Research & Development

GENE TRANSPORT

We analyzed the transport of a reporter gene across the blood- brain barrier into the brain and into other organs after systemic application of DNA-loaded nanoparticles into rats The plasmid DNA was adsorbed onto the surface of poly(butyl)cyanoacrylate nanoparticles.

Our objective was to investigate the biodistribution of poly(butyl)cyanacrylate nanoparticles.

Healthy rats treated with ß-galactosidase reporter bound to polysorbate-coated nanoparticles showed a significant expression of the reporter in brain endothelial cells and liver tissue 24 hours post application. 48 hours later the expression was still apparent in the brain endothelial cells in addition to a strong expression in glial cells and neurons. In addition, expression could be visualized in tissue from the liver, spleen, kidneys and stomach.

Our study shows the distribution of a reporter gene product in the organs of healthy rats after binding to nanoparticles and systemic application. The results show a time dependent transport of a gene across the endothelial cells and glial cells into the neurons of the animal. The results support our object of transporting DNA across the blood brain barrier using nanoparticles.