Link Technologies Ltd (www.linktech.co.uk), a specialist oligonucleotide reagent manufacturer, has announced the availability of a novel vitamin modifier, which has shown in initial tests to have the potential of improving cell delivery of oligonucleotides. The new reagent, 5’-Niacin-CE Phosphoramidite, is easily incorporated during solid phase oligo synthesis. The niacin-based modifier from Link offers several advantages over the use of conventional lipophilic delivery agents, including reduced risk of in vivo toxicity, and removes the necessity of cleaving the delivery reagent once in the cell. These benefits make vitamins, including niacin, an attractive method for the delivery of therapeutic oligonucleotides, such as siRNA, into cells.
While lipophilic modifier reagents have been shown to enhance cell penetration, vitamin-mediated cell delivery offers a distinct advantage due to the fact that vitamins are required, but not produced by cells. As such, it is believed that interaction with a specific binding protein is required before the ...
