Title:Nanoparticle Coated Viral Vectors for Gene Therapy
VOLUME: 5 ISSUE: 1
Author(s):Ruchita Selot, Srujan Marepally, Praveen Kumar Vemula and Giridhara R. Jayandharan
Affiliation:Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur 208 016 (U.P), India.
Keywords:Gene therapy, nanoparticle, vector, immune response, hybrid delivery, gene expression.
Abstract:Background: Recent advances in nanotechnology and gene therapy have created new avenues for
therapeutics. However, only a few studies have combined these successful systems for biomedical
applications. This review presents an overview of currently available nanoparticle-vector hybrid
delivery strategies, the challenges and potential solutions to their widespread use.
Methods: A comprehesive analysis of literarure on the subject was carried out to identify viral vectors
that have been coupled with nanomaterials. The outocome of various studies have been depicted with
key aspects on their structure and functionality illustrated.
Results: Gene delivery strategies using viral vectors or nanoparticles have been used extensively to
deliver functional genes to many target issues. The hybrid vector systems offer immense potential in terms of their
abilities to deliver more than one transgene, evade host immune response by potential masking of the immunogenic
epitopes on the viral vectors and a sustained release mechanism in the target tissue. However, it is also imperative to
understand that the development of such hybrid systems requires extensive knowledge of virus structure and the ability to
understand the effect of nanoparticle coating on the physio-chemical properties of the vectors.
Conclusion: Combination of viral and nanoparticle delivery vehicles will require an optimal ratio of nanomaterial with
vector to preserve their individual characteristics and still achieve optimal tissue targeting and gene delivery. In addition,
the long-term survival of such hybrid systems in the host depends on a rapid yet sustained release of their cargo and
avoidance of host immune surveillance.
