Claims
- 1. A method for transfection of DNA or RNA into the liver of a mammal comprising the steps of
a) delivering a solution containing DNA or RNA to the vasculature of the liver; and b) applying ultrasound to the liver during exposure to the solution to induce the expression of the DNA in the liver.
- 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the solution is delivered vascularly with increased injection pressure.
- 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the solution additionally comprises microbubbles of a gas.
- 4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the gas is air, nitrogen, or oxygen.
- 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the DNA is any DNA that will be actively translated when incorporated into a cell.
- 6. A method according to claim 3, wherein the gas bubbles are encapsulated gas microspheres or gas bubbles stabilized by one or more surfactants, lipids, proteins, lipoproteins, or polymers.
- 7. The method according to claim 3, wherein the microspheres are injected into the blood peripherally.
- 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transfected DNA alters cholesterol metabolism of the liver.
- 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the DNA encodes apo A1, operably linked to a promoter.
- 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the DNA comprises naked plasmid DNA encoding apo A1.
- 11. The method of claim 3, wherein the DNA containing solution is delivered under high injection pressure.
- 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound is applied to localize the area of liver treatment.
- 13. A method for increasing apo A1 secretion from the liver comprising the steps of:
delivering a solution comprising DNA encoding for apo A1 to the vasculature of the liver under high intravascular pressure.
- 14. A method for the transfection of the apo A1 gene in the liver to regulate cholesterol comprising the steps of:
a) forming microspheres containing the apo A1 gene; b) delivering the microspheres into the liver, and c) applying ultrasound to the microspheres to induce the expression of the apo A1 gene in the liver.
- 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the microspheres are injected into the blood peripherally.
- 16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the apo A1 gene is naked apo A1 plasmid DNA.
- 17. A composition for transfection of the liver comprising DNA and stabilized gas bubbles in a pharmacologically acceptable solution.
- 18. The composition of claim 17, wherein the DNA comprises plasmid DNA.
- 19. The composition of claim 17, wherein the DNA comprises plasmid DNA encoding apo A1, operably linked to a promoter.
- 20. The composition of claim 17, wherein the stabilized gas bubbles comprise gas filled microspheres.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 60/303,784 filed Jul. 10, 2001.
PCT Information
| Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
| PCT/US02/21620 |
7/10/2002 |
WO |
|
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60303784 |
Jul 2001 |
US |