Current and future technological advances in transdermal gene delivery.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Dermatology
• Gene Therapy

Background:

• Transdermal gene delivery circumvents systemic administration issues like degradation and toxicity.
• The skin's stratum corneum and epidermal tight junctions present significant barriers to gene delivery.
• Gene therapy holds potential for treating various diseases via non-invasive skin application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review physical and chemical methods for transdermal gene delivery.
• To discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different barrier-crossing approaches.
• To provide insights for future advancements in skin-based gene therapy.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of physical methods (e.g., electroporation, microneedles).
• Literature review of chemical methods (e.g., liposomes, nanoparticles).
• Systematic summarization and comparative analysis of reviewed approaches.

Main Results:

• Physical and chemical methods effectively enhance transdermal gene transport.
• Each method presents unique benefits and limitations regarding efficiency, safety, and scalability.
• Successful transdermal gene delivery is demonstrated for vaccination, wound healing, and treating skin conditions.

Conclusions:

• Transdermal gene delivery is a promising strategy for localized and systemic treatments.
• Overcoming skin's natural barriers is key to successful gene therapy via this route.
• Further research into optimized delivery systems and strategies is crucial for clinical translation.