Synthetic viruslike particles for targeted gene delivery to alphavbeta3 integrin-presenting endothelial cells.

Progress in the design of gene delivery systems is of utmost importance for cancer gene therapy since several physiological and intracellular barriers remain. We previously developed a technology for condensing a single gene into a single and stable globular nanometric system. In this manuscript, we have decorated the nanometric particles with cyclic RGD ligands in order to target endothelial cells. The potential of these artificial viruses as targeted gene delivery vehicles is demonstrated in vitro with alpha(v)beta(3) integrin-expressing primary endothelial cells.