Microbubble-enhanced ultrasound exposure improves gene transfer in vascular endothelial cells

Figure 1 Map of pEGFP-C1, showing the restriction sites.

Figure 2 Experimental setup for the ultrasound exposure. Ultrasound probe with transmission gel was placed on the cell suspension covered with polyester film, a 24-well plate covered by a 6-μm polyester film was kept in a water bath at 37°C, and also a sponge mat was placed in the water bath.

Figure 3 Fluorescent microscopy showing FD500-positive HUVECs (200 ×). (A) A few FD500-positive HUVECs with ultrasound only; (B) significant increase in FD500-positive HUVECs after the addition of SonoVue.

Figure 4 Fluorescent microscopy after EGFP gene transfection (200 ×). (A) EGFP expression 48 h after ultrasound exposure only; (B) significant increase in EGFP expression in HUVECs 48 h after the addition of SonoVue.

Figure 5 Detection of EGFP gene transfection by flow cytometry. (A) Cells exposed to ultrasound only showed 1.5% of HUVECs within M₁ area; (B) cells exposed to both the ultrasound and SonoVue showed 16.1% of HUVECs within M₁ area.

Figure 6 HUVECs survival rate 48 h after gene transfection. ^aP < 0.05 vs group A and B ; ^cP > 0.05 vs group C.