Nano-sized carriers in gene therapy for renal fibrosis .

Renal fibrosis is the final common pathway leading to end-stage renal failure regardless of underlying initial nephropathies. No specific therapy has been established for renal fibrosis. Gene therapy is a promising strategy for the treatment of renal fibrosis. Nano-sized carriers including viral vectors and non-viral vectors have been shown to enhance the delivery and treatment effects of gene therapy for renal fibrosis . This review focuses on the mechanisms of renal fibrosis and the technologies and methodologies of nano-sized carriers in gene therapy for renal fibrosis. Alexander Seifalian Director of Nanotechnology & Regenerative Medicine Ltd., The London BioScience Innovation Centre, London, UNITED KINGDOM.