Hyperstructure-forming carriers

Abstract

Disclosed are bioactive substances useful for the delivery of effector units in animals. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing the bioactive substances of the invention.

1 . What is claimed is: 
 A bioactive substance comprising: 
 (a) a hyperstructure forming unit;  
 (b) an effector unit; and  
 (c) an operable association between the hyperstructure forming unit and the effector unit.  
   
     
     
         2 . The bioactive substance of  claim 1 , wherein the hyperstructure forming unit comprises the sequence GGGG.  
     
     
         3 . The bioactive substance of  claim 1 , wherein the hyperstructure forming unit comprises the sequence GTGT.  
     
     
         4 . The bioactive substance of  claim 1 , wherein the effector unit comprises a nucleotide.  
     
     
         5 . The bioactive substance of  claim 4 , wherein the effector unit comprises a nucleotidic portion from about 8 to about 100 nucleotides.  
     
     
         6 . The bioactive substance of  claim 4 , wherein the effector unit comprises a nucleotidic portion from about 12 to about 30 nucleotides.  
     
     
         7 . The bioactive substance of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleotidic portion of the effector unit has at least one internucleotide linkage selected from the group consisting of phosphorothioate, phosphorodithioate, alkylphosphonate, alkylphosphonothioate, phosphotriester, phosphoramidate, siloxane, carbonate, carboxymethylester, acetamidate, carbamate, thioether, bridged phosphoramidate, bridged methylene phosphonate, bridged phosphorothioate, and sulfone internucleotide linkages.  
     
     
         8 . The bioactive substance of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleotidic portion of the effector unit is chimeric or hybrid, or chimeric and hybrid.  
     
     
         9 . The bioactive substance of  claim 8 , wherein the nucleotidic portion of the effector unit comprises a ribonucleotide or 2′-O-substituted ribonucleotide region and a deoxyribonucleotide region.  
     
     
         10 . The bioactive substance of  claim 1 , wherein the effector unit comprises an amino acid.  
     
     
         11 . The bioactive substance of  claim 1 , wherein the effector unit comprises a lipid.  
     
     
         12 . The bioactive substance of  claim 1 , wherein the effector unit comprises a small molecule.  
     
     
         13 . The bioactive substance of  claim 1 , wherein the effector unit is in operable association with two or more effector units.  
     
     
         14 . The bioactive substance of  claim 1 , wherein the operable association is bioreversible.  
     
     
         15 . The bioactive substance of  claim 14 , wherein the bioreversible operable association comprises an amide, an ester, or a disulfide bond.