Recent advances in molecular biology combined with the culmination of the Human Ge‐ nome Project [1] have provided a genetic understanding of cellular processes and disease pathogenesis; numerous genes involved in disease and cellular processes have been identi‐ fied as targets for therapeutic approaches. In addition, the development of high-throughput screening techniques (e.g., cDNA microarra...

This review introduces a new concept "Programmed Packaging" to develop a non-viral gene delivery system. Based on this concept, multifunctional envelope type nano devices (MEND) were developed for in vitro, in situ and in vivo conditions. A quantitative study to identify a rate limiting step in intracellular trafficking was also shown between viral and non-viral vectors, which indicated an impo...

Background: The poor permeability of the plasma and nuclear membranes to DNA plasmids are two major barriers for the development of these therapeutic molecules. Therefore, success in gene therapy approaches depends on the development of efficient and safe non-viral delivery systems. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro delivery of plasmid DNA encoding HPV16 E7 gene...

Non-viral delivery systems usually include mechanical, electrical, and chemical methods. Cationic liposomes and cationic polymers are two typical classes of non-viral vectors. Com‐ pared with viral vectors, non-viral ones are considered promising vehicles for gene therapy because of their low toxicity, biocompatibility, and controllability [1, 2], although their low efficacy limits their applic...

application of therapeutic gene transfer in the treatment of genetic diseases is a notable progress but there are some disadvantages and limitations in it. the process of overcoming these barriers is a drastic change in gene delivery. recently, calcium phosphate nanoparticles alone, or in combination with viral and nonviral vectors, were found to have a positive effect on gene transfer especial...

Chapter 1 presents a review of the current literature on non-viral gene delivery with special emphasis on peptide gene delivery carriers and the use of acridine. Barriers to systemically-administered non-viral gene delivery and remedies to overcome them individually will be discussed, and two physical methods of particular importance in examining circulating polyplexes (DNA and peptide carrier)...