Enhancement of the efficiency of non-viral gene delivery by application of pulsed magnetic field.
New approaches to increase the efficiency of non-viral gene delivery are still required. Here we report a simple approach that enhances gene delivery using permanent and pulsating magnetic fields. DNA plasmids and novel DNA fragments (PCR products) containing sequence encoding for green fluorescent protein were coupled to polyethylenimine coated superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPIONs). The complexes were added to cells that were subsequently exposed to permanent and pulsating magnetic fields. Presence of these magnetic fields significantly increased the transfection efficiency 40 times more than in cells not exposed to the magnetic field. The transfection efficiency was highest when the nanoparticles were sedimented on the permanent magnet before the application of the pulsating field, both for small (50 nm) and large (200-250 nm) nanoparticles. The highly efficient gene transfer already within 5 min shows that this technique is a powerful tool for future in vivo studies, where rapid gene delivery is required before systemic clearance or filtration of the gene vectors occurs.
Institute of Veterinary Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
Sarah W
SW
Kamau
Paul O
PO
Hassa
Benedikt
B
Steitz
Alke
A
Petri-Fink
Heinrich
H
Hofmann
Margarethe
M
Hofmann-Amtenbrink
Brigitte
B
von Rechenberg
Michael O
MO
Hottiger
D000818:Animals; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D010507:Periodicity; D010957:Plasmids; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics
D005290:Ferric Compounds; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; C000499:ferric oxide; D011094:Polyethyleneimine