1
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Ye T, Zhong Z, Cappellesso F, Deswarte K, Chen Y, Lauwers H, De Lombaerde E, Gontsarik M, Lienenklaus S, Van Lysebetten D, Sanders NN, Lambrecht BN, De Koker S, Laoui D, De Geest BG. CO-DELIVERY of glutamic acid-extended peptide antigen and imidazoquinoline TLR7/8 agonist via ionizable lipid nanoparticles induces protective anti-tumor immunity. Biomaterials 2024; 311:122693. [PMID: 38996672 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Cancer vaccines aim at generating cytotoxic CD8+ T cells that kill cancer cells and confer durable tumor regression. Hereto, CD8+ peptide epitopes should be presented by antigen presenting cells to CD8+ T cells in lymphoid tissue. Unfortunately, in unformulated soluble form, peptide antigens are poorly taken up by antigen presenting cells and do not efficiently reach lymph nodes. Hence, the lack of efficient delivery remains a major limitation for successful clinical translation of cancer vaccination using peptide antigens. Here we propose a generic peptide nanoformulation strategy by extending the amino acid sequence of the peptide antigen epitope with 10 glutamic acid residues. The resulting overall anionic charge of the peptide allows encapsulation into lipid nanoparticles (peptide-LNP) by electrostatic interaction with an ionizable cationic lipid. We demonstrate that intravenous injection of peptide-LNP efficiently delivers the peptide to immune cells in the spleen. Peptide-LNP that co-encapsulate an imidazoquinoline TLR7/8 agonist (IMDQ) induce robust innate immune activation in a broad range of immune cell subsets in the spleen. Peptide-LNP containing the minimal CD8+ T cell epitope of the HPV type 16 E7 oncoprotein and IMDQ induces high levels of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells in the blood, and can confer protective immunity against E7-expressing tumors in both prophylactic and therapeutic settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Ye
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Zifu Zhong
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Federica Cappellesso
- Lab of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Brussel Center for Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; Lab of Dendritic Cell Biology and Cancer Immunotherapy, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kim Deswarte
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Mucosal Immunology, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Yong Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Heleen Lauwers
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Mark Gontsarik
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Stefan Lienenklaus
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Niek N Sanders
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Bart N Lambrecht
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Mucosal Immunology, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Damya Laoui
- Lab of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Brussel Center for Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; Lab of Dendritic Cell Biology and Cancer Immunotherapy, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Brussels, Belgium.
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2
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Mapfumo P, Reichel LS, Leer K, Egger J, Dzierza A, Peneva K, Fischer D, Traeger A. Harnessing Guanidinium and Imidazole Functional Groups: A Dual-Charged Polymer Strategy for Enhanced Gene Delivery. ACS Macro Lett 2024; 13:1000-1007. [PMID: 39052525 PMCID: PMC11340021 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.4c00321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Histidine and arginine are two amino acids that exhibit beneficial properties for gene delivery. In particular, the imidazole group of histidine facilitates endosomal release, while the guanidinium group of arginine promotes cellular entry. Consequently, a dual-charged copolymer library based on these amino acids was synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The content of the N-acryloyl-l-histidine (His) monomer was systematically increased, while maintaining consistent levels of methyl N-acryloyl-l-argininate hydrochloride (ArgOMe) or N-(4-guanidinobutyl)acrylamide hydrochloride (GBAm). The resulting polymers formed stable, nanosized polyplexes when complexed with nucleic acids. Remarkably, candidates with increased His content exhibited reduced cytotoxicity profiles and enhanced transfection efficiency, particularly retaining this performance level at lower pDNA concentrations. Furthermore, endosomal release studies revealed that increased His content improved endosomal release, while ArgOMe improved cellular entry. These findings underscore the potential of customized dual-charged copolymers and the synergistic effects of His and ArgOMe/GBAm in enhancing gene delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prosper
P. Mapfumo
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Liên S. Reichel
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Katharina Leer
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Jan Egger
- Division
of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Cauerstr. 4, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andreas Dzierza
- Division
of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Cauerstr. 4, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kalina Peneva
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Jena
Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich
Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Center
for Energy and Environmental Chemistry Jena (CEEC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Dagmar Fischer
- Jena
Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich
Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Division
of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Cauerstr. 4, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
- FAU NeW -
Research Center New Bioactive Compounds, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Str. 10, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Anja Traeger
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Jena
Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich
Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
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3
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Lee H, You G, Yeo S, Lee H, Mok H. Effects of Histidine Oligomers in Lipid Nanoparticles on siRNA Delivery. Macromol Biosci 2024; 24:e2400043. [PMID: 38819534 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202400043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
In this study, histidine oligomer (oHis; 10mer)-incorporating LNPs (H10LNPs) are developed as a novel carrier for efficient siRNA delivery. Notably, the unmodified oHis (10mer) is greatly incorporated within LNPs through ionic interaction with siRNAs, which serves as an endosome escape enhancer. H10LNPs with a size of ≈65 nm demonstrate a significantly enhanced extent of endosomal escape, as evidenced by calcein assay and confocal microscopy images of intracellular fluorescence, surpassing conventional LNPs. Furthermore, the half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the human endogenous globotriaosylceramide synthase (Gb3 synthase) gene in H10LNPs-treated cells exhibits a significant threefold decrease, compared to that in LNP-treated cells. Notably, H10LNPs maintain comparable biocompatibility and biodistribution both in vitro and in vivo. Considering that the fabricated siRNA H10LNPs exhibit excellent biocompatibility and superior gene silencing activity over conventional LNPs, these particles can be harnessed for the safe delivery of therapeutic siRNAs. Additionally, this study introduces promising, feasible, simple, and alternative formulation processes for integrating unmodified functional cationic peptides into LNPs to enhance the delivery efficiency of a wide range of nucleic acid-based drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeondo Lee
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Gayeon You
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangho Yeo
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyukjin Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyejung Mok
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
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4
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Desai N, Rana D, Salave S, Benival D, Khunt D, Prajapati BG. Achieving Endo/Lysosomal Escape Using Smart Nanosystems for Efficient Cellular Delivery. Molecules 2024; 29:3131. [PMID: 38999083 PMCID: PMC11243486 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29133131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The delivery of therapeutic agents faces significant hurdles posed by the endo-lysosomal pathway, a bottleneck that hampers clinical effectiveness. This comprehensive review addresses the urgent need to enhance cellular delivery mechanisms to overcome these obstacles. It focuses on the potential of smart nanomaterials, delving into their unique characteristics and mechanisms in detail. Special attention is given to their ability to strategically evade endosomal entrapment, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficacy. The manuscript thoroughly examines assays crucial for understanding endosomal escape and cellular uptake dynamics. By analyzing various assessment methods, we offer nuanced insights into these investigative approaches' multifaceted aspects. We meticulously analyze the use of smart nanocarriers, exploring diverse mechanisms such as pore formation, proton sponge effects, membrane destabilization, photochemical disruption, and the strategic use of endosomal escape agents. Each mechanism's effectiveness and potential application in mitigating endosomal entrapment are scrutinized. This paper provides a critical overview of the current landscape, emphasizing the need for advanced delivery systems to navigate the complexities of cellular uptake. Importantly, it underscores the transformative role of smart nanomaterials in revolutionizing cellular delivery strategies, leading to a paradigm shift towards improved therapeutic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nimeet Desai
- Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi 502285, Telangana, India;
| | - Dhwani Rana
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Ahmedabad 382355, Gujarat, India; (D.R.); (S.S.); (D.B.)
| | - Sagar Salave
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Ahmedabad 382355, Gujarat, India; (D.R.); (S.S.); (D.B.)
| | - Derajram Benival
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Ahmedabad 382355, Gujarat, India; (D.R.); (S.S.); (D.B.)
| | - Dignesh Khunt
- School of Pharmacy, Gujarat Technological University, Gandhinagar 382027, Gujarat, India
| | - Bhupendra G. Prajapati
- Shree S. K. Patel College of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Ganpat University, Kherva 384012, Gujarat, India
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom 73000, Thailand
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5
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Chen J, Patel A, Mir M, Hudock MR, Pinezich MR, Guenthart B, Bacchetta M, Vunjak-Novakovic G, Kim J. Enhancing Cytoplasmic Expression of Exogenous mRNA through Dynamic Mechanical Stimulation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.19.599708. [PMID: 38948864 PMCID: PMC11212954 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.19.599708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Ionizable lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been pivotal in combating COVID-19, and numerous preclinical and clinical studies have highlighted their potential in nucleic acid-based therapies and vaccines. However, the effectiveness of endosomal escape for the nucleic acid cargos encapsulated in LNPs is still low, leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes and side effects. Hence, improving endosomal escape is crucial for enhancing the efficacy of nucleic acid delivery using LNPs. Here, a mechanical oscillation (frequency: 65 Hz) is utilized to prompt the LNP-mediated endosomal escape. The results reveal this mechanical oscillation can induce the combination and fusion between LNPs with opposite surface charges, enhance endosomal escape of mRNA by 14%, and increase the transfection efficiency of mRNA up to 1.67 times in the current study. Additionally, cell viability remains high at 99.3% after treatment with oscillation, which is comparable to that of untreated cells. Furthermore, there is no obvious damage to other membranous organelles. Thus, this work presents a user-friendly and safe approach to enhancing endosomal escape of mRNA and boosting gene expression. As a result, our work can be potentially utilized in both research and clinical fields to facilitate LNP-based delivery by enabling more effective release of LNP-encapsulated cargos from endosomes.
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6
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Tarvirdipour S, Skowicki M, Maffeis V, Abdollahi SN, Schoenenberger CA, Palivan CG. Peptide nanocarriers co-delivering an antisense oligonucleotide and photosensitizer elicit synergistic cytotoxicity. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 664:338-348. [PMID: 38479270 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Combination therapies demand co-delivery platforms with efficient entrapment of distinct payloads and specific delivery to cells and possibly organelles. Herein, we introduce the combination of two therapeutic modalities, gene and photodynamic therapy, in a purely peptidic platform. The simultaneous formation and cargo loading of the multi-micellar platform is governed by self-assembly at the nanoscale. The multi-micellar architecture of the nanocarrier and the positive charge of its constituent micelles offer controlled dual loading capacity with distinct locations for a hydrophobic photosensitizer (PS) and negatively charged antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs). Moreover, the nuclear localization signal (NLS) sequence built-in the peptide targets PS + ASO-loaded nanocarriers to the nucleus. Breast cancer cells treated with nanocarriers demonstrated photo-triggered enhancement of radical oxygen species (ROS) associated with increased cell death. Besides, delivery of ASO payloads resulted in up to 90 % knockdown of Bcl-2, an inhibitor of apoptosis that is overexpressed in more than half of all human cancers. Simultaneous delivery of PS and ASO elicited synergistic apoptosis to an extent that could not be reached by singly loaded nanocarriers or the free form of the drugs. Both, the distinct location of loaded compounds that prevents them from interfering with each other, and the highly efficient cellular delivery support the great potential of this versatile peptide platform in combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabnam Tarvirdipour
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 22, Basel 4058, Switzerland
| | - Michal Skowicki
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 22, Basel 4058, Switzerland; NCCR-Molecular Systems Engineering, Mattenstrasse 24a, Basel 4058, Switzerland
| | - Viviana Maffeis
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 22, Basel 4058, Switzerland; NCCR-Molecular Systems Engineering, Mattenstrasse 24a, Basel 4058, Switzerland
| | - S Narjes Abdollahi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 22, Basel 4058, Switzerland
| | | | - Cornelia G Palivan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 22, Basel 4058, Switzerland; NCCR-Molecular Systems Engineering, Mattenstrasse 24a, Basel 4058, Switzerland.
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7
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Homma K, Miura Y, Kobayashi M, Chintrakulchai W, Toyoda M, Ogi K, Michinishi J, Ohtake T, Honda Y, Nomoto T, Takemoto H, Nishiyama N. Fine tuning of the net charge alternation of polyzwitterion surfaced lipid nanoparticles to enhance cellular uptake and membrane fusion potential. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF ADVANCED MATERIALS 2024; 25:2338785. [PMID: 38646148 PMCID: PMC11028023 DOI: 10.1080/14686996.2024.2338785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) coated with functional and biocompatible polymers have been widely used as carriers to deliver oligonucleotide and messenger RNA therapeutics to treat diseases. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is a representative material used for the surface coating, but the PEG surface-coated LNPs often have reduced cellular uptake efficiency and pharmacological activity. Here, we demonstrate the effect of pH-responsive ethylenediamine-based polycarboxybetaines with different molecular weights as an alternative structural component to PEG for the coating of LNPs. We found that appropriate tuning of the molecular weight around polycarboxybetaine-modified LNP, which incorporated small interfering RNA, could enhance the cellular uptake and membrane fusion potential in cancerous pH condition, thereby facilitating the gene silencing effect. This study demonstrates the importance of the design and molecular length of polymers on the LNP surface to provide effective drug delivery to cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keitaro Homma
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa, Japan
- Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yutaka Miura
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa, Japan
- Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Motoaki Kobayashi
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa, Japan
- Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Wanphiwat Chintrakulchai
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa, Japan
- Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Masahiro Toyoda
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa, Japan
- Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Koichi Ogi
- I&S Department, Corporate R&D division, NOF CORPORATION, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Junya Michinishi
- I&S Department, Corporate R&D division, NOF CORPORATION, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Ohtake
- I&S Department, Corporate R&D division, NOF CORPORATION, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yuto Honda
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa, Japan
- Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa, Japan
- Innovation Center of Nanomedicine (iCONM), Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Takahiro Nomoto
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa, Japan
- Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyasu Takemoto
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa, Japan
- Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa, Japan
- Medical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Nishiyama
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa, Japan
- Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa, Japan
- Innovation Center of Nanomedicine (iCONM), Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, Kanagawa, Japan
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8
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Mehta MJ, Kim HJ, Lim SB, Naito M, Miyata K. Recent Progress in the Endosomal Escape Mechanism and Chemical Structures of Polycations for Nucleic Acid Delivery. Macromol Biosci 2024; 24:e2300366. [PMID: 38226723 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202300366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Nucleic acid-based therapies are seeing a spiralling surge. Stimuli-responsive polymers, especially pH-responsive ones, are gaining widespread attention because of their ability to efficiently deliver nucleic acids. These polymers can be synthesized and modified according to target requirements, such as delivery sites and the nature of nucleic acids. In this regard, the endosomal escape mechanism of polymer-nucleic acid complexes (polyplexes) remains a topic of considerable interest owing to various plausible escape mechanisms. This review describes current progress in the endosomal escape mechanism of polyplexes and state-of-the-art chemical designs for pH-responsive polymers. The importance is also discussed of the acid dissociation constant (i.e., pKa) in designing the new generation of pH-responsive polymers, along with assays to monitor and quantify the endosomal escape behavior. Further, the use of machine learning is addressed in pKa prediction and polymer design to find novel chemical structures for pH responsiveness. This review will facilitate the design of new pH-responsive polymers for advanced and efficient nucleic acid delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit J Mehta
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Inha University, 100 Inha-ro, Michuhol-gu, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Jin Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Inha University, 100 Inha-ro, Michuhol-gu, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Inha University, 100 Inha-ro, Michuhol-gu, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Been Lim
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Inha University, 100 Inha-ro, Michuhol-gu, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Mitsuru Naito
- Department of Materials Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - Kanjiro Miyata
- Department of Materials Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
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9
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Mapfumo PP, Reichel LS, Hoeppener S, Traeger A. Improving Gene Delivery: Synergy between Alkyl Chain Length and Lipoic Acid for PDMAEMA Hydrophobic Copolymers. Macromol Rapid Commun 2024; 45:e2300649. [PMID: 38195002 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202300649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
In the field of gene delivery, hydrophobic cationic copolymers hold great promise. They exhibit improved performance by effectively protecting genetic material from serum interactions while facilitating interactions with cellular membranes. However, managing cytotoxicity remains a significant challenge, prompting an investigation into suitable hydrophobic components. A particularly encouraging approach involves integrating nutrient components, like lipoic acid, which is known for its antioxidant properties and diverse cellular benefits such as cellular metabolism and growth. In this study, a copolymer library comprising 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and lipoic acid methacrylate (LAMA), combined with either n-butyl methacrylate (nBMA), ethyl methacrylate (EMA), or methyl methacrylate (MMA), is synthesized. This enables to probe the impact of lipoic acid incorporation while simultaneously exploring the influence of pendant acyclic alkyl chain length. The inclusion of lipoic acid results in a notable boost in transfection efficiency while maintaining low cytotoxicity. Interestingly, higher levels of transfection efficiency are achieved in the presence of nBMA, EMA, or MMA. However, a positive correlation between pendant acyclic alkyl chain length and cytotoxicity is observed. Consequently, P(DMAEMA-co-LAMA-co-MMA), emerges as a promising candidate. This is attributed to the optimal combination of low cytotoxic MMA and transfection-boosting LAMA, highlighting the crucial synergy between LAMA and MMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prosper P Mapfumo
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Liên S Reichel
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Stephanie Hoeppener
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Anja Traeger
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743, Jena, Germany
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10
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Reichel LS, Traeger A. Stimuli-Responsive Non-viral Nanoparticles for Gene Delivery. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2024; 284:27-43. [PMID: 37644142 DOI: 10.1007/164_2023_694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Considering nucleic acids as the language of life and the genome as the instruction manual of cells, their targeted modulation promises great opportunities in treating and healing diseases. In addition to viral gene transfer, the overwhelming power of non-viral mRNA-based vaccines is driving the development of novel gene transporters. Thereby, various nucleic acids such as DNA (pDNA) or RNA (mRNA, siRNA, miRNA, gRNA, or ASOs) need to be delivered, requiring a transporter due to their high molar mass and negative charge in contrast to classical agents. This chapter presents the specific biological hurdles for using nucleic acids and shows how new materials can overcome these.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liên S Reichel
- Institute of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Anja Traeger
- Institute of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.
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11
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Dual-Labelled Nanoparticles Inform on the Stability of Fluorescent Labels In Vivo. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15030769. [PMID: 36986630 PMCID: PMC10059031 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15030769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluorescent labelling is commonly used to monitor the biodistribution of nanomedicines. However, meaningful interpretation of the results requires that the fluorescent label remains attached to the nanomedicine. In this work, we explore the stability of three fluorophores (BODIPY650, Cyanine 5 and AZ647) attached to polymeric hydrophobic biodegradable anchors. Using dual-labelled poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(lactic acid) (PEG-PLA) nanoparticles that are both radioactive and fluorescent, we investigated how the properties of the fluorophores impact the stability of the labelling in vitro and in vivo. Results suggest that the more hydrophilic dye (AZ647) is released faster from nanoparticles, and that this instability results in misinterpretation of in vivo data. While hydrophobic dyes are likely more suitable to track nanoparticles in biological environments, quenching of the fluorescence inside the nanoparticles can also introduce artefacts. Altogether, this work raises awareness about the importance of stable labelling methods when investigating the biological fate of nanomedicines.
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