Journal of Stem Cell Research & Therapy

Non-viral gene therapy in musculoskeletal tissue engineering

4^th International Conference and Exhibition on Cell & Gene Therapy

August 10-12, 2015 London, UK

Georg A Feichtinger

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Stem Cell Res Ther

Abstract:

Non-viral gene therapy possesses great potential for the development of novel cell-free therapeutic alternatives to current
strategies applied in tissue engineering. Morphogenic transgene expression in vivo can deliver tissue-inductive stimuli to
cells in situ which can provide therapeutic efficacy at lower cost than current growth factor and cell therapies. Furthermore, given
that morphogenic factors are expressed by endogenous cells at the defect site in vivo, a sustained low-dose stimulus with higher
specific bioactivity is provided by resident, genetically modified cells producing growth factors with correct post-translational
modifications and releasing such factors locally. This contrasts recombinant growth factor therapy which produces a burst
release profile of recombinant factors with lower bioactivity. Non-viral gene therapeutics can also be produced at lower cost
compared to recombinant factors and GMP-compliant production of cell therapeutics. Major drawbacks which are currently
hindering gene therapy translation are associated with low efficacy of gene delivery by non-viral gene therapeutics and lack of
spatiotemporal control. These issues can be addressed and could be overcome by optimization of non-viral gene therapeutics
on multiple-levels which synergistically could lead to adequate therapeutic efficacy of these approaches. In this presentation,
own preclinical work in the development and optimization of non-viral gene therapeutics is discussed with special emphasis on
optimization by transgene selection, expression vector design and advanced delivery methods for enhanced delivery, improved
spatiotemporal control and improved therapeutic efficacy. Finally, current challenges and a vision for the future of gradient
gene delivery and tissue interface engineering are discussed.

Biography :

Georg A Feichtinger is an experienced Molecular Biologist specialised in disruptive drug delivery technologies for regenerative medicine with special emphasis
on non-viral in vivo gene therapy. He has completed his PhD from the University of Vienna in 2013, he was the Molecular Biology Group Leader at the Ludwig
Boltzmann Institute in Vienna for 5 years and he is currently working as an Independent Wellcome Trust Junior Research Fellow at the University of Leeds on
advanced, non-viral in vivo gene delivery gradients for tissue regeneration. He has published 15 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as TERMIS SYIS
EU Chair since 2013.