However, because it has been shown that i), free nickel molecules have a cytotoxic effect on cells when internalized endocytically (24); and ii), the cytotoxic effect of molecules normally internalized endocytically is amplified in electroporated cells (25), nickel toxicity will be a concern moving forward when examining long-term electroporative effects in cells.

To determine what effect lung injury has on gene delivery, as opposed to gene expression, lungs of mice were injured with LPS and, 1 day later, luciferase-expressing plasmids were electroporated into the lungs and assayed for gene delivery and expression 1 and 2 days after electroporation (Figure 3).

Virus recovered from baby hamster kidney cells electroporated with transcribed RNA was used for all experiments.