title: The use of biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles in combination with a low-pressure gene gun for transdermal DNA delivery.
abstract: Gold particles have been used as a carrier for transdermal gene delivery, which may cause adverse side effects when accumulated. In this study, biodegradable nanoparticles, composed of chitosan (CS) and poly-gamma-glutamic acid (gamma-PGA), were prepared by an ionic-gelation method for transdermal DNA delivery (CS/gamma-PGA/DNA) using a low-pressure gene gun. The conventional CS/DNA without the incorporation of gamma-PGA was used as a control. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was used to examine the internal structures of test nanoparticles, while identification of their constituents was conducted by Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The CS/gamma-PGA/DNA were spherical in shape with a relatively homogeneous size distribution. In contrast, CS/DNA had a heterogeneous size distribution with a donut, rod or pretzel shape. Both test nanoparticles were able to effectively retain the encapsulated DNA and protect it from nuclease degradation. As compared with CS/DNA, CS/gamma-PGA/DNA improved their penetration depth into the mouse skin and enhanced gene expression. These observations may be attributed to the fact that CS/gamma-PGA/DNA were more compact in their internal structures and had a greater density than their CS/DNA counterparts, thus having a larger momentum to penetrate into the skin barrier. The results revealed that CS/gamma-PGA/DNA may substitute gold particles as a DNA carrier for transdermal gene delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering/Bioengineering Program, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan 30013, ROC.
authors.forename: Po-Wei
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Shu-Fen
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Chun-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Fwu-Long
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Mi
authors.forename: Hsin-Lung
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ming-Cheng
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Hao-Jan
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Hsing-Wen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Sung
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D019470:Biolistics; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D053758:Nanoparticles; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D004247:DNA