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Table 2 Vector systems

From: Effects of pericytes and colon cancer stem cells in the tumor microenvironment

Vectors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Using VIRUS

 Adenovirus

↑ Efficiency and vector titers

Insert capacity (max 8 Kb)

No integration

Short-term expression

↑Immunogenicity

 Adeno-associated virus

↑ Efficiency and vector titers

↓ Toxicity, no pathogenic

↓ Risk of mutagenesis

Remains predominantly episomal

Requires helper virus to replicate

Insert capacity (3-5 Kb)

 Retrovirus

↓ Immune response in host

Insert capacity (8 Kb)

Integrates into genome

↓ Vector titers

Incorpotates into dividing cells only

Restricted tropism

↑ Risk of insertional mutagenesis

 Lentivirus

Uptake in dividing and not dividing cells

↑ Insert capacity (8 Kb)

Integrates into genome

Next generation is self-inactiving for safe

↓ Vector titers

Restricted tropism

Risk of insertional mutagenesis

Non VIRAL

 Liposomes

Protect degradation by nucleasas

Dose-dependent toxicity

cationic polymers (PEI and PAMAM)

↓ Immune response in host

rapid clearance from the bloodstream

Toxic effects on the liver and the kidney in mice

↓ Circulation half-life (minute–hours)

 Nanoparticles

Protect degradation by nucleasas

↑ Circulation half-life (synthetic polymers sustained release over a period of days to several weeks)

Dose-dependent toxicity

↑ Penetrability and solubility

enhanced drug stability and biocompatibility

facile synthesis and easy structural modification

targeted drug delivery (specify and inespecify)

Toxic effects depends on the size and biodistribution

 DNA nanostructures

Protect degradation by nucleasas

Small size

↑ Precision and flexibility

Non-toxic DNA nanostructures with their powerful structural control

↑ Biodistribution, biocompatibility

Localization and mapping of nanorobots in the human body are difficult using conventional optical microscopy techniques

Effect desired require coordination collective nanorobots

  1. Cationic polymers that are frequently used for intracellular delivery are polyethyleneimine (PEI) and polyamide amine dendrimers (PAMAM)