Ultrasound-triggered and targeted gene delivery by using cationic microbubbles to enhance GDNF gene transfection in a rat Parkinson's disease model

Ching Hsiang Fan, Chien Yu Ting, En Ling Chang, Hao Li Liu, Hong Lin Chan, You Yin Chen, Chih Kuang Yeh

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a potent agent for treating Parkinson's disease (PD). Microbubbles (MBs) have been exploited as a carrier for GDNF delivery with focused ultrasound (FUS) destruction. However, GDNF supplementation only relieves PD symptoms rather than cure it. Thus, design of an endogenous GDNF generative mechanism is an urgent concern for novel PD treatment. Here, we synthesized a cationic MBs (cMBs) with high GDNF plasmid (GDNFp) binding to achieve blood-brain barrier disruption (BBBD) with FUS, and currently enhance the GDNFp transfection for PD therapy. PD lesions were established by implanting 6-hydroxydopamine into left brain of rats. A 1-MHz FUS (0.7 MPa, duty factor = 5 %, PRF = 1 Hz, sonication time = 90 s) was sonicated at striatum and substantia nigra after GcMBs injection. Sites of gene expression were confirmed by firefly luciferase gene-loaded cMBs (LcMBs) with bioluminescence imaging, individually. The motor behavior and dopamine (DA) levels of the treated rats were traced to estimate treatment outcome. Result showed that the positively charge of cMBs (+39.48 ± 9.28 mV) made them significant for DNA binding. With FUS, GcMBs provided sufficient BBBD area for enhanced gene transfection in PD lesion. Bioluminescence data showed that the released Luc-gene expressed started from 24 h after treatment. The GDNF level of PD rats restored following the combing treatment (66.6 % of recovery). The treatment reduced rotations by 92.2 ± 5.7%, and improved of DA levels by 164.9 ± 1.23%. This study confirmed that GcMBs with FUS provides a novel strategy for local gene therapy in PD rats.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2015 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium, IUS 2015
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)9781479981823
DOIs
StatePublished - 13 11 2015
EventIEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium, IUS 2015 - Taipei, Taiwan
Duration: 21 10 201524 10 2015

Publication series

Name2015 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium, IUS 2015

Conference

ConferenceIEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium, IUS 2015
Country/TerritoryTaiwan
CityTaipei
Period21/10/1524/10/15

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 IEEE.

Keywords

  • Parkinson's disease
  • blood-brain barrier
  • cationic microbubble
  • focused ultrasound
  • gene therapy

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