Preparation of protamine cationic nanobubbles and experimental study of their physical properties and in vivo contrast enhancement.
In this study, we aimed to prepare a novel type of microbubble (MB), protamine cationic nanobubble (NB), to provide a new vector for tumor gene therapy. We prepared cationic NBs with protamine and other lipid components using mechanical oscillation. The protamine cationic NBs had a mean diameter of 521.2 ± 37.57 nm, a zeta potential of +18.5 mV, and a gene-carrying capacity of 15.69 μg androgen receptor (AR) siRNA per 10(8) NBs. The cationic NBs exhibited superior contrast enhancement for in vivo imaging compared with SonoVue (Bracco, Geneva, Switzerland), and their physical properties did not change significantly after 1 wk; meanwhile, the transfection efficiency of the cationic NBs in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells mediated by ultrasound irradiation was better than that of liposomes (82.17 ± 7.4% vs. 55.04 ± 5.4%, p < 0.01). Therefore, the protamine cationic NB can be considered for use as a novel type of gene-loading MB for ultrasound imaging and MB-mediated gene therapy of tumors.
Department of Ultrasound, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Hai-Peng
HP
Tong
Luo-Fu
LF
Wang
Yan-Li
YL
Guo
Lang
L
Li
Xiao-Zhou
XZ
Fan
Jun
J
Ding
Hai-Yun
HY
Huang
D000818:Animals; D002412:Cations; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004058:Diffusion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D011479:Protamines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods
D002412:Cations; D053769:Nanocapsules; D011479:Protamines; D004247:DNA
Cationic nanobubble; Contrast-enhanced ultrasound; Gene transfection; Protamine