ABSTRACT
Gene therapy is an alternative approach to insert the gene into a patient's cell to treat various diseases such as cancer, inherited disorders, and viral infections instead of using drugs or operations. For this aim, the viral and nonviral vectors are used in gene delivery studies and the nonviral vectors received significant attention because of simplicity, low-immune response, and controllability. Conducting polymers (CPs) known as Nobel Prize winner materials with unique features such as ease of synthesis, in vivo and in vitro biocompatibility, electric conductivity are promising materials for wide applications, e.g., biosensor platforms, photocatalytic applications, and biomedical studies. Furthermore, depending on the redox state, the molecules could be entrapped or released by applying the electrical stimulation; so, these conjugated polymers are also potentially used in gene delivery studies. In this context, the widely used CPs, their chemical synthesis, their interactions with DNA, siRNA, their entry into the cells, and their gene delivery performances are highlighted.
