The use of viral vectors in gene therapy has a severe setback - the risk of cancer. Understandably, viruses have potent promoters and if integrated into a region where an oncogene is found, there is a possibility that cancer can arise. The use of artificial chromosome is attractive as it doesn't disrupt the original genome of the cell and is also capable of replicating. However, it's may be too big to be packaged into viral particles. The advantage of having a viral nanoparticle is its target specificity. However, research on nanoparticles is currently ongoing and before long, we may have a nanoparticle large enough, but having the properties of viral protein coats for target specificity in order to deliver the artificial chromosomes into mammalian cells. I think the artificial chromosome is the future direction of gene therapy but "drug" delivery methods have to be worked on.
Citations
1) New cancer case halts US gene therapy trials. http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn3271
2) Human minichromosomes. http://bric.postech.ac.kr/science/97now/01_5now/010504c.html
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