@article{Duan_Gao_Cheng_Lu_Hu_Zhu_Wang_Li_Xiao_Du_et al._2021, title={A Nanoparticle Delivery of Plasmid Encoding Hepatocyte Growth Factor for Gene Therapy of Silicosis in Mice }, volume={24}, url={https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/jpps/index.php/JPPS/article/view/32218}, DOI={10.18433/jpps32218}, abstractNote={<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> 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. <strong>Methods:</strong> 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. <strong>Results:</strong> 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. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Therefore, PEG-PEI/pHGF/HA nanoparticle warrant further investigation and may be a potential therapeutic strategy for silicosis.</p>}, journal={Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences}, author={Duan, Haiying and Gao, Peng and Cheng, Xiaochen and Lu, Yuxin and Hu, Chunsheng and Zhu, Xuefeng and Wang, Xiaoying and Li, Dujuan and Xiao, Fengjun and Du, Li and et al.}, year={2021}, month={Oct.}, pages={488–498} }