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A novel method for the intracellular delivery of siRNA using microbubble-enhanced focused ultrasound.

Kinoshita M, Hynynen K

Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. mkinosit@bwh.harvard.edu

Short interfering RNA (siRNA) has attracted much attention for clinical use in various diseases. However, its delivery, especially through the cell membrane, continues to present a challenge. Advances in ultrasound- and ultrasound contrast-agent technologies have made it possible to change transiently the permeability of the cell membrane and, using a focused ultrasound transducer, to narrow and focus the ultrasound energy on a small target, thereby avoiding damage to surrounding tissue. In this in vitro study, we demonstrate that it is possible to deliver siRNA intracellularly via microbubble-enhanced focused ultrasound. Although further optimization is necessary, our novel method for siRNA transduction represents a powerful tool for using siRNA in vivo and possibly in the clinical setting.

Published 15 August 2005 in Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 335(2): 393-9.
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