Method of Tissue-Selective Targeted Gene Transfer

A method of treating corneal scarring comprising applying an AAV5 vector that comprises a decorin gene to the stroma of a cornea wherein the gene is delivered to a desired area of stroma of a cornea, the method further comprising the steps of:

• (a) preparing the cornea by:
• (i) removing corneal tissue by mechanical scraping to expose at least a portion of the corneal stroma, and
• (ii) dehydrating the exposed portion of the stroma;
• (b) applying the AAV5 vector that comprises the decorin gene to the dehydrated portion of the stroma,
• wherein the AAV5 vector is in solution with a titer of from about 1×108 vg/ml to about 6.5×1012 vg/ml and is applied in a volume of solution of from about 1 μl to about 100 μl,
• wherein dehydrating the exposed portion of the stroma in (a)(ii) comprises contacting the surface of the cornea with a flow of air at a temperature in the range of from about 40° C. to about 45° C. for a total duration of about 10 seconds to about 60 seconds,
• wherein said flow is at a rate in the range of about 6 meters per second to about 10 meters per second, and
• wherein following preparation of the cornea in (a), a physical barrier is placed on the cornea that encompasses the desired surface area of stroma of the cornea to which the gene is to be delivered, and wherein the viral vector applied in (b) is applied to the area encompassed by the physical barrier.