Gene delivery systems by the combination of lipid bubbles and ultrasound

Drug Discov Ther. 2016 Nov 28;10(5):248-255. doi: 10.5582/ddt.2016.01063. Epub 2016 Oct 28.

Abstract

Gene therapy is promising for the treatment of many diseases including cancers and genetic diseases. From the viewpoint of safety, ultrasound (US)-mediated gene delivery with nano/ microbubbles was recently developed as a novel non-viral vector system. US-mediated gene delivery using nano/microbubbles are able to produce transient changes in the permeability of the cell membrane after US-induced cavitation while reducing cellular damage and enables the tissue-specific or the site-specific intracellular delivery of gene both in vitro and in vivo. We have recently developed novel lipid nanobubbles (Lipid Bubbles). These nanobubbles can also be used to enhance the efficacy of the US-mediated genes (plasmid DNA, siRNA, and miRNA etc.) delivery. In this review, we describe US-mediated delivery systems combined with nano/microbubbles and discuss their feasibility as non-viral vector systems.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Gene Transfer Techniques*
  • Genetic Therapy*
  • Humans
  • Lipids / chemistry*
  • Microbubbles*
  • Ultrasonography*

Substances

  • Lipids