A new method efficiently transfers genes into cells, then activates them with light. This could lead to gene therapies for cancers <\/p>\n
Mineko Kengaku, Tatsuya Murakami, and their colleagues from Kyoto Universitys Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) have developed a new method that modifies the surface of nanorods, making them more efficient in transporting cancer-killing genes into cells. <\/p>\n
The method involves coating gold nanorods, which produce heat when exposed to a near-infrared laser, with the lipids oleate and DOTAP. The lipids enhance the nanorods' ability to interact with and penetrate cells. <\/p>\n
The team also developed a gene carrier, known as a plasmid vector, which includes a heat shock protein that is activated in response to heat. <\/p>\n
First, the vector was bound to the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene, and then transferred into mammalian cells by the lipid-coated gold nanorods. Exposing cells to near-infrared laser for ten seconds heated up the gold nanorods, turning on the EGFP gene. Surrounding, non-targeted cells showed little to no EGFP expression. <\/p>\n
A protein called TRAIL was then added to the plasmid vector. TRAIL induces cell death in cancer cell lines. Infrared illumination of cells transfected by TRAIL-carrying nanorods led to a high cell death rate in surrounding cancer cells. <\/p>\n
The lipid-coated gold nanorods could potentially help with molecular cancer therapies. <\/p>\n
This new system provides a unique opportunity for site-directed, light-inducible transgene expression in mammalian cells by a near-infrared laser, with minimal phototoxicity, conclude the researchers in their study published in the journal Scientific Reports. <\/p>\n
This article has been republished frommaterialsprovided by Kyoto University. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source. <\/p>\n
Reference <\/p>\n
Nakatsuji, H., Kawabata, G. K., Kurisu, J., Imahori, H., Murakami, T., & Kengaku, M. (2017). Surface chemistry for cytosolic gene delivery and photothermal transgene expression by gold nanorods. Scientific reports, 7(1), 4694.<\/p>\n
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Breakthrough Nanorod Tech Could Deliver Gene Therapy Directly to Cancer Cells - Technology Networks<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A new method efficiently transfers genes into cells, then activates them with light. Continue reading