Table 3.
The features, advantages, and disadvantages of the most used viral and non-viral vectors for gene transferring into the target cells (65–78).
| Vector type | Characteristics | Advantages | Limitation | Tropism | Host genome | Transgene expression | Packaging capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adenovirus | 36 kb dsDNA Non-enveloped Non-integrating |
Large genome Easy to produce high titer Infects many cell types |
High immunogenicity | – | – | – | – |
| Retrovirus (lentivirus) | 8 kb ssRNA Enveloped Integrating |
Large genome High infection efficiency Stable gene transfer |
Insertional mutagenesis | Dividing and non-dividing cells | Integration in genome | Stable | 8 kb |
| Adeno-associated virus (AAV) | 4.7 kb ssDNA Non-enveloped Non-integrating |
Low immunogenicity Infects many cell types Long-term gene transfer |
Small genome Low transduction efficiencies |
Dividing and non-dividing cells | No integration | Stable in non-dividing cells | 5 kb |
| Herpes virus saimirii (HVS) | - | Transduction efficiencies of up to 95% | Safe replication-deficient HVS vector | – | – | – | – |
| Oncogenic retroviruses | Moloney murine leukemia virus (MoMLV) | Large genome | Shorter expression time Insertional mutagenesis |
– | – | – | – |
| Baculovirus | Viruses are derived from an insect: Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedroviruses | Replication-defective Large genome High infection efficiency |
Shorter expression time | – | – | – | – |
| Plasmid | To clone a DNA insert with maximum size of 15 kb | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Non-viral | Calcium phosphate, liposomes, niosomes Nanoparticles, Spermine–pullulan | Ease of synthesis, cell/tissue targeting, low immune response, and unrestricted plasmid size | Shorter expression time lower transfection efficiency |
– | – | – | – |