Nonviral transfer method

Some investigators have used electrical current (electroporation) to improve DNA (or drug) entry into tumor cells with some preliminary success. Liposomes are attractive vehicles for gene delivery, since they can carry plasmid, antisense, or viral DNA. Compared with viral approaches, however, liposomes remain relatively inefficient at facilitating gene transfer, although their safety profile remains more desirable. Some of the attributes and limitations of the nonviral methods are listed in Table 58.1. 

Nonviral vectors are also under investigation. Among these are receptor-mediated gene transfers. By its very nature these would be highly tissue specific. Here particular glycoproteins would target specific organs such as the liver (Wu, 1991). Liposomal encapsulation was already mentioned. In vivo injection of DNA can afford a direct transfection into cells. This nonvector method holds particular promise for muscle cells (Wolff etal., 1990). 

Various other methods, such as DNA electrotransfer, electroporation-based gene transfer, calcium phosphate nanoparticles, peptide nucleic acids, and cell penetrating peptides, round off the currently used methods in the field of nonviral gene delivery techniques. 

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