Modified influenza virosomes: recent advances and potential in gene delivery.

Influenza virosomes have proven to be effective vehicles for the delivery of antigens in the vaccination of humans against a number of pathogens. However, their potential as a means for gene delivery has yet to be realized. Chemical modification of viruses is emerging as a new strategy for production of safe and efficient gene delivery systems. Influenza virosomes exhibit many of the features of the virus, such as for cell binding, uptake and endosomal escape, which can be easily engineered into designer delivery vehicles capable of safe, efficient and cell-specific cargo delivery. This review focuses on the next generation of influenza virosomes and highlights aspects of their modification that may lead to simple but effective gene delivery vehicles.