Liquid foam technology revolutionizes gene therapy, significantly improving efficiency and safety

US research team published breakthrough research in Nature Communications: Liquid foam gene carriers show performance

In a landmark study, US researchers published an article in the journal Nature Communications, revealing the revolutionary application of liquid foam in gene therapy. The study, reviewed by Master Susha Cheriyedath, not only improved the transfection efficiency of gene therapy but also significantly enhanced the safety and economics of the treatment.

The results showed that the use of liquid foams composed of methylcellulose and xanthan gum (both approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA]) as gene carriers increased transfection efficiency by 2.9 to 384 times compared with traditional liquid methods in non-viral gene delivery to mouse models. This finding means that the cost of treatment can be reduced by ten times or more while reducing the risk of DNA cargo leaking into non-target cells and protecting the vector from the host immune system.

Foam technology uses its unique physicochemical properties to disperse a large amount of gas through a small amount of liquid flakes, ensuring the therapeutic payload is concentrated, thereby providing high stability and sustained drug delivery. Compared with traditional liquid formulations, foams stay at the application site longer, enhancing drug delivery to target cells while minimizing off-target effects.

Currently, a variety of foam therapeutic drugs have entered the clinical market and have been proven to be safe for humans. This study further confirms the potential application of foam technology in gene therapy and is expected to replace traditional liquid drug delivery agents in multiple medical fields.

The researchers evaluated FDA-approved foam candidates, specifically methylcellulose, and added xanthan gum to enhance stability and performance. In an in vivo mouse model system, these foam carriers significantly outperformed liquid carriers in the delivery of non-viral vectors. In particular, in tilted transfections that simulate more realistic conditions, xanthan gum-enhanced methylcellulose foams showed an astonishing 384-fold increase in efficiency.

This study to comprehensively evaluate the potential benefits of foam drug delivery agents in gene therapy. Foam technology not only improves the efficacy and safety of gene therapy but also significantly reduces costs and improves accessibility. Researchers predict that the clinical application of this foam platform will change the application paradigm of local gene therapy and provide new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of a variety of diseases.

With the breakthrough of liquid foam technology, the field of gene therapy has ushered in a new dawn. We hope that this technology can be applied to clinical practice as soon as possible to bring safer, more effective, and more economical treatment options to patients.