Ultrasound enhances PLGA nanoparticle-mediated gene delivery in vivo / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the feasibility and the efficacy of ultrasound in promoting PLGA nanoparticle-mediated gene transfection in vivo.Methods Prostate cancer cell line PC-3 was used to generate xenografts in nude mice for gene transfection experiment in vivo.GFP plasmid was encapsulated in PLGA-based nanoparticles.Nanoparticles were injected into tumors locally.Two hours later,xenografts were exposed to ultrasound.Xenograft tissues were harvested in different time points to assess the efficiency of gene expression with regard to different parameters of ultrasound. Results PLGA nanoparticle-encapsulated GFP plasmids were readily transfected to PC-3 cells in vivo.A large number of GFP expressing cells were observed after exposed to ultrasound with 1.0 MHz 50% duty factor continuous wave.In comparison,ultrasound exposure with 40% duty factor pulse wave in vivo had low efficacy in terms of GFP expression.No animal death was noticed due to ultrasound exposure.Conclusions Ultrasound exposure can enhance the release of plasmid DNA content delivered by PLGA nanoparticles in vivo,local exposure to ultrasound wave would be used in conjunction with PLGA nanoparticle-mediated targeted delivery to the tissue or organ of interest.