A novel strategy for selective gene delivery by using the inhibitory effect of blue light on jetPRIME-mediated transfection

Propofol induces the apoptosis of neural stem cells via microRNA-9-5p / chemokine CXC receptor 4 signaling pathway

Recent studies suggested that propofol, one of the most widely used anesthetics, may cause neurotoxicity in the developing brain, leading to cognitive deficits in adults. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the mechanisms of propofol neurotoxicity in the neural stem cells (NSCs). The mRNA and protein expression levels of microRNA-9-5p (miR-9-5p) and chemokine CXC receptor 4 (CXCR4) were determined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting analyses. Cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated using the cell counting kit-8 and Hoechst staining kits. The levels of apoptosis-related proteins B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein, and caspase-3 were detected by Western blotting analysis. These results confirmed that propofol activated cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. A significant increase in the miR-9-5p and CXCR4 expression was observed in the propofol-treated cells. The overexpression of miR-9-5p induced apoptosis in NSCs, accompanied by elevated apoptosis-related protein activity. Furthermore, mitigated CXCR4 expression reduced propofol-induced cell apoptosis. We conclude that propofol induces cell death in NSCs, and overexpression of miR-9-5p/CXCR4 contributes to propofol-induced cell apoptosis, which might be a target for developing novel strategies to treat propofol neurotoxicity.

Polymeric Delivery of Therapeutic Nucleic Acids

The advent of genome editing has transformed the therapeutic landscape for several debilitating diseases, and the clinical outlook for gene therapeutics has never been more promising. The therapeutic potential of nucleic acids has been limited by a reliance on engineered viral vectors for delivery. Chemically defined polymers can remediate technological, regulatory, and clinical challenges associated with viral modes of gene delivery. Because of their scalability, versatility, and exquisite tunability, polymers are ideal biomaterial platforms for delivering nucleic acid payloads efficiently while minimizing immune response and cellular toxicity. While polymeric gene delivery has progressed significantly in the past four decades, clinical translation of polymeric vehicles faces several formidable challenges. The aim of our Account is to illustrate diverse concepts in designing polymeric vectors towards meeting therapeutic goals of in vivo and ex vivo gene therapy. Here, we highlight several classes of polymers employed in gene delivery and summarize the recent work on understanding the contributions of chemical and architectural design parameters. We touch upon characterization methods used to visualize and understand events transpiring at the interfaces between polymer, nucleic acids, and the physiological environment. We conclude that interdisciplinary approaches and methodologies motivated by fundamental questions are key to designing high-performing polymeric vehicles for gene therapy.