Abstract
A non-invasive molecular delivery method using nano/microbubbles (NB) and ultrasound (US) is an attractive technique for gene therapy. This method is able to deliver macromolecules such as plasmid DNA to a tissue specific site non-invasively. In addition, a non-invasive quantification method of gene expression has been studied by monitoring ^<124> accumulation caused by the of Na/I symporter (NIS) gene expression with positron emission tomography (PET). In the present study, we delivered NIS gene into the skeletal muscle of vasculitis and muscular dystrophy mice by using the US/NB method, and succeed in visualizing the ^<124>I accumulation caused by NIS gene expression in the muscle with PET. The combination of the US/NB delivery with NIS/PET visualization will be a valuable methodology in gene therapy.
