title: Thermal Assisted In Vivo Gene Electrotransfer.
abstract: Gene electrotransfer is an effective approach for delivering plasmid DNA to a variety of tissues. Delivery of molecules with electric pulses requires control of the electrical parameters to achieve effective delivery. Since discomfort or tissue damage may occur with high applied voltage, the reduction of the applied voltage while achieving the desired expression may be an important improvement. One possible approach is to combine electrotransfer with exogenously applied heat. Previous work performed in vitro demonstrated that increasing temperature before pulsing can enhance gene expression and made it possible to reduce electric fields while maintaining expression levels. In the study reported here, this combination was evaluated in vivo using a novel electrode device designed with an inserted laser for application of heat. The results obtained in this study demonstrated that increased temperature during electrotransfer increased expression or maintained expression with a reduction in applied voltage. With further optimization this approach may provide the basis for both a novel method and a novel instrument that may greatly enhance translation of gene electrotransfer.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Donate
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bulysheva
authors.forename: Chelsea
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Edelblute
authors.forename: Derrick
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Mohammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Siqi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Niculina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Burcus
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schoenbach
authors.affiliation: Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, 4211 Monarch Way Ste. 300, Norfolk, VA, USA. rheller@odu.edu.|School of Medical Diagnostics and Translational Science, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23508.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004566:Electrodes; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D013696:Temperature