TI: Topical gene transfer into rat skin using electroporation.
AU: Dujardin,-N; Van-Der-Smissen,-P; Preat,-V
AD: Unite de Pharmacie Galenique, Universite catholique de Louvain,
Brussels, Belgium.
SO: Pharm-Res. 2001 Jan; 18(1): 61-6
JN: Pharmaceutical-research
PY: 2001
AB: PURPOSE: To investigate whether electroporation can be used
for topical gene delivery and for DNA expression in rat keratinocytes.
METHODS: The localization of a fluorescent-labelled plasmid and the expression
of a reporter gene (pEGFP-N1) coding for Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)
in stripped skin were assessed by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM).
RESULTS: The plasmid penetrated into the epidermis within minutes after
electroporation and entered the keratinocyte cytoplasm within hours. A
localized expression of GFP was observed for at least 7 days in the epidermis.
Skin viability was not compromised by electroporation. CONCLUSIONS: Electroporation
enhances the delivery, and hence the expression, of topically applied plasmid
DNA on the skin. It could be a promising alternative method to administer
DNA, particularly for DNA vaccines, in the skin in vivo.