Development of Dry Gene Powders with High Inhalation Performance and Gene Expression

Abstract

We prepared dry gene powders for inhalation by several techniques. The chitosaninterferon-β gene complex powder prepared in supercritical CO₂ was effective to suppress the growth of murine lung metastasis. Next we prepared luciferase gene powders with PAsp(DET) or PEG-PAsp(DET) as a vector by spray-freeze-drying technique. The powder with PAsp(DET) and L-leucine as a dispersant reagent had 50 times higher gene expression efficiency than that with chitosan. It was suggested that optimization of vector and additive maximized gene expression by powder formulations for inhalation.