RESUMO
Non-viral in vivo delivery of DNA, encoding for specific proteins, has traditionally relied on chemical or physical forces applied directly to tissues. Physical methods typically involve contact between an applicator/electrode and tissue and often results in transient subject discomfort. To overcome these limitations of contact-dependent delivery, a helium plasma source was utilized to deposit ionized gasses to treatment/vaccination sites without direct contact between the applicator and the tissues. The study reported here evaluated the efficacy of this strategy as an effective method to administer DNA vaccines. Balb/C mice were vaccinated with a DNA plasmid expressing an HIVgp120 envelope glycoprotein either with or without co-administration of helium plasma or electroporation. The results indicated, for the first time, the potential efficacy of helium plasma delivery for the induction and enhancement of antigen specific immune responses following DNA vaccination.
Assuntos
Proteína gp120 do Envelope de HIV/administração & dosagem , Hélio/administração & dosagem , Imunidade Humoral , Gases em Plasma/administração & dosagem , Vacinas de DNA/administração & dosagem , Vacinas contra a AIDS/administração & dosagem , Vacinas contra a AIDS/imunologia , Animais , Formação de Anticorpos , Eletroporação/instrumentação , Eletroporação/métodos , Feminino , HIV/genética , HIV/imunologia , Antígenos HIV/administração & dosagem , Antígenos HIV/imunologia , Proteína gp120 do Envelope de HIV/imunologia , Imunização Secundária , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Plasmídeos/genética , Plasmídeos/metabolismo , Fatores de Tempo , Vacinação , Vacinas de DNA/imunologiaRESUMO
Electric field mediated drug and gene delivery is a novel method that uses pulsed electric fields to improve permeability of cell membranes and therefore desired agent uptake by tissues. In this paper, we describe the modeling and experimental proof of concept of a method to direct electric fields to subsequently focus drug or gene uptake at a desired site. The in vitro experimental results presented are consistent with simulation models and could be scaled into different in vivo applications that can concentrate the effects of electroporation and overcome several problems related to localized effects near the electrodes.