ABSTRACT
The aim of cutaneous gene therapy is to facilitate the expression of a genetic product in the viable region of skin tissue in order to treat a localized or systemic condition, or to vaccinate against a potential pathogenic disease. The challenge of delivering genes to the skin is a product of the physico-chemical properties of the large hydrophilic DNA molecule, with or without an additional carrier vehicle, and the significant barrier properties of the target tissue. The strategies for overcoming these challenges are diverse and can involve innovative techniques to bypass the physical barrier and formulation methods to maximize the therapeutic potential of the delivered DNA. In certain instances mediating indiscriminate expression of the delivered gene is only a primary goal and restricting expression to a specific location or cell population can support improvements in the treatment strategy.
