Multifunctional Delivery Systems for Cancer Gene Therapy

This chapter examines key concepts with respect to cancer gene therapy and the current issues with respect to non-viral delivery. The biological and molecular barriers that need to be overcome before effective non-viral delivery systems can be appropriately designed for oncology applications are highlighted and ways to overcome these are discussed. Strategies developed to evade the immune response are also described and targeted gene delivery is examined with the most effective strategies highlighted. Finally, this chapter proposes a new way forward based on a growing body of evidence that supports a multifunctional delivery approach involving the creation of vectors, with a unique molecular architecture designed using a bottom-up approach.