Peptide-based cationic liposome-mediated gene delivery.

INTRODUCTION: As an important type of nonviral gene delivery vector, peptide-based cationic liposomes have shown many advantages over other cationic liposomes, such as good biodegradability, excellent biocompatibility and targeting ability to cells, and great potential application in improving the delivery of gene therapeutics. AREAS COVERED: This article reviews the research progress on peptide-based cationic liposomes for gene delivery, including the structure characteristics of peptide lipids, the development of peptide cationic liposomes and three special types of peptide cationic liposomes: peptide-based Gemini lipids, lipitoids and lipids with cholesterol hydrophobic group. This review hopes to provide some suggestions on the design of peptide cationic lipids and insight into their development trend in the field of gene delivery. EXPERT OPINION: As peptide-based cationic liposomes still hold some limitations, future research needs to select suitable peptide heads and investigate the surface modification of peptide cationic liposomes, in order to facilitate targeting and reduce cytotoxicity.