Gene Delivery to Skin Using Biolistics

INTRODUCTION

Biolistics (“biological ballistics”) or particle bombardment provides a rapid and simple physical procedure for delivering genes into cells (Klein et al. 1987; Yang et al. 1990). The technique has many advantages—plasmids may be used for delivery, DNA theoretically can be delivered to any cell type, and genes may be delivered to cells in vitro, ex vivo, or in vivo. DNA-coated gold particles are distributed evenly along the length of the tubing, which is subsequently cut into short sections of cartridges to be used in a gene gun. The Helios Gene Gun uses a pulse of helium to launch the DNA-coated particles, spreading them onto the target cells.