31 Jul 2012, BioSpectrum Bureau , BioSpectrum Singapore: A key
challenge in virus-based gene therapy is avoiding detection by
the human immune system, so that the virus would not be
deactivated before it reaches the intended target. Now,
researchers at the Institute of Bioengineering and
Nanotechnology (IBN) have succeeded in circumventing the body's
own defense mechanism by combining two IBN innovations. In a
recent study published in Advanced Materials, IBN researchers
demonstrated that cancer cells could be more effectively
eliminated when therapeutic viruses are encased in microfibers
or synthetic tissue fibers. Using a novel method developed at
IBN, the researchers encapsulated an insect virus with fibers
produced from peptides and DNA for gene delivery. As the
structure of the microfibers closely resembles human tissue
fibers, they were able to disguise the virus by reducing the
body's ability to recognize the virus and prevent its premature
deactivation. Tests conducted on mice with brain tumor showed