Delivery of plasmid DNA to vascular tissue in vivo using catheter balloons coated with polyelectrolyte multilayers

We report an approach for the localized delivery of plasmid DNA to vascular tissue from the surfaces of inflatable embolectomy catheter balloons. Using a layer-by-layer approach, ultrathin multilayered polyelectrolyte films were fabricated on embolectomy catheter balloons by alternately adsorbing layers of a hydrolytically degradable poly(β-amino ester) and plasmid DNA. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that the films coated the surfaces of the balloons uniformly. Coated balloons that were incubated in phosphate-buffered saline at 37 °C released ∼25 μg DNA/cm2 over 24 h. Analysis of the DNA by gel electrophoresis showed that the DNA was released in open-circular (‘nicked’) and supercoiled conformations, and in vitro cell transfection assays confirmed that the released DNA was transcriptionally active. Arterial injury was induced in the left common, carotid arteries of Sprague–Dawley rats using uncoated balloons, followed by treatment with film-coated balloons for 20 min. X-gal, immunohistochemical, and immunofluorescence staining of sectioned arteries indicated high levels of β-galactosidase or enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression in arteries treated with film-coated balloons. β-galactosidase and EGFP expression were observed throughout the medial layers of arterial tissue, and around approximately two-thirds of the circumference of the treated arteries. The layer-by-layer approach reported here provides a general platform for the balloon-mediated delivery of DNA to vascular tissue. Our results suggest the potential of this approach to deliver therapeutically relevant DNA to prevent complications such as intimal hyperplasia that arise after vascular interventions.