Development of a Reducible Serum-Resistant Cationic Gemini-like Surfactant for Gene Delivery

Gene therapy aims to erad icate causes of d iseases and is bel ieved by many to be the therapy of the future.The rapid cleavage of the disulfide linkages in the intracellular reductive environment is biologically relevant to induce fast lipo/polyplex dissociation and efficient DNA release, yielding increased levels of gene expression. Herein we describe the in vitro development of a new potential tool for gene therapy: a reducible cationic gemini-l ike surfactant, SS14, featuring 2.5 higher transfection efficiency in serum-complete med ium compared to serum-free conditions.