Overcoming the Delivery Challenges in CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing for Effective Cancer Treatment: A Review of Delivery Systems

Abstract

Therapeutic strategies based on gene editing provide the ability to modify faulty genes contributing to the development of diseases such as cancer by directly altering the cellular machinery. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats associated nuclease 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system is currently the primary tool used for gene editing. Several effective Cas9 variants have already been established to address the complex genetic modifications that arise during diseases. Although gene-editing systems have made significant advancements, a primary obstacle that requires attention is the transportation of CRISPR/Cas to diverse target cells, both in vivo and in vitro, to render them suitable for clinical implementation. Various strategies can be utilized to facilitate the transportation of the CRISPR/Cas systems into mammalian cells. Herein, we reviewed contemporary research about delivery systems for gene-editing systems that interact effectively in biological systems. This review explores the benefits and drawbacks of using extracellular vesicles and viral vectors as vehicles for delivering the CRISPR/Cas system in the context of cancer treatment.