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Updated: Aug 26, 2026
An Orthotopic Bladder Cancer Model for Gene Delivery Studies
Published on: December 1, 2013
In vitro transfection of human bladder cancer cells by acoustic energy
A Schaaf1, S Langbein, T Knoll
1Department of Urology, University Hospital Mannheim, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, D-68135 Mannheim, Germany.
Background:
The objective of this study was to examine and quantify the shock-wave-induced transfection of human bladder carcinoma cells.
Materials And Methods:
Cell suspensions were transfected with different concentrations of the pEGFP-N1 plasmid. Shock-waves were applied in a degassed water bath with different numbers of impulses at different energy levels. Additionally, the effects of different DNA concentrations, frequencies and the absence/presence of a liquid air border were examined.
Results:
After shock-wave application, the transfection rate increased up to a maximum of 27.10% after 1000 impulses at an energy level of 0.5 mJ/mm2. In comparison negative control groups were transfected significantly below 1%. An increase in acoustic power and frequency and of DNA concentration and the presence of a liquid-air border resulted in an increasing transfection rate.
Conclusion:
The results demonstrate that naked plasmid DNA can easily and effectively be delivered to malignant urothelial cells in vitro upon exposure to lithotripter-generated shock-waves.
