Gene delivery from polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering

Authors: Jang, Jae-Hyung; Houchin, Tiffany L; Shea, Lonnie D

Source: Expert Review of Medical Devices, Volume 1, Number 1, September 2004 , pp. 127-138(12)

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $73.00 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

The combination of gene therapy with tissue engineering offers the potential to direct progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation into functional tissue replacements. Many approaches to engineering tissue replacements feature a polymer scaffold to create and maintain a space, support cell adhesion, and organize tissue formation. Polymer scaffolds, either natural, synthetic, or a combination of the two, have also been adapted to serve as delivery vehicles for viral and nonviral vectors, which can induce the expression of tissue inductive factors. Gene delivery is a versatile approach, capable of targeting any cellular process through localized expression of tissue inductive factors. The design and application of tissue engineering scaffolds for localized gene transfer are reviewed. Scaffolds are designed either to release the vector into the local tissue environment or maintain the vector at the polymer surface, which is regulated by the effective affinity of the vector for the polymer. Polymeric delivery can enhance gene transfer locally, promote and extend transgene expression, avoid vector distribution to distant tissues, and reduce the immune response to the vector. Scaffolds capable of controlled DNA delivery can provide a fundamental tool for directing progenitor cell function, which has applications with the engineering of numerous types of tissue. The utility of this approach will increase with the development of design parameters that correlate release and transgene expression, and with continued research into the biology of tissue formation.

Keywords: biomaterial; gene therapy; nonviral vector; regeneration; wound healing

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1586/17434440.1.1.127

Publication date: 2004-09-01

More about this publication?

Expert Review of Medical Devices provides commentary, analysis and debate for all professionals involved in research, development, testing and clinical use of devices.
Editorial Board
Information for Authors
Submit a Paper
Subscribe to this Title
Information for Advertisers
Terms & Conditions
Information for Librarians
Free Trials
ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Gene delivery from polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering

Buy & download fulltext article:

Tools

Key

Text size:

Useful pages