1
|
Vlasova KY, Kerr A, Pennock ND, Jozic A, Sahel DK, Gautam M, Murthy NTV, Roberts A, Ali MW, MacDonald KD, Walker J, Luxenhofer R, Sahay G. Synthesis of ionizable lipopolymers using split-Ugi reaction for pulmonary delivery of various size RNAs and gene editing. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.11.598497. [PMID: 38915714 PMCID: PMC11195133 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.11.598497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
We present an efficient approach for synthesizing cationic poly(ethylene imine) derivatives using the multicomponent split-Ugi reaction to rapidly create a library of complex functional ionizable lipopolymers. We synthesized a diverse library of 155 polymers, formulated them into polyplexes to establish structure-activity relationships crucial for endosomal escape and efficient transfection. After discovering a lead structure, lipopolymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles are introduced to preferentially deliver to and elicit effective mRNA transfection in lung endothelium and immune cells, including T cells with low in vivo toxicity. The lipopolymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles showed 300-fold improvement in systemic mRNA delivery to the lung compared to in vivo -JetPEI ® . Lipopolymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles demonstrated efficient delivery of mRNA-based therapeutics for treatment of two different disease models. Lewis Lung cancer progression was significantly delayed after treatment with loaded IL-12 mRNA in U155@lipids after repeated i.v. administration. Systemic delivery of human CFTR (hCFTR) mRNA resulted in production of functional form of CFTR protein in the lungs. The functionality of hCFTR protein was confirmed by restoration of CFTR- mediated chloride secretion in conductive airway epithelia in CFTR knockout mice after nasal instillation of hCFTR mRNA loaded U155@lipids. We further showed that, U155@lipids nanoparticles can deliver complex CRISPR-Cas9 based RNA cargo to the lung, achieving 5.6 ± 2.4 % gene editing in lung tissue. Moreover, we demonstrated successful PD-1 gene knockout of T cells in vivo . Our results highlight a versatile delivery platform for systemic delivering of mRNA of various sizes for gene therapy for a variety of therapeutics.
Collapse
|
2
|
Liu H, Ji M, Xiao P, Gou J, Yin T, He H, Tang X, Zhang Y. Glucocorticoids-based prodrug design: Current strategies and research progress. Asian J Pharm Sci 2024; 19:100922. [PMID: 38966286 PMCID: PMC11222810 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajps.2024.100922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Attributing to their broad pharmacological effects encompassing anti-inflammation, antitoxin, and immunosuppression, glucocorticoids (GCs) are extensively utilized in the clinic for the treatment of diverse diseases such as lupus erythematosus, nephritis, arthritis, ulcerative colitis, asthma, keratitis, macular edema, and leukemia. However, long-term use often causes undesirable side effects, including metabolic disorders-induced Cushing's syndrome (buffalo back, full moon face, hyperglycemia, etc.), osteoporosis, aggravated infection, psychosis, glaucoma, and cataract. These notorious side effects seriously compromise patients' quality of life, especially in patients with chronic diseases. Therefore, glucocorticoid-based advanced drug delivery systems for reducing adverse effects have received extensive attention. Among them, prodrugs have the advantages of low investment, low risk, and high success rate, making them a promising strategy. In this review, we propose the strategies for the design and summarize current research progress of glucocorticoid-based prodrugs in recent decades, including polymer-based prodrugs, dendrimer-based prodrugs, antibody-drug conjugates, peptide-drug conjugates, carbohydrate-based prodrugs, aliphatic acid-based prodrugs and so on. Besides, we also raise issues that need to be focused on during the development of glucocorticoid-based prodrugs. This review is expected to be helpful for the research and development of novel GCs and prodrugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongbing Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Muse Ji
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Peifu Xiao
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Jingxin Gou
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Tian Yin
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Haibing He
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Xing Tang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Adams F, Zimmermann CM, Baldassi D, Pehl TM, Weingarten P, Kachel I, Kränzlein M, Jürgens DC, Braubach P, Alexopoulos I, Wygrecka M, Merkel OM. Pulmonary siRNA Delivery with Sophisticated Amphiphilic Poly(Spermine Acrylamides) for the Treatment of Lung Fibrosis. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2308775. [PMID: 38126895 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202308775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is an efficient strategy to post-transcriptionally silence gene expression. While all siRNA drugs on the market target the liver, the lung offers a variety of currently undruggable targets, which can potentially be treated with RNA therapeutics. To achieve this goal, the synthesis of poly(spermine acrylamides) (P(SpAA) is reported herein. Polymers are prepared via polymerization of N-acryloxysuccinimide (NAS) and afterward this active ester is converted into spermine-based pendant groups. Copolymerizations with decylacrylamide are employed to increase the hydrophobicity of the polymers. After deprotection, polymers show excellent siRNA encapsulation to obtain perfectly sized polyplexes at very low polymer/RNA ratios. In vitro 2D and 3D cell culture, ex vivo and in vivo experiments reveal superior properties of amphiphilic spermine-copolymers with respect to delivery of siRNA to lung cells in comparison to commonly used lipid-based transfection agents. In line with the in vitro results, siRNA delivery to human lung explants confirm more efficient gene silencing of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2), a G protein-coupled receptor involved in fibrosis. This study reveals the importance of the balance between efficient polyplex formation, cellular uptake, gene knockdown, and toxicity for efficient siRNA delivery in vitro, in vivo, and in fibrotic human lung tissue ex vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Friederike Adams
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Polymer Chemistry, Chair of Macromolecular Materials and Fiber Chemistry, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Center for Ophthalmology, University Eye Hospital Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Straße 7, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christoph M Zimmermann
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Domizia Baldassi
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas M Pehl
- WACKER-Chair of Macromolecular Chemistry, Catalysis Research Center, Department of Chemistry, Technical University Munich, Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85748, Garching bei München, Germany
| | - Philipp Weingarten
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Iris Kachel
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Moritz Kränzlein
- WACKER-Chair of Macromolecular Chemistry, Catalysis Research Center, Department of Chemistry, Technical University Munich, Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85748, Garching bei München, Germany
| | - David C Jürgens
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Braubach
- Institute for Pathology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hanover, Germany
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH) Research Network, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hanover, Germany
| | - Ioannis Alexopoulos
- Center for Infections and Genomics of the Lung (CIGL), Justus Liebig University Giessen, German Center for Lung Research, Aulweg 132, 35392, Gießen, Germany
- Multiscale Imaging Platform, Institute for Lung Health, German Center for Lung Research, Aulweg 132, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Malgorzata Wygrecka
- Center for Infections and Genomics of the Lung (CIGL), Justus Liebig University Giessen, German Center for Lung Research, Aulweg 132, 35392, Gießen, Germany
| | - Olivia M Merkel
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kyriakou S, Acosta S, El Maachi I, Rütten S, Jockenhoevel S. A Dexamethasone-Loaded Polymeric Electrospun Construct as a Tubular Cardiovascular Implant. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:4332. [PMID: 37960012 PMCID: PMC10649717 DOI: 10.3390/polym15214332] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular tissue engineering is providing many solutions to cardiovascular diseases. The complex disease demands necessitating tissue-engineered constructs with enhanced functionality. In this study, we are presenting the production of a dexamethasone (DEX)-loaded electrospun tubular polymeric poly(l-lactide) (PLA) or poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) construct which contains iPSC-CMs (induced pluripotent stem cell cardiomyocytes), HUVSMCs (human umbilical vein smooth muscle cells), and HUVECs (human umbilical vein endothelial cells) embedded in fibrin gel. The electrospun tube diameter was calculated, as well as the DEX release for 50 days for 2 different DEX concentrations. Furthermore, we investigated the influence of the polymer composition and concentration on the function of the fibrin gels by imaging and quantification of CD31, alpha-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), collagen I (col I), sarcomeric alpha actinin (SAA), and Connexin 43 (Cx43). We evaluated the cytotoxicity and cell proliferation of HUVECs and HUVSMCs cultivated in PLA and PLGA polymeric sheets. The immunohistochemistry results showed efficient iPSC-CM marker expression, while the HUVEC toxicity was higher than the respective HUVSMC value. In total, our study emphasizes the combination of fibrin gel and electrospinning in a functionalized construct, which includes three cell types and provides useful insights of the DEX release and cytotoxicity in a tissue engineering perspective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stavroula Kyriakou
- Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME—Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (S.K.); (S.A.); (I.E.M.)
| | - Sergio Acosta
- Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME—Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (S.K.); (S.A.); (I.E.M.)
| | - Ikram El Maachi
- Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME—Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (S.K.); (S.A.); (I.E.M.)
| | - Stephan Rütten
- Electron Microscopy Facility, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany;
| | - Stefan Jockenhoevel
- Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME—Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (S.K.); (S.A.); (I.E.M.)
- AMIBM—Aachen-Maastricht-Institute for Biobased Materials, Maastricht University, 6167 RD Geleen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Gene Therapy for Cardiomyocyte Renewal: Cell Cycle, a Potential Therapeutic Target. Mol Diagn Ther 2023; 27:129-140. [PMID: 36512179 PMCID: PMC10123801 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-022-00625-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Heart disease is the primary cause of death worldwide. Even though extensive research has been done, and many pharmacological and surgical treatments have been introduced to treat heart disease, the mortality rate still remains high. Gene therapy is widely used to understand molecular mechanisms of myocardial infarction and to treat cardiomyocyte loss. It was reported that adult cardiomyocytes proliferate at a very low rate; thus, targeting their proliferation has become a new regenerative therapeutic approach. Currently, re-activating cardiomyocyte proliferation appears to be one of the most promising methods to promote adult cardiomyocyte renewal. In this article, we highlight gene therapeutic targets of cell proliferation presently being pursued to re-activate the cell cycle of cardiomyocytes, including cell cycle regulators, transcription factors, microRNAs, signal transduction, and other contributing factors. We also summarize gene delivery vectors that have been used in cardiac research and major challenges to be overcome in the translation to the clinical approach and future directions.
Collapse
|
6
|
Dubashynskaya NV, Bokatyi AN, Skorik YA. Dexamethasone Conjugates: Synthetic Approaches and Medical Prospects. Biomedicines 2021; 9:341. [PMID: 33801776 PMCID: PMC8067246 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9040341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dexamethasone (DEX) is the most commonly prescribed glucocorticoid (GC) and has a wide spectrum of pharmacological activity. However, steroid drugs like DEX can have severe side effects on non-target organs. One strategy to reduce these side effects is to develop targeted systems with the controlled release by conjugation to polymeric carriers. This review describes the methods available for the synthesis of DEX conjugates (carbodiimide chemistry, solid-phase synthesis, reversible addition fragmentation-chain transfer [RAFT] polymerization, click reactions, and 2-iminothiolane chemistry) and perspectives for their medical application as GC drug or gene delivery systems for anti-tumor therapy. Additionally, the review focuses on the development of DEX conjugates with different physical-chemical properties as successful delivery systems in the target organs such as eye, joint, kidney, and others. Finally, polymer conjugates with improved transfection activity in which DEX is used as a vector for gene delivery in the cell nucleus have been described.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yury A. Skorik
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Bolshoy pr. V.O. 31, 199004 St. Petersburg, Russia; (N.V.D.); (A.N.B.)
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Oh J, Kim SM, Lee EH, Kim M, Lee Y, Ko SH, Jeong JH, Park CH, Lee M. Messenger RNA/polymeric carrier nanoparticles for delivery of heme oxygenase-1 gene in the post-ischemic brain. Biomater Sci 2020; 8:3063-3071. [PMID: 32348398 DOI: 10.1039/d0bm00076k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Ischemic stroke is a cerebrovascular disease caused by narrowed cerebral arteries. Thrombolytic agents such as tissue-plasminogen activators have been used for recanalization of the blood supply into the ischemic region. However, ischemia-reperfusion damage continues to increase the infarction volume. In this study, heme oxygenase-1 (HO1)-mRNA was delivered into the brain, using a non-viral carrier. Various non-viral carriers such as polyethylenimine (25 kDa, PEI25k), lipofectamine, dexamethasone-conjugated PEI2k (Dexa-PEI2k), deoxycholic acid-conjugated PEI2k (DA-PEI2k), and R3V6 peptides were evaluated as carriers of mRNA into the brain. Gene delivery assays showed that DA-PEI2k and lipofectamine had a higher mRNA delivery efficiency than the other carriers in Neuro2A cells in vitro and a rat brain in vivo. Cytotoxicity assays showed that lipofectamine had higher toxicity than DA-PEI2k. Therefore, DA-PEI2k was used for delivery of HO1-mRNA. Unlike plasmid DNA (pDNA), mRNA is expressed in the cytosol without nuclear translocation. This suggests that mRNA may have higher gene expression than pDNA, since the nuclear location of pDNA is an inefficient step. Indeed, in in vitro transfection assays, HO1-mRNA/DA-PEI2k had higher gene expression than HO1-pDNA/DA-PEI2k without induction of a pro-inflammatory cytokine. The therapeutic effects of HO1-mRNA delivery using DA-PEI2k were evaluated in the middle cerebral artery occlusion animal model after local injection. HO1-mRNA delivery had higher gene expression than HO1-pDNA delivery 24 h after the local injection. In addition, HO1-mRNA delivery reduced the infarct size more efficiently than HO1-pDNA delivery. The results suggest that the delivery of mRNA using DA-PEI2k may be useful for gene therapy of ischemic stroke.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jungju Oh
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Korea.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Oh J, Lee J, Piao C, Jeong JH, Lee M. A self-assembled DNA-nanoparticle with a targeting peptide for hypoxia-inducible gene therapy of ischemic stroke. Biomater Sci 2019; 7:2174-2190. [PMID: 30900719 DOI: 10.1039/c8bm01621f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
A self-assembled nanoparticle composed of hypoxia-specific anti-RAGE peptide (HSAP), heme oxygenase-1 plasmid (pHO1), and deoxycholate-conjugated polyethylenimine-2k (DP2k) was developed for ischemic stroke therapy. RAGE is over-expressed and induces inflammation in the ischemic brain. To inhibit RAGE-mediated signal transduction, HSAP was produced by recombinant DNA technology, based on the RAGE-binding domain of high mobility group box-1. Because of the specific binding to RAGE, the nanoparticle with HSAP (HSAP-NP) may have dual roles as a cytoprotective reagent and a specific ligand to RAGE for receptor-mediated transfection. As a cytoprotective reagent, the HSAP-NP reduced RAGE expression on the surface of the brain cells by inhibiting the positive feedback of RAGE-mediated signal transduction. As a result, inflammation, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species were decreased in hypoxic cells. As a gene carrier, HSAP-NP showed a higher transfection efficiency than polyethylenimine-25k, DP2k, and Lipofectamine. Particularly, HSAP-NP enhanced gene delivery to hypoxic cells. In the stroke animal models, HSAP-NP reduced the levels of RAGE, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and inflammation. Additionally, HSAP-NP with pHO1 (HSAP-NP/pHO1) increased HO1 expression in the ischemic brain. Gene expression was higher in hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)-positive cells than in HIF-1α-negative cells, suggesting that HSAP-NP delivered the genes to ischemic tissues more efficiently. Cell death and infarct volume in the stroke models were significantly decreased by HSAP-NP/pHO1 compared with HSAP alone or the DP2k/pHO1 complex. Therefore, HSAP-NP may be a useful gene and peptide therapy system for stroke therapy with dual functions of hypoxia-specific gene delivery and cytoprotective effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jungju Oh
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wang Y, Ye M, Xie R, Gong S. Enhancing the In Vitro and In Vivo Stabilities of Polymeric Nucleic Acid Delivery Nanosystems. Bioconjug Chem 2019; 30:325-337. [PMID: 30592619 PMCID: PMC6941189 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.8b00749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy holds great promise for various medical and biomedical applications. Nonviral gene delivery systems formed by cationic polymer and nucleic acids (e.g., polyplexes) have been extensively investigated for targeted gene therapy; however, their in vitro and in vivo stability is affected by both their intrinsic properties such as chemical compositions (e.g., polymer molecular weight and structure, and N/P ratio) and a number of environmental factors (e.g., shear stress during circulation in the bloodstream, interaction with the serum proteins, and physiological ionic strength). In this review, we surveyed the effects of a number of important intrinsic and environmental factors on the stability of polymeric gene delivery systems, and discussed various strategies to enhance the stability of polymeric gene delivery systems, thereby enabling efficient gene delivery into target cells. Future opportunities and challenges of polymeric nucleic acid delivery nanosystems were also briefly discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuyuan Wang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53715, United States
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53715, United States
| | - Mingzhou Ye
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53715, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53715, United States
| | - Ruosen Xie
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53715, United States
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53715, United States
| | - Shaoqin Gong
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53715, United States
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53715, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53715, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53715, United States
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Hamann A, Broad K, Nguyen A, Pannier AK. Mechanisms of unprimed and dexamethasone-primed nonviral gene delivery to human mesenchymal stem cells. Biotechnol Bioeng 2018; 116:427-443. [PMID: 30450542 PMCID: PMC6322959 DOI: 10.1002/bit.26870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are under intense study for applications of cell and gene therapeutics because of their unique immunomodulatory and regenerative properties. Safe and efficient genetic modification of hMSCs could increase their clinical potential by allowing functional expression of therapeutic transgenes or control over behavior and differentiation. Viral gene delivery is efficient, but suffers from safety issues, while nonviral methods are safe, but highly inefficient, especially in hMSCs. Our lab previously demonstrated that priming cells before delivery of DNA complexes with dexamethasone (DEX), an anti‐inflammatory glucocorticoid drug, significantly increases hMSC transfection success. This work systematically investigates the mechanisms of hMSC transfection and DEX‐mediated enhancement of transfection. Our results show that hMSC transfection and its enhancement by DEX are decreased by inhibiting classical intracellular transport and nuclear import pathways, but DEX transfection priming does not increase cellular or nuclear internalization of plasmid DNA (pDNA). We also show that hMSC transgene expression is largely affected by pDNA promoter and enhancer sequence changes, but DEX‐mediated enhancement of transfection is unaffected by any pDNA sequence changes. Furthermore, DEX‐mediated transfection enhancement is not the result of increased transgene messenger RNA transcription or stability. However, DEX‐priming increases total protein synthesis by preventing hMSC apoptosis induced by transfection, resulting in increased translation of transgenic protein. DEX may also promote further enhancement of transgenic reporter enzyme activity by other downstream mechanisms. Mechanistic studies of nonviral gene delivery will inform future rationally designed technologies for safe and efficient genetic modification of clinically relevant cell types.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Hamann
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska
| | - Kelly Broad
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska
| | - Albert Nguyen
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska
| | - Angela K Pannier
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Choi E, Oh J, Lee D, Lee J, Tan X, Kim M, Kim G, Piao C, Lee M. A ternary-complex of a suicide gene, a RAGE-binding peptide, and polyethylenimine as a gene delivery system with anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic dual effects in glioblastoma. J Control Release 2018; 279:40-52. [PMID: 29660374 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2018.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) is involved in tumor angiogenesis. Inhibition of RAGE might be an effective anti-angiogenic therapy for cancer. In this study, a cationic RAGE-binding peptide (RBP) was produced as an antagonist of RAGE, and a ternary-complex consisting of RBP, polyethylenimine (2 kDa, PEI2k), and a suicide gene (pHSVtk) was developed as a gene delivery system with dual functions: the anti-tumor effect of pHSVtk and anti-angiogenic effect of RBP. As an antagonist of RAGE, RBP decreased the secretion of vascular-endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in activated macrophages and reduced the tube-formation of endothelial cells in vitro. In in vitro transfection assays, the RBP/PEI2k/plasmid DNA (pDNA) ternary-complex had higher transfection efficiency than the PEI2k/pDNA binary-complex. In an intracranial glioblastoma animal model, the RBP/PEI2k/pHSVtk ternary-complex reduced α-smooth muscle actin expression, suggesting that the complex has an anti-angiogenic effect. In addition, the ternary-complex had higher pHSVtk delivery efficiency than the PEI2k/pHSVtk and PEI25k/pHSVtk binary-complexes in an animal model. As a result, the ternary-complex induced apoptosis and reduced tumor volume more effectively than the PEI2k/pHSVtk and PEI25k/pHSVtk binary-complexes. In conclusion, due to its dual anti-tumor and anti-angiogenesis effects, the RBP/PEI2k/pHSVtk ternary-complex might be an efficient gene delivery system for the treatment of glioblastoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eunji Choi
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Jungju Oh
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Dahee Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaewon Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Xiaonan Tan
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Minkyung Kim
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyeungyun Kim
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Chunxian Piao
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Minhyung Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Choi M, Gu J, Lee M, Rhim T. A new combination therapy for asthma using dual-function dexamethasone-conjugated polyethylenimine and vitamin D binding protein siRNA. Gene Ther 2017; 24:727-734. [PMID: 28846076 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2017.83] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Revised: 06/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Asthma is a multifactorial disease that is influenced by the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Because of its complex nature, there is no cure for asthma currently. Instead, reliever and controller medications are used to treat asthma. Unfortunately, conventional treatments do not work in some severe cases of asthma. In addition, there may be adverse, systemic effects of long-term treatment with high-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) as a controller medication. Therefore, we attempted to develop a novel combination therapy for asthma. Our regimen included dexamethasone as a controller medication and vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) small interfering RNA (siRNA) as a novel target therapeutic. The dexamethasone moiety of DEXA-PEI (dexamethasone-conjugated polyethylenimine) was used as an ICS, combined with anti-VDBP treatment via delivery of VDBP siRNA, using DEXA-PEI as a siRNA carrier molecule. Treatment with DEXA-PEI/VDBP siRNA effectively reduced the ovalbumin sensitization/challenge-induced enhancement of airway inflammation, goblet cell hyperplasia and expression of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13 and CCL11. These findings suggest that the DEXA-PEI/VDBP siRNA can be developed as a potent asthma therapeutic by dose-reducing ICSs and using a multitarget therapeutic method.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Choi
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.,Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - J Gu
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.,Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - M Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - T Rhim
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.,Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Oh J, Lee MS, Jeong JH, Lee M. Deoxycholic Acid-Conjugated Polyethylenimine for Delivery of Heme Oxygenase-1 Gene in Rat Ischemic Stroke Model. J Pharm Sci 2017; 106:3524-3532. [PMID: 28780392 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2017.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Revised: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
An efficient gene carrier to the brain is required for successful gene therapy of ischemic stroke. In this study, deoxycholic acid-conjugated polyethylenimine (DA-PEI) was synthesized and evaluated as a heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene carrier for ischemic stroke gene therapy. Gel retardation assay and heparin competition assay showed that DA-PEI formed a stable complex with plasmid DNA. In vitro transfection assays with the luciferase gene showed that DA-PEI had higher transfection efficiency than polyethylenimine (25 kDa, PEI25k) and lipofectamine in Neuro2A cells. Furthermore, DA-PEI had less toxicity than lipofectamine. To evaluate the therapeutic effects of the pβ-HO-1/DA-PEI complex, the complex was injected locally in the brain of the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion animal model. In in vivo studies, DA-PEI was more effective than PEI25k in delivering pβ-HO-1 to the ischemic brain and achieved higher HO-1 expression. As a result, the pβ-HO-1/DA-PEI complexes more effectively reduced infarct volume and the number of apoptotic cells compared with the pβ-HO-1/PEI25k complex. The results suggest that DA-PEI will be useful for HO-1 gene therapy of ischemic stroke.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jungju Oh
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Min Sang Lee
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea
| | - Ji Hoon Jeong
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea.
| | - Minhyung Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Piao C, Park JH, Lee M. Anti-Inflammatory Therapeutic Effect of Adiponectin Gene Delivery Using a Polymeric Carrier in an Acute Lung Injury Model. Pharm Res 2017; 34:1517-1526. [PMID: 28493099 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-017-2175-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Adiponectin (APN) is an adipokine with anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects. In this study, the therapeutic effect of APN gene delivery using a polymeric carrier was evaluated in an acute lung injury (ALI) model. METHODS Polyethylenimine (2 kDa, PEI2K), PEI25K (25 kDa), polyamidoamine (generation 2, PAMG2), dexamethasone-conjugated PEI2k (PEI2K-Dexa), and dexamethasone-conjugated PAMG2 (PAMG2-Dexa) were evaluated in vitro and in vivo as gene carriers. Formation of plasmid DNA (pDNA)/carrier complexes was confirmed by gel retardation and heparin competition assays. Delivery efficiency was measured by a luciferase assay and fluorescence microscopy. In an ALI animal model, pAPN/carrier complexes were delivered by intratracheal administration. Therapeutic effects were evaluated by cytokine assays and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. RESULTS Gel retardation assays showed that PEI2K-Dexa and PAMG2-Dexa formed complexes with pDNA. In L2 lung epithelial cells, PAMG2-Dexa yielded higher transfection efficiency than PEI2K, PAMG2, PEI25K, lipofectamine, and PEI2K-Dexa. In vivo experiments showed that PAMG2-Dexa delivered DNA more efficiently to lung tissue than PEI2K-Dexa and PEI25K. Delivery of pAPN/PAMG2-Dexa complexes upregulated APN expression in the lungs of mice with ALI. As a result, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-1β were decreased. H&E staining showed that inflammation in the lungs of mice with ALI was reduced by delivery of the APN gene. CONCLUSION Delivery of the APN gene using PAMG2-Dexa reduced inflammation in the lungs of mice with ALI. The APN gene could be a useful tool in the development of gene therapy for ALI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chunxian Piao
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Hyun Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Paik Institute for Clinical Research, Inje University, Busan, 47392, Republic of Korea
| | - Minhyung Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Boyle WS, Senger K, Tolar J, Reineke TM. Heparin Enhances Transfection in Concert with a Trehalose-Based Polycation with Challenging Cell Types. Biomacromolecules 2016; 18:56-67. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.6b01297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- William S. Boyle
- Department of Chemistry and ‡Stem Cell Institute and Division of Pediatric Blood
and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
| | - Kyle Senger
- Department of Chemistry and ‡Stem Cell Institute and Division of Pediatric Blood
and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
| | - Jakub Tolar
- Department of Chemistry and ‡Stem Cell Institute and Division of Pediatric Blood
and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
| | - Theresa M. Reineke
- Department of Chemistry and ‡Stem Cell Institute and Division of Pediatric Blood
and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Ni R, Zhou J, Hossain N, Chau Y. Virus-inspired nucleic acid delivery system: Linking virus and viral mimicry. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2016; 106:3-26. [PMID: 27473931 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2016.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2016] [Revised: 07/02/2016] [Accepted: 07/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Targeted delivery of nucleic acids into disease sites of human body has been attempted for decades, but both viral and non-viral vectors are yet to meet our expectations. Safety concerns and low delivery efficiency are the main limitations of viral and non-viral vectors, respectively. The structure of viruses is both ordered and dynamic, and is believed to be the key for effective transfection. Detailed understanding of the physical properties of viruses, their interaction with cellular components, and responses towards cellular environments leading to transfection would inspire the development of safe and effective non-viral vectors. To this goal, this review systematically summarizes distinctive features of viruses that are implied for efficient nucleic acid delivery but not yet fully explored in current non-viral vectors. The assembly and disassembly of viral structures, presentation of viral ligands, and the subcellular targeting of viruses are emphasized. Moreover, we describe the current development of cationic material-based viral mimicry (CVM) and structural viral mimicry (SVM) in these aspects. In light of the discrepancy, we identify future opportunities for rational design of viral mimics for the efficient delivery of DNA and RNA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rong Ni
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Institute for Advanced Study, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Junli Zhou
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Naushad Hossain
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ying Chau
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Division of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Choi M, Oh J, Rhim T, Lee M. Delivery of Hypoxia-Inducible Heme Oxygenase-1 Gene for Site-Specific Gene Therapy in the Ischemic Stroke Animal Model. Pharm Res 2016; 33:2250-8. [PMID: 27324961 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-016-1962-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To reduce side effects due to non-specific expression, the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene under control of a hypoxia-inducible erythropoietin (Epo) enhancer (pEpo-SV-HO-1) was developed for site-specific gene therapy of ischemic stroke. METHODS pEpo-SV-HO-1 was constructed by insertion of the Epo enhancer into pSV-HO-1. Dexamethasone-conjugated polyamidoamine (PAMAM-Dexa) was used as a gene carrier. In vitro transfection assays were performed in the Neuro2A cells. In vivo efficacy of pEpo-SV-HO-1 was evaluated in the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model. RESULTS In vitro transfection assay with the PAMAM-Dexa/pEpo-SV-HO-1 complex showed that pEpo-SV-HO-1 had higher HO-1 gene expression than pSV-HO-1 under hypoxia. In addition, pEpo-SV-HO-1 reduced the level of apoptosis more efficiently than pSV-HO-1 in Neuro2A cells under hypoxia. For in vivo evaluation, the PAMAM-Dexa/pEpo-SV-HO-1 complex was injected into the ischemic brain of the transient MCAO model. pEpo-SV-HO-1 increased HO-1 expression and reduced the number of apoptotic cells in the ischemic brain, compared with the pSV-HO-1 injection group. As a result, the infarct volume was more efficiently decreased by pEpo-SV-HO-1 than by pSV-HO-1. CONCLUSIONS pEpo-SV-HO-1 induced HO-1 gene expression and therapeutic effect in the ischemic brain. Therefore, pEpo-SV-HO-1 may be useful for site-specific gene therapy of ischemic stroke.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manbok Choi
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 133-791, South Korea
| | - Jungju Oh
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 133-791, South Korea
| | - Taiyoun Rhim
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 133-791, South Korea.
| | - Minhyung Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 133-791, South Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Matkar PN, Leong-Poi H, Singh KK. Cardiac gene therapy: are we there yet? Gene Ther 2016; 23:635-48. [DOI: 10.1038/gt.2016.43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Revised: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
|
19
|
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Ischemic stroke is caused by reduced blood supply and leads to loss of brain function. The reduced oxygen and nutrient supply stimulates various physiological responses, including induction of growth factors. Growth factors prevent neuronal cell death, promote neovascularization, and induce cell growth. However, the concentration of growth factors is not sufficient to recover brain function after the ischemic damage, suggesting that delivery of growth factors into the ischemic brain may be a useful treatment for ischemic stroke. AREAS COVERED In this review, various approaches for the delivery of growth factors to ischemic brain tissue are discussed, including local and targeting delivery systems. EXPERT OPINION To develop growth factor therapy for ischemic stroke, important considerations should be taken into account. First, growth factors may have possible side effects. Thus, concentration of growth factors should be restricted to the ischemic tissues by local administration or targeted delivery. Second, the duration of growth factor therapy should be optimized. Growth factor proteins may be degraded too fast to have a high enough therapeutic effect. Therefore, delivery systems for controlled release or gene delivery may be useful. Third, the delivery systems to the brain should be optimized according to the delivery route.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Taiyoun Rhim
- a Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering , Hanyang University , Seoul , Republic of Korea
| | - Minhyung Lee
- a Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering , Hanyang University , Seoul , Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Mason D, Chen YZ, Krishnan HV, Sant S. Cardiac gene therapy: Recent advances and future directions. J Control Release 2015; 215:101-11. [PMID: 26254712 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2015.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2015] [Revised: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 08/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Gene therapy has the potential to serve as an adaptable platform technology for treating various diseases. Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of mortality in the developed world and genetic modification is steadily becoming a more plausible method to repair and regenerate heart tissue. Recently, new gene targets to treat cardiovascular disease have been identified and developed into therapies that have shown promise in animal models. Some of these therapies have advanced to clinical testing. Despite these recent successes, several barriers must be overcome for gene therapy to become a widely used treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we evaluate specific genetic targets that can be exploited to treat cardiovascular diseases, list the important delivery barriers for the gene carriers, assess the most promising methods of delivering the genetic information, and discuss the current status of clinical trials involving gene therapies targeted to the heart.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Mason
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Yu-Zhe Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Harini Venkata Krishnan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Shilpa Sant
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA; McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Jeon P, Choi M, Oh J, Lee M. Dexamethasone-Conjugated Polyamidoamine Dendrimer for Delivery of the Heme Oxygenase-1 Gene into the Ischemic Brain. Macromol Biosci 2015; 15:1021-8. [PMID: 26033925 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201500058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2015] [Revised: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, the HO-1 gene was delivered into the brain using dexamethasone-conjugated polyamidoamine generation 2 (PAMAM G2-Dexa) for the treatment of ischemic stroke. PAMAM G2-Dexa formed stable complexes with plasmid DNA (pDNA). The pDNA delivery efficiency of PAMAM G2-Dexa was higher than that of polyethylenimine (PEI25k, 25 kDa), dexamethasone-conjugated PEI (PEI-Dexa), and PAMAM G2 in Neuro2A cells. Therapeutic effect of PAMAM G2-Dexa/pHO-1 complexes was evaluated in a stroke animal model. PAMAM G2-Dexa delivered pHO-1 more efficiently into the ischemic brain than PEI25k and PEI-Dexa with higher therapeutic effect. Therefore, PAMAM G2-Dexa/pHO-1 complexes may be useful for ischemic stroke gene therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pureum Jeon
- BK21 Plus Future Biopharmaceutical Human Resources Training and Research Team, Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, Korea
| | - Manbok Choi
- BK21 Plus Future Biopharmaceutical Human Resources Training and Research Team, Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, Korea
| | - Jungju Oh
- BK21 Plus Future Biopharmaceutical Human Resources Training and Research Team, Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, Korea
| | - Minhyung Lee
- BK21 Plus Future Biopharmaceutical Human Resources Training and Research Team, Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Gwak SJ, Koo H, Yun Y, Yhee JY, Lee HY, Yoon DH, Kim K, Ha Y. Multifunctional nanoparticles for gene delivery and spinal cord injury. J Biomed Mater Res A 2015; 103:3474-82. [DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.35489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Revised: 04/09/2015] [Accepted: 04/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- So-Jung Gwak
- Department of Neurosurgery; Spine and Spinal Cord Institute; Yonsei University College of Medicine; 134 Shinchon-dong Seodaemoon-gu Seoul South Korea
| | - Heebeom Koo
- Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology; Hwarangno 14-Gil 6 Seongbuk-Gu Seoul 136-791 South Korea
| | - Yeomin Yun
- Department of Neurosurgery; Spine and Spinal Cord Institute; Yonsei University College of Medicine; 134 Shinchon-dong Seodaemoon-gu Seoul South Korea
| | - Ji Young Yhee
- Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology; Hwarangno 14-Gil 6 Seongbuk-Gu Seoul 136-791 South Korea
| | - Hye Yeong Lee
- Department of Neurosurgery; Spine and Spinal Cord Institute; Yonsei University College of Medicine; 134 Shinchon-dong Seodaemoon-gu Seoul South Korea
| | - Do Heum Yoon
- Department of Neurosurgery; Spine and Spinal Cord Institute; Yonsei University College of Medicine; 134 Shinchon-dong Seodaemoon-gu Seoul South Korea
| | - Kwangmeyung Kim
- Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology; Hwarangno 14-Gil 6 Seongbuk-Gu Seoul 136-791 South Korea
| | - Yoon Ha
- Department of Neurosurgery; Spine and Spinal Cord Institute; Yonsei University College of Medicine; 134 Shinchon-dong Seodaemoon-gu Seoul South Korea
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Mishra D, Kang HC, Cho H, Bae YH. Dexamethasone-loaded reconstitutable charged polymeric (PLGA)n -b-bPEI micelles for enhanced nuclear delivery of gene therapeutics. Macromol Biosci 2014; 14:831-41. [PMID: 24550091 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201300432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2013] [Revised: 01/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
This study investigates the potential of dexamethasone (Dex) to enhance the nuclear accumulation and subsequent gene expression of plasmid DNA (pDNA) delivered using a charged polymeric micelle-based gene delivery system. (PLGA)n -b-bPEI25kDa block copolymers are synthesized and used to prepare Dex-loaded cationic micelles (DexCM). After preparing DexCM/pDNA complexes, bPEI1.8kDa is coated on the complexes using a Layer-by-Layer (LbL) technique to construct DexCM/pDNA/bPEI1.8kDa complexes (i.e., LbL-DexCM polyplexes) that are 100-180 nm in diameter and have a zeta potential of 30-40 mV. In MCF7 cells, LbL-DexCM polyplexes cause 3-13-fold higher transfection efficiencies compared to LbL-CM polyplexes and show negligible cytotoxicity. LbL-DexCM3 polyplexes induce much higher nuclear delivery of pDNA compared to LbL-CM3 polyplexes. These results suggest that Dex-loaded polyplexes could be used in gene and drug delivery applications to increase nuclear accumulation of therapeutic payloads, further leading to a decrease in the dose of the drug and gene necessary to achieve equivalent therapeutic effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deepa Mishra
- Department of Bioengineering, The University of Utah, 20 S. 2030 E., Rm. 108, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Kim HA, Park JH, Yi N, Lee M. Delivery of hypoxia and glioma dual-specific suicide gene using dexamethasone conjugated polyethylenimine for glioblastoma-specific gene therapy. Mol Pharm 2014; 11:938-50. [PMID: 24467192 DOI: 10.1021/mp4006003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy has been considered a promising approach for glioblastoma therapy. To avoid side effects and increase the specificity of gene expression, gene expression should be tightly regulated. In this study, glioma and hypoxia dual-specific plasmids (pEpo-NI2-SV-Luc and pEpo-NI2-SV-HSVtk) were developed by combining the erythropoietin (Epo) enhancer and nestin intron 2 (NI2). In the in vitro studies, pEpo-NI2-SV-Luc showed higher gene expression under hypoxia than normoxia in a glioblastoma-specific manner. The MTT and caspase assays demonstrated that pEpo-NI2-SV-HSVtk specifically induced caspase activity and cell death in hypoxic glioblastoma cells. For in vivo evaluation, subcutaneous and intracranial glioblastoma models were established. Dexamethasone-conjugated-polyethylenimine (PEI-Dexa) was used as a gene carrier, since PEI-Dexa efficiently delivers plasmid to glioblastoma cells and also has an antitumor effect due to the effect of dexamethasone. In the in vivo study in the subcutaneous and intracranial glioblastoma models, the tumor size was reduced more effectively in the pEpo-NI2-SV-HSVtk group than in the control and pSV-HSVtk groups. In addition, higher levels of HSVtk gene expression and TUNEL-positive cells were observed in the pEpo-NI2-SV-HSVtk group compared with the control and pSV-HSVtk groups, suggesting that pEpo-NI2-SV-HSVtk increased the therapeutic efficacy in hypoxic glioblastoma. Therefore, pEpo-NI2-SV-HSVtk/PEI-Dexa complex may be useful for glioblastoma-specific gene therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Ah Kim
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University , Seoul 133-791, Republic of Korea
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Hydrophobic modification of low molecular weight polyethylenimine for improved gene transfection. Biomaterials 2013; 34:7971-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2013.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2013] [Accepted: 07/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
26
|
Dexamethasone-conjugated polyethylenimine/MIF siRNA complex regulation of particulate matter-induced airway inflammation. Biomaterials 2013; 34:7453-61. [PMID: 23831186 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2013.05.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2013] [Accepted: 05/24/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Inhalation of airborne particulate matter (PM), such as silicon dioxide (SiO2) and titanium dioxide (TiO2), induces acute lung inflammation. siRNA therapy has been proposed as a method to repair acute lung inflammation. To determine whether DEXA-PEI/MIF siRNA contributes to SiO2-induced acute lung inflammation repair, we administered Dexa-PEI/MIF siRNA in SiO2-treated Beas-2b cells and instilled DEXA-PEI-MIF siRNA intratracheally in mice with SiO2-induced acute lung inflammation. Using genetic (MIF mRNA RT-PCR), histological (H&E and PAS) and immunohistochemical (MIF and Muc5ac) analyses, we estimated the acute lung inflammation in Beas-2b cells and BALB/c mice. Cells and mice treated with SiO2 particles demonstrated pulmonary inflammation. DEXA-PEI/MIF siRNA restricted the extent of the pulmonary inflammation reaction to SiO2 in cells and mice. In case of SiO2-treated Beas-2b cells, only DEXA-PEI treatment failed to effectively regulate MIF mRNA release. At the same time, only DEXA-PEI treatment adjusted the amount of MIF mRNA to some extent in SiO2-treated BALB/c mice. siRNA treatment did not markedly control MIF mRNA release in mice. We also observed that the amount of MIF mRNA was decreased in cells and mice treated with DEXA-PEI/MIF siRNA. The increase of MIF mRNA markedly increased Muc5ac; in contrast, the decrease of MIF mRNA using DEXA-PEI/MIF siRNA effectively lowered Muc5ac in SiO2-treated cells and mice. These results suggest that DEXA-PEI plays a role in delivering siRNA to the nucleus as a carrier and limits the extent of acute lung inflammation. MIF siRNA also contributed to the reparative lung response in SiO2-induced pulmonary inflammation.
Collapse
|
27
|
Kim JY, Ryu JH, Hyun H, Kim HA, Choi JS, Yun Lee D, Rhim T, Park JH, Lee M. Dexamethasone conjugation to polyamidoamine dendrimers G1 and G2 for enhanced transfection efficiency with an anti-inflammatory effect. J Drug Target 2012; 20:667-77. [PMID: 22845839 DOI: 10.3109/1061186x.2012.712127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Polyamidoamine (PAM) dendrimers with low generation such as PAM generation 1 (PAMG1) and PAM generation 2 (PAMG2) have been widely used as a gene carrier due to low toxicity, albeit their low transfection efficiency. In this study, dexamethasone was conjugated to PAMG1 and PAMG2 in order to increase the transfection efficiency. In a gel retardation assay, the dexamethasone conjugated PAMG1 and PAMG2 (PAMG1-Dexa and PAMG2-Dexa) retarded plasmid DNA (pDNA) completely at 5:1 and 3:1 weight ratios (polymer:pDNA), respectively. In transfection assays, PAMG1-Dexa and PAMG2-Dexa had the highest transfection efficiency at 20:1 and 10:1 weight ratios, respectively. In addition, PAMG1-Dexa and PAMG2-Dexa had higher transfection efficiencies than PAMG1, PAMG2, PEI25k, and lipofectamine. In a MTT assay, PAMG1-Dexa and PAMG2-Dexa were less cytotoxic than lipofectamine. In addition, PAMG1-Dexa and PAMG2-Dexa decreased the TNF-α level more efficiently than dexamethasone only in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced Raw264.7 cells. Therefore, PAMG1-Dexa and PAMG2-Dexa may prove to be useful as gene delivery carriers with an anti-inflammatory effect.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jin Young Kim
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, 17 Haengdang-dong, Seoul , Republic of Korea
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Griesenbach U, Wilson KM, Farley R, Meng C, Munkonge FM, Cheng SH, Scheule RK, Alton EWFW. Assessment of the nuclear pore dilating agent trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diol in differentiated airway epithelium. J Gene Med 2012; 14:491-500. [PMID: 22711445 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.2643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The nuclear membrane of differentiated airway epithelial cells is a significant barrier for nonviral vectors. Trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diol (TCHD) is an amphipathic alcohol that has been shown to collapse nuclear pore cores and allow the uptake of macromolecules that would otherwise be too large for nuclear entry. Previous studies have shown that TCHD can increase lipid-mediated transfection in vitro. METHODS We aimed to reproduce these in vitro studies using the cationic lipid GL67A, which we are currently assessing in cystic fibrosis trials and, more importantly, we assessed the effects of TCHD on transfection efficiency in differentiated airway epithelium ex vivo and in mouse lung in vivo using three different drug delivery protocols (nebulisation and bolus administration of TCHD to the mouse lung, as well as perfusion of TCHD to the nasal epithelium, which prolongs contact time between the airway epithelium and drug). RESULTS TCHD (0.5-2%) dose-dependently increased Lipofectamine 2000 and GL67A-mediated transfection of 293T cells by up to 2 logs. Encouragingly, exposure to 8% TCHD (but not 0.5% or 2.0%) increased gene expression in fully differentiated human air liquid interface cultures by approximately 20-fold, although this was accompanied by significant cell damage. However, none of the TCHD treated mice in any of the three protocols had higher gene expression compared to no TCHD controls. CONCLUSIONS Although TCHD significantly increases gene transfer in cell lines and differentiated airway epithelium ex vivo, this effect is lost in vivo and further highlights that promising in vitro findings often cannot be translated into in vivo applications.
Collapse
|
29
|
Park JH, Kim HA, Park JH, Lee M. Amphiphilic peptide carrier for the combined delivery of curcumin and plasmid DNA into the lungs. Biomaterials 2012; 33:6542-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2012.05.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2012] [Accepted: 05/21/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
|
30
|
Wang W, Zhou F, Ge L, Liu X, Kong F. Transferrin-PEG-PE modified dexamethasone conjugated cationic lipid carrier mediated gene delivery system for tumor-targeted transfection. Int J Nanomedicine 2012; 7:2513-22. [PMID: 22679364 PMCID: PMC3367492 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s31915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The main barriers to non-viral gene delivery include cellular and nuclear membranes. As such, the aim of this study was to develop a type of vector that can target cells through receptor-mediated pathways and by using nuclear localization signal (NLS) to increase the nuclear uptake of genetic materials. Methods A dexamethasone (Dexa)-conjugated lipid was synthesized as the material of the solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), and transferrin (Tf) was linked onto polyethylene glycol-phosphatidylethanolamine (PEG-PE) to obtain Tf-PEG-PE ligands for the surface modification of the carriers. The in vitro transfection efficiency of the novel modified vectors was evaluated in human hepatoma carcinoma cell lines, and in vivo effects were observed in an animal model. Results Tf-PEG-PE modified SLNs/enhanced green fluorescence protein plasmid (pEGFP) had a particle size of 222 nm and a gene loading quantity of 90%. Tf-PEG-PE-modified SLNs/pEGFP (Tf-SLNs/pEGFP) displayed remarkably higher transfection efficiency than non-modified SLNs/pEGFP and the vectors not containing Dexa, both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion It can be concluded that Tf and Dexa could function as an excellent active targeting ligand to improve the cell targeting and nuclear targeting ability of the carriers, and the resulting nanomedicine could be a promising active targeting drug/gene delivery system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Department of Chinese Medicine Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine, General Hospital of Ji'nan Command, Ji'nan, China
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Dexamethasone-loaded peptide micelles for delivery of the heme oxygenase-1 gene to ischemic brain. J Control Release 2012; 158:131-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2011.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2011] [Revised: 09/09/2011] [Accepted: 11/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
32
|
Jia HZ, Luo XH, Cheng H, Yang J, Li C, Liu CW, Feng J, Zhang XZ, Zhuo RX. Extraordinarily enhanced gene transfection and cellular uptake by aromatic hydrophobicization to PEI25K. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1039/c2jm35175g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
33
|
Zheng M, Zhong Y, Meng F, Peng R, Zhong Z. Lipoic Acid Modified Low Molecular Weight Polyethylenimine Mediates Nontoxic and Highly Potent in Vitro Gene Transfection. Mol Pharm 2011; 8:2434-43. [DOI: 10.1021/mp2003797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zheng
- Biomedical Polymers Laboratory and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, and ‡Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Yinan Zhong
- Biomedical Polymers Laboratory and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, and ‡Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Fenghua Meng
- Biomedical Polymers Laboratory and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, and ‡Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Rui Peng
- Biomedical Polymers Laboratory and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, and ‡Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Zhiyuan Zhong
- Biomedical Polymers Laboratory and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, and ‡Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Chae SY, Kim HJ, Lee MS, Jang YL, Lee Y, Lee SH, Lee K, Kim SH, Kim HT, Chi SC, Park TG, Jeong JH. Energy-Independent Intracellular Gene Delivery Mediated by Polymeric Biomimetics of Cell-Penetrating Peptides. Macromol Biosci 2011; 11:1169-74. [DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201100088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2011] [Revised: 05/13/2011] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
35
|
Kim HA, Park JH, Lee S, Choi JS, Rhim T, Lee M. Combined delivery of dexamethasone and plasmid DNA in an animal model of LPS-induced acute lung injury. J Control Release 2011; 156:60-9. [PMID: 21763372 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2011.06.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2011] [Revised: 06/27/2011] [Accepted: 06/29/2011] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Dexamethasone was conjugated to low molecular weight polyethylenimine (2kDa, PEI2k). Dexamethasone conjugated PEI2k (PEI2k-Dexa) was evaluated as a combined delivery carrier of dexamethasone and plasmid DNA (pDNA) in an animal model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced acute lung injury (ALI). In vitro transfection of L2 lung epithelial cells, PEI2k-Dexa exhibited higher transfection efficiency than PEI2k or a simple mixture of PEI2k and dexamethasone. In addition, the PEI2k-Dexa/pβ-Luc complexes reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in LPS activated Raw 264.7 macrophage cells. The anti-inflammatory effect of PEI2k-Dexa was higher than that of controls. The PEI2k-Dexa/pβ-Luc complexes were administered to mice via intratracheal injection. PEI2k-Dexa had higher pDNA delivery efficiency than PEI2k in the lung and decreased TNF-α and IL-6 in the lung homogenates and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid compared with the controls. Furthermore, total protein and immunoglobulin M (IgM) concentrations in BAL fluid were reduced by the PEI2k-Dexa/pβ-Luc complexes. The intratracheal injection of the PEI2k-Dexa/pcDNA-EGFP complexes in the ALI model showed higher EGFP expression compared with PEI2k. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining showed that PEI2k-Dexa reduced inflammatory reaction in the lung. Therefore, PEI2k-Dexa may be useful for combination gene and drug therapy for ALI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Ah Kim
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Ryu DW, Kim HA, Song H, Kim S, Lee M. Amphiphilic peptides with arginines and valines for the delivery of plasmid DNA. J Cell Biochem 2011; 112:1458-66. [DOI: 10.1002/jcb.23064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
|
37
|
Combinational therapy of ischemic brain stroke by delivery of heme oxygenase-1 gene and dexamethasone. Biomaterials 2011; 32:306-15. [PMID: 20888632 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2010.08.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2010] [Accepted: 08/27/2010] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Combinational therapies using genes and drugs are promising therapeutic strategies for various diseases. In this research, a co-delivery carrier of dexamethasone and plasmid DNA (pDNA) was developed by conjugation of dexamethasone to polyethylenimine (2 kDa, PEI2k) for combinational therapy of ischemic brain. Dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy and flow cytometry studies showed that the pDNA/dexamethasone-conjugated PEI2k (PEI2k-Dexa) complex was 150 nm in size and was taken up by cells more easily than PEI2k-Dexa only. The tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) level was decreased more efficiently by pDNA/PEI2k-Dexa complex than dexamethasone only in hypoxia activated Raw 264.7 macrophage cells, suggesting that pDNA/PEI2k-Dexa complex increased the delivery efficiency and therapeutic effect of dexamethasone. In in vitro transfection assay, PEI2k-Dexa had higher transfection efficiency than PEI2k and lipofectamine. However, the simple mixture of PEI2k and dexamethasone did not show this effect, suggesting that the conjugation of dexamethasone to polyethylenimine increased DNA delivery efficiency of PEI2k. To evaluate the effects of combinational therapy in vivo, pDNA/PEI2k-Dexa complex was applied to a transient focal ischemia animal model. At 24 h after the injection, mean infarction volume and the TNF-α level were reduced more efficiently in the pDNA/PEI2k-Dexa injection group, compared with the control, pDNA/PEI2k, or dexamethasone injection group. The infarction volume and inflammatory cytokines were further decreased by delivery of pSV-HO-1 using PEI2k-Dexa. Magnetic resonance imaging and microPET studies confirmed the therapeutic effect of pSV-HO-1/PEI2k-Dexa complex at 10 days after the injection. Therefore, pSV-HO-1/PEI2k-Dexa complexes may be useful in combinational therapy for ischemic diseases such as stroke.
Collapse
|
38
|
Kievit FM, Wang FY, Fang C, Mok H, Wang K, Silber JR, Ellenbogen RG, Zhang M. Doxorubicin loaded iron oxide nanoparticles overcome multidrug resistance in cancer in vitro. J Control Release 2011; 152:76-83. [PMID: 21277920 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2011.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2010] [Revised: 01/09/2011] [Accepted: 01/19/2011] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Multidrug resistance (MDR) is characterized by the overexpression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters that actively pump a broad class of hydrophobic chemotherapeutic drugs out of cancer cells. MDR is a major mechanism of treatment resistance in a variety of human tumors, and clinically applicable strategies to circumvent MDR remain to be characterized. Here we describe the fabrication and characterization of a drug-loaded iron oxide nanoparticle designed to circumvent MDR. Doxorubicin (DOX), an anthracycline antibiotic commonly used in cancer chemotherapy and substrate for ABC-mediated drug efflux, was covalently bound to polyethylenimine via a pH sensitive hydrazone linkage and conjugated to an iron oxide nanoparticle coated with amine terminated polyethylene glycol. Drug loading, physiochemical properties and pH lability of the DOX-hydrazone linkage were evaluated in vitro. Nanoparticle uptake, retention, and dose-dependent effects on viability were compared in wild-type and DOX-resistant ABC transporter over-expressing rat glioma C6 cells. We found that DOX release from nanoparticles was greatest at acidic pH, indicative of cleavage of the hydrazone linkage. DOX-conjugated nanoparticles were readily taken up by wild-type and drug-resistant cells. In contrast to free drug, DOX-conjugated nanoparticles persisted in drug-resistant cells, indicating that they were not subject to drug efflux. Greater retention of DOX-conjugated nanoparticles was accompanied by reduction of viability relative to cells treated with free drug. Our results suggest that DOX-conjugated nanoparticles could improve the efficacy of chemotherapy by circumventing MDR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Forrest M Kievit
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Kim SH, Moon HH, Kim HA, Hwang KC, Lee M, Choi D. Hypoxia-inducible vascular endothelial growth factor-engineered mesenchymal stem cells prevent myocardial ischemic injury. Mol Ther 2011; 19:741-50. [PMID: 21245851 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2010.301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In the absence of repair mechanisms involving angiogenesis and cardiomyogenesis, loss of cardiomyocytes after myocardial injury is a primary causative factor in the progression toward heart failure. In an effort to reduce ischemic myocardial damage, we investigated the effects on infarcted myocardium of transplantation of genetically modified mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that specifically expressed vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) under hypoxic conditions. A hypoxia-inducible VEGF expression vector was introduced into MSCs (HI-VEGF-MSCs) using a nonviral delivery method, which were then used for the treatment of ischemic myocardial injury in rats. In HI-VEGF-MSCs, VEGF expression was significantly increased by hypoxia in vitro as compared to normoxia. Likewise, in vivo administration of HI-VEGF-MSCs induced ischemia-responsive VEGF production, leading to a significant increase in myocardial neovascularization after myocardial infarction. When compared with unmodified-MSCs, HI-VEGF-MSCs were retained in infarcted myocardium in greater numbers and remarkably reduced the number of apoptotic cells the infarcted area. Transplantation of HI-VEGF-MSCs resulted in a substantial attenuation of left ventricular remodeling in rat myocardial infarction. This study demonstrates that cell-based gene therapy using genetically engineered MSCs to express VEGF in response to hypoxic stress can be a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ischemic heart disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sun Hwa Kim
- Severance Integrative Research Institute for Cerebral & Cardiovascular Disease, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, South Korea
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Kim H, Bae YM, Kim HA, Hyun H, Yu GS, Choi JS, Lee M. Synthesis and characterization of dexamethasone-conjugated linear polyethylenimine as a gene carrier. J Cell Biochem 2010; 110:743-51. [DOI: 10.1002/jcb.22587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
|
41
|
Abstract
UNLABELLED The nuclear envelope represents a key barrier to successful nonviral transfection and gene therapy both in vitro and in vivo. Although the main purpose of the nuclear envelope is to partition the cell to maintain cytoplasmic components in the cytoplasm and nuclear components, most notably genomic DNA, in the nucleus, this function poses a problem for transfections in which exogenous DNA is delivered into the cytoplasm. After delivery to the cytoplasm, nucleic acids rapidly become complexed with cellular proteins that mediate interactions with the cellular machinery for trafficking. Thus, it is these proteins that, in essence, control the nuclear import of DNA, and we must also understand their activities in cells. In this review, we will discuss the principles of nuclear import of proteins and DNA-protein complexes, as well as the various approaches that investigators have used to improve nuclear targeting of plasmids. These approaches include complexation of plasmids with peptides, native and engineered proteins, ligands and polymers, as well as the inclusion of transcription factor-binding sites for general and cell-specific delivery. KEYWORDS nonviral gene transfermid R:plasmidmid R:nuclear pore complexmid R:importinmid R:nuclear localization signalmid R:karyopherin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A P Lam
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Delivery of Hypoxia Inducible Heme Oxygenase-1 Gene Using Dexamethasone Conjugated Polyethylenimine for Protection of Cardiomyocytes under Hypoxia. B KOREAN CHEM SOC 2009. [DOI: 10.5012/bkcs.2009.30.4.897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|