Oligonucleotide charge reversal: 2'-O-lysylaminohexyl modified oligonucleotides

Cationic oligonucleotide derivatives and conjugates: A favorable approach for enhanced DNA and RNA targeting oligonucleotides

Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) have the ability of binding to endogenous nucleic acid targets, thereby inhibiting the gene expression. Although ASOs have great potential in the treatment of many diseases, the search for favorable toxicity profiles and distribution has been challenging and consequently impeded the widespread use of ASOs as conventional medicine. One strategy that has been employed to optimize the delivery profile of ASOs, is the functionalization of ASOs with cationic amine groups, either by direct conjugation onto the sugar, nucleobase or internucleotide linkage. The introduction of these positively charged groups has improved properties like nuclease resistance, increased binding to the nucleic acid target and improved cell uptake for oligonucleotides (ONs) and ASOs. The modifications highlighted in this review are some of the most prevalent cationic amine groups which have been attached as single modifications onto ONs/ASOs. The review has been separated into three sections, nucleobase, sugar and backbone modifications, highlighting what impact the cationic amine groups have on the ONs/ASOs physiochemical and biological properties. Finally, a concluding section has been added, summarizing the important knowledge from the three chapters, and examining the future design for ASOs.

Polyamine-oligonucleotide conjugates: a promising direction for nucleic acid tools and therapeutics

Chemical modification and/or the conjugation of small functional molecules to oligonucleotides have significantly improved their biological and biophysical properties, addressing issues such as poor cell penetration, stability to nucleases and low affinity for their targets. Here, the authors review the literature reporting on the biophysical, biochemical and biological properties of one particular class of modification - polyamine-oligonucleotide conjugates. Naturally derived and synthetic polyamines have been grafted onto a variety of oligonucleotide formats, including antisense oligonucleotides and siRNAs. In many cases this has had beneficial effects on their properties such as target hybridization, nuclease resistance, cellular uptake and activity. Polyamine-oligonucleotide conjugation, therefore, represents a promising direction for the further development of oligonucleotide-based therapeutics and tools.

Solid-phase synthesis of oligonucleotide conjugates useful for delivery and targeting of potential nucleic acid therapeutics

Olignucleotide-based drugs show promise as a novel form of chemotherapy. Among the hurdles that have to be overcome on the way of applicable nucleic acid therapeutics, inefficient cellular uptake and subsequent release from endosomes to cytoplasm appear to be the most severe ones. Covalent conjugation of oligonucleotides to molecules that expectedly facilitate the internalization, targets the conjugate to a specific cell-type or improves the parmacokinetics offers a possible way to combat against these shortcomings. Since workable chemistry is a prerequisite for biological studies, development of efficient and reproducible methods for preparation of various types of oligonucleotide conjugates has become a subject of considerable importance. The present review summarizes the advances made in the solid-supported synthesis of oligonucleotide conjugates aimed at facilitating the delivery and targeting of nucleic acid drugs.