Multifunctional Nanoparticles in Precise Cancer Treatment: Considerations in Design and Functionalization of Nanocarriers

Nanotechnology has revolutionized cancer treatment in both diagnosis and therapy. Since the initial application of nanoparticles (NPs) in cancer treatment, the main objective of nanotechnology was developing effective nanosystems with high selectivity and specificity for cancer treatment and diagnosis. To achieve this, different encapsulation and conjugation strategies along with surface functionalization techniques have been developed to synthesize anticancer drugs loaded NPs with effective targeting to specific tumor cells. The unique physicochemical attributes of NPs make them promising candidates for targeted drug delivery, localized therapies, sensing, and targeting at cellular levels. However, a nanosystem for localized and targeted cancer managements should overcome several biological barriers and biomedical challenges such as endothelial barriers, blood brain barrier, reticuloendothelial system, selective targeting, biocompatibility, acute/chronic toxicity, tumor-targeting efficacy. The NPs for in vivo applications encounter barriers at system, organ, and the cellular level. To overcome these barriers, different strategies during the synthesis and functionalization of NPs should be adapted. Pharmacokinetics and cellular uptake of NPs are largely associated with physicochemical attributes of NPs, morphology, hydrodynamic size, charge, and other surface properties. These properties can be adjusted during different phases of synthesis and functionalization of the NPs. This study reviews the advances in targeted cancer treatment and the parameters influencing the efficacies of NPs as therapeutics. Different strategies for overcoming the biological barriers at cellular, organ and system levels and biomedical challenges are discussed. Moreover, the applications of NPs in preclinical and clinical practice are reviewed.

Biodegradable nanoparticles of mPEG-PLGA-PLL triblock copolymers as novel non-viral vectors for improving siRNA delivery and gene silencing

Degradation of mRNA by RNA interference is one of the most powerful and specific mechanisms for gene silencing. However, insufficient cellular uptake and poor stability have limited its usefulness. Here, we report efficient delivery of siRNA via the use of biodegradable nanoparticles (NPs) made from monomethoxypoly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-poly-l-lysine (mPEG-PLGA-PLL) triblock copolymers. Various physicochemical properties of mPEG-PLGA-PLL NPs, including morphology, size, surface charge, siRNA encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro release profile of siRNA from NPs, were characterized by scanning electron microscope, particle size and zeta potential analyzer, and high performance liquid chromatography. The levels of siRNA uptake and targeted gene inhibition were detected in human lung cancer SPC-A1-GFP cells stably expressing green fluorescent protein. Examination of the cultured SPC-A1-GFP cells with fluorescent microscope and flow cytometry showed NPs loading Cy3-labeled siRNA had much higher intracellular siRNA delivery efficiencies than siRNA alone and Lipofectamine-siRNA complexes. The gene silencing efficiency of mPEG-PLGA-PLL NPs was higher than that of commercially available transfecting agent Lipofectamine while showing no cytotoxicity. Thus, the current study demonstrates that biodegradable NPs of mPEG-PLGA-PLL triblock copolymers can be potentially applied as novel non-viral vectors for improving siRNA delivery and gene silencing.

Enhanced delivery of monomethoxypoly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-poly l-lysine nanoparticles loading platelet-derived growth factor BB small interfering RNA by ultrasound and/or microbubbles to rat retinal pigment epithelium cells

BACKGROUND

A novel small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery method based on the combined use of nanoparticles (NPs) with ultrasound (US) and/or microbubbles (MBs) was introduced in the present study. We investigated the efficacy and safety of US and/or MBs-enhanced delivery of monomethoxypoly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-poly l-lysine (mPEG-PLGA-PLL) NPs loading platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) siRNA to rat retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-J cells.

METHODS

The effect of US and/or MBs on the delivery of NPs containing Cy3-labeled siRNA was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Potential toxicity of NPs and cell viability under different conditions of US and/or MBs were assessed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method.

RESULTS

The results obtained showed that low intensity US or 15-20% MBs could increase the delivery efficiency of a lower concentration of mPEG-PLGA-PLL NPs loading siRNA to RPE-J cells, whereas the combination of US with MBs under the optimal conditions for the enhancement of NPs delivery did not further increase the cellular uptake of NPs compared to either US or MBs alone (p = 0.072 and p = 0.488, respectively). Under the optimal condition for US-enhanced NPs delivery, the enhanced PDGF-BB gene silencing with a combination of US and NPs encapsulating siRNA resulted in a significant decrease of mRNA and protein expression levels compared to NPs alone.

CONCLUSIONS

US and/or MBs could be used safely to enhance the delivery of NPs loading siRNA to rat RPE-J cells. A combination of the chemical (mPEG-PLGA-PLL NPs loading siRNA) and physical (US) approaches could more effectively downregulate the mRNA and protein expression of PDGF-BB.