Gene Therapy Review

Gene therapy involves transferring genetic material into cells to treat disease. This review will discuss gene transfer methods and current and potential applications for craniofacial regeneration, focusing on future development and design. Non-viral gene delivery methods have limitations in gene transfer efficiency. However, they offer advantages such as safety, low immunogenicity, ease of manufacturing, and lack of DNA insert size restrictions. Viral vectors are natural tools for delivering genes. They can be tailored for targeting specific tissues, integrating into specific sites on chromosomes, and infecting both dividing and non-dividing cells for extended periods. In contrast to traditional gene therapy for replacement, craniofacial regeneration aims to use genetic vectors as additional components for tissue growth and repair. The synergy of viral gene therapy with craniofacial tissue engineering will greatly improve our capacity to repair and replace tissues in living organisms.