Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 2, 2026
Introduction to the Ultrasound Targeted Microbubble Destruction Technique
Published on: June 12, 2011
Ultrasound-mediated transfection of canine myocardium by intravenous administration of cationic microbubble-linked
Mani Vannan1, Thomas McCreery, Peng Li
1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. mav25@drexel.edu
Abstract:
We tested the hypothesis that targeted disruption of cationic microbubble-linked plasmid DNA, using diagnostic ultrasound, may aid transfection of large animal myocardium. Plasmid DNA encoding for CAT (pCAT, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase) was bound to a novel cationic microbubble containing MRX-225 for intravenous administration, and 16 dogs in 4 groups variously received this conjugate or plasmid only, or were exposed to ultrasound. Histochemical staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis showed CAT activity in the myocardium of only those animals that received microbubble-linked DNA and were exposed to ultrasound. Thus, disruption of cationic-linked, low-dose plasmid systems by diagnostic ultrasound may facilitate transfection of large animal hearts.
