Self-assembling multimeric nucleic acid constructs

US5561043A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY · US

Inventors

• Charles R. Cantor · Del Mar, US
• Christof M. Niemeyer · Bremen, DE
• Cassandra L. Smith · Boston, US
• Takeshi Sano · Tokyo, JP
• Donald J. Hnatowich · Brookline, US
• Mary Rusckowski · Southborough, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 31, 1994
• Grant date: Oct 1, 1996
• Expiry date: Jan 31, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S977/92
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention is directed to constructs and compositions containing multimeric forms of nucleic acid. Multimeric nucleic acids comprise single-stranded nucleic acids attached via biotin to streptavidin and bound with a functional group. These constructs can be utilized in vivo to treat or identify diseased tissue or cells. Repeated administrations of multimeric nucleic acid compositions produce a rapid and specific amplification of nucleic acid constructs and their attached functional groups. For treatment purposes, functional groups may be toxins, radioisotopes, genes or enzymes. Diagnostically, labeled multimeric constructs may be used to identify specific targets in vivo or in vitro. Multimeric nucleic acids may also be used in nanotechnology and to create self-assembling polymeric aggregates such as membranes of defined porosity, microcircuits and many other products.