Process for facilitating nucleic acid transfer

Abstract

Means for transferring efficiently a desired nucleic acid into a cell is provided. The present invention comprises using a complex comprising a collagen or a collagen derivative, and a desired nucleic acid.

1 . A method of transferring an oligonucleotide to a target organ or a target tissue comprising administering an electrostatic complex consisting essentially of an oligonucleotide and a water-soluble atelocollagen by injection. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the oligonucleotide is 5-30 nucleotides in length. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the number of atelocollagen molecules to the number of nucleotide monomers of oligonucleotide is 1:20 to 1:120. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the size of the electrostatic complex is 300 nm to 30 um. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the oligonucleotide is a DNA derivative or an RNA derivative. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the oligonucleotide is a DNA derivative or an RNA comprising a phosphorothioate bond. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the oligonucleotide is a DNA derivative or an RNA comprising an internucleotide comprising a phosphate, sugar or base moiety chemically modified to avoid enzymatic degradations. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the complex exhibits a major axis of about 300 nm in length. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the complex exhibits a major axis from 12 to 54 microns in length. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the number of oligonucleotide molecules to the number of atelocollagen molecule is from 0.2 to 6.3. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the nucleotide monomers per the number of atelocollagen molecules is from 4 to 126.