Comparison of the efficiency and toxicity of sonoporation with branched polyethylenimine-mediated gene transfection in various cultured cell lines

Abstract

Objective. The objective of this study is to evaluate transfection efficiency and safety for gene delivery by sonoporation in comparison with cationic polymer gene carrier branched polyethylenimine (BPEI). Methods. The cDNA expressing VEGF165 was cloned under chicken -actin promoter. The plasmid DNA was transfected into the CHO, HEK293, and NIH3T3 cells using microbubble-based sonoporation and BPEI (25kDa) under various conditions. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the expressed protein level. Cytotoxicities of transfection methods were compared by Cell Counting Kit-8. Results. At 1MHz intensity, transfection efficiency of sonoporation was enhanced by microbubble concentration with no detrimental effects. By contrast, BPEI exacerbated cell viability, despite its high transgene expression efficiency. Conclusion. Sonoporation gene therapy might be the safest technique to be used in actual clinical practice.