Ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction improves the low density lipoprotein receptor gene expression in HepG2 cells.

Ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction had been employed in gene delivery and promised great potential. Liver has unique features that make it attractive for gene therapy. However, it poses formidable obstacles to hepatocyte-specific gene delivery.

Ultrasound/microbubble enhances foreign gene expression in ECV304 cells and murine myocardium.

Although viral vectors are efficient systems to transfer foreign genes into cells or target tissues, safety issues remain in relation to human gene therapy. Microbubbles currently used as ultrasound contrast agents have been applied in transfection of genes. This study was designed to test the transfection efficiency and the expression of exogenous gene mediated by ultrasound irradiation enhanced air filled albumin microbubbles in ECV304 cell line in vitro and the heart of the mouse in vivo.