Delivery of Gene and Cellular Therapies for Heart Disease

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Abstract

Although there has been considerable interest in the utilization of gene and cellular therapy for heart disease in recent years, there remain critical questions prior to widespread promotion of therapy, and key among these issues is the delivery method used for both gene therapy and cellular therapy. Much of the failure of gene and cellular therapy can be explained by the biological therapy itself; however, certainly there is a critical role played by the delivery technique, in particular, those that have been adapted from routine clinical use such as intravenous and intracoronary injection. Development of novel techniques to deliver gene and cellular therapy has ensued with some preclinical and even clinical success, though questions regarding safety, invasiveness, and repeatability remain. Here, we review techniques for gene and cellular therapy delivery, both existing and adapted techniques, and novel techniques that have emerged recently at promoting improved efficacy of therapy without the cost of systemic distribution. We also highlight key issues that need to be addressed to improve the chances of success of delivery techniques to enhance therapeutic benefit.

Keywords

Cardiac Catheterization Gene Therapy Cellular Therapy Cd34 Adeno-Associated Virus Heart Failure Coronary Artery Disease Adenovirus Intramyocardial Intracoronary 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

J.M. was supported by a joint NHMRC and NHFA Postgraduate Medical Scholarship. D.K. is supported by an NHMRC Program Grant and NHMRC Research Fellowship.

Disclosure

D.K. is a founder and stockholder in Osprey Medical Inc, which is developing the recirculating system for cardiac gene delivery.

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© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Heart Failure Research Group, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes InstituteMelbourneAustralia

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