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Liu R, Liu Z, Chen M, Xing H, Zhang P, Zhang J. Cooperatively designed aptamer-PROTACs for spatioselective degradation of nucleocytoplasmic shuttling protein for enhanced combinational therapy. Chem Sci 2023; 15:134-145. [PMID: 38131089 PMCID: PMC10732009 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc04249a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Nucleocytoplasmic shuttling proteins (NSPs) have emerged as a promising class of therapeutic targets for many diseases. However, most NSPs-based therapies largely rely on small-molecule inhibitors with limited efficacy and off-target effects. Inspired by proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology, we report a new archetype of PROTAC (PS-ApTCs) by introducing a phosphorothioate-modified aptamer to a CRBN ligand, realizing tumor-targeting and spatioselective degradation of NSPs with improved efficacy. Using nucleolin as a model, we demonstrate that PS-ApTCs is capable of effectively degrading nucleolin in the target cell membrane and cytoplasm but not in the nucleus, through the disruption of nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. Moreover, PS-ApTCs exhibits superior antiproliferation, pro-apoptotic, and cell cycle arrest potencies. Importantly, we demonstrate that a combination of PS-ApTCs-mediated nucleolin degradation with aptamer-drug conjugate-based chemotherapy enables a synergistic effect on tumor inhibition. Collectively, PS-ApTCs could expand the PROTAC toolbox to more targets in subcellular localization and accelerate the discovery of new combinational therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 China
| | - Zheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 China
| | - Mohan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 China
| | - Hang Xing
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Nanomedicine, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomacromolecular Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University Changsha 410082 China
| | - Penghui Zhang
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, The Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province for Aptamers and Theranostics, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences Hangzhou 310022 China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 China
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Lin B, Xiao F, Jiang J, Zhao Z, Zhou X. Engineered aptamers for molecular imaging. Chem Sci 2023; 14:14039-14061. [PMID: 38098720 PMCID: PMC10718180 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc03989g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular imaging, including quantification and molecular interaction studies, plays a crucial role in visualizing and analysing molecular events occurring within cells or organisms, thus facilitating the understanding of biological processes. Moreover, molecular imaging offers promising applications for early disease diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation. Aptamers are oligonucleotides that can recognize targets with a high affinity and specificity by folding themselves into various three-dimensional structures, thus serving as ideal molecular recognition elements in molecular imaging. This review summarizes the commonly employed aptamers in molecular imaging and outlines the prevalent design approaches for their applications. Furthermore, it highlights the successful application of aptamers to a wide range of targets and imaging modalities. Finally, the review concludes with a forward-looking perspective on future advancements in aptamer-based molecular imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingqian Lin
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, Department of Hematology of Zhongnan Hospital, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University Wuhan 430072 China
| | - Feng Xiao
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, Department of Hematology of Zhongnan Hospital, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University Wuhan 430072 China
| | - Jinting Jiang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, Department of Hematology of Zhongnan Hospital, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University Wuhan 430072 China
| | - Zhengjia Zhao
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, Department of Hematology of Zhongnan Hospital, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University Wuhan 430072 China
| | - Xiang Zhou
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, Department of Hematology of Zhongnan Hospital, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University Wuhan 430072 China
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Wang R, Xiao P, Yu B, Sun Y, Li J, Zhang L, Jiang X, Wu W. Fluorination Effects on the Drug Delivery Property of Cylindrical Polymer Brushes. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2022; 5:5924-5932. [PMID: 36417709 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Fluorination has been widely applied to improving the properties of small-molecule drugs. However, relatively little is known about the effects of fluorination on the drug delivery property of nanomaterials. In this paper, we synthesized a fluoroalkane-modified cylindrical polymer brush (CPB) BCPB-F and an alkane-modified analogue BCPB-H. Doxorubicin (DOX) was used as a model drug and was loaded onto the CPBs through a pH-responsive acylhydrazone linkage. High drug loading and good water solubility were achieved. The in vitro and in vivo experiments suggested that fluorination played an important role in improving the cellular uptake, blood circulation, tissue permeability, and tumor targeting ability of CPBs. Due to these superiorities, the DOX-loaded BCPB-F exhibited excellent antitumor efficacy and eradicated the tumors of mice after five-dose treatments. The well-defined structures of the drug-free and drug-loaded CPBs guaranteed the accuracy of the results. This work demonstrates that fluorination is a promising strategy to improve the overall properties of nanomedicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruonan Wang
- Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Panpan Xiao
- Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Bo Yu
- Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Ying Sun
- Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Jia Li
- Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Ling'e Zhang
- Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Bioresources Utilization of Ministry of Education, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian 116600, P. R. China
| | - Xiqun Jiang
- Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
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