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Steffens RC, Folda P, Fendler NL, Höhn M, Bücher-Schossau K, Kempter S, Snyder NL, Hartmann L, Wagner E, Berger S. GalNAc- or Mannose-PEG-Functionalized Polyplexes Enable Effective Lectin-Mediated DNA Delivery. Bioconjug Chem 2024; 35:351-370. [PMID: 38440876 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
A cationic, dendrimer-like oligo(aminoamide) carrier with four-arm topology based on succinoyl tetraethylene pentamine and histidines, cysteines, and N-terminal azido-lysines was screened for plasmid DNA delivery on various cell lines. The incorporated azides allow modification with various shielding agents of different polyethylene glycol (PEG) lengths and/or different ligands by copper-free click reaction, either before or after polyplex formation. Prefunctionalization was found to be advantageous over postfunctionalization in terms of nanoparticle formation, stability, and efficacy. A length of 24 ethylene oxide repetition units and prefunctionalization of ≥50% of azides per carrier promoted optimal polyplex shielding. PEG shielding resulted in drastically reduced DNA transfer, which could be successfully restored by active lectin targeting via novel GalNAc or mannose ligands, enabling enhanced receptor-mediated endocytosis of the carrier system. The involvement of the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) in the uptake of GalNAc-functionalized polyplexes was confirmed in the ASGPR-positive hepatocarcinoma cell lines HepG2 and Huh7. Mannose-modified polyplexes showed superior cellular uptake and transfection efficacy compared to unmodified and shielded polyplexes in mannose-receptor-expressing dendritic cell-like DC2.4 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricarda C Steffens
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Center for NanoScience (CeNS), LMU Munich, 80799 Munich, Germany
| | - Paul Folda
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Nikole L Fendler
- Department of Chemistry, Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina 28035, United States
| | - Miriam Höhn
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Katharina Bücher-Schossau
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Susanne Kempter
- Faculty of Physics, LMU Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany
- Center for NanoScience (CeNS), LMU Munich, 80799 Munich, Germany
| | - Nicole L Snyder
- Department of Chemistry, Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina 28035, United States
| | - Laura Hartmann
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute for Macromolecular Chemistry, University Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 31, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Ernst Wagner
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Center for NanoScience (CeNS), LMU Munich, 80799 Munich, Germany
| | - Simone Berger
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Center for NanoScience (CeNS), LMU Munich, 80799 Munich, Germany
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Berger S, Krhač Levačić A, Hörterer E, Wilk U, Benli-Hoppe T, Wang Y, Öztürk Ö, Luo J, Wagner E. Optimizing pDNA Lipo-polyplexes: A Balancing Act between Stability and Cargo Release. Biomacromolecules 2021; 22:1282-1296. [PMID: 33616407 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c01779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
When optimizing nanocarriers, structural motifs that are beneficial for the respective type of cargo need to be identified. Here, succinoyl tetraethylene pentamine (Stp)-based lipo-oligoaminoamides (OAAs) were optimized for the delivery of plasmid DNA (pDNA). Structural variations comprised saturated fatty acids with chain lengths between C2 and C18 and terminal cysteines as units promoting nanoparticle stabilization, histidines for endosomal buffering, and disulfide building blocks for redox-sensitive release. Biophysical and tumor cell culture screening established clear-cut relationships between lipo-OAAs and characteristics of the formed pDNA complexes. Based on the optimized alternating Stp-histidine backbones, lipo-OAAs containing fatty acids with chain lengths around C6 to C10 displayed maximum gene transfer with around 500-fold higher gene expression than that of C18 lipo-OAA analogues. Promising lipo-OAAs, however, showed only moderate in vivo efficiency. In vitro testing in 90% full serum, revealing considerable inhibition of lytic and gene-transfer activity, was found as a new screening model predictive for intravenous applications in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Berger
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Ana Krhač Levačić
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Elisa Hörterer
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Ulrich Wilk
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Teoman Benli-Hoppe
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Yanfang Wang
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Özgür Öztürk
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Jie Luo
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Ernst Wagner
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, Munich 81377, Germany
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Cuzzubbo S, Mangsbo S, Nagarajan D, Habra K, Pockley AG, McArdle SEB. Cancer Vaccines: Adjuvant Potency, Importance of Age, Lifestyle, and Treatments. Front Immunol 2021; 11:615240. [PMID: 33679703 PMCID: PMC7927599 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.615240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the discovery and characterization of multiple tumor antigens have sparked the development of many antigen/derived cancer vaccines, many are poorly immunogenic and thus, lack clinical efficacy. Adjuvants are therefore incorporated into vaccine formulations to trigger strong and long-lasting immune responses. Adjuvants have generally been classified into two categories: those that ‘depot’ antigens (e.g. mineral salts such as aluminum hydroxide, emulsions, liposomes) and those that act as immunostimulants (Toll Like Receptor agonists, saponins, cytokines). In addition, several novel technologies using vector-based delivery of antigens have been used. Unfortunately, the immune system declines with age, a phenomenon known as immunosenescence, and this is characterized by functional changes in both innate and adaptive cellular immunity systems as well as in lymph node architecture. While many of the immune functions decline over time, others paradoxically increase. Indeed, aging is known to be associated with a low level of chronic inflammation—inflamm-aging. Given that the median age of cancer diagnosis is 66 years and that immunotherapeutic interventions such as cancer vaccines are currently given in combination with or after other forms of treatments which themselves have immune-modulating potential such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the choice of adjuvants requires careful consideration in order to achieve the maximum immune response in a compromised environment. In addition, more clinical trials need to be performed to carefully assess how less conventional form of immune adjuvants, such as exercise, diet and psychological care which have all be shown to influence immune responses can be incorporated to improve the efficacy of cancer vaccines. In this review, adjuvants will be discussed with respect to the above-mentioned important elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Cuzzubbo
- Université de Paris, PARCC, INSERM U970, 75015, Paris, France.,Laboratoire de Recherches Biochirurgicales (Fondation Carpentier), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
| | - Sara Mangsbo
- Ultimovacs AB, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Divya Nagarajan
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Clinical pathology Rudbeck laboratories, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kinana Habra
- The School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom.,The John van Geest Cancer Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Alan Graham Pockley
- The John van Geest Cancer Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom.,Centre for Health, Ageing and Understanding Disease (CHAUD), School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie E B McArdle
- The John van Geest Cancer Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom.,Centre for Health, Ageing and Understanding Disease (CHAUD), School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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Taschauer A, Polzer W, Alioglu F, Billerhart M, Decker S, Kittelmann T, Geppl E, Elmenofi S, Zehl M, Urban E, Sami H, Ogris M. Peptide-Targeted Polyplexes for Aerosol-Mediated Gene Delivery to CD49f-Overexpressing Tumor Lesions in Lung. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2019; 18:774-786. [PMID: 31734558 PMCID: PMC6861568 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2019.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2019] [Revised: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Peptide ligands can enhance delivery of nucleic acid-loaded nanoparticles to tumors by promoting their cell binding and internalization. Lung tumor lesions accessible from the alveolar side can be transfected, in principle, using gene vectors delivered as an aerosol. The cell surface marker CD49f (Integrin α6) is frequently upregulated in metastasizing, highly aggressive tumors. In this study, we utilize a CD49f binding peptide coupled to linear polyethylenimine (LPEI) promoting gene delivery into CD49f-overexpressing tumor cells in vitro and into lung lesions in vivo. We have synthesized a molecular conjugate based on LPEI covalently attached to the CD49f binding peptide CYESIKVAVS via a polyethylene glycol (PEG) spacer. Particles formed with plasmid DNA were small (<200 nm) and could be aerosolized without causing major aggregation or particle loss. In vitro, CD49f targeting significantly improved plasmid uptake and reporter gene expression on both human and murine tumor cell lines. For evaluation in vivo, localization and morphology of 4T1 murine triple-negative breast cancer tumor lesions in the lung of syngeneic BALB/c mice were identified by MRI. Polyplexes applied via intratracheal aerosolization were well tolerated and resulted in measurable transgene activity of the reporter gene firefly luciferase in tumor areas by bioluminescence imaging (BLI). Transfectability of tumors correlated with their accessibility for the aerosol. With CD49f-targeted polyplexes, luciferase activity was considerably increased and was restricted to the tumor area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Taschauer
- Laboratory of MacroMolecular Cancer Therapeutics (MMCT), Center of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfram Polzer
- Laboratory of MacroMolecular Cancer Therapeutics (MMCT), Center of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Fatih Alioglu
- Laboratory of MacroMolecular Cancer Therapeutics (MMCT), Center of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Magdalena Billerhart
- Laboratory of MacroMolecular Cancer Therapeutics (MMCT), Center of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Simon Decker
- Laboratory of MacroMolecular Cancer Therapeutics (MMCT), Center of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Theresa Kittelmann
- Laboratory of MacroMolecular Cancer Therapeutics (MMCT), Center of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Emanuela Geppl
- Laboratory of MacroMolecular Cancer Therapeutics (MMCT), Center of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Salma Elmenofi
- Laboratory of MacroMolecular Cancer Therapeutics (MMCT), Center of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Zehl
- Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstrasse 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ernst Urban
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Haider Sami
- Laboratory of MacroMolecular Cancer Therapeutics (MMCT), Center of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Manfred Ogris
- Laboratory of MacroMolecular Cancer Therapeutics (MMCT), Center of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
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