Retargeting gene delivery using surface-engineered retroviral vector particles

Retroviral vectors with the capacity to deliver transgenes to specific tissues are expected to be of great value for various gene transfer applications in vivo. Initial attempts to modify vector host-range by the insertion of ligands on their surface glycoproteins have frequently failed, essentially owing to the impairment of the fusogenicity of the vector particles bound to the targeted cell-surface molecules. Several strategies aimed to recover the fusogenic activity of surface-engineered vector particles have recently been explored and have given rise to novel concepts in the field.