The biological routes of gene delivery mediated by lipid-based non-viral vectors.
Cationic lipid/DNA complexes (lipoplexes) represent an attractive alternative to viral vectors for cell transfection in vitro and in vivo but still suffer from relatively low efficiency. Comprehension of the interactions between vectors and DNA as well as cellular pathways and mechanisms in DNA entry into cells and ultimately nuclei will lead to the design of better adapted non-viral vectors for gene therapy applications. Here, some recent developments in the field on the pathways and mechanisms involved in lipoplex-mediated transfection are discussed. The techniques that are widely used to study the mechanism of gene delivery are also discussed.
Dalian Nationalities University, College of Life Science, SEAC-ME Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Bioresources Utilization, Dalian 116600, Liaoning, China.
Yan
Y
Duan
Shubiao
S
Zhang
Bing
B
Wang
Baoling
B
Yang
Defu
D
Zhi
D000818:Animals; D002412:Cations; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods
D002412:Cations; D008081:Liposomes; D004247:DNA