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Syringe Electrode Device for Delivering DNA VAC

Detailed Technology Description

None

*Abstract

Mass immunization against bioterrorism will require reagents and devices that are simple, effective, reproducible, and inexpensive. DNA vaccine fits most of these criteria, except that its delivery mechanism needs substantial improvement. Use of electroporation to deliver genes to the muscle cells has been explored as an efficient method for gene transfer. However, optimal electric parameters for electroporation often leads to tissue damage. The inventors have recently developed a simple syringe electrode device with which plasmid DNA can be efficiently delivered to muscles without any measurable tissue damage. This is because the site of the highest electric field strength coincides with the site of the highest DNA concentration, a condition not fulfilled by conventional caliper electrode products. The device is unique because it is handheld, battery operated, and uses a syringe electrode for reproducible delivery of DNA to muscle tissues. Such a device is ideal for mass immunization. It is also expected that the syringe electrode technique shall induce much less DNA damage than the conventional electrode method due to the fact that the former operates at a much lower electric field strength than the latter.Non Provisional and PCT Patent Applications Filed

*Principal Investigator

Name: Neal Herring, Mechanical Engineer undergraduate

Department:

Name: Steve Heston, Mechanical Engineer

Department:

Name: Leaf Huang

Department: Pharm-Pharmaceutical Science

Name: Feng Liu, Instructor

Department: Pharm-Pharmaceutical Science

Name: Michael Lovell, Associate Professor

Department: Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Name: Shane Messina, Computer Engineer undergraduate

Department:

Name: Marlin Mickle, Professor of Electrical Engineering

Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering

Name: Justin Ulis, Industrial Engineer undergraduate

Department: Industrial Engineering

Country/Region

USA