Targeted delivery through a cationic amino acid transporter

摘要

The invention relates to the targeted delivery of substances to cells. The invention provides a virus-like particle or gene delivery vehicle provided with a ligand capable of binding to a human amino acid transporter. Provided are for example ligands that can bind to the human transporter of cationic L-amino acids (hCAT1). Such hCAT1 binding molecules find applications in the design of vector systems for entry into human or primate cells. Preferred are retroviral envelope molecules, which - when incorporated in a virus particle - can infect hCAT1 positive cells at high frequencies. Also within the scope of the invention are methods for the design of such hCAT1 binding molecules.