In vitro and in vivo gene delivery with tailor-designed aminofullerenes

Long-range studies on the chemistry of two strained ring systems, cyclopropanes and fullerenes, converged on a challenge in biology, in vivo gene delivery. The new protocol of gene delivery employing a tailor-designed amino fullerene represents the third protocol after the two using virus and lipid delivery agents, none of which are universally useful. The amino fullerene delivers an EGFP and an insulin-2 gene to mice with effi ciency superior to and selectivity distinct from those achieved by the conventional lipid-based delivery agents. The studies demonstrate the power of organic synthesis as driven by scientifi cally and socially important subjects.