Provided herein are non-immunogenic, circular, non-integrating, non-
viral DNA vectors, and methods of using such
DNA vectors, which are capable of forming one or more specialized secondary structures, for example extended
cruciform structures, and express one or more therapeutic genes. These
DNA vectors capable of forming one or more specialized secondary structures, for example extended
cruciform structures, provide for increased
nucleus entry, episomal stability, and long-term
transgene expression, and have unique and highly unexpectedly reduced
immunogenicity. The one or more specialized secondary structures, for example extended
cruciform structures, formed by the
circular DNA vectors provided herein are stabilized through the interaction of two specifically oriented repeating sequences, for example AAV-derived
inverted terminal repeat (ITR) sequences, separated by a small, non-repeating sequence, for example a non-repeating sequence comprising a small bacterial
origin of replication (Ori).