POLYMERIC SYSTEMS CONTAINING INTRACELLULAR RELEASABLE DISULFIDE LINKER FOR THE DELIVERY OF OLIGONUCLEOTIDES

1 . An improved method of delivering oligonucleotides to tumor cells in a mammal, comprising administering to a mammal having tumor cells a compound of Formula (I):

R 1 —{Z 1 } m

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein

R 1 is a substantially non-antigenic water-soluble polymer;

each Z 1 is the same or different and selected from the group consisting of

-(L 4 ) a1 -R b ; and

-(L 4 ) a2 -R c ,

Y 1 , in each occurrence, is independently S or O;

Y 2 , in each occurrence, is independently NR 13 ;

R a , in each occurrence, is the same or a different oligonucleotide;

each of L 1-4 , in each occurrence, is the same or a different bifunctional linker;

R b , in each occurrence, is a folic acid;

R c , in each occurrence, is the same or a different diagnostic agent;

each of R 3-7 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1-6 alkyls, C 2-6 alkenyl, C 2-6 alkynyl, C 3-19 branched alkyl, C 3-8 cycloalkyl, and C 1-6 alkoxy;

R 13 , in each occurrence, is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1-6 alkyls, C 2-6 alkenyl, C 2-6 alkynyl, C 3-19 branched alkyl, and C 3-8 cycloalkyl;

R 12 , in each occurrence, is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, C 1-6 alkyls, C 2-6 alkenyl, C 2-6 alkynyl, C 3-19 branched alkyl, C 3-8 cycloalkyl and C 1-6 alkoxy;

each of (a) and (d) is independently zero, 1, 2, or 3;

each of (a1) and (a2) is independently zero, 1, 2, or 3;

each (b) is independently zero, 1, 2, or 3;

each (c) is independently zero, 1, 2, or 3;

each (e) is independently zero or one;

each (g) is independently zero or one; and

(m) is a positive integer from about 2 to about 32,

provided that (a) and (g) are not simultaneously zero and further provided that one or more of Z 1 contains an oligonucleotide.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of Formula (I) has Formula (I′):

wherein

(m1) is a positive integer from about 1 to about 8;

(m2) is zero or a positive integer from about 1 to about 7; and

the sum of (m1) and (m2) is an integer from about 2 to about 8.

3 . The compound of claim 1 , wherein all Z 1 contain an oligonucleotide.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more of Z 1 contains a folic acid.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein R 12 is OH.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein R 3-7 are all hydrogen.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein (b), (d) and (e) are zero, and (c) is one.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein Z 1 has the formula:

wherein,

(a) is 0 or 1;

(m) is an integer from 2 to 8; and (2, 4, 8, 16 or 32);

R 12 , in each occurrence, is independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, C 1-6 alkyls, C 2-6 alkenyl, C 2-6 alkynyl, C 3-19 branched alkyl, and C 1-6 alkoxy; and

all other variables are the same as defined in claim 1 .

9 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the compound of Formula (I) has the formula

wherein (a) is 0 or 1.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein (m2) is zero.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein (m1) is one.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein R 1 comprises a polyalkylene oxide.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein R 1 has the total number average molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 25,000 daltons or from about 20,000 to about 45,000 daltons.

14 . A compound of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of:

wherein

each Z is independently

-(L 4 ) a1 -R b ; or

-(L 4 ) a2 -R c ,

wherein

(a) is 0 or 1.

R 12 , in each occurrence, is independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, C 1-6 alkyls, C 2-6 alkenyl, C 2-6 alkynyl, C 3-19 branched alkyl, and C 1-6 alkoxy;

(n) is a positive integer and the polymeric portion of the compound has the total number average molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 25,000 daltons or from about 20,000 to about 45,000 daltons; and

all other variables are the same as defined in claim 1 .

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the oligonucleotide is a single stranded or double stranded oligonucleotide.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the oligonucleotide is an antisense oligonucleotide.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the oligonucleotide is selected from the group consisting of deoxynucleotide, ribonucleotide, locked nucleic acids (LNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), microRNA (miRNA), aptamers, peptide nucleic acid (PNA), phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotides (PMO), tricyclo-DNA, double stranded oligonucleotide (decoy ODN), catalytic RNA (RNAi), aptamers, spiegelmers, CpG oligomers and combinations thereof.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the oligonucleotide has LNA and phosphorothioate linkages.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the oligonucleotide has from about 8 to about 30 nucleotides.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the oligonucleotide is selected from the group consisting of antisense bcl-2 oligonucleotides, antisense HIF-1α oligonucleotides, antisense survivin oligonucleotides and antisense Erbβ3 oligonucleotides.

21 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the oligonucleotide comprises SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NOs 2 and 3, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 5, and SEQ ID NO: 6.

22 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of Formula (I) is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein:

Oligo is an oligonucleotide;

PEG is a polyethylene glycol and the polymeric portion of the compound has the total number average molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 25,000 daltons or from about 20,000 to about 45,000 daltons;

(a1) is one; and

L 4 is —NH(CH 2 CH 2 O) 2 (CH 2 ) 2 NH[C(═O)] r — or —NH(CH 2 ) 3 —, wherein (r′) is zero or one.

23 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tumor cells are prostate or cervical cancer cells.

24 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the administering step comprises administration via the blood stream of the mammal.

25 . An improved method for delivering oligonucleotides to tumor cells in a mammal, comprising:

(a) providing a compound having the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein

PEG is a polyethylene glycol;

R b is

and

Oligo is an oligonucleotide of from about 8 to 30 nucleotides,

wherein the polymeric portion of the compound has the total number average molecular weight of about 40,000 daltons; and

(b) administering the compound or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to a mammal having tumor cells.

26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the oligonucleotide comprises LNA.

27 . The method of claim 25 , wherein Oligo is -5′-(CH 2 ) 6 -TsAsGsCsCsTsGsTs CsAsCsTsTsCsTsCs-3′ or -5′-(CH 2 ) 6 -GsCsTsGsCsCsAsTsGsGsAsTsTsGsAsG-3′, wherein the first three nucleotides in 5′ and 3′ terminal are LNA and “s” represents a phosphorothioate linkage.

28 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the tumor cells are prostate or cervical cancer cells.

29 . An improved method for delivering oligonucleotides to tumor cells in a mammal, comprising:

(a) providing a compound having the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein

PEG is a polyethylene glycol;

R b is

and

Oligo is an oligonucleotide of from about 8 to 30 nucleotides,

wherein the polymeric portion of the compound has the total number average molecular weight of about 40,000 daltons; and

(b) administering the compound or the salt thereof to a mammal having tumor cells, wherein said administration reduces the expression of the preselected gene by the tumor cells.

30 . A method of introducing an oligonucleotide into a cell comprising:

contacting a cell with a compound of Formula (I).

31 . A method of inhibiting the growth or proliferation of cancer cells comprising:

contacting a cancer cell with a compound of Formula (I).

32 . A compound of Formula (Ia):

R 1 —{Z 1 } m

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein

R 1 is a substantially non-antigenic water-soluble polymer;

each Z 1 is the same or different and selected from the group among

-(L 4 ) a1 -R b ; and

-(L 4 ) a2 -R c ,

Y 1 , in each occurrence, is independently S or O;

Y 2 , in each occurrence, is independently NR 13 ;

R a , in each occurrence, is the same or a different oligonucleotide;

each of L 1-4 , in each occurrence, is the same or a different bifunctional linker;

R b , in each occurrence, is a folic acid;

R c , in each occurrence, is the same or a different diagnostic agent;

each of R 3-7 is independently selected from among hydrogen, C 1-6 alkyls, C 2-6 alkenyl, C 2-6 alkynyl, C 3-19 branched alkyl, C 3-8 cycloalkyl, and C 1-6 alkoxy;

R 13 , in each occurrence, is independently selected from among hydrogen, C 1-6 alkyls, C 2-6 alkenyl, C 2-6 alkynyl, C 3-19 branched alkyl, and C 3-8 cycloalkyl;

R 12 , in each occurrence, is independently selected from among hydrogen, hydroxyl, C 1-6 alkyls, C 2-6 alkenyl, C 2-6 alkynyl, C 3-19 branched alkyl, C 3-8 cycloalkyl and C 1-6 alkoxy;

each of (a) and (d) is independently zero, 1, 2, or 3;

each of (a1) and (a2) is independently zero, 1, 2, or 3;

each (b) is independently zero, 1, 2, or 3;

each (c) is independently zero, 1, 2, or 3;

each (e) is independently zero or one;

each (g) is independently zero or one; and

(m) is a positive integer from about 2 to about 32,

provided that (a) and (g) are not simultaneously zero, and further provided that one or more of Z 1 contain an oligonucleotide, and further provided that one or more of Z 1 contain a folic acid.