BACKGROUND:

DNA, RNA, and other nucleotide-based therapeutic agents are highly hydrophilic and have difficulty crossing cellular membranes. Despite the advances in delivery technology, there remains a need to develop new technologies, especially for hydrophilic nucleotide-based therapeutic agents.

INVENTION:

Researchers at UMKC have developed conjugated compounds in which therapeutic or diagnostic agents are linked to a cell membrane transporter or receptor substrate via a lipophilic linker. In this unique combination, the lipophilic linker facilitates movement of the conjugated compound through biological membranes, while the substrate for the cell membrane transporters or receptors further assists with the transmembranal movement. This novel technology allows for much greater cellular intake of therapeutic agents that are comprised of nucleosides, nucleotides, oligonucleotides, peptides, peptide nucleic acids, transcriptase inhibitors, peptides, or antisense oligonucleotides.

File Number: 08UMK009 

Web site: http://www.umkc.edu/ors/tt/