1
|
Gill SK, Sugiman-Marangos SN, Beilhartz GL, Mei E, Taipale M, Melnyk RA. An enhanced intracellular delivery platform based on a distant diphtheria toxin homolog that evades pre-existing antitoxin antibodies. EMBO Mol Med 2024:10.1038/s44321-024-00116-z. [PMID: 39160301 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-024-00116-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Targeted intracellular delivery of therapeutic proteins remains a significant unmet challenge in biotechnology. A promising approach is to leverage the intrinsic capabilities of bacterial toxins like diphtheria toxin (DT) to deliver a potent cytotoxic enzyme into cells with an associated membrane translocation moiety. Despite showing promising clinical efficacy, widespread deployment of DT-based therapeutics is complicated by the prevalence of pre-existing antibodies in the general population arising from childhood DT toxoid vaccinations, which impact the exposure, efficacy, and safety of these potent molecules. Here, we describe the discovery and characterization of a distant DT homolog from the ancient reptile pathogen Austwickia chelonae that we have dubbed chelona toxin (ACT). We show that ACT is comparable to DT structure and function in all respects except that it is not recognized by pre-existing anti-DT antibodies circulating in human sera. Furthermore, we demonstrate that ACT delivers heterologous therapeutic cargos into target cells more efficiently than DT. Our findings highlight ACT as a promising new chassis for building next-generation immunotoxins and targeted delivery platforms with improved pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shivneet K Gill
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S1A8, Canada
- Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Seiji N Sugiman-Marangos
- Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Greg L Beilhartz
- Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Mei
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S1A8, Canada
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Mikko Taipale
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S1A8, Canada
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Roman A Melnyk
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S1A8, Canada.
- Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Alhaj-Suliman SO, Wafa EI, Salem AK. Engineering nanosystems to overcome barriers to cancer diagnosis and treatment. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 189:114482. [PMID: 35944587 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Over the past two decades, multidisciplinary investigations into the development of nanoparticles for medical applications have continually increased. However, nanoparticles are still subject to biological barriers and biodistribution challenges, which limit their overall clinical potential. This has motivated the implementation of innovational modifications to a range of nanoparticle formulations designed for cancer imaging and/or cancer treatment to overcome specific barriers and shift the accumulation of payloads toward the diseased tissues. In recent years, novel technological and chemical approaches have been employed to modify or functionalize the surface of nanoparticles or manipulate the characteristics of nanoparticles. Combining these approaches with the identification of critical biomarkers provides new strategies for enhancing nanoparticle specificity for both cancer diagnostic and therapeutic applications. This review discusses the most recent advances in the design and engineering of nanoparticles as well as future directions for developing the next generation of nanomedicines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suhaila O Alhaj-Suliman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
| | - Emad I Wafa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
| | - Aliasger K Salem
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States; Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Nazari M, Minai-Tehrani A, Mousavi S, Zamani Koukhaloo S, Emamzadeh R. Development of recombinant biomimetic nano-carrier for targeted gene transfer to HER3 positive breast cancer. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 189:948-955. [PMID: 34455002 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.08.165] [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: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) has rapidly gained much attention as a promising target for cancer treatment. The increasing recognition of HER3 roles in a number of HER family-driven cancers has led to studies aimed at targeting this receptor and developing HER3-targeted platforms with the ability to deliver therapeutic genes. We have previously indicated that the flexible linker and one unit of RALA in affibody-based platform could target HER3 and deliver its cargo. Based on the previous finding, in a new class of affibody-based platforms, we used two different linkers and RALA units and then compared their effectiveness on targeting and delivering specified genes to HER3 positive cells. Our results clearly showed that our biopolymeric platforms can successfully condense DNA into nanoparticles and object the overexpressed HER3 receptors and then transfer specific genes. Our affibody-based platform containing a rigid linker and one RALA unit presents an adequate transfection efficacy and low toxicity (based on MTT and apoptosis assays), however, the platform containing two RALA units and a flexible linker demonstrated high transfection efficacy while having modest toxicity in HER3 positive breast cancer cells. This may pave the way for further innovative applications of recombinant biopolymer when stable and economical productions need to be definitely considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mahboobeh Nazari
- Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Arash Minai-Tehrani
- Nanobiotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samira Mousavi
- Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Rahman Emamzadeh
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Yokoyama T, Ando T, Iwamoto R, Fuji D, Yamamoto M, Kawakami T. A human epidermal growth factor receptor 3/heregulin interaction inhibitor aptamer discovered using SELEX. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 553:148-153. [PMID: 33770580 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.03.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The interaction of human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) and heregulin (HRG) is involved in resistance to human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-targeted cancer treatment, such as therapies using anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody. Therefore, inhibition of the HER3/HRG interaction is potentially valuable therapeutic target for cancer treatment. In this study, we used in vitro selection, also known as systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) against the extracellular domain of human HER3, and discovered a novel RNA aptamer. Pull-down and bio-layer interferometry assays showed that RNA aptamer discovered specifically bound to HER3 with a dissociation constant (KD) of 700 nM. Pull-down assays using chemiluminescence detection also revealed that the HER3-binding RNA aptamer inhibited interactions between HER3 and human HRG. These results indicated that the novel HER3-binding RNA aptamer has potential to be used as basic tool in a range of applications involving HER3/HRG interactions, including research, therapeutic, and diagnostic applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Yokoyama
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Integrated Graduate School of Medicine, Engineering, and Agricultural Sciences, University of Yamanashi, 4-4-37 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi, 400-8510, Japan
| | - Takehiro Ando
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Integrated Graduate School of Medicine, Engineering, and Agricultural Sciences, University of Yamanashi, 4-4-37 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi, 400-8510, Japan
| | - Rina Iwamoto
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Integrated Graduate School of Medicine, Engineering, and Agricultural Sciences, University of Yamanashi, 4-4-37 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi, 400-8510, Japan
| | - Daisuke Fuji
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, 4-4-37 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi, 400-8510, Japan
| | - Mizuki Yamamoto
- Department of Integrated Applied Life Science, Integrated Graduate School of Medicine, Engineering, and Agricultural Sciences, University of Yamanashi, 4-4-37 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi, 400-8510, Japan
| | - Takashi Kawakami
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Graduate Faculty of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Yamanashi, 4-4-37 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi, 400-8510, Japan; JST, PRESTO, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama, 332-0012, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhang F, Yin J, Zhang C, Han M, Wang X, Fu S, Du J, Zhang H, Li W. Affibody-Conjugated RALA Polymers Delivering Oligomeric 5-Fluorodeoxyuridine for Targeted Therapy of HER2 Overexpressing Gastric Cancer. Macromol Biosci 2020; 20:e2000083. [PMID: 32558229 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202000083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Affibody-conjugated RALA (affi-RA) are designed for delivering oligomeric 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (FUdR, metabolite of 5-FU) strand to raise the selectivity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), decrease its toxicity and improve its suboptimal therapeutic efficacy. The nanodrugs, FUdR@affi-RA, are spontaneously assembled by electrostatic interaction between positively charged affi-RA and negatively charged FUdR15 -strands (15 consecutive FUdR). FUdR@affi-RA exhibits excellent stability under simulated physiological conditions. Compared with free FUdR, FUdR@affi-RA shows excellent targeting and higher cytotoxicity in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpressing gastric cancer N87 cells. Moreover, the anticancer mechanism studies reveal that FUdR@affi-RA enhances the expression and activity of apoptosis-associated proteins in the Bcl-2/Bax-caspase 8,9-caspase 3 apoptotic pathway induced by FUdR. This study indicates that the fusion vector, affi-RA, presents a promising delivery system platform for nucleoside analogue drugs and provides a new strategy for the development of therapeutics of cancer treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fanghua Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Hebei Province, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of the Ministry of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Jiwei Yin
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Hebei Province, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of the Ministry of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Hebei Province, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of the Ministry of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Mengnan Han
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Hebei Province, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of the Ministry of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Xuming Wang
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Hebei Province, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of the Ministry of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Shuangqing Fu
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Hebei Province, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of the Ministry of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Jie Du
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Hebei Province, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of the Ministry of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Honglei Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Hebei Province, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of the Ministry of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Wei Li
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Hebei Province, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of the Ministry of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Polylactide-Based Reactive Micelles as a Robust Platform for mRNA Delivery. Pharm Res 2020; 37:30. [PMID: 31915939 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-019-2749-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE mRNA has recently emerged as a potent therapeutics and requires safe and effective delivery carriers, particularly prone to address its issues of poor stability and escape from endosomes. In this context, we designed poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA)-based micelles with N-succinimidyl (NS) ester decorated hydrophilic hairy corona to trap/couple a cationic fusogenic peptide and further complex mRNA. METHODS Two strategies were investigated, namely (i) sequential immobilization of peptide and mRNA onto the micelles (layer-by-layer, LbL) or (ii) direct immobilization of peptide-mRNA pre-complex (PC) on the micelles. After characterization by means of size, surface charge, peptide/mRNA coupling/complexation and mRNA serum stability, carrier cytotoxicity and transfection capacity were evaluated with dendritic cells (DCs) using both GFP and luciferase mRNAs. RESULTS Whatever the approach used, the micellar assemblies afforded full protection of mRNA in serum while the peptide-mRNA complex yielded complete mRNA degradation. In addition, the micellar assemblies allowed to significantly reduce the toxicity observed with the peptide-mRNA complex. They successfully transfected hard-to transfect DCs, with a superior efficiency for the LbL made ones (whatever mRNAs studied) showing the impact of the elaboration process on the carrier properties. CONCLUSIONS These results show the relevance and potential of this new PLA/peptide based micelle platform to improve mRNA stability and delivery, while offering the possibility of further multifunctionality through PLA core encapsulation.
Collapse
|