title: Delivery of a lentiviral vector in a Pluronic F127 gel to cells of the central nervous system.
abstract: Lentiviral vectors have been demonstrated as efficient tools for gene delivery to the CNS. We describe a novel approach for vector delivery using the thermoresponsive Gel, Pluronic F127 as a carrier. A HIV-1 lentiviral vector expressing GFP was contained in various concentrations of gel (15, 30 and 40%) and applied to cultures of 293T cells. FACS analysis of cells transduced with 8ng of lentiviral vector revealed a similar transduction efficiency for each Gel concentration compared to vector added to cells without PF127. Primary Rat CNS mixed glial cultures were also transduced with lentiviral vector in 15% Pluronic F127 and results demonstrated a similar transduction efficiency of astrocytes compared to virus without gel and no evidence of cell toxicity or death. Stereotaxic delivery of viral vector in 15% PF127 to the rat brain resulted in transduction of cells, predominantly astrocytes close to the injection site. Pluronic F127 gel delivery of viral vectors to the CNS may provide a platform for localised release particularly in areas of brain or spinal cord injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, UK. padraig.strappe@nuigalway.ie
authors.forename: Padraig M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Strappe
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Hampton
authors.forename: Begona
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cachon-Gonzalez
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Fawcett
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lever
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005782:Gels; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D016086:Lentivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D020442:Poloxamer / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D020442:Poloxamer