Progress in the studies on gene vectors and gene transfection / 国际生物医学工程杂志

ABSTRACT

Gene vector is defined as a tool which can carry and transfer gene or other nucleic acid material into cells. Its chemical nature can be protein or polypeptide, nucleic acid, lipide, carbohydrate, and other polar molecule or its compound. As an.important part of gene therapy, gene delivery system is also the bottleneck of gene therapy. There are two existent gene vectors defined as viral vectosr and non-viral vectors. Generally, high transfection efficiency can be achieved by the application of viral vectors. But the application of viral vectors has been restricted by its immunogenicity and mutngenic potential as side effects. As a novel gene delivery system, non-viral vectors have the advantages of low toxicity, low immunogenicity, and relative targeting effect. This article provides a review on the latest research progress about various kinds of vectors.