[Target delivery of functional genes in gene therapy using carbohydrate containing vectors]

Various aspects of use of specific interactions with a participation of carbohydrate and oligosaccharide ligands to increase an efficiency of gene transfer into eukaryotic cells (including in vivo experiments) are considered in details. Data on addressed gene delivery with applying carbohydrate-containing ligands (such as asialoglycoproteins and galactosides) are discussed in the paper. Results on the usage of glycoside ligands, containing lactose, mannose, glucose residues, for receptor-mediated gene transfer, are analysed. Special attention is paid to application of chitosans for functional gene transfer into eukaryotic cells, which is considered by authors as a case of receptor-mediated gene transfer. It is notice that neo-oligosaccharide vectors, recognizing surface lectins, represent very perspective type of gene delivery systems.