expression using the same, are described. The nucleic acid complex may include a bioactive nucleic acid, which includes a material for facilitating endosomal escape, and a carrier peptide nucleic acid, complementarily bound to each other, as useful in a composition for treating or diagnosing disease, or a composition for regulating target gene expression. Such nucleic acid complex may increase the stability of the bioactive nucleic acid, reduce loss of the bioactive nucleic acid, such as precipitation caused by self-aggregation, increase the intracellular delivery efficiency of the bioactive nucleic acid, and easily regulate target gene expression.