Preparation of cationic lipid-coated ultrasound contrast agents and noninvasively gene transfection induces apoptosis in Hela cells via ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction.

Ultrasound contrast agents involving a therapeutic drug applied during enhanced imaging can be used for targeted therapy, and the preparation of contrast agents is a precondition and basis for the use of multifunctional contrast agents in molecular imaging. This study uses thin-film hydration-mechanical vibration to conduct the preliminary preparation of a cationic lipid-coated ultrasound contrast agent (C-UAC); characterizes the particle diameter, potential, distribution, and concentration of the agents; optimizes the factors affecting the preparation of the agents. This study found that thin-film hydration-mechanical vibration methods offer better preparation effectiveness and achieve smaller particle diameters and more even distribution, as well as better imaging performance. Different concentration of C-UAC and plasmid as well as gene transfection methods can produce different degrees of sonoporation to achieve optimal transfection efficiency. Ultrasound parameters have a great influence on transfection efficiency and plasmid integrity. Previous study confirmed that the ultrasound parameters of 1 MHz, 1 W/cm2, 20% DC, and irradiation for 1 min can well deliver the genes to the tumor cells with little impact on cell survival. Our findings indicate that Ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) mediated C-UAC destruction facilitates gene transfection and may represent an effective gene delivery method for cervical cancer therapy.