Immobilization of gene vector on polyurethane surface using monoclonal antibody for site-specific gene therapy

Conventional strategies of gene therapy using viral vectors result in suboptimal localization and potentially dangerous distal spread of vector. We hypothesized that site-specific delivery of adenoviral gene vectors could be achieved from a polyurethane (PU) film through a mechanism involving anti-viral antibody tethering. PU films were formulated with a collagen coating. Anti-adenoviral monoclonal antibodies were covalently bound to the collagen surface. These antibodies enabled tethering of replication defective adenoviruses through highly specific antigen-antibody affinity. We report for the first time successful PU filmbased gene delivery using antibody-tethered adenovirus encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP), demonstrating efficient and highly localized gene delivery to arterial smooth muscle cells in cell culture. We conclude that PU film is a suitable platform for a localizable viral vector delivery system that also prevents systemic spread of vector. Gene delivery using PU film-based anti-viral antibody tethering of vectors should be suitable for a wide array of single or multiple therapeutic gene strategies, and for further stent-based gene delivery therapeutic strategies.