- allows for the efficient of non-viral vectors in delivery of genes to liver cells using by using intravascular delivery method
- high level gene expression in hepatocytes can be achieved via delivery to the bile duct, portal vein, or inferior vena cava/hepatic vein
- techniques for minimally invasive hydrodynamic gene delivery by Collaborators at Genzyme:-
a) hepatic lobes is isolated using a balloon occlusion balloon catheter to occlude selected hepatic veins
b) target a whole organ wherein the entire hepatic venous system was isolated and the pDNA solution injected hydrodynamically into the vena cava between two balloons used to block hepatic venous outflow
- these procedures shown significant levels of reporter gene expression and secretion were achieved, suggesting that with further refinement hydrodynamic delivery of pDNA to an isolated liver may be a useful method for human gene therapy
- the potential therapeutic application using catheter-mediated method are liver cancer and metabolic diseases
