Microbubble-enhanced ultrasound for vascular gene delivery

Citation
A. Lawrie et al., Microbubble-enhanced ultrasound for vascular gene delivery, GENE THER, 7(23), 2000, pp. 2023-2027
Citations number
35
Categorie Soggetti
Molecular Biology & Genetics
Journal title
GENE THERAPY
ISSN journal
09697128 → ACNP
Volume
7
Issue
23
Year of publication
2000
Pages
2023 - 2027
Database
ISI
SICI code
0969-7128(200012)7:23<2023:MUFVGD>2.0.ZU;2-7
Abstract
Progress in cardiovascular gene therapy has been hampered by concerns over the safety and practicality of viral vectors and the inefficiency of curren t nonviral transfection techniques. We have previously reported that ultras ound exposure (USE) enhances transgene expression in vascular cells by up t o 10-fold after naked DNA transfection, and enhances lipofection by up to t hree-fold. We report here that performing USE in the presence of microbubbl e echocontrast agents enhances acoustic cavitation and is associated with a pproximately 300-fold increments in transgene expression after naked DNA tr ansfections. This approach also enhances by four-fold the efficiency of pol yplex transfection, yielding transgene expression levels approximately 3000 -fold higher than after naked DNA alone. These data indicate an important r ole for acoustic cavitation in the effects of USE. Ultrasound can be focuse d upon almost any organ and hence this approach holds promise as a means to deliver targeted gene therapy in cardiovascular conditions such as such an gioplasty restenosis and in many other clinical situations.