Direct DNA delivery to bone cells
An method is described that enables in vivo delivery of polynucleotides to cells of a mammalian bone limb. The method involves the injection of polynucleotides in a large volume into the lumen of the bone.
1 . A method for delivering a polynucleotide to a bone cell in a mammal comprising: injecting into the lumen of said bone a solution containing said polynucleotide.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the solution is injected under pressure.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the bone cell is selected from the group consisting of: osteocyte, osteoclast, osteoblast, osteogenic progenitor cell, bone marrow cell, mesenchymal stem cell, multipotent adult progenitor cell, and stromal cells.
4 . The process of claim 1 wherein the cell is located in periosteum tissue of said bone.
5 . The process of claim 1 wherein injecting said solution results in increased permeability of veins in said bone.
6 . The process of claim 1 wherein the polynucleotide is a naked polynucleotide.
7 . The process of claim 1 wherein the polynucleotide comprises of an gene expression vector.
8 . The process of claim 1 wherein the polynucleotide comprises RNA.
9 . The process of claim 1 wherein the polynucleotide comprises DNA.
10 . The process of claim 1 wherein the polynucleotide is selected from the group consisting of siRNA, mRNA, mRNA and antisense RNA.
11 . The process of claim 1 wherein the polynucleotide is associated with a transfection reagent.
12 . The process of claim 1 wherein the polynucleotide encodes an osteogenic factor.
13 . The process of claim 12 wherein the osteogenic factor consists of a bone morphogenic protein.