Three-dimensional transfection

Lin AJ, Slack NL, Ahmad A et al (2003) Three-dimensional imaging of lipid gene-carriers membrane charge density controls universal transfection behavior in lamellar cationic liposome-DNA complexes. Biophys J 84 3307-3316... 

Dendrimers are three-dimensional hyperbranched, globular macromolecules that are capable of condensing DNA into small complexes, and thereby increase plasmid transfection efficiency (14). Dendrimers are typically stable in serum and not temperature sensitive, but are also non-biodegradable and cause significant cytotoxicity. 

Cells transfected with GFP fused to the protein of interest can he excited hy two-photon absorption of near-infrared light. As mentioned in the previous section this method of excitation reduces photo-damage and acquires inherently z-sectioned, three-dimensional information. This is achieved without the use of confocal apertures as this nonlinear absorption process is confined to a single, diffraction-limited focal plane. Photodamage is thus minimized, permitting long periods of data acquisition. 

Xie, Y. B., Yang, S. T., and Kniss, D. A. 2001. Three-dimensional cell-scaffold constructs promote efficient gene transfection Implications for cell-based gene therapy. Tissue Engineering, 7,585-598. 

Schuster, U. Schmalz, G. Thonemann, B. Mendel, N. Metzl, C. Cytotoxicity testing with three-dimensional cultures of transfected pulp-derived cells. J. Endod. 2001, 27, 259-265. 

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