New Technologies To Enhance In Vivo Reprogramming for Regenerative Medicine.

Cellular identity and state are determined by a collection of molecular components that are specified during development and stabilized thereafter to maintain and protect tissue functions. Alteration of the molecular elements (gene expression program and chromatin state) as a result of disease or age can induce somatic cells to assume different identities or modulate functions. Therapeutic use of this technique, called 'cellular reprogramming', is very promising for regenerative medicine, but implementation of reprogramming-based strategies in vivo has been precluded by technological and safety limitations. Recent advances in transcriptional control and improved transmembrane delivery strategies now offer exciting potential to more efficiently reprogram cell fates as well as to control the reprogramming timeline and scale of delivery to improve safety.