Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42549243›Full record

ArticleCellular and molecular bioengineering2026

Mechanisms and Strategies for Enhancing DNA Nuclear Entry in Gene Delivery.

Justin Sylvers, Fan Yuan

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cellular and molecular bioengineering, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Justin SylversDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
Fan YuanDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.

Funding

Chemically Assisted Electrotransfer of DNAR35GM145362 · NIGMS · DUKE UNIVERSITY · PI FAN YUAN · 2022 to 2026
$2.0M
NIGMS NIH HHS R35 GM145362
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Nonviral gene delivery using DNA vectors is widely used in cell engineering, vaccination, and gene therapy, but delivery efficiency remains lower than those of viral vectors and mRNA-based approaches, partly due to inefficient nuclear entry, as transfected DNA must enter the nucleus for transcription. Therefore, a mechanistic understanding of nuclear entry pathways is essential for developing strategies to improve the efficiency. Methods: This review evaluated mechanistic studies of DNA nuclear entry in mammalian cells, mathematical models of intracellular DNA trafficking, quantitative analyses of DNA nuclear accumulation and transgene expression, and strategies to enhance nuclear delivery of DNA. Results: Two mechanistically distinct pathways for DNA nuclear entry have been reported: enclosure upon nuclear envelope reformation in dividing cells, and active transport through nuclear pore complexes (NPCs). Various strategies have been developed to enhance nuclear import through these pathways; however, their effectiveness depends on multiple factors, including cell type, delivery methods, and cell cycle status. Although DNA vectors are significantly larger than the nominal inner diameter of NPCs, they may traverse NPCs through deformation and interactions with nuclear transport proteins. Quantitative studies show that DNA nuclear accumulation is time dependent and heterogeneous among individual cells within the same population. Conclusions: Nuclear entry plays a key role in determining efficiency of nonviral gene delivery. Advances in mechanistic studies, quantitative modeling, and imaging-based analyses have improved our understanding of intracellular DNA trafficking and nuclear accumulation. Integrating these insights with delivery strategies that enhance nuclear access while preserving the cellular machinery required for transgene expression will be critical for developing more efficient and reliable nonviral DNA delivery systems for therapeutic and biotechnological applications.

Indexed as

DNA nuclear targeting sequence (DTS)electroporationmechanoporationnonviral gene deliveryNuclear entrynuclear envelope break downnuclear localization signal (NLS)nuclear pore complex

Identifiers

PMID42549243
PMCPMC13431081

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.