Efficient gene delivery with paclitaxel-loaded DNA-hybrid polyplexes based on cationic polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes

We present a novel hybrid cationic polymer based on polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS). This is the first report of using a cationic POSS-based material for gene delivery. Due to its amphiphilic properties, hydrophobic drugs such as paclitaxel can be encapsulated within the hydrophobic core of this polymer. In this paper, it is shown that paclitaxel-encapsulated hybrid POSS-based polyplexes show superior gene transfection efficiency in human breast cancer cells than the non drug-loaded polyplexes.