Identification of myogenic cell targeting ligands is a critical observed in regenerating fibers of patients with Duchenne step in the development of synthetic vectors for gene delivmuscular dystrophy and the ability to direct a large enzyme ery to skeletal muscle. Here we describe the screening of conjugate to the cytoplasm of myotubes. Finally, we show six potential targeting ligands (insulin, insulin-like growth that incorporation of transferrin into an artificial virus confactor I, iron transferrin, gallium transferrin, alpha-bungarosisting of poly-L-lysine-condensed DNA coated with a lipid toxin and carnitine) for their ability to bind dystrophinshell (LPDII formulation) results in ligand-directed delivery deficient myotubes in vitro. Those ligands showing high of DNA to myogenic cells. This is the first report of gene levels of binding to myotubes were then tested on fully diftransfer to myogenic cells using a ligand-directed synthetic ferentiated, isolated, viable myofibers. Of the ligands vector. These results suggest that rational design of ligandtested, transferrin showed the most promise based on high directed, fully synthetic, gene delivery vehicles is a viable levels of binding to myogenic cells, high levels of receptor approach to skeletal muscle vector development.