title: Activated air produced by shielded sliding discharge plasma mediates plasmid DNA delivery to mammalian cells.
abstract: Cold plasma is emerging as a potential method for medical applications. The current study assessed the efficacy of a novel cold plasma reactor based on shielded sliding discharge producing cathode-directed streamers generated in ambient air for the delivery of plasmid DNA. Experiments were performed with mouse melanoma cells (B16F10) and human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT) inoculated with plasmid DNA encoding luciferase. Quantitative results measured over a 72-h period displayed luciferase expression levels as high as 5-fold greater in cells exposed to plasma-activated air (PAA) than levels obtained from the inoculation of plasmid DNA alone (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). No effect on cell viability was observed. Delivery of plasmid encoding GFP to HaCaT cells seeded on polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds was confirmed by immunostaining. The use of cold plasma for DNA delivery is attractive as it provides a non-viral, non-invasive method where the electrode or the plasma itself never directly contacts the exposed site. The current device design provides localized DNA transfer using a novel technology. Our report suggests PAA warrants further exploration as an alternative or supplemental approach for DNA transfer.
authors.affiliation: Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia.|Department of Biology, College of Science, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia.
authors.forename: Chelsea M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Edelblute
authors.affiliation: Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia.|School of Medical Diagnostic & Translational Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, 23529.
authors.forename: Loree C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Heller
authors.affiliation: Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia.
authors.forename: Muhammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.affiliation: Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. rheller@odu.edu.|School of Medical Diagnostic & Translational Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, 23529. rheller@odu.edu.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heller
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000502:physiology; D008156:Luciferases / Q000032:analysis; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D058626:Plasma Gases; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D058626:Plasma Gases; D004247:DNA; D008156:Luciferases
keywords: DNA transfer; cold plasma; gene transfer; non-viral gene delivery; plasma medicine; sliding discharge