Qiagen Gmbh

Qiagen Gesellschaft MIT Beschränkter Haftung

Martin Weber

Christoph Erbacher

Ralf Himmelreich

Christoph Ritt

Joachim Schorr

Jörg Dennig

Jaochim Schorr

Stephan Wahle

Guido Fuhrmann

Nicole Bézay

The present invention relates to a method for enriching nucleic acids with a length of not more than 300 nucleotides. The invention also relates to a kit for enriching nucleic acids with a length of not more than 300 nucleotides, to the use of such a kit, to the use of an anion exchange matrix and to a method for treating a disease.

Method for enriching short-chain nucleic acids

The present invention relates to processes for the targeted transfection of cells, compositions which may be used for such processes, and corresponding pharmaceutical compositions for gene therapy. In particular, the invention relates to a process for introducing nucleic acid into cells comprising the steps of (a) mixing a nucleic acid with a dendrimer, in which a proportion of the dendrimer molecules are biotinylated; (b) mixing the resulting complex of nucleic acid and dendrimer with a second complex consisting of avidin or streptavidin and a biotinylated target-specific binding molecule; and (c) incubating the complex formed in step (b) with cells. Dendrimers which are well suited to the present invention include, for example, partially solvolysed polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers. Target-specific binding molecules are, in particular, cell-type-specific markers of the cell surface of the target cells.

Targeted transfection of cells using a biotinylated dendrimer

Cationic cytofectins and liposomes comprising the same are disclosed which are especially useful for delivering exogenous compounds into cells in vitro and in vivo. The liposomes may comprise (a) a neutral lipid such as dioleoylphosphatidyl-ethanolamine (DOPE) or similar lipid-like compounds such as 1,2-dioleoyl-oxiphosphatidylethanolamine or other lipid-like structures and (b) one or more of the cationic cytofectins provided herein. The invention provides transfection kits and methods for delivery of exogenous compounds into cells.

Cationic reagents of transfection

The present invention relates to a method of producing covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA from a cultured cell or unicellular organism, preferably a bacterium, essentially free of genomic DNA. The method of the invention comprises the steps of precipitating a cleared lysate with an alcohol, washing and resuspension of the precipitate, digestion of the genomic DNA with a nuclease that cleaves linear DNA or circular DNA that includes a nick or a free 3&prime; or 5&prime; end but not ccc DNA, and finally, separation of the purified ccc DNA from the remainder of the product of the digestion step by contacting the product with an ion exchange material. ccc DNA obtained by the method, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the ccc DNA, and a kit for carrying out the method of the invention are also contemplated.

Method for purifying covalently closed circular DNA

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Leichlingen, Germany

Martin Weber