Abstract:

Pulmonary gene delivery is one of the main branches of gene therapy. Pulmonary gene delivery system consists of gene drugs, vectors and pulmonary delivery devices. Vectors, which can protect gene drugs and mediate gene delivery, are divided into viral vectors and non-viral vectors. Viral vectors have greater toxicity, and are less widely used. Cationic lipids served as non-viral vectors of first generation, and were later replaced by cationic polymers. Polyethylenimine vectors, which have favourable gene transfection efficiencies, are most widely studied. New cationic polymer poly ester amine vectors enjoy broad application prospects in pulmonary gene delivery.

Key words: gene drug, vector, delivery device, pulmonary delivery