Zhang Dongwei, Das Diganta B, Rielly Chris D
Department of Chemical Engineering, Loughborough University , Loughborough, Leicestershire , UK.
Drug Deliv. 2014 Dec;21(8):571-87. doi: 10.3109/10717544.2013.864345. Epub 2013 Dec 9.
Gene guns have been used to deliver deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) loaded micro-particle and breach the muscle tissue to target cells of interest to achieve gene transfection.
This article aims to discuss the potential of microneedle (MN) assisted micro-particle delivery from gene guns, with a view to reducing tissue damage.
Using a range of sources, the main gene guns for micro-particle delivery are reviewed along with the primary features of their technology, e.g. their design configurations, the material selection of the micro-particle, the driving gas type and pressure. Depending on the gene gun system, the achieved penetration depths in the skin are discussed as a function of the gas pressure, the type of the gene gun system and particle size, velocity and density. The concept of MN-assisted micro-particles delivery which consists of three stages (namely, acceleration, separation and decoration stage) is discussed. In this method, solid MNs are inserted into the skin to penetrate the epidermis/dermis layer and create holes for particle injection. Several designs of MN array are discussed and the insertion mechanism is explored, as it determines the feasibility of the MN-based system for particle transfer.
This review suggests that one of the problems of gene guns is that they need high operating pressures, which may result in direct or indirect tissue/cells damage. MNs seem to be a promising method which if combined with the gene guns may reduce the operating pressures for these devices and reduce tissue/cell damages.
There is sufficient potential for MN-assisted particle delivery systems.
基因枪已被用于递送负载脱氧核糖核酸（DNA）的微粒，并穿透肌肉组织到达目标细胞以实现基因转染。
本文旨在探讨微针（MN）辅助基因枪递送微粒的潜力，以减少组织损伤。
通过一系列资料来源，对用于微粒递送的主要基因枪及其技术的主要特点进行了综述，例如其设计结构、微粒的材料选择、驱动气体类型和压力。根据基因枪系统，讨论了在皮肤中实现的穿透深度与气体压力、基因枪系统类型以及颗粒大小、速度和密度的关系。讨论了由三个阶段（即加速、分离和修饰阶段）组成的微针辅助微粒递送概念。在这种方法中，将实心微针插入皮肤以穿透表皮/真皮层并为颗粒注射创造孔。讨论了几种微针阵列设计并探讨了插入机制，因为它决定了基于微针的颗粒转移系统的可行性。
本综述表明基因枪的问题之一是它们需要高操作压力，这可能导致直接或间接的组织/细胞损伤。微针似乎是一种有前途的方法，如果与基因枪结合使用，可能会降低这些设备的操作压力并减少组织/细胞损伤。
微针辅助颗粒递送系统有足够的潜力。
