ATTRACTIVE APPROACHES in DRUG DELIVERY: BIO-BASED CARRIERS for siRNA TARGETING

Functional characterization of genes can be determined by disruption of gene expression. This provides powerful approach in designing novel treatment strategies. RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural phenomenon that can aid in the study of post-transcriptional regulation of genes. This mechanism can be stimulated via introduction of double stranded RNA (dsRNA) in a cell. Synthetic short/small interfering RNAs (siRNA) can be utilized to trigger down-regulation of desired genes via transfecting into mammalian cells. Recently, utilization of bio-based polymers has been an attractive approach in drug delivery for medical applications. This review article describes the advantages of exploiting bio-based polymeric carriers for siRNA targeting, as bio-therapeutics. Here, we report the current developments, safety and delivery of bio-based siRNAs via polymeric carriers. Additionally, cancer genetics and metabolic disorders including obesity and diabetes pertaining to the progress in clinical applications have been highlighted

Brief Communications: Rare β-Thalassemia Mutation in a Turkish Patient: FSC-36/37 (-T)

We describe the rare /7-thalassemia mutation at codons 36/37 (-T) for the first time in Turkey. The propositus is a Turkish patient with /^-thalassemia major who originated in Adana but now resides in Istanbul. Molecular analysis revealed a compound heterozygosity for the common eastern Mediterranean mutation IVS-I-110 (G-A) along with mutation FSC-36/37 (-T). The FSC-36/37 (-T) mutation could have arisen somewhere in the region, including northern Iran and the inaccessible mountainous region of eastern Anatolia. The mutation could have followed two migration routes during the time of Ottoman rule, the first being to Azerbaijan and the second, probably a more recent one, passing through southeastern Anatolia and reaching southern Bulgaria