A Nanoparticle Delivery of Plasmid Encoding Hepatocyte Growth Factor for Gene Therapy of Silicosis in Mice.

Purpose Silicosis is a serious occupational disease that is characterized by pulmonary infiltrates and fibrosis and is often refractory to current treatments. New therapeutic strategies for silicosis are needed. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a latent anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic growth factor. Methods We prepared a polyethyleneimine-polyethylene glycol/pHGF/hyaluronic acid (PEG-PEI/pHGF/HA) nanomaterials loaded with plasmid DNA encoding HGF gene to increase its transfection efficiency. The characterization, including DNA entrapment efficiency, morphology, particle size, and zeta-potential of PEG-PEI/pHGF/HA was studied. And a PEG-PEI/pHGF/HA (N/P=30:1) nanoparticle with low toxicity and high transfection efficiency was used in treatment for silicosis in mice. Results The results showed that the human HGF expression in the lungs of the mice was increased, and the inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrous collagen deposition was significantly reduced. Conclusion Therefore, PEG-PEI/pHGF/HA nanoparticle warrant further investigation and may be a potential therapeutic strategy for silicosis.