Rice researchers achieve noninvasive gene delivery to multiple brain regions

Rice University researchers tested the safety and feasibility of gene delivery to multiple brain regions using a noninvasive, ultrasound-based technique in rodents, and their findings suggest that the efficiency of gene delivery improves within each targeted site when more sites are opened.

Shirin Nouraein, a doctoral student working in the lab of Rice bioengineer Jerzy Szablowski, is the lead author on the study recently published in the journal Gene Therapy.

The paper, "Acoustically Targeted Noninvasive Gene Therapy in Large Brain Volumes," continues the Szablowski lab's work using focused ultrasound energy to safely make the blood-brain barrier permeable. The technique is known as focused ultrasound blood-brain barrier opening (FUS-BBBO).

The procedure also permits the passage of proteins and other small molecules in the other direction ⎯ that is, from the brain into the bloodstream ⎯ where they can be readily sampled.

"We use focused ultrasound to open nano-sized pores in the brain's endothelium," said Nouraein, a graduate student in systems, synthetic and physical biology. "This permits the noninvasive delivery of naturally occurring viral vectors throughout the brain, which is important in the treatment of genetic disorders."

Many disorders affect large brain regions or the entire brain, but delivery of gene therapy to these regions is difficult, said Szablowski, assistant professor of bioengineering and director of the Laboratory for Noninvasive Neuroengineering.

When a gene-delivery vector is injected into the brain with a needle, it often only diffuses a few millimeters. To treat the entire brain, one would need to perform thousands of injections, which would be difficult and possibly harmful. With FUS-BBBO, such surgical delivery could be circumvented."

Jerzy Szablowski, Rice bioengineer

Nouraein and her research collaborators tested the efficiency and safety of opening 105 sites simultaneously with positive results in most regions of the brain. Surprisingly, their findings suggest that the efficiency of gene delivery improves within each targeted site when more sites are opened.

"We found that delivery of the vectors throughout the brain doubles the efficiency of delivery for the same dose of the virus compared to when only 11 sites are targeted," Szablowski said, adding that Nouraein played a major role in making the discovery

"Shirin just started her second year in graduate school and has already led an important, complex project, showing exceptional productivity and talent," Szablowski said.

The research was supported by the John S. Dunn Foundation and the Welch Foundation (C-2048-20200401).