1
|
Mapfumo PP, Reichel LS, André T, Hoeppener S, Rudolph LK, Traeger A. Optimizing Biocompatibility and Gene Delivery with DMAEA and DMAEAm: A Niacin-Derived Copolymer Approach. Biomacromolecules 2024. [PMID: 38963401 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Gene therapy is pivotal in nanomedicine, offering a versatile approach to disease treatment. This study aims to achieve an optimal balance between biocompatibility and efficacy, which is a common challenge in the field. A copolymer library is synthesized, incorporating niacin-derived monomers 2-acrylamidoethyl nicotinate (AAEN) or 2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl nicotinate (AEN) with N,N-(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylamide (DMAEAm) or hydrolysis-labile N,N-(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate (DMAEA). Evaluation of the polymers' cytotoxicity profiles reveals that an increase in AAEN or DMAEA molar ratios correlates with improved biocompatibility. Remarkably, an increase in AAEN in both DMAEA and DMAEAm copolymers demonstrated enhanced transfection efficiencies of plasmid DNA in HEK293T cells. Additionally, the top-performing polymers demonstrate promising gene expression in challenging-to-transfect cells (THP-1 and Jurkat cells) and show no significant effect on modulating immune response induction in ex vivo treated murine monocytes. Overall, the best performing candidates exhibit an optimal balance between biocompatibility and efficacy, showcasing potential advancements in gene therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Prosper P Mapfumo
- Institute of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, Jena 07743, Germany
| | - Liên S Reichel
- Institute of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, Jena 07743, Germany
| | - Thomas André
- Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Stephanie Hoeppener
- Institute of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, Jena 07743, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, Jena 07743, Germany
| | - Lenhard K Rudolph
- Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Anja Traeger
- Institute of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, Jena 07743, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, Jena 07743, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Street STG, Chrenek J, Harniman RL, Letwin K, Mantell JM, Borucu U, Willerth SM, Manners I. Length-Controlled Nanofiber Micelleplexes as Efficient Nucleic Acid Delivery Vehicles. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:19799-19812. [PMID: 36260789 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c06695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Micelleplexes show great promise as effective polymeric delivery systems for nucleic acids. Although studies have shown that spherical micelleplexes can exhibit superior cellular transfection to polyplexes, to date there has been no report on the effects of micelleplex morphology on cellular transfection. In this work, we prepared precision, length-tunable poly(fluorenetrimethylenecarbonate)-b-poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PFTMC16-b-PDMAEMA131) nanofiber micelleplexes and compared their properties and transfection activity to those of the equivalent nanosphere micelleplexes and polyplexes. We studied the DNA complexation process in detail via a range of techniques including cryo-transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and ζ-potential measurements, thereby examining how nanofiber micelleplexes form, as well the key differences that exist compared to nanosphere micelleplexes and polyplexes in terms of DNA loading and colloidal stability. The effects of particle morphology and nanofiber length on the transfection and cell viability of U-87 MG glioblastoma cells with a luciferase plasmid were explored, revealing that short nanofiber micelleplexes (length < ca. 100 nm) were the most effective delivery vehicle examined, outperforming nanosphere micelleplexes, polyplexes, and longer nanofiber micelleplexes as well as the Lipofectamine 2000 control. This study highlights the potential importance of 1D micelleplex morphologies for achieving optimal transfection activity and provides a fundamental platform for the future development of more effective polymeric nucleic acid delivery vehicles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steven T G Street
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K.,Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 3V6, Canada.,Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Rd, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Josie Chrenek
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada.,School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | | | - Keiran Letwin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada.,School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Judith M Mantell
- Wolfson Bioimaging Facility, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K
| | - Ufuk Borucu
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K.,GW4 Facility for High-Resolution Electron Cryo-Microscopy, 24 Tyndall Ave, Bristol BS8 1TQ, U.K
| | - Stephanie M Willerth
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Rd, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada.,School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Ian Manners
- Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 3V6, Canada.,Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Rd, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada
| |
Collapse
|