title: Gene electrotransfer into skin using noninvasive multi-electrode array for vaccination and wound healing.
abstract: Skin is an attractive target for gene electrotransfer due to its easy accessibility and its interesting immune properties. Since electrodes are often invasive and frequently induce discomfort during pulse application, there is a fundamental need for non-invasive electrodes for skin delivery. We developed circular pin non-invasive multi-electrode array (MEA), suitable for different clinical applications. MEA was first employed to deliver a luciferase reporter gene. Then, it was used to deliver a DNA vaccine coding for ovalbumin or a plasmid encoding hCAP-18/LL-37 for promoting wound healing. The results demonstrated a strong gene expression and an efficient delivery of both, DNA vaccine and wound healing agent, dependent on the pulses applied. The use of MEA to deliver the ovalbumin plasmid demonstrated a strong immune response, as evidenced by the presence of antibodies in sera, the IFN-gamma response and the delayed tumor growth when the mice were subsequently challenged with B16-OVA cells. The delivery of a plasmid encoding hCAP-18/LL-37 significantly accelerated wound closure. The easy applicability and non-invasiveness of MEA make it suitable for various clinical applications that require gene electrotransfer to skin. Specifically, by adapting electric pulses to the expected action of a transgene, non-invasive MEA can be employed either for vaccination or for wound healing.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Department of Experimental Oncology, Zaloska 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Spela
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kos
authors.affiliation: Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials, Avenue E. Mounier, 73 bte B 1.73.12, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vanvarenberg
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Department of Experimental Oncology, Zaloska 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dolinsek
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Department of Experimental Oncology, Zaloska 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Polje 42, SI-6310 Izola, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cemazar
authors.affiliation: Iskra Medical d.d.o., Stegne 23, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Jure
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jelenc
authors.affiliation: Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials, Avenue E. Mounier, 73 bte B 1.73.12, 1200 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: veronique.preat@uclouvain.be.
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Préat
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Department of Experimental Oncology, Zaloska 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: gsersa@onko-i.si.
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sersa
authors.affiliation: Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials, Avenue E. Mounier, 73 bte B 1.73.12, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gaëlle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vandermeulen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004566:Electrodes; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014611:Vaccination / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014945:Wound Healing; D054804:Cathelicidins
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D008156:Luciferases; D054804:Cathelicidins
keywords: Electroporation; Multi-electrode array; Plasmid DNA; Skin; Vaccination; Wound healing