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Cationic gas-filled microbubbles for ultrasound-based nucleic acids delivery
Anthony Delalande1, Colette Bastié2,3, Lucie Pigeon2
1Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire CNRS UPR 4301, rue Charles Sadron, Orléans 45071, France anthony.delalande@cnrs.fr chantal.pichon@cnrs.fr.
Bioscience Reports
|November 29, 2017
Summary
Ultrasound-mediated sonoporation with cationic microbubbles enhances nucleic acid delivery for gene therapy. This method protects genetic material and concentrates it in target tissues for improved in vivo applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Molecular Biology
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Ultrasound offers non-invasive deep tissue access for molecular delivery.
- Sonoporation utilizes ultrasound and microbubbles (MBs) to enhance molecule uptake.
- Effective in vivo gene transfer requires robust delivery vehicles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review ultrasound-based nucleic acid delivery principles.
- To highlight advancements in cationic microbubble engineering for gene delivery.
- To discuss challenges and future directions in this field.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on ultrasound-mediated gene delivery.
- Focus on studies employing cationic microbubbles (MBs) for nucleic acid transport.
- Analysis of MB properties crucial for in vivo applications.
Main Results:
- Cationic MBs facilitate strong electrostatic interactions with nucleic acids.
- Engineered MBs protect nucleic acids from degradation and ensure high local concentrations.
- Successful delivery of plasmid DNA (pDNA), mRNA, and siRNA demonstrated.
Conclusions:
- Cationic MBs are effective for ultrasound-mediated gene delivery in vivo.
- MB stability, size, and acoustic properties are critical for successful application.
- Further research is needed to overcome challenges for clinical translation.
