51
|
Cheng F, Pan Q, Gao W, Pu Y, Luo K, He B. Reversing Chemotherapy Resistance by a Synergy between Lysosomal pH-Activated Mitochondrial Drug Delivery and Erlotinib-Mediated Drug Efflux Inhibition. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:29257-29268. [PMID: 34130450 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c03196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondrial drug delivery has attracted increasing attention in various mitochondrial dysfunction-associated disorders such as cancer owing to the important role of energy production. Herein, we report a lysosomal pH-activated mitochondrial-targeting polymer nanoparticle to overcome drug resistance by a synergy between mitochondrial delivery of doxorubicin (DOX, an anticancer drug) and erlotinib-mediated inhibition of drug efflux. The obtained nanoparticles, DE-NPs could maintain negative charge and have long blood circulation while undergoing charge reversal at lysosomal pH after internalization by cancer cells. Thereafter, the acidity-activated polycationic and hydrophobic polypeptide domains boost lysosomal escape and mitochondrial-targeting drug delivery, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction, ATP suppression, and cell apoptosis. Moreover, the suppressed ATP supply and erlotinib enabled dual inhibition of drug efflux by DOX-resistant MCF-7/ADR cells, leading to significantly augmented intracellular DOX accumulation and a synergistic anticancer effect with a 17-fold decrease of IC50 relative to DOX. In vivo antitumor study demonstrates that DE-NPs efficiently suppressed the tumor burden in MCF-7/ADR tumor-bearing mice and led to negligible toxicity. This work establishes that a combination of mitochondrial drug delivery and drug efflux inhibition could be a promising strategy for combating multidrug resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Furong Cheng
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
- Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510260, China
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23219, Virginia, United States
| | - Qingqing Pan
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Wenxia Gao
- College of Chemistry & Materials Engineering, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Yuji Pu
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Kui Luo
- Huaxi MR Research Center, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Bin He
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| |
Collapse
|
52
|
Yan J, Zhang Z, Zhan X, Chen K, Pu Y, Liang Y, He B. In situ injection of dual-delivery PEG based MMP-2 sensitive hydrogels for enhanced tumor penetration and chemo-immune combination therapy. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:9577-9589. [PMID: 33998643 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr01155c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Improving the deep penetration of nanoparticles and realizing the combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy have become a promising strategy for cancer treatment. Herein, a nuclear-targeted tetrahedral DNA nanostructure (NLS-TDNs, NT) was synthesized to construct matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2) sensitive hydrogels as delivery vehicles with co-loaded disulfide cross-linked polyethyleneimine (PSP)/nuclear-targeted tetrahedral DNA (NLS-TDNs, NT)/doxorubicin (DOX) nanoparticles (NPs) (PSP/NT/DOX NPs and PNT/DOX NPs) and an immune adjuvant imiquimod (R837) to realize a combination of chemotherapy and immunization for metastatic breast cancer. Due to the membrane-breaking ability of the PNT/DOX NPs, the nanoparticles could effectively achieve deep penetration into tumor tissues, and the in situ generation of tumor-associated antigens by PNT/DOX elicited a strong immune response in the presence of R837, achieving a chemo-immune combination therapy of breast cancer, inducing the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) and secretion of related cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-12 (IL-12p70) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) in vitro. The combination significantly promoted the proportions of cytotoxic T cells (CD8+ CTL) and cytotoxic T cells/regulatory T cells (CD8+ CTL/Treg) (5.52% and 11.46%, respectively) and the secretion of cytokines, which cooperatively eradicated primary tumor growth (the tumor growth inhibition (TGI) value was 78.3%) and inhibited the tumor from metastasizing effectively in vivo. Our study provided the basis for activating the antitumor immune system to realize chemo-immunotherapy and tumor metastasis therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianqin Yan
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266073, China.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
53
|
Kuznetsova DA, Vasileva LA, Gaynanova GA, Pavlov RV, Sapunova AS, Voloshina AD, Sibgatullina GV, Samigullin DV, Petrov KA, Zakharova LY, Sinyashin OG. Comparative study of cationic liposomes modified with triphenylphosphonium and imidazolium surfactants for mitochondrial delivery. J Mol Liq 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2021.115703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
|
54
|
Copp W, Pontarelli A, Wilds CJ. Recent Advances of DNA Tetrahedra for Therapeutic Delivery and Biosensing. Chembiochem 2021; 22:2237-2246. [PMID: 33506614 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202000835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The chemical and self-assembly properties of nucleic acids make them ideal for the construction of discrete structures and stimuli-responsive devices for a diverse array of applications. Amongst the various three-dimensional assemblies, DNA tetrahedra are of particular interest, as these structures have been shown to be readily taken up by the cell, by the process of caveolin-mediated endocytosis, without the need for transfection agents. Moreover, these structures can be readily modified with a diverse range of pendant groups to confer greater functionality. This minireview highlights recent advances related to applications of this interesting DNA structure including the delivery of therapeutic agents ranging from small molecules to oligonucleotides in addition to its use for sensing and imaging various species within the cell.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William Copp
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - Alexander Pontarelli
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - Christopher J Wilds
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, H4B 1R6, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
55
|
Mollarasouli F, Badilli U, Bakirhan NK, Ozkan SA, Ozkan Y. Advanced DNA nanomachines: Strategies and bioapplications. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2020.102290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
|
56
|
Tuning G-Quadruplex Nanostructures with Lipids. Towards Designing Hybrid Scaffolds for Oligonucleotide Delivery. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:ijms22010121. [PMID: 33374392 PMCID: PMC7796380 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Two G-quadruplex forming oligonucleotides [d(TG4T)4 and d(TG6T)4] were selected as two tetramolecular quadruplex nanostructures because of their demonstrated ability to be modified with hydrophobic molecules. This allowed us to synthesize two series of G-quadruplex conjugates that differed in the number of G-tetrads, as well as in the terminal position of the lipid modification. Both solution and solid-phase syntheses were carried out to yield the corresponding lipid oligonucleotide conjugates modified at their 3′- and 5′-termini, respectively. Biophysical studies confirmed that the presence of saturated alkyl chains with different lengths did not affect the G-quadruplex integrity, but increased the stability. Next, the G-quadruplex domain was added to an 18-mer antisense oligonucleotide. Gene silencing studies confirmed the ability of such G-rich oligonucleotides to facilitate the inhibition of target Renilla luciferase without showing signs of toxicity in tumor cell lines.
Collapse
|
57
|
Yan J, Zhang N, Zhang Z, Zhu W, Li B, Li L, Pu Y, He B. Redox-responsive polyethyleneimine/tetrahedron DNA/doxorubicin nanocomplexes for deep cell/tissue penetration to overcome multidrug resistance. J Control Release 2020; 329:36-49. [PMID: 33259850 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.11.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Deep penetration of nanomedicines to cancer cells and tissues is a main obstacle to conquering multidrug resistant (MDR) cancer. Here, we presented redox-responsive polyethyleneimine (disulfide cross-linked PEI, PSP)/tetrahedral DNA (TDNs)/doxorubicin (DOX) nanocomplexes (NCs), PSP/TDNs@DOX NCs, to accomplish tumor cell/tissue penetration for overcoming MDR. The NCs can respond to glutathione and DNase I to disassociate and release DOX. In vitro study revealed that the NCs (N/P = 30) with positive charge could be associated to cell membranes and "dig holes" on them, evoking the membrane-breaking for enhanced cellular internalization and bypassing endocytosis regardless of drug-resistant mechanism. Transwell and 3D tumor models study established that NCs can efficiently depart from cells through "holes leakage" and "infected" surrounding cells to penetrate into deep tumor tissues. In vivo study showed that the PSP/TDNs@DOX NCs exhibited superior tumor penetration and therapeutic efficiency in xenografted drug-resistant tumor mouse models including human breast (MCF-7/R) and ovarian (SKOV3/R) cancer, which represent MDR with characteristics of DOX efflux and impermeability, respectively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianqin Yan
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, 29# Wangjiang Road, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, 29# Wangjiang Road, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Zhuangzhuang Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, 29# Wangjiang Road, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Wangwei Zhu
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, 29# Wangjiang Road, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Bing Li
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, 29# Wangjiang Road, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Li Li
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, 29# Wangjiang Road, Chengdu 610064, China.
| | - Yuji Pu
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, 29# Wangjiang Road, Chengdu 610064, China.
| | - Bin He
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, 29# Wangjiang Road, Chengdu 610064, China.
| |
Collapse
|
58
|
Zeng Y, Nixon RL, Liu W, Wang R. The applications of functionalized DNA nanostructures in bioimaging and cancer therapy. Biomaterials 2020; 268:120560. [PMID: 33285441 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2020.120560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a molecular carrier of genetic information that can be fabricated into functional nanomaterials in biochemistry and engineering fields. Those DNA nanostructures, synthesized via Watson-Crick base pairing, show a wide range of attributes along with excellent applicability, precise programmability, and extremely low cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. In this review, the applications of functionalized DNA nanostructures in bioimaging and tumor therapy are summarized. We focused on approaches involving DNA origami nanostructures due to their widespread use in previous and current reports. Non-DNA origami nanostructures such as DNA tetrahedrons are also covered. Finally, the remaining challenges and perspectives regarding DNA nanostructures in the biomedical arena are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yun Zeng
- Department of Chemistry, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, 65409, USA; Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuroimaging, Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710126, PR China.
| | - Rachel L Nixon
- Department of Chemistry, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, 65409, USA
| | - Wenyan Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, 65409, USA; Center for Research in Energy and Environment, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, 65409, USA
| | - Risheng Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, 65409, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
59
|
Fu X, Shi Y, Qi T, Qiu S, Huang Y, Zhao X, Sun Q, Lin G. Precise design strategies of nanomedicine for improving cancer therapeutic efficacy using subcellular targeting. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2020; 5:262. [PMID: 33154350 PMCID: PMC7644763 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-00342-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic efficacy against cancer relies heavily on the ability of the therapeutic agents to reach their final targets. The optimal targets of most cancer therapeutic agents are usually biological macromolecules at the subcellular level, which play a key role in carcinogenesis. Therefore, to improve the therapeutic efficiency of drugs, researchers need to focus on delivering not only the therapeutic agents to the target tissues and cells but also the drugs to the relevant subcellular structures. In this review, we discuss the most recent construction strategies and release patterns of various cancer cell subcellular-targeting nanoformulations, aiming at providing guidance in the overall design of precise nanomedicine. Additionally, future challenges and potential perspectives are illustrated in the hope of enhancing anticancer efficacy and accelerating the translational progress of precise nanomedicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xianglei Fu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Yanbin Shi
- School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, 250353, Shandong, China
| | - Tongtong Qi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Shengnan Qiu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Yi Huang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaogang Zhao
- The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China
| | - Qifeng Sun
- The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China
| | - Guimei Lin
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
60
|
Mitocans Revisited: Mitochondrial Targeting as Efficient Anti-Cancer Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21217941. [PMID: 33114695 PMCID: PMC7663685 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21217941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are essential cellular organelles, controlling multiple signalling pathways critical for cell survival and cell death. Increasing evidence suggests that mitochondrial metabolism and functions are indispensable in tumorigenesis and cancer progression, rendering mitochondria and mitochondrial functions as plausible targets for anti-cancer therapeutics. In this review, we summarised the major strategies of selective targeting of mitochondria and their functions to combat cancer, including targeting mitochondrial metabolism, the electron transport chain and tricarboxylic acid cycle, mitochondrial redox signalling pathways, and ROS homeostasis. We highlight that delivering anti-cancer drugs into mitochondria exhibits enormous potential for future cancer therapeutic strategies, with a great advantage of potentially overcoming drug resistance. Mitocans, exemplified by mitochondrially targeted vitamin E succinate and tamoxifen (MitoTam), selectively target cancer cell mitochondria and efficiently kill multiple types of cancer cells by disrupting mitochondrial function, with MitoTam currently undergoing a clinical trial.
Collapse
|
61
|
Zhang T, Cui W, Tian T, Shi S, Lin Y. Progress in Biomedical Applications of Tetrahedral Framework Nucleic Acid-Based Functional Systems. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:47115-47126. [PMID: 32975109 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c13806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The past decades have witnessed the development of DNA nanotechnology and the emergence of various spatial DNA nanostructures, from two-dimensions to three-dimensions. The typical example is the tetrahedral framework nucleic acid (tFNA). In this review, we summarize the progress in fabrication, modification of tFNA-based functional systems and their potentials in biomedical applications. Through a one-step assembly process, tFNA is synthesized via four single stranded DNAs with three short sequences complementary to the other sequence of another single strand. Characterizations including polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, atomic force microscopy, and dynamic light scattering measurement show tFNA as a pyramid-like nanostructure with the size of around 10 nm. Feathered with intrinsic biocompatibility and satisfactory cellular membrane permeability, the first generation of tFNA shows promising capacities in regulating cell biological behavior, promoting tissue regeneration, and immunomodulation. Along with excellent editability and relative biostability in complicated conditions, tFNA could be modified via hanging functional domains on the vertex or side arm and incorporating small-molecular-weight drugs to form the second generation, for reversing multidrug resistance in tumor cells or microorganisms, target therapy, anticancer and antibacterial treatments. The third generation of tFNA is currently tried via a multistep assembly process for stimuli-response and precise drug release. Although tFNAs show promising potentials in cargo delivery, massive efforts still need to be made to improve biostability, maximal load, and structural controllability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China
| | - Weitong Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China
| | - Taoran Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China
| | - Sirong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China
| | - Yunfeng Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China.,College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| |
Collapse
|
62
|
Liu Y, Liu Z, Cui W, Li Y, Qin X, Zhang M, Lin Y. Tetrahedral framework nucleic acids as an advanced drug delivery system for oligonucleotide drugs. APL MATERIALS 2020. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0025211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuhao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhiqiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Weitong Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanjing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xin Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yunfeng Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| |
Collapse
|
63
|
Lo YL, Chang CH, Wang CS, Yang MH, Lin AMY, Hong CJ, Tseng WH. PEG-coated nanoparticles detachable in acidic microenvironments for the tumor-directed delivery of chemo- and gene therapies for head and neck cancer. Am J Cancer Res 2020; 10:6695-6714. [PMID: 32550898 PMCID: PMC7295054 DOI: 10.7150/thno.45164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and has a poor treatment outcome. Irinotecan, a topoisomerase-I inhibitor, induces cell death by decreasing the religation of double-strand DNA. However, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), therapy resistance, and systemic toxicity caused by available antineoplastic agents hinder the efficacy and safety of HNC treatment. Chemotherapy combined with gene therapy shows potential application in circumventing therapy resistance and EMT. miR-200 exerts a remarkable suppressing effect on EMT-associated genes. Herein, liposomes and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) modified with a pH-sensitive, self-destructive polyethylene glycol (PEG) shell and different peptides were designed as irinotecan and miR-200 nanovectors to enhance tumor-specific accumulation. These peptides included one ligand targeting the angiogenic tumor neovasculature, one mitochondrion-directed apoptosis-inducing peptide, and one cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) with high potency and selectivity toward cancer cells. Methods: Physicochemical characterization, cytotoxicity analysis, cellular uptake, regulation mechanisms, and in vivo studies on miR-200- and irinotecan-incorporated nanoparticles were performed to identify the potential antitumor efficacy and biosafety issues involved in HNC treatment and to elucidate the underlying signaling pathways. Results: We found that the cleavable PEG layer responded to low extracellular pH, and that the CPP and targeting peptides were exposed to improve the uptake and release of miR-200 and irinotecan into HNC human tongue squamous carcinoma (SAS) cells. The apoptosis of SAS cells treated with the combinatorial therapy was significantly induced by regulating various pathways, such as the Wnt/β-catenin, MDR, and EMT pathways. The therapeutic efficacy and safety of the proposed co-treatment outperformed the commercially available Onivyde and other formulations used in a SAS tumor-bearing mouse model in this study. Conclusion: Chemotherapy and gene therapy co-treatment involving pH-sensitive and targeting peptide-modified nanoparticles may be an innovative strategy for HNC treatment.
Collapse
|