Cellular uptake and delivery monitoring of liposome/DNA complexes during in vitro transfection of CFTR gene

The cellular uptake and distribution of cationic Liposomes Dc-Chol/DOPE-CFT R gene complexes were assessed by electronic and confocal laser scanner mic roscopy (CLSM) for the CFTR gene transfer to human adenocarcinoma and trach eal epithelial cell lines. Cationic lipid forms unilamellar and multilamell ar vesicles capable of rapid and efficient transport of gene into target ce lls. The number of fluorescent complexes was increasing with time in cells up to 6 hours showing a punctate and homogeneous DNA distribution in the cy toplasmatic and nuclear compartments, including the nucleolus. No significa nt difference in the biochemical and cellular behavior was observed between the investigated system and other systems previously tested. This study ad ds new insights into the CFTR cationic liposome-mediated gene delivery.