Current Progress in Electrotransfection as a Nonviral Method for Gene Delivery.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review of mechanisms and clinical progress without systematic review methodology.
PubMed 29889538 · doi:10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.8b00207
What was done
This review examines the current state and biological mechanisms of electrotransfection (ET) as a nonviral method for delivering plasmid DNA (pDNA) and other molecules into cells in vitro and in vivo. The authors summarize clinical trial applications, compare advantages against viral and chemical delivery methods, and discuss evolving models of intracellular transport (such as endocytosis versus simple transient pore formation).
What was found
The abstract reports no primary experimental numbers or effect sizes. It notes that close to 90 clinical trials have utilized electrotransfection, with approximately half focused on cancer treatment. It also highlights that endocytosis plays an important role in cellular uptake and intracellular trafficking of electrotransfected pDNA, challenging the classical assumption that entry occurs solely through transient membrane pores.
Why it matters
Electrotransfection avoids viral vectors and added chemical carriers, making it safe and adaptable for cancer immunogene therapy. Understanding non-pore mechanisms like endocytosis is necessary to systematically overcome its low baseline delivery efficiency.
Limits
As a narrative review, the abstract provides no systematic literature search protocol, quantitative synthesis, risk-of-bias assessment, or novel primary experimental data. Specific delivery efficiency rates and clinical trial outcome metrics are not reported.
Cited by
- supports Electroporation delivers genetic materials or protein-RNA complexes into cells by passing an electrical current that creates transient pores in the cell membrane.