Delivery of Hepatitis B Virus Therapeutic Agents Using Asialoglycoprotein Receptor-Based Liver-Specific Targeting

Many kinds of vectors for gene transfer have been developed in the last 20 yr. These include viral vectors such retroviruses (1 ,2 ), adenoviruses (3 ,4 ), and adeno-associated viruses (5 ); nonviral vectors utilizing cell-specific recognizing components (6 ,7 ); and lipid-mediated liposomes (8 ). Some of these gene-transfer methods have reached Phase I and II clinical trials, while others are still in the laboratory. This chapter focuses on protocols for the use of asialoglycoprotein receptor-based carriers to alter hepatitis B virus (HBV) viral replication in cell culture and animal models.