Efficient liposome-mediated gene transfer to rabbit carotid arteries in vivo

Methods for gene delivery in vivo vary dramatically in their relative efficiencies. The most efficient to date involve the use of recombinant viruses, most notably adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), or retroviruses (see Chapters 32 and 34 ). The creation of these recombinant constructs is laborious and requires specialized techniques, however. A technique that can efficiently deliver simple plasmids containing the gene of interest in vivo allows the screening of gene constructs to determine their effects prior to embarking on the creation of recombinant viruses.