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Fang F, Chen X. Carrier-Free Nanodrugs: From Bench to Bedside. ACS NANO 2024; 18:23827-23841. [PMID: 39163559 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c09027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/22/2024]
Abstract
Carrier-free nanodrugs with extraordinary active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) loading (even 100%), avoidable carrier-induced toxicity, and simple synthetic procedures are considered as one of the most promising candidates for disease theranostics. Substantial studies and the commercial success of "carrier-free" nanocrystals have demonstrated their strong clinical potential. However, their practical translations remain challenging and are impeded by unpredictable assembly processes, insufficient delivery efficiency, and an unclear in vivo fate. In this Perspective, we systematically outline the contemporary and emerging carrier-free nanodrugs based on diverse APIs, as well as highlight their opportunities and challenges in clinical translation. Looking ahead, further improvements in design and preparation, drug delivery, in vivo efficacy, and safety of carrier-free nanomedicines are essential to facilitate their translation from the bench to bedside.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Fang
- Departments of Diagnostic Radiology, Surgery, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119074, Singapore
- Nanomedicine Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore
| | - Xiaoyuan Chen
- Departments of Diagnostic Radiology, Surgery, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119074, Singapore
- Clinical Imaging Research Centre, Centre for Translational Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore
- Nanomedicine Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore
- Theranostics Center of Excellence (TCE), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 11 Biopolis Way, Helios, Singapore 138667, Singapore
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Singapore
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2
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Lu J, Dai Y, He Y, Zhang T, Zhang J, Chen X, Jiang C, Lu H. Organ/Cell-Selective Intracellular Delivery of Biologics via N-Acetylated Galactosamine-Functionalized Polydisulfide Conjugates. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:3974-3983. [PMID: 38299512 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c11914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Biologics, including proteins and antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), face significant challenges when it comes to achieving intracellular delivery within specific organs or cells through systemic administrations. In this study, we present a novel approach for delivering proteins and ASOs to liver cells, both in vitro and in vivo, using conjugates that tether N-acetylated galactosamine (GalNAc)-functionalized, cell-penetrating polydisulfides (PDSs). The method involves the thiol-bearing cargo-mediated ring-opening polymerization of GalNAc-functionalized lipoamide monomers through the so-called aggregation-induced polymerization, leading to the formation of site-specific protein/ASO-PDS conjugates with narrow dispersity. The hepatocyte-selective intracellular delivery of the conjugates arises from a combination of factors, including first GalNAc binding with ASGPR receptors on liver cells, leading to cell immobilization, and the subsequent thiol-disulfide exchange occurring on the cell surface, promoting internalization. Our findings emphasize the critical role of the close proximity of the PDS backbone to the cell surface, as it governs the success of thiol-disulfide exchange and, consequently, cell penetration. These conjugates hold tremendous potential in overcoming the various biological barriers encountered during systemic and cell-specific delivery of biomacromolecular cargos, opening up new avenues for the diagnosis and treatment of a range of liver-targeting diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Lu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanhao Dai
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Yahui He
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Department of Microbiology & Infectious Disease Center, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Microbiology & Infectious Disease Center, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangmei Chen
- Department of Microbiology & Infectious Disease Center, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Changtao Jiang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Hua Lu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
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3
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Song M, Cao R, Chen X, Wang C, Xing X, Li W, Li Y, Liao Y, Zhong W, Li Q, Liu Z. Amplified Targeted Drug Delivery Independent of Target Number through Alternative Administration of Two Matched Nanoparticles. ACS NANO 2023; 17:23359-23373. [PMID: 38039329 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c04059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Targeting nanoparticles (NPs) based on the specific binding of ligands with molecular targets provides a promising tool for tissue-selective drug delivery. However, the number of molecular targets on the cell surface is limited, hindering the number of NPs that can bind and, thus, limiting the therapeutic outcome. Although several strategies have been developed to enhance drug delivery, such as enhancing drug loading and circulation time or increasing the enhanced permeability and retention effect of nanocarriers, none have resolved this issue. Herein, we designed a simple method for amplified and targeted drug delivery using two matched NPs. One NP was aptamer-functionalized to specifically bind to target cells, while the other was aptamer-complementary DNA-functionalized to specifically bind to aptamer-NPs. Alternate administration of the two matched NPs enables their continuous accumulation in the disease site despite their limited molecular targets. As a proof of concept, the method was tested in a breast cancer model and significantly enhanced chemotherapy of tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. The potential applications of this method in a brain injury model were also demonstrated. Overall, the study describes a method for amplified targeted drug delivery independent of the target number.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengwen Song
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 42100, Hunan, China
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, No. 27 Taiping Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Ruiyuan Cao
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Xingjuan Chen
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
- Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polythechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Cui Wang
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, No. 27 Taiping Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Xiaowen Xing
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, No. 27 Taiping Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Wei Li
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Yuexiang Li
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Yajin Liao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 42100, Hunan, China
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, No. 27 Taiping Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Wu Zhong
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Qihong Li
- Department of Stomatology, the Fifth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, 8 East Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Zhiqiang Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 42100, Hunan, China
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, No. 27 Taiping Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100850, China
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4
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Chen X, Zheng Q, Cai W, Sheng J, Wang M. Biodegradable Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Framework for Cytosolic Protein Delivery. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:54346-54352. [PMID: 37967322 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c14450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) are a novel class of porous nanomaterials that show great potential for intracellular delivery of protein therapeutics. However, the inherent challenges in interfacing protein with HOFs, and the need for spatiotemporally controlling the release of protein within cells, have constrained their therapeutic potential. In this study, we report novel biodegradable hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks, termed DS-HOFs, specially designed for the cytosolic delivery of protein therapeutics in cancer cells. The synthesis of DS-HOFs involves the self-assembly of 4-[tris(4-carbamimidoylphenyl) methyl] benzenecarboximidamide (TAM) and 4,4'-dithiobisbenzoic acid (DTBA), governed by intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions. DS-HOFs exhibit high efficiency in encapsulating a diverse range of protein cargos, underpinned by the hydrogen-bonding interactions between the protein residue and DS-HOF subcomponents. Notably, DS-HOFs are selectively degraded in cancer cells triggered by the distinct intracellular reductive microenvironments, enabling an enhanced and selective release of protein inside cancer cells. Additionally, we demonstrate that the efficient delivery of bacterial effector protein DUF5 using DS-HOFs depletes the mutant RAS in cancer cells to prohibit tumor cell growth both in vitro and in vivo. The design of biodegradable HOFs for cytosolic protein delivery provides a powerful and promising strategy to expand the therapeutic potential of proteins for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianghan Chen
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, CAS Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qizhen Zheng
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, CAS Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Weiqi Cai
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, CAS Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jinhan Sheng
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, CAS Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ming Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, CAS Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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5
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Liu X, Zhao Z, Li W, Li Y, Yang Q, Liu N, Chen Y, Yin L. Engineering Nucleotidoproteins for Base-Pairing-Assisted Cytosolic Delivery and Genome Editing. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202307664. [PMID: 37718311 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202307664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Protein therapeutics targeting intracellular machineries hold profound potential for disease treatment, and hence robust cytosolic protein delivery technologies are imperatively demanded. Inspired by the super-negatively charged, nucleotide-enriched structure of nucleic acids, adenylated pro-proteins (A-proteins) with dramatically enhanced negative surface charges have been engineered for the first time via facile green synthesis. Then, thymidine-modified polyethyleneimine is developed, which exhibits strong electrostatic attraction, complementary base pairing, and hydrophobic interaction with A-proteins to form salt-resistant nanocomplexes with robust cytosolic delivery efficiencies. The acidic endolysosomal environment enables traceless restoration of the A-proteins and consequently promotes the intracellular release of the native proteins. This strategy shows high efficiency and universality for a variety of proteins with different molecular weights and isoelectric points in mammalian cells. Moreover, it enables highly efficient delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoproteins targeting fusion oncogene EWSR1-FLI1, leading to pronounced anti-tumor efficacy against Ewing sarcoma. This study provides a potent and versatile platform for cytosolic protein delivery and gene editing, and may benefit the development of protein pharmaceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Liu
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, 215123, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Thoracic Cancer, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 215123, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ziyin Zhao
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, 215123, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei Li
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, 215123, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yajie Li
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, 215123, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qiang Yang
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, 215123, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ningyu Liu
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, 215123, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yongbing Chen
- Department of Thoracic Cancer, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 215123, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lichen Yin
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, 215123, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
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6
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Bao Y, Chen H, Xu Z, Gao J, Jiang L, Xia J. Photo-Responsive Phase-Separating Fluorescent Molecules for Intracellular Protein Delivery. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202307045. [PMID: 37648812 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202307045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Cellular membranes, including the plasma and endosome membranes, are barriers to outside proteins. Various vehicles have been devised to deliver proteins across the plasma membrane, but in many cases, the payload gets trapped in the endosome. Here we designed a photo-responsive phase-separating fluorescent molecule (PPFM) with a molecular weight of 666.8 daltons. The PPFM compound condensates as fluorescent droplets in the aqueous solution by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), which disintegrate upon photoirradiation with a 405 nm light-emitting diode (LED) lamp within 20 min or a 405 nm laser within 3 min. The PPFM coacervates recruit a wide range of peptides and proteins and deliver them into mammalian cells. Photolysis disperses the payload from condensates into the cytosolic space. Altogether, a type of small molecules that are photo-responsive and phase separating are discovered; their coacervates can serve as transmembrane vehicles for intracellular delivery of proteins, whereas photo illumination triggers the cytosolic distribution of the payload.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yishu Bao
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hongfei Chen
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Zhiyi Xu
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jiayang Gao
- Center for Cell & Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Liwen Jiang
- Center for Cell & Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jiang Xia
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
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7
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Sun Z, Ren M, Shan B, Yang Q, Zhao Z, Liu X, Yin L. One-pot synthesis of dynamically cross-linked polymers for serum-resistant nucleic acid delivery. Biomater Sci 2023; 11:5653-5662. [PMID: 37431292 DOI: 10.1039/d3bm00685a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Cationic polymers used for nucleic acid delivery often suffer from complicated syntheses, undesired intracellular cargo release and low serum stability. Herein, a series of ternary polymers were synthesized via facile green chemistry to achieve efficient plasmid DNA and mRNA delivery in serum. During the one-pot synthesis of the ternary polymer, acetylphenylboric acid (APBA), polyphenol and low-molecular weight polyethyleneimine (PEI 1.8k) were dynamically cross-linked with each other due to formation of an imine between PEI 1.8k and APBA and formation of a boronate ester between APBA and polyphenol. Series of polyphenols, including ellagic acid (EA), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), rutin (RT) and rosmarinic acid (RA), and APBA molecules, including 2-acetylphenylboric acid (2-APBA), 3-acetylphenylboric acid (3-APBA) and 4-acetylphenylboric acid (4-APBA), were screened and the best-performing ternary polymer, 2-PEI-RT, constructed from RT and 2-APBA, was identified. The ternary polymer featured efficient DNA condensation to favor cellular internalization, and the acidic environment in endolysosomes triggered effective degradation of the polymer to promote cargo release. Thus, 2-PEI-RT showed robust plasmid DNA transfection efficiencies in various tumor cells in serum, outperforming the commercial reagent PEI 25k by 1-3 orders of magnitude. Moreover, 2-PEI-RT mediated efficient cytosolic delivery of Cas9-mRNA/sgRNA to enable pronounced CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing in vitro. Such a facile and robust platform holds great potential for non-viral nucleic acid delivery and gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhisong Sun
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
| | - Mengyao Ren
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
| | - Bingchen Shan
- Department of Orthopaedics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215004, China.
| | - Qiang Yang
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
| | - Ziyin Zhao
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
| | - Xun Liu
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou215004, China.
| | - Lichen Yin
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
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He X, Xiong S, Sun Y, Zhong M, Xiao N, Zhou Z, Wang T, Tang Y, Xie J. Recent Progress of Rational Modified Nanocarriers for Cytosolic Protein Delivery. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1610. [PMID: 37376059 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15061610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic proteins garnered significant attention in the field of disease treatment. In comparison to small molecule drugs, protein therapies offer distinct advantages, including high potency, specificity, low toxicity, and reduced carcinogenicity, even at minimal concentrations. However, the full potential of protein therapy is limited by inherent challenges such as large molecular size, delicate tertiary structure, and poor membrane penetration, resulting in inefficient intracellular delivery into target cells. To address these challenges and enhance the clinical applications of protein therapies, various protein-loaded nanocarriers with tailored modifications were developed, including liposomes, exosomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and nanomotors. Despite these advancements, many of these strategies encounter significant issues such as entrapment within endosomes, leading to low therapeutic efficiency. In this review, we extensively discussed diverse strategies for the rational design of nanocarriers, aiming to overcome these limitations. Additionally, we presented a forward-looking viewpoint on the innovative generation of delivery systems specifically tailored for protein-based therapies. Our intention was to offer theoretical and technical support for the development and enhancement of nanocarriers capable of facilitating cytosolic protein delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao He
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, China
- Center for Cell and Gene Circuit Design, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Department of Geriatrics, The Shenzhen Hospital of Peking University, Shenzhen 518036, China
| | - Su Xiong
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, China
| | - Yansun Sun
- Department of Geriatrics, The Shenzhen Hospital of Peking University, Shenzhen 518036, China
| | - Min Zhong
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, China
| | - Nianting Xiao
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, China
| | - Ziwei Zhou
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, China
| | - Yaqin Tang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, China
| | - Jing Xie
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, China
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Qian L, Lin X, Gao X, Khan RU, Liao JY, Du S, Ge J, Zeng S, Yao SQ. The Dawn of a New Era: Targeting the "Undruggables" with Antibody-Based Therapeutics. Chem Rev 2023. [PMID: 37186942 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The high selectivity and affinity of antibodies toward their antigens have made them a highly valuable tool in disease therapy, diagnosis, and basic research. A plethora of chemical and genetic approaches have been devised to make antibodies accessible to more "undruggable" targets and equipped with new functions of illustrating or regulating biological processes more precisely. In this Review, in addition to introducing how naked antibodies and various antibody conjugates (such as antibody-drug conjugates, antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates, antibody-enzyme conjugates, etc.) work in therapeutic applications, special attention has been paid to how chemistry tools have helped to optimize the therapeutic outcome (i.e., with enhanced efficacy and reduced side effects) or facilitate the multifunctionalization of antibodies, with a focus on emerging fields such as targeted protein degradation, real-time live-cell imaging, catalytic labeling or decaging with spatiotemporal control as well as the engagement of antibodies inside cells. With advances in modern chemistry and biotechnology, well-designed antibodies and their derivatives via size miniaturization or multifunctionalization together with efficient delivery systems have emerged, which have gradually improved our understanding of important biological processes and paved the way to pursue novel targets for potential treatments of various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linghui Qian
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cancer Center, & Hangzhou Institute of Innovative Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xuefen Lin
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cancer Center, & Hangzhou Institute of Innovative Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xue Gao
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cancer Center, & Hangzhou Institute of Innovative Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Rizwan Ullah Khan
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cancer Center, & Hangzhou Institute of Innovative Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jia-Yu Liao
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cancer Center, & Hangzhou Institute of Innovative Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shubo Du
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Jingyan Ge
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Synthesis of Zhejiang Province, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Su Zeng
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cancer Center, & Hangzhou Institute of Innovative Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shao Q Yao
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 4 Science Drive 2, Singapore, 117544
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10
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Sun T, Jiang C. Stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems triggered by intracellular or subcellular microenvironments. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 196:114773. [PMID: 36906230 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Drug delivery systems (DDS) triggered by local microenvironment represents the state-of-art of nanomedicine design, where the triggering hallmarks at intracellular and subcellular levels could be employed to exquisitely recognize the diseased sites, reduce side effects, and expand the therapeutic window by precisely tailoring the drug-release kinetics. Though with impressive progress, the DDS design functioning at microcosmic levels is fully challenging and underexploited. Here, we provide an overview describing the recent advances on stimuli-responsive DDSs triggered by intracellular or subcellular microenvironments. Instead of focusing on the targeting strategies as listed in previous reviews, we herein mainly highlight the concept, design, preparation and applications of stimuli-responsive systems in intracellular models. Hopefully, this review could give useful hints in developing nanoplatforms proceeding at a cellular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Sun
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery (Ministry of Education), Minhang Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, PR China
| | - Chen Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery (Ministry of Education), Minhang Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, PR China.
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11
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Wang N, Liu C, Li Y, Huang D, Wu X, Kou X, Wang X, Wu Q, Gong C. A cooperative nano-CRISPR scaffold potentiates immunotherapy via activation of tumour-intrinsic pyroptosis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:779. [PMID: 36774382 PMCID: PMC9922300 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36550-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Efficient cancer immunotherapy depends on selective targeting of high bioactivity therapeutic agents to the tumours. However, delivering exogenous medication might prove difficult in clinical practice. Here we report a cooperative Nano-CRISPR scaffold (Nano-CD) that utilizes a specific sgRNA, selected from a functional screen for triggering endogenous GDSME expression, while releasing cisplatin to initiate immunologic cell death. Mechanistically, cascade-amplification of the antitumor immune response is prompted by the adjuvantic properties of the lytic intracellular content and enhanced by the heightened GDSME expression, resulting in pyroptosis and the release of tumor associated antigens. Neither of the single components provide efficient tumour control, while tumor growth is efficiently inhibited in primary and recurrent melanomas due to the combinatorial effect of cisplatin and self-supplied GSDME. Moreover, Nano-CD in combination with checkpoint blockade creates durable immune memory and strong systemic anti-tumor immune response, leading to disease relapse prevention, lung metastasis inhibition and increased survival in mouse melanomas. Taken together, our therapeutic approach utilizes CRISPR-technology to enable cell-intrinsic protein expression for immunotherapy, using GDSME as prototypic immune modulator. This nanoplatform thus can be applied to modulate further immunological processes for therapeutic benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Chao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yingjie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Dongxue Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xinyue Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xiaorong Kou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xiye Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Qinjie Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Changyang Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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12
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Guo H, Xu W, Nomoto T, Kanamori K, Voon YM, Honda Y, Yamada N, Takemoto H, Matsui M, Nishiyama N. Polymeric ligands comprising sulfur-containing amino acids for targeting tumor-associated amino acid transporters. Biomaterials 2023; 293:121987. [PMID: 36584445 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Various cancer cells overexpress L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) to take up a large number of neutral amino acids such as phenylalanine and methionine, and LAT1 transporter should be a promising target for cancer diagnosis and therapy. However, only a few studies reported drug delivery systems targeting LAT1 probably due to limited knowledge about the interaction between LAT1 and its substrate. Here, we developed polymers having methionine (Met)- or cysteine (Cys)-like structures on their side chains to examine their affinity with LAT1. While both the Met- and Cys-modified polymers exhibited efficient cellular uptake selectively in cancer cells, the Met-modified polymers exhibited higher cellular uptake efficiency in an LAT1-selective manner than the Cys-modified polymers. In the in vivo study, the intraperitoneally injected Met-modified polymers showed appreciable tumor-selective accumulation in the peritoneal dissemination model, and importantly, Met-modified polymers conjugated with photosensitizers exhibited significant therapeutic effects upon photoirradiation with reduced photochemical damage to normal organs. Our results may provide important knowledge about the polymer-LAT1 interaction, and the Met-modified polymers should offer a new concept for designing LAT1-targeting drug delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haochen Guo
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8503, Japan; Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8503, Japan
| | - Wen Xu
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8503, Japan
| | - Takahiro Nomoto
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8503, Japan; Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8503, Japan.
| | - Kaito Kanamori
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8503, Japan; Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8503, Japan
| | - Yan Ming Voon
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8503, Japan; Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8503, Japan
| | - Yuto Honda
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8503, Japan; Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8503, Japan
| | - Naoki Yamada
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8503, Japan
| | - Hiroyasu Takemoto
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8503, Japan; Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8503, Japan
| | - Makoto Matsui
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8503, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Nishiyama
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8503, Japan; Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8503, Japan; Innovation Center of Nanomedicine (iCONM), Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 3-25-14 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 210-0821, Japan.
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13
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Zhou T, Yuan S, Qian P, Wu Y. Enzymes in Nanomedicine for Anti-tumor Therapy. Chem Res Chin Univ 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s40242-023-2349-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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14
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Feng Y, Guo Z, Chen J, Zhang S, Wu J, Tian H, Chen X. Cationic polymer synergizing with a disulfide-containing enhancer achieved efficient nucleic acid and protein delivery. Biomater Sci 2022; 10:6230-6243. [PMID: 36107141 DOI: 10.1039/d2bm01211a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
To improve the efficiency of nucleic acid and protein delivery by cationic polymers, there is a trade-off between increasing the positive charge density of cationic polymers and decreasing cytotoxicity. In this work, a strategy to introduce multiple interactions between the cell membrane and a delivery system based on cationic polymers was proposed. A novel delivery system consisting of PEI1.8k and an enhancer (LA-RT) was fabricated. The introduction of LA-RT contributed to multiple interactions between the delivery system and the cell membrane including electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interaction, and dynamic sulfur exchange reactions, which enabled efficient intracellular delivery of nucleic acids and proteins. For nucleic acid delivery, plasmid DNA and mRNA were loaded to realize CRISPR/Cas 9 gene editing in vivo and protein expression in vivo, respectively. For protein delivery, the delivery system carrying OVA protein and CpG formed a nano-vaccine, which induced enhanced humoral and cellular immunity in vivo. In addition, the delivery system based on PEI1.8k revealed negligible cytotoxicity. This work provided a novel strategy to prepare efficient delivery systems based on cationic polymers via the introduction of a multifunctional enhancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanji Feng
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China. .,University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Zhaopei Guo
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China.
| | - Jie Chen
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China.
| | - Sijia Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China. .,University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Jiayan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China. .,University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Huayu Tian
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China. .,University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.,College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.,Jilin Biomedical Polymers Engineering Laboratory, Changchun 130022, China
| | - Xuesi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China. .,University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.,Jilin Biomedical Polymers Engineering Laboratory, Changchun 130022, China
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