[Quantitative ultrasonic naked gene delivery and the effect control]

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Molecular Biology
• Gene Therapy

Context:

• Gene therapy requires efficient and safe methods for introducing genetic material into cells.
• Current gene delivery vectors can have limitations, necessitating exploration of non-viral approaches.
• Ultrasound technology presents a potential non-invasive method for enhancing cellular uptake.

Purpose:

• To investigate ultrasonic naked gene delivery and establish optimal parameters for efficacy and safety.
• To assess the impact of ultrasound on cell viability, membrane permeability, and gene expression.
• To develop a reliable and non-cytotoxic method for gene therapy applications.

Summary:

• Ultrasound (35.1 kHz) was used to deliver plasmid DNA encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) into S180 cells.
• Optimal parameters achieved approximately 35.83% transfection rate in viable cells with no significant cell damage.
• GFP expression intensity was significantly higher in ultrasound-exposed cells compared to control and adeno-associated virus (AAV) groups.

Impact:

• Ultrasound facilitates effective naked gene delivery into cells, demonstrating a transfection rate of ~36% without compromising cell viability.
• Gene uptake is energy-dependent and optimized at 90% cell viability, with observed apoptosis in S180 tumor cells.
• This study establishes optimal parameters for ultrasound-mediated gene delivery, paving the way for improved non-viral gene therapy strategies.