Development of the OPgun for bombardment of animal tissues.

A simple and inexpensive particle-bombardment device, the OPgun, was constructed for the delivery of DNA into animal tissues. This device is based on the particle-inflow gun first described for plant-cell transfection. The delivery of tungsten particles into the epidermis of the mouse ear, without the use of vacuum and without causing damage to the tissue, was demonstrated. The system was also shown to be capable of inducing antibodies to a foreign gene in mice.