Delivery of Genes into Cells

Genes can be delivered into cells in three main ways. (i) Ex vivo delivery -- cells are first removed from the patient, the therapeutic gene is introduced into them outside the body using a viral or non-viral vector, and the modified cells are then returned to the patient; this is the approach used, for example, for Parkinson's disease, a neurological disorder. (ii) In vivo delivery -- the therapeutic gene is delivered directly into cells at the site of the diseased tissue inside the patient's body, such as injecting cancer-treating genes straight into a tumour by intravenous infusion. (iii) Other methods -- these include the use of viro …