Particle bombardment of ex vivo skin to deliver DNA and express proteins

Abstract

Particle bombardment of gold microparticles coated with plasmids, which are accelerated to high velocity, is used for transfection of cells within tissue. Using this method, cDNA encoding proteins of interest introduced into ex vivo living human skin enables studying of proteins of interest in real time. Here, technical aspects of particle bombardment of ex vivo skin are described using green fluorescent protein (GFP) as readout for efficiency. This method can be applied on numerous tissues, including in living model animals.