Cationic virosomes having a positively charged lipid bilayer membrane with an integrated viral fusogenic peptide as genetic transfer systems for use in gene therapy

摘要

A lipid vesicle with a positively charged lipid bilayer membrane containing cationic and/or polycationic lipids. At least one active viral fusogenic peptide is integrated, or covalently linked to the membrane and is capable of inducing a fusion reaction between the vesicle membrane and a lipid membrane of the target cell. The membrane comprises 10% or less by weight of phosphatidylethanolamine, and 90% or more by weight of other cationic and /or polycationic lipids, preferably phosphatidylcholine. The vesicle, in addition to containing the desired genetic material for delivery to target cells, also contains a cell-specific marker selected from the group comprising an antibody or fragment thereof, a cytokine and a growth factor. Also disclosed is the process for the manufacture of the lipid bilayer vesicle, and the use of the positively charged virosome as a medicament for carrying out non-infectious gene therapy, wherein gene therapy includes the reduction or proliferative activity of cancer, leukemic and virally infected cells.