Gene delivery with nanometer accuracy
Nanotechnology will ensure safe and effective gene transfection
Roman Ivanov, Computer
Scientists from the National Institute of Materials Science (Japan) have obtained nanofilms capable of injecting desired genes into cells. In addition, the safety and effectiveness of the new nanomaterial as a substrate for reversible gene transfection has been demonstrated.
The introduction of foreign genes into the cell can be carried out in a liquid medium (the solution method) or on the surface of a solid substrate (the method of solid-phase gene transfection). In the latter case, DNA molecules are fixed on a solid surface, and then cells are applied on top. The topic of the current study was the discovery of new solid substrates suitable for reversible transfection.
The method of solid-phase gene transfection attracts special attention due to the much higher efficiency of DNA transfer compared to the solution method. In addition, it is best suited for the systematic analysis of the effects exerted by various genes.
But not everything is as rosy as it may seem. To this day, fibronectin, an extracellular matrix that is a protein product of animal origin (necessary for the preliminary fixation of DNA molecules transmitted to cells on the surface of a solid substrate), has been used as an accelerator for solid—phase gene transfection. However, the use of animal proteins in a situation where gene-transferring cells return to the human body is considered potentially dangerous. Therefore, there is an urgent need to search for such substrates that would not be associated with possible biomedical risks.
By etching a silicon substrate with sodium borohydride, Japanese scientists have obtained nanoscale films representing a huge number of silicon-based walls sticking vertically upwards. After etching, the nanofilms were treated with aminopropyltriethoxysilane to fix the amine functional groups necessary for interaction with DNA molecules deposited on them on the surface of silicon nanowalls. As it turned out, such "fixing" of molecules on the surface of nanostructured silicon allows for gene transfection with unprecedented efficiency. And since the method does not use animal proteins in any way, it will most likely become a very simple solution for gene transfection in a clinical setting.
From left to right: vertical nanofilms are formed on a silicon substrate by etching, which, after amine modification of the surface, are capable of gene transfection with the highest efficiency. (Fig. RSC.)
Well, apparently, the Japanese have made another quiet revolution in the field of gene therapy. More information about the study and the results achieved can be found in an article published in the journal Chemical Communications: Ji et al., Silica-based gene reverse transfer: an upright nanosheet network for promoted DNA delivery to cells.
Prepared according to the materials of the National Institute of Materials Science:
Successful Development of Nanosheets Film Capable for Safe and Highly Effective Gene Transfection into Cells.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru28.08.2012