New gene therapy delivery method created

Athens, Ga -- The risk of using viruses to deliver gene therapy might soon be eliminated thanks to a U.S.-developed non-viral synthetic delivery method.

University of Georgia Assistant Professor Yan Geng and colleagues say they've created a synthetic gene vector that packages DNA into well-defined nanostructures, allowing it to deliver genes without triggering immune responses.

"We've developed a very versatile approach to creating synthetic gene delivery vectors," said Geng. "Our approach is relatively simple -- using simple chemical reactions to create a new class of packaging molecules that wrap up genes on their own -- and has the potential to be very useful in real-world, clinical applications.

"These gene vectors also can be further conjugated with targeting molecules, which will allow us to deliver the right genes to the right spot in our body," Geng added. "Our research is still at an early stage, but we've developed a very promising system."

The study, primarily conducted by doctoral student Jennifer Haley, appears in the journal Molecular BioSystems.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.