Protein delivery into cells using inorganic nanoparticle-protein supramolecular assemblies

Delivery of drugs, proteins, and nucleic acids using inorganic nanoparticles

Inorganic nanoparticles provide multipurpose platforms for a broad range of delivery applications. Intrinsic nanoscopic properties provide access to unique magnetic and optical properties. Equally importantly, the structural and functional diversity of gold, silica, iron oxide, and lanthanide-based nanocarriers provide unrivalled control of nanostructural properties for effective transport of therapeutic cargos, overcoming biobarriers on the cellular and organismal level. Taken together, inorganic nanoparticles provide a key addition to the arsenal of delivery vectors for fighting disease and improving human health.

Engineered Interactions with Mesoporous Silica Facilitate Intracellular Delivery of Proteins and Gene Editing

Intracellular delivery of functional proteins is a promising, but challenging, strategy for many therapeutic applications. Here, we report a new methodology that overcomes drawbacks of traditional mesoporous silica (MSi) particles for protein delivery. We hypothesize that engineering enhancement in interactions between proteins and delivery vehicles can facilitate efficient encapsulation and intracellular delivery. In this strategy, surface lysines in proteins were modified with a self-immolative linker containing a terminal boronic acid for stimulus-induced reversibility in functionalization. The boronic acid moiety serves to efficiently interact with amine-functionalized MSi through dative and electrostatic interactions. We show that proteins of different sizes and isoelectric points can be quantitatively encapsulated into MSi, even at low protein concentrations. We also show that the proteins can be efficiently delivered into cells with retention of activity. Utility of this approach is further demonstrated with gene editing in cells, through the delivery of a CRISPR/Cas9 complex.

A pH-responsive silica-metal-organic framework hybrid nanoparticle for the delivery of hydrophilic drugs, nucleic acids, and CRISPR-Cas9 genome-editing machineries

Efficient delivery of hydrophilic drugs, nucleic acids, proteins, and any combination thereof is essential for various biomedical applications. Herein, we report a straightforward, yet versatile approach to efficiently encapsulate and deliver various hydrophilic payloads using a pH-responsive silica-metal-organic framework hybrid nanoparticle (SMOF NP) consisting of both silica and zeolitic imidazole framework (ZIF). This unique SMOF NP offers a high loading content and efficiency, excellent stability, and robust intracellular delivery of a variety of payloads, including hydrophilic small molecule drugs (e.g., doxorubicin hydrochloride), nucleic acids (e.g., DNA and mRNA), and genome-editing machineries (e.g., Cas9-sgRNA ribonucleoprotein (RNP), and RNP together with donor DNA (e.g., RNP + ssODN)). The superior drug delivery/gene transfection/genome-editing efficiencies of the SMOF NP are attributed to its pH-controlled release and endosomal escape capabilities due to the proton sponge effect enabled by the imidazole moieties in the SMOF NPs. Moreover, the surface of the SMOF NP can be easily customized (e.g., PEGylation and ligand conjugation) via various functional groups incorporated into the silica component. RNP-loaded SMOF NPs induced efficient genome editing in vivo in murine retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) tissue via subretinal injection, providing a highly promising nanoplatform for the delivery of a wide range of hydrophilic payloads.

Direct Cytosolic Delivery of Proteins through Coengineering of Proteins and Polymeric Delivery Vehicles

Nanocarrier-mediated protein delivery is a promising strategy for fundamental research and therapeutic applications. However, the efficacy of the current platforms for delivery into cells is limited by endosomal entrapment of delivered protein cargo with concomitantly inefficient access to the cytosol and other organelles, including the nucleus. We report here a robust, versatile polymeric-protein nanocomposite (PPNC) platform capable of efficient (≥90%) delivery of proteins to the cytosol. We synthesized a library of guanidinium-functionalized poly(oxanorborneneimide) (PONI) homopolymers with varying molecular weights to stabilize and deliver engineered proteins featuring terminal oligoglutamate "E-tags". The polymers were screened for cytosolic delivery efficiency using imaging flow cytometry with cytosolic delivery validated using confocal microscopy and activity of the delivered proteins demonstrated through functional assays. These studies indicate that the PPNC platform provides highly effective and tunable cytosolic delivery over a wide range of formulations, making them robust agents for therapeutic protein delivery.

Protein assembled nano-vehicle entrapping photosensitizer molecules for efficient lung carcinoma therapy

The efficiency of drug depends not only on its potency but also on its ability to reach the target sites in preference to non-target sites. In this regard, protein assembled nanocarrier is the most promising strategy for intracellular anti-cancer drug delivery. The key motive of this study is to fabricate biocompatible protein assembled nanocarrier conjugated photosensitizer system for stimuli-responsive treatment of lung carcinoma. Here, we have synthesized a unique nanohybrid of protein assembled gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), attaching a model photosensitizer, Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) to the protein shell of the nanoparticles (NPs) imparting an ideal drug-carrier nature. Photo-induced alteration in hydrodynamic diameter suggests structural perturbation of the nanohybrid which in terms signifies on-demand drug delivery. The drug release profile has been further confirmed by using steady-state fluorescence experiments. AuNP-PpIX showed excellent anti-cancer efficiency upon green light irradiation on lung adenocarcinoma cell line (A549) through intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. The cellular morphological changes upon PDT and internalization of nanohybrid were monitored using confocal laser scanning microscope. This anti-cancer effect of nanohybrid was associated with apoptotic pathway which was confirmed in the flow cytometric platform. The developed nanomedicine is expected to find relevance in clinical anti-cancer PDT models in the near future.

ATP-Charged Nanoclusters Enable Intracellular Protein Delivery and Activity Modulation for Cancer Theranostics

Protein drugs own a large share in the market and hold great prospects for the treatment of many diseases. However, the available protein drugs are limited to the extracellular target, owing to the inefficient transduction and activity modulation of proteins targeting intracellular environment. In this study, we constructed ATP-charged platforms to overcome the above-mentioned barriers for cancer theranostics. The phenylboronic acid-modified polycations (PCD) were synthesized to assemble with enzymes and shield its activity in the blood circulation. When the PCD nanoclusters reached tumor site, they effectively transported the enzymes into the cells, followed by recovering its catalytic activity after being charged with ATP. Importantly, the cascaded enzyme systems (GOx&HRPA) selectively induced starvation therapy as well as photoacoustic imaging of tumor. Our results revealed that the intelligent nanoclusters were broadly applicable for protein transduction and enzyme activity modulation, which could accelerate the clinical translation of protein drugs toward intracellular target.

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ATP-charged nanoclusters capable of enzyme activity modulation

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Universal platform for intracellular protein delivery

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Selective cellular cascaded catalysis for cancer theranostics

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Photoacoustic (PA) imaging and starvation therapy of breast cancer

Surface chemistry of gold nanoparticles for health-related applications

Functionalization of gold nanoparticles is crucial for the effective utilization of these materials in health-related applications. Health-related applications of gold nanoparticles rely on the physical and chemical reactions between molecules and gold nanoparticles. Surface chemistry can precisely control and tailor the surface properties of gold nanoparticles to meet the needs of applications. Gold nanoparticles have unique physical and chemical properties, and have been used in a broad range of applications from prophylaxis to diagnosis and treatment. The surface chemistry of gold nanoparticles plays a crucial role in all of these applications. This minireview summarizes these applications from the perspective of surface chemistry and explores how surface chemistry improves and imparts new properties to gold nanoparticles for these applications.

Functional protein shells fabricated from the self-assembling protein sheets of prokaryotic organelles

Fabricating single component protein compartments from the shells proteins of bacterial microcompartments.

Biomimetic Mineralization-Based CRISPR/Cas9 Ribonucleoprotein Nanoparticles for Gene Editing

Delivery of the CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex has provided an alternative strategy for the regulation of CRISPR functions, offering a transient and DNA-free means for genomic editing. Chemical methods of delivering the RNPs via nanocomplexes have the potential to address these delivery problems for efficiency, safety, and packaging capacity. Here, we developed a biomimetic mineralization-mediated strategy for efficient DNA-free genome editing by using CRISPR/Cas9 RNPs. We found that the RNPs have the ability to form the biomimetic mineralized RNP nanoparticles (Bm-RNP NPs) quickly in situ and can be effectively delivered into the fungal protoplast cells. Biomimetic mineralization can maintain the natural function of Cas9 protein and protect the sgRNA activity. At the same time, the encapsulated RNPs can be effectively released into the cytoplasm, and the Sytalone dehydratase (SDH) gene can be edited in a targeted manner. Except for phenotypic defects, molecular detections indicated that the delivery of Bm-RNP NPs achieved 20% genomic editing for Magnaporthe oryzae compared to RNPs alone. Moreover, the Bm-RNP NP-mediated editing of the SDH gene significantly affects the appressorium-mediated penetration and invasive growth in M. oryzae. Our system has the advantages of being cheap, fast, and effective, without the traditional transformation process, suggesting the potential application of this DNA-free gene-editing strategy in different organisms.

Rational Design of Nanocarriers for Intracellular Protein Delivery

Protein/antibody therapeutics have exhibited the advantages of high specificity and activity even at an extremely low concentration compared to small molecule drugs. However, they are accompanied by unfavorable physicochemical properties such as fragile tertiary structure, large molecular size, and poor penetration of the membrane, and thus the clinical use of protein drugs is hindered by inefficient delivery of proteins into the host cells. To overcome the challenges associated with protein therapeutics and enhance their biopharmaceutical applications, various protein-loaded nanocarriers with desired functions, such as lipid nanocapsules, polymeric nanoparticles, inorganic nanoparticles, and peptides, are developed. In this review, the different strategies for intracellular delivery of proteins are comprehensively summarized. Their designed routes, mechanisms of action, and potential therapeutics in live cells or in vivo are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the perspective on the new generation of delivery systems toward the emerging area of protein-based therapeutics is presented as well.

Drug Nanorod-Mediated Intracellular Delivery of microRNA-101 for Self-sensitization via Autophagy Inhibition

Autophagy is closely related to the drug resistance and metastasis in cancer therapy. Nanoparticle-mediated co-delivery of combinatorial therapy with small-molecular drugs and nucleic acids is promising to address drug resistance. Here, a drug-delivering-drug (DDD) platform consisting of anti-tumor-drug nanorods as a vehicle for cytosol delivery of nucleic acid (miR-101) with potent autophagic-inhibition activity is reported for combinatorial therapy. The developed 180-nm nanoplatform, with total drug loading of up to 66%, delivers miR-101 to cancer cells, with threefold increase in intracellular level compared to conventional gene carriers and inhibits the autophagy significantly, along with above twofold reduction in LC3II mRNA and approximately fivefold increase in p62 mRNA over the control demonstrated in the results in vivo. And in turn, the delivery of miR-101 potentiates the drug's ability to kill cancer cells, with a threefold increase in apoptosis over that of chemotherapy alone. The anti-tumor study in vivo indicates the combined therapy that enables a reduction of 80% in tumor volume and > twofold increase in apoptosis than of the single-drug strategy. In summary, via the carrier-free strategy of DDD, this work provides a delivery platform that can be easily customized to overcome drug resistance and facilitates the delivery of combined therapy of small-molecular drugs and nucleic acids.

Reversible Click Chemistry for Ultrafast and Quantitative Formation of Protein-Polymer Nanoassembly and Intracellular Protein Delivery

Construction of polymer-protein nanoassemblies is a challenge as reactions between macromolecules, especially those involving proteins, are inherently inefficient due to the sparse reactive functional groups and low concentration requirements. We address this challenge using an ultrafast and reversible click reaction, which forms the basis for a covalent self-assembly strategy between side-chain functionalized polymers and surface-modified proteins. The linkers in the assembly have been programmed to release the incarcerated proteins in its native form, only when subjected to the presence of a specific trigger. The generality and the versatility of the approach have been demonstrated by showing that this strategy can be used for proteins of different sizes and isoelectric points. Moreover, simple modifications in the linker chemistry offers the ability to trigger these assemblies with various chemical inputs. Efficient formation of nanoassemblies based on polymer-protein conjugates has implications in a variety of areas at the interface of chemistry with materials and biology, such as in the generation of active surfaces and in delivery of biologics. As a demonstration of utility in the latter, we have shown that these conjugates can be used to transport functional proteins across cellular membranes.

The interaction of silica nanoparticles with catalase and human mesenchymal stem cells: biophysical, theoretical and cellular studies

Aim

Nanoparticles (NPs) have been receiving potential interests in protein delivery and cell therapy. As a matter of fact, NPs may be used as great candidates in promoting cell therapy by catalase (CAT) delivery into high oxidative stress tissues. However, for using NPs like SiO₂ as carriers, the interaction of NPs with proteins and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) should be explored in advance.

Methods

In the present study, the interaction of SiO₂ NPs with CAT and human MSCs (hMSCs) was explored by various spectroscopic methods (fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD), UV-visible), molecular docking and dynamics studies, and cellular (MTT, cellular morphology, cellular uptake, lactate dehydrogenase, ROS, caspase-3, flow cytometry) assays.

Results

Fluorescence study displayed that both dynamic and static quenching mechanisms and hydrophobic interactions are involved in the spontaneous interaction of SiO₂ NPs with CAT. CD spectra indicated that native structure of CAT remains stable after interaction with SiO₂ NPs. UV-visible study also revealed that the kinetic parameters of CAT such as Km, Vmax, Kcat, and enzyme efficiency were not changed after the addition of SiO₂ NPs. Molecular docking and dynamics studies showed that Si and SiO₂ clusters interact with hydrophobic residues of CAT and SiO₂ cluster causes minor changes in the CAT structure at a total simulation time of 200 ps. Cellular assays depicted that SiO₂ NPs induce significant cell mortality, change in cellular morphology, cellular internalization, ROS elevation, and apoptosis in hMSCs at higher concentration than 100 µg/mL (170 µM).

Conclusion

The current results suggest that low concentrations of SiO₂ NPs induce no substantial change or mortality against CAT and hMSCs, and potentially useful carriers in CAT delivery to hMSC.

Intracellular Delivery of Luciferase with Fluorescent Nanodiamonds for Dual-Modality Imaging of Human Stem Cells

Delivering functional proteins (such as enzymes) into cells is important in various biological studies and is often accomplished indirectly by transfection with DNA or mRNA encoding recombinant proteins. However, the transfection efficiency of conventional plasmid methods is low for primary cells, which are crucial sources of cell therapy. Here, we present a new platform based on the use of fluorescent nanodiamond (FND) as a biocompatible nanocarrier to enable rapid, effective, and homogeneous labeling of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with luciferase for multiplex assays and ultrasensitive detection. More than 100 pg of FND and 100 million copies of firefly luciferase can be delivered into each MSC through endocytosis. Moreover, these endocytic luciferase molecules are catalytically active for hours, allowing the cells to be imaged and tracked in vitro as well as in vivo by both fluorescence and bioluminescence imaging. Our results demonstrate that luciferase-conjugated FNDs are useful as multifunctional labels of human stem cells for diverse theranostic applications.

Probing the interaction of nanoparticles with small molecules in real time via quartz crystal microbalance monitoring

Despite extensive advances in the field of molecular recognition, the real-time monitoring of small molecule binding to nanoparticles (NP) remains a challenge. To this end, we report on a versatile approach, based on quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring, for the stepwise in situ quantification of gold nanoparticle (AuNPs) immobilisation and subsequent uptake and release of binding partners. AuNPs stabilised by thiol-bound ligand shells of prescribed chemical composition were densely immobilised onto gold surfaces via dithiol linkers. The boronate ester formation between salicylic acid derivatives in solution and boronic acids in the AuNP ligand shell was then studied in real time, revealing a drastic effect of both ligand architecture and Lewis base concentration on the interaction strength. The binding kinetics were analysed with frequency response modelling for a thorough comparison of binding parameters including relaxation time as well as association rate constant. The results directly mirror those from previously reported in-depth studies using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. By achieving quantitative characterisation of selective binding of analytes with molecular weight below 300 Da, this new method enables rapid, low cost, rational screening of AuNP candidates for molecular recognition.

Protein Delivery into the Cell Cytosol using Non-Viral Nanocarriers

Protein delivery into cells is a potentially transformative tool for treating "undruggable" targets in diseases associated with protein deficiencies or mutations. The vast majority of these targets are accessed via the cytosol, a challenging prospect for proteins with therapeutic and diagnostic relevance. In this review we will present promising non-viral approaches for intracellular and ultimately cytosolic delivery of proteins using nanocarriers. We will also discuss the mechanistic properties that govern the efficacy of nanocarrier-mediated protein delivery, applications of nanomaterials, and key challenges and opportunities in the use of nanocarriers for intracellular protein delivery.

Catalase-Integrated Hyaluronic Acid as Nanocarriers for Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy in Solid Tumor

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a treatment method has many advantages such as minimal invasiveness, repeatable dosage, and low systemic toxicity. Issues with conventional PDT agents include the limited availability of endogenous oxygen and difficulty in accumulation at the tumor site, which has hindered the successful treatment of tumors. Herein, we developed catalase-encapsulated hyaluronic-acid-based nanoparticles loaded with adamantane-modified photosensitizer for enhanced PDT of solid tumors. Chlorin e6 (Ce6) as the photosensitizer was modified with adamantane to yield adamantane-modified Ce6 (aCe6). The obtained nanosystem (HA-CAT@aCe6) could target overly expressed CD44 receptors on cancer cells, supplying oxygen by converting endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) to oxygen, and improving PDT efficacy upon light irradiation. HA-CAT@aCe6 nanoparticles showed high colloidal stability and monodispersity in aqueous solution. The uptake and targeting property of HA-CAT@aCe6 were demonstrated by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry in the MDA-MB-231 cell line possessing overly expressed CD44 receptors. The encapsulated catalase was able to decompose the endogenous H₂O₂ to generate O₂ in situ for relieving hypoxia in cells incubated under hypoxic conditions. Cell viability assays indicated that HA-CAT@aCe6 possessed minimal cytotoxicity in the dark, while presenting high cellular toxicity under 660 nm light irradiation at normoxic conditions. As a result of the catalase capability in relieving hypoxia, HA-CAT@aCe6 also exhibited high cellular cytotoxicity under hypoxic condition. In vivo experiments revealed selective tumor accumulation of HA-CAT@aCe6 in MDA-MB-231 tumor bearing nude mice. Significant tumor regression was observed after intravenous injection of HA-CAT@aCe6 under light irradiation in comparison to the control system without loading catalase. Thus, HA-CAT@aCe6 demonstrated a great potential in overcoming hypoxia for targeted PDT.

Antibody Delivery for Intracellular Targets: Emergent Therapeutic Potential

Proteins have sparked fast growing interest as biological therapeutic agents for several diseases. Antibodies, in particular, carry an enormous potential as drugs owing to their remarkable target specificity and low immunogenicity. Although the market has numerous antibodies directed toward extracellular targets, their use in targeting therapeutically important intracellular targets is limited by their inability to cross cellular membrane. Realizing the potential for antibody therapy in disease treatment, progress has been made in the development of methods to deliver antibodies intracellularly. In this review, we address various platforms for delivery of antibodies and their merits and drawbacks.

Mimicking the bioelectrocatalytic function of recombinant CotA laccase through electrostatically self-assembled bioconjugates

Unprecedented 3D nanobiosystems composed of recombinant CotA laccases and citrate-stabilised gold nanoparticles have been successfully achieved by an electrostatic self-assembly strategy. The bioelectrochemical reduction of O2 driven by CotA laccase at the spore coat was mimicked. Consequently key insights into its bioelectrocatalytic function were unravelled.

Probing the Effect of Sildenafil on Progesterone and Testosterone Production by an Intracellular FRET/BRET Combined Approach

Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based biosensors have been recently applied to the study of biological pathways. In this study, a new biosensor was validated for the first time in live HEK293 and steroidogenic MLTC-1 cell lines for studying the effect of the PDE5 inhibitor on the hCG/LH-induced steroidogenic pathway. The sensor improves FRET between a donor (D), the fluorescein-like diarsenical probe that can covalently bind a tetracysteine motif fused to the PDE5 catalytic domain, and an acceptor (A), the rhodamine probe conjugated to the pseudosubstrate cGMPS. Affinity constant ( K_d) values of 5.6 ± 3.2 and 13.7 ± 0.8 μM were obtained with HEK293 and MLTC-1 cells, respectively. The detection was based on the competitive displacement of the cGMPS-rhodamine conjugate by sildenafil; the K_i values were 3.6 ± 0.3 nM (IC₅₀ = 2.3 nM) in HEK293 cells and 10 ± 1.0 nM (IC₅₀ = 3.9 nM) in MLTC-1 cells. The monitoring of both cAMP and cGMP by bioluminescence resonance energy transfer allowed the exploitation of the effects of PDE5i on steroidogenesis, indicating that sildenafil enhanced the gonadotropin-induced progesterone-to-testosterone conversion in a cAMP-independent manner.

A perfect stimuli-responsive magnetic nanocomposite for intracellular delivery of doxorubicin

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs) have been extensively applied in cancer therapy and theranostics due to their admissible magnetic properties, excellent chemical stability and biocompatibility. Herein, a novel stimuli-responsive magnetic nanocomposite was synthesized for cancer therapy; thereby, the triblock copolymer of poly[(2-succinyloxyethylmethacrylate)-b-(N-isopropylacrylamide)-b-dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate) [poly(SEMA-b-NIPAM-b-DMAEMA)] was prepared by reversible addition of fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. This triblock copolymer with carboxylic groups of succinyloxyethylmethacrylate was adsorbed onto the surface of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The morphology, nanocomposite properties and stimuli-responsive behaviours were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and thermogravimetric analysis. Doxorubicin (DOX) encapsulation efficacy was 94.3%. Release behaviours of DOX from the magnetic nanocomposite exhibited that the rate of DOX release could be efficiently controlled through temperature and pH. The cytotoxicity of the drug was investigated in vitro against breast cancer cell line (MCF7) using (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) (MTT) assays, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining and cellular uptake. In conclusion, the synthesized DOX@nanocomposite can be applied in theranostic applications and anticancer drug delivery owing to admissible properties.

Crystallization-Driven Two-Dimensional Self-Assembly of Amphiphilic PCL-b-PEO Coated Gold Nanoparticles in Aqueous Solution

This Letter reports the first formation of free-standing plasmonic monolayer nanosheets by the self-assembly of AuNPs without assistance from a planar interface. The strategy involves the coating of poly(caprolactone)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PCL-b-PEO) diblock copolymers on AuNPs, followed by two-dimensional (2D) self-assembly of the resultant amphiphilic AuNPs in aqueous phase. The crystallization of the PCL blocks, affected by their grafting density and radius of gyration, drives the formation of the AuNP nanosheets, which undergoes a growth process of individual micelles to small nanosheets and eventually to large sheets. Due to the plasmonic coupling of AuNPs in close proximity, the AuNP nanosheets exhibit near-infrared (NIR) absorption with the maximum at about 700 nm. This study not only brings a new approach toward polymer-AuNP hybrid superstructures in solution, but also provides a new system for fundamental study on 2D self-assembly of AuNPs.

Delivery approaches for CRISPR/Cas9 therapeutics in vivo: advances and challenges

INTRODUCTION

Therapeutic gene editing is becoming a viable biomedical tool with the emergence of the CRISPR/Cas9 system. CRISPR-based technologies have promise as a therapeutic platform for many human genetic diseases previously considered untreatable, providing a flexible approach to high-fidelity gene editing. For many diseases, such as sickle-cell disease and beta thalassemia, curative therapy may already be on the horizon, with CRISPR-based clinical trials slated for the next few years. Translation of CRISPR-based therapy to in vivo application however, is no small feat, and major hurdles remain for efficacious use of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in clinical contexts.

AREAS COVERED

In this topical review, we highlight recent advances to in vivo delivery of the CRISPR/Cas9 system using various packaging formats, including viral, mRNA, plasmid, and protein-based approaches. We also discuss some of the barriers which have yet to be overcome for successful translation of this technology.

EXPERT OPINION

This review focuses on the challenges to efficacy for various delivery formats, with specific emphasis on overcoming these challenges through the development of carrier vehicles for transient approaches to CRISPR/Cas9 delivery in vivo.

Self-assembled nanomaterials for synergistic antitumour therapy

Recent progress on self-assembled nanodrugs for anticancer treatment was discussed.