Study of in vitro and in vivo Gene Transfection Mediated by Ultrasound and Microbubble SonoVue

Objective To investigate the feasibility and the efficacy of gene transfection to cultured cells and mouse muscles, mediated by ultrasound combined with a new ultrasound contrast agent SonoVue. The efficiency of gene expression with regard to different parameters of ultrasound and different DNA dosages was also studied. Methods Human liver cancer cell line HepG2 was used in the in vitro gene transfection experiment. While intramuscular injection of plasmid DNA combined with SonoVue solution was used in the in vivo experiment. Results pEGFP-C1 plasmids could be readily transfected to HepG2 cells in vitro and to mouse tibialis anterior muscles in vivo. One MHz ultrasound was ideal both in vitro and in vivo, but a more powerful ultrasound was needed in vivo (3 W/cm 2) than in vitro (1.5 W/cm 2). Conclusion Ultrasound combined with SonoVue could promote gene transfection to cultured cells and mouse muscles. In both experiments 1 MHz was an ideal ultrasound frequency.