CONTROLLED GENE GUN DELIVERY AND EXPRESSION OF DNA WITHIN THE CORNEA

Selective delivery of genes to ocular tissues in vivo has been a long sought after goal for potential gene therapy of ocular disease. The ge ne gun was considered for this purpose because of its ability to focal ly transfer DNA to cells through gold microparticles coated with DNA. Through experimentation, we optimized a technique that allows focal de livery and expression of a plasmid encoding green fluorescent protein in the corneal epithelium 100% of the time. Through the corneal epithe lium has a delicate structure, this introduction was not associated wi th any corneal or ocular damage and did not produce any apparent ocula r irritation. These findings demonstrate the utility of gene gun deliv ery of DNA to selected ocular tissues for potential experimental and t herapeutic purposes.