Method for enhancing transmembrane transport of exogenous molecules
First Claim
1. A method for enhancing transport of an exogenous molecule across a membrane of a living cell, said method comprising the step of contacting the membrane with the exogenous molecule complexed with a ligand selected from the group consisting of folic acid, folate receptor-binding analogs of folic acid, and other folate receptor-binding ligands, for a time sufficient to permit transmembrane transport said ligand complex.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for enhancing transmembrane transport of exogenous molecules. The method comprises contacting a membrane of a living cell with a complex formed between said molecules and ligands selected from biotin, biotin analogs and other biotin receptor-binding ligands, and/or folic acid, folate analogs and other folate receptor-binding ligands to initiate receptor mediated transmembrane transport of the ligand complex. The method is used for the efficient delivery of peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and other compounds capable of modifying cell function into plant, animal, yeast, and bacterial cells.
498 Citations
22 Claims
- 1. A method for enhancing transport of an exogenous molecule across a membrane of a living cell, said method comprising the step of contacting the membrane with the exogenous molecule complexed with a ligand selected from the group consisting of folic acid, folate receptor-binding analogs of folic acid, and other folate receptor-binding ligands, for a time sufficient to permit transmembrane transport said ligand complex.
- 11. In a method for modifying cellular function by contacting a cell with a compound capable of modifying said function, the improvement which comprises contacting the cell with a complex of said compound with a ligand selected from the group consisting of folic acid, folate receptor-binding analogs of folic acid, and other folate receptor-binding ligands, for a time sufficient to permit transmembrane transport of said ligand complex.
- 14. A method for enhancing the introduction of nucleic acids and nucleic acid analogs into living cells which method comprises the step of contacting said cell with said nucleic acid, or said nucleic acid analog, complexed with a ligand selected from the group consisting of folic acid, folate receptor-binding analogs of folic acid, and other folate receptor-binding ligands, for a time sufficient to permit transmembrane transport said ligand complex.
- 18. A method for potentiating the transport of an exogenous molecule contained within a liposome across a membrane of a living cell, the method comprising the step of contacting the membrane with a liposome containing the exogenous molecule, said liposome bearing ligands associated with its membrane contacting surface selected from the group consisting of folic acid, folate receptor-binding analogs of folic acid, and other folate receptor-binding ligands, for a time sufficient to permit transmembrane transport of said exogenous molecule contained within the liposome.
-
22. A liposome composition comprising a liposome containing a compound capable of modifying or modulating cell function, said liposome comprising liposome-forming phospholipids, at least a portion of which are covalently bound through their headgroups to a folate receptor binding ligand.
Specification