Breakthrough in Cancer Gene Therapy: Novel Biodegradable Polymers Show Promise

Researchers from Saint-Petersburg State University have made a significant discovery in the field of cancer gene therapy, developing novel biodegradable polymers that can serve as non-viral vectors for gene delivery. In a study published in the journal Polysaccharides, the team led by Viktor Korzhikov-Vlakh demonstrated the synthesis and evaluation of hyaluronic acid-graft-poly(L-lysine) (HA-PLys) as a gene delivery system. The research shows that the HA-PLys polymer can form nanoparticles in aqueous media, bind DNA and siRNA, and facilitate intracellular delivery of anti-GFP siRNA to cancer cells.

Key Takeaways:

• Researchers from Saint-Petersburg State University have developed novel biodegradable polymers for gene delivery, specifically hyaluronic acid-graft-poly(L-lysine) (HA-PLys).
• The synthesis of HA-PLys involves the copper-free strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction, resulting in nanoparticles with a hydrodynamic diameter of approximately 200 nm.
• The study demonstrated that HA-PLys can bind DNA and siRNA, reducing their molecular weight and enhancing their stability in complex biological media.
• The researchers evaluated the cytotoxicity of HA-PLys in normal and cancer cells, finding it to be non-toxic at concentrations up to 100 μg/mL.
• The study highlights the potential of HA-PLys as a gene delivery system for cancer gene therapy, achieving higher release rates of a model fluorescently-labeled oligonucleotide in complex biological media compared to PLys-based polyplexes.

Statistics:

• The hydrodynamic diameter of HA-PLys nanoparticles was approximately 200 nm.
• The study found that the cytotoxicity of HA-PLYS in normal and cancer cells was non-toxic up to concentrations of 100 μg/mL.
• The release of a model fluorescently-labeled oligonucleotide in complex biological media was significantly higher in HA-PLys compared to PLys-based polyplexes.
• The researchers evaluated the ability of HA-PLys to facilitate intracellular delivery of anti-GFP siRNA to NIH-3T3/GFP+ cells.

Sources:

• Hyaluronic Acid- Graft- Poly (L-Lysine): Synthesis and Evaluation as a Gene Delivery System. Polysaccharides, 2025, 6(3):60.
• NewsRx. New Cancer Gene Therapy Research Has Been Reported by Researchers at Saint-Petersburg State University [Hyaluronic Acid- Graft- Poly (L-Lysine): Synthesis and Evaluation as a Gene Delivery System]. Biotech Week. October 15, 2025; p 32.