Pluronic block copolymers for gene delivery.

Amphiphilic block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(propylene oxide) called Pluronic or poloxamer are commercially available pharmaceutical excipients. They recently attracted considerable attention in gene delivery applications. First, they were shown to increase the transfection with adenovirus and lentivirus vectors. Second, they were shown to increase expression of genes delivered into cells using non-viral vectors. Third, the conjugates of Pluronic with polycations, were used as DNA-condensing agents to form polyplexes. Finally, it was demonstrated that they can increase regional expression of the naked DNA after its injection in the skeletal and cardiac muscles or tumor. Therefore, there is substantial evidence that Pluronic block copolymers can improve gene expression with different delivery routes and different types of vectors, including naked DNA. These results and possible mechanisms of Pluronic effects are discussed. At least in some cases, Pluronic can act as biological adjuvants by activating selected signaling pathways, such as NF-kappaB, and upregulating the transcription of the genes.