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Using magnetic forces to enhance non-viral gene transfer to airway epithelium in vivo

Gene Therapy volume 13, pages 1545–1552 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

We have assessed whether magnetic forces (magnetofection) can enhance non-viral gene transfer to the airways. TransMAGPEI, a superparamagnetic particle was coupled to Lipofectamine 2000 or cationic lipid 67 (GL67)/plasmid DNA (pDNA) liposome complexes. In vitro transfection with these formulations resulted in approximately 300- and 30-fold increase in reporter gene expression, respectively, after exposure to a magnetic field, but only at suboptimal pDNA concentrations. Because GL67 has been formulated for in vivo use, we next assessed TransMAGPEI in the murine nasal epithelium in vivo, and compared this to naked pDNA. At the concentrations required for in vivo experiments, precipitation of magnetic complexes was seen. After extensive optimization, addition of non-precipitated magnetic particles resulted in approximately seven- and 90-fold decrease in gene expression for naked pDNA and GL67/pDNA liposome complexes, respectively, compared to non-magnetic particles. Thus, whereas exposure to a magnetic field improved in vitro transfection efficiency, translation to the in vivo setting remains difficult.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Cystic Fibrosis Trust for supporting these studies and the members of the UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium (www.cfgenetherapy.org.uk) for their advice and encouragement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK

    S Xenariou, U Griesenbach, S Ferrari, P Dean, D M Geddes & E W F W Alton

  2. Genzyme Corporation, Framingham, MA, USA

    R K Scheule & S H Cheng

  3. Institute of Experimental Oncology, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany

    C Plank

  4. UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, UK

    S Xenariou, U Griesenbach, S Ferrari, D M Geddes & E W F W Alton

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  1. S Xenariou
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Correspondence to U Griesenbach.

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Xenariou, S., Griesenbach, U., Ferrari, S. et al. Using magnetic forces to enhance non-viral gene transfer to airway epithelium in vivo. Gene Ther 13, 1545–1552 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.gt.3302803

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