BIOENCAPSULATION 

Minerva Biotecnologica 2000 December;12(4):305-8

Copyright © 2000 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Macrocapsules as a novel alternative for systemic in vivo delivery of virus vector

Saller R. M. ¹, Stange J. ², Mitzner S. ², Von Rombs K. ³, Hutzler P. ⁴, Dautzenberg H. ⁵, Gunzburg W. H. ¹, Salmons B. ³

¹ Institute of Molecular Virology, GSF-Research Centre for Environmental and Health Research, Oberschleißheim; ² Klinik für Innere Medizin, University of Rostock, Rostock; ³ Bavarian Nordic Research Institute, Martinsried; ⁴ Institute of Pathology, GSF-Research Centre for Environmental and Health Research, Oberschleißheim; ⁵ University of Potsdam, Teltow, Germany

Retroviral vectors (RV) are a promising tool to deliver genes to cells. They have been used in a number of gene therapy trials. However, due to their short half-life and low titres their use is mostly limited to an in vitro therapy. Therefore it would be desirable to administer the RV over a longer period rather than a giving it as a bolus. We tried to establish a “microfactory” in vivo, which should be able to produce and release RV continuously. The first step is the characterisation of the virus-producing capsule, which will be discussed here. The data presented show that virus producing cells not only tolerate the encapsulation process, but also survive for a period of at least six weeks and release RV from the capsule.