Gene delivery to cornea.
This paper reviews the strategies of in vivo gene delivery to the cornea. A number of studies have demonstrated the feasibility of targeted delivery of oligonucleotides, small interfering RNA (siRNA), plasmid DNA, and viral vectors to the corneal cells in vivo, specifically stromal keratocytes and corneal epithelial cells, via intrastromal injection, iontophoresis, electroporation, and gene gun. Intrastromal injection of plasmid DNA and adenovirus each can result in efficient transgene expression to stromal keratocytes. The introduction of foreign genes into intact corneal epithelium specifically requires more invasive procedures such as gene gun to disrupt the tight junction barrier and/or cell membranes. The combination of iontophoresis and electroporation was found to be effective in delivering siRNA but not plasmid DNA into the corneal epithelium. Nanocarriers such as polymeric micelles are promising methods of corneal gene delivery.
Hao
Jinsong
J
Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
Li
S Kevin
SK
Kao
Winston W Y
WW
Liu
Chia-Yang
CY
D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D014162:Transfection