1
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Dussouillez C, Lointier M, Sebane MK, Fournel S, Bechinger B, Kichler A. N-terminal modification of an LAH4-derived peptide increases mRNA delivery in the presence of serum. J Pept Sci 2024:e3597. [PMID: 38523558 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3597] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
The recently developed mRNA-based coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 vaccines highlighted the great therapeutic potential of the mRNA technology. Although the lipid nanoparticles used for the delivery of the mRNA are very efficient, they showed, in some cases, the induction of side effects as well as the production of antibodies directed against particle components. Thus, the development of alternative delivery systems is of great interest in the pursuit of more effective mRNA treatments. In the present work, we evaluated the mRNA transfection capacities of a series of cationic histidine-rich amphipathic peptides derived from LAH4. We found that while the LAH4-A1 peptide was an efficient carrier for mRNA, its activity was highly serum sensitive. Interestingly, modification of this cell penetrating peptide at the N-terminus with two tyrosines or with salicylic acid allowed to confer serum resistance to the carrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candice Dussouillez
- Laboratoire de Conception et Application de Molécules Bioactives UMR7199 CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 3BioTeam, Faculté de Pharmacie, Illkirch, France
- Inserm UMR_S 1121, EMR 7003 CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Morane Lointier
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie, Strasbourg, France
| | - Mohammed-Karim Sebane
- Laboratoire de Conception et Application de Molécules Bioactives UMR7199 CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 3BioTeam, Faculté de Pharmacie, Illkirch, France
- Inserm UMR_S 1121, EMR 7003 CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Sylvie Fournel
- Laboratoire de Conception et Application de Molécules Bioactives UMR7199 CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 3BioTeam, Faculté de Pharmacie, Illkirch, France
- Inserm UMR_S 1121, EMR 7003 CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Burkhard Bechinger
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie, Strasbourg, France
| | - Antoine Kichler
- Laboratoire de Conception et Application de Molécules Bioactives UMR7199 CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 3BioTeam, Faculté de Pharmacie, Illkirch, France
- Inserm UMR_S 1121, EMR 7003 CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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2
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Estapé Senti M, García Del Valle L, Schiffelers RM. mRNA delivery systems for cancer immunotherapy: Lipid nanoparticles and beyond. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2024; 206:115190. [PMID: 38307296 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2024.115190] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
mRNA-based vaccines are emerging as a promising alternative to standard cancer treatments and the conventional vaccines. Moreover, the FDA-approval of three nucleic acid based therapeutics (Onpattro, BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273) has further increased the interest and trust on this type of therapeutics. In order to achieve a significant therapeutic efficacy, the mRNA needs from a drug delivery system. In the last years, several delivery platforms have been explored, being the lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) the most well characterized and studied. A better understanding on how mRNA-based therapeutics operate (both the mRNA itself and the drug delivery system) will help to further improve their efficacy and safety. In this review, we will provide an overview of what mRNA cancer vaccines are and their mode of action and we will highlight the advantages and challenges of the different delivery platforms that are under investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariona Estapé Senti
- CDL Research, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Lucía García Del Valle
- CDL Research, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Raymond M Schiffelers
- CDL Research, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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3
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Zhao B, Zhang X, Bickle MS, Fu S, Li Q, Zhang F. Development of polypeptide-based materials toward messenger RNA delivery. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:2250-2264. [PMID: 38213302 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr05635j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA)-based therapeutic agents have demonstrated significant potential in recent times, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. As a promising prophylactic and therapeutic strategy, polypeptide-based mRNA delivery systems attract significant interest because of their low cost, simple preparation, tuneable sizes and morphology, convenient large-scale production, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. In this review, we begin with a brief discussion of the synthesis of polypeptides, followed by a review of commonly used polypeptides in mRNA delivery, including classical polypeptides and cell-penetrating peptides. Then, the challenges against mRNA delivery, including extracellular, intracellular, and clinical barriers, are discussed in detail. Finally, we highlight a range of strategies for polypeptide-based mRNA delivery, offering valuable insights into the advancement of polypeptide-based mRNA carrier development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida, 33146, USA.
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida, 33146, USA.
| | - Molly S Bickle
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida, 33146, USA.
| | - Shiwei Fu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida, 33146, USA.
| | - Qingchun Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida, 33146, USA.
| | - Fuwu Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida, 33146, USA.
- The Dr John T. Macdonald Foundation Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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4
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Gu J, Xu Z, Liu Q, Tang S, Zhang W, Xie S, Chen X, Chen J, Yong KT, Yang C, Xu G. Building a Better Silver Bullet: Current Status and Perspectives of Non-Viral Vectors for mRNA Vaccines. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2302409. [PMID: 37964681 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302409] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines have exhibited great potential to replace conventional vaccines owing to their low risk of insertional mutagenesis, safety and efficacy, rapid and scalable production, and low-cost manufacturing. With the great achievements of chemical modification and sequence optimization methods of mRNA, the key to the success of mRNA vaccines is strictly dependent on safe and efficient gene vectors. Among various delivery platforms, non-viral mRNA vectors could represent perfect choices for future clinical translation regarding their safety, sufficient packaging capability, low immunogenicity, and versatility. In this review, the recent progress in the development of non-viral mRNA vectors is focused on. Various organic vectors including lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), polymers, peptides, and exosomes for efficient mRNA delivery are presented and summarized. Furthermore, the latest advances in clinical trials of mRNA vaccines are described. Finally, the current challenges and future possibilities for the clinical translation of these promising mRNA vectors are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Gu
- Department of Pharmacy, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan, University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, 518020, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Zhourui Xu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Qiqi Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Institute, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Shenzhen Baoan Women's and Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518102, China
| | - Shiqi Tang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Wenguang Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Shouxia Xie
- Department of Pharmacy, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan, University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, 518020, China
- Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518020, China
| | - Xiaoyan Chen
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Institute, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Shenzhen Baoan Women's and Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518102, China
| | - Jiajie Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Ken-Tye Yong
- School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Chengbin Yang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Gaixia Xu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
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5
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Ma Y, Li S, Lin X, Chen Y. Bioinspired Spatiotemporal Management toward RNA Therapies. ACS NANO 2023; 17:24539-24563. [PMID: 38091941 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c08219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Ribonucleic acid (RNA)-based therapies have become an attractive topic in disease intervention, especially with some that have been approved by the FDA such as the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Spikevax, Moderna) and Patisiran (siRNA-based drug for liver delivery). However, extensive applications are still facing challenges in delivering highly negatively charged RNA to the targeted site. Therapeutic delivery strategies including RNA modifications, RNA conjugates, and RNA polyplexes and delivery platforms such as viral vectors, nanoparticle-based delivery platforms, and hydrogel-based delivery platforms as potential nucleic acid-releasing depots have been developed to enhance their cellular uptake and protect nucleic acid from being degraded by immune systems. Here, we review the growing number of viral vectors, nanoparticles, and hydrogel-based RNA delivery systems; describe RNA loading/release mechanism induced by environmental stimulations including light, heat, pH, or enzyme; discuss their physical or chemical interactions; and summarize the RNA therapeutics release period (temporal) and their target cells/organs (spatial). Finally, we describe current concerns, highlight current challenges and future perspectives of RNA-based delivery systems, and provide some possible research areas that provide opportunities for clinical translation of RNA delivery carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutian Ma
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Shiyao Li
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, and the Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Xin Lin
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27705, United States
| | - Yupeng Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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6
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Xu Y, Zheng Y, Ding X, Wang C, Hua B, Hong S, Huang X, Lin J, Zhang P, Chen W. PEGylated pH-responsive peptide-mRNA nano self-assemblies enhance the pulmonary delivery efficiency and safety of aerosolized mRNA. Drug Deliv 2023; 30:2219870. [PMID: 37336779 DOI: 10.1080/10717544.2023.2219870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Inhalable messenger RNA (mRNA) has demonstrated great potential in therapy and vaccine development to confront various lung diseases. However, few gene vectors could overcome the airway mucus and intracellular barriers for successful pulmonary mRNA delivery. Apart from the low pulmonary gene delivery efficiency, nonnegligible toxicity is another common problem that impedes the clinical application of many non-viral vectors. PEGylated cationic peptide-based mRNA delivery vector is a prospective approach to enhance the pulmonary delivery efficacy and safety of aerosolized mRNA by oral inhalation administration. In this study, different lengths of hydrophilic PEG chains were covalently linked to an amphiphilic, water-soluble pH-responsive peptide, and the peptide/mRNA nano self-assemblies were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The in vitro mRNA binding and release, cellular uptake, transfection, and cytotoxicity were studied, and finally, a proper PEGylated peptide with enhanced pulmonary mRNA delivery efficiency and improved safety in mice was identified. These results showed that a proper N-terminus PEGylation strategy using 12-monomer linear monodisperse PEG could significantly improve the mRNA transfection efficiency and biocompatibility of the non-PEGylated cationic peptide carrier, while a longer PEG chain modification adversely decreased the cellular uptake and transfection on A549 and HepG2 cells, emphasizing the importance of a proper PEG chain length selection. Moreover, the optimized PEGylated peptide showed a significantly enhanced mRNA pulmonary delivery efficiency and ameliorated safety profiles over the non-PEGylated peptide and LipofectamineTM 2000 in mice. Our results reveal that the PEGylated peptide could be a promising mRNA delivery vector candidate for inhaled mRNA vaccines and therapeutic applications for the prevention and treatment of different respiratory diseases in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yijing Zheng
- School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xuqiu Ding
- School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chengyan Wang
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Center, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Bin Hua
- School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shilian Hong
- School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiaoman Huang
- School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jiali Lin
- School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Affiliated Hospital (The Affiliated Luohu Hospital) of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
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7
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Liu X, Huang P, Yang R, Deng H. mRNA Cancer Vaccines: Construction and Boosting Strategies. ACS NANO 2023; 17:19550-19580. [PMID: 37819640 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c05635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
In late 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a lipid-based mRNA vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19, which has pushed this field to be more closely studied and motivated researchers to delve deeper into mRNA therapeutics. To date, the research on mRNA cancer vaccines has been developed rapidly, and substantial hopeful therapeutic results have been achieved against various solid tumors in clinical trials. In this review, we first introduce three main components of mRNA cancer vaccines, including mRNA antigens, adjuvants, and delivery vectors. Engineering these components can optimize the therapeutic effects of mRNA cancer vaccines. For instance, appropriate modification of mRNA structure can alleviate the poor stability and innate immunogenicity of mRNA, and the use of mRNA delivery vectors can address the issues of low delivery efficiency in vivo. Second, we emphatically discuss some strategies to further improve the efficacy of mRNA cancer vaccines, namely modulating the immunosuppressive tumor environment, optimizing administration routes, achieving targeting delivery to intended tissues or organs, and employing combination therapy. These strategies can strengthen the tumor inhibitory ability of mRNA cancer vaccines and increase the possibility of tumor elimination. Finally, we point out some challenges in the clinical practice of mRNA cancer vaccines and offer our perspectives on future developments in this rapidly evolving field. It is anticipated that mRNA cancer vaccines will be rapidly developed for clinical cancer therapy in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqing Liu
- School of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Xidian University, Xi'an 710126 China
- Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University & Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China
- International Joint Research Center for Advanced Medical Imaging and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment & Xi'an Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing and Regulation of trans-Scale Life Information, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China
| | - Pei Huang
- Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University & Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China
- International Joint Research Center for Advanced Medical Imaging and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment & Xi'an Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing and Regulation of trans-Scale Life Information, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China
- Departments of Diagnostic Radiology, Surgery, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119074, Singapore
| | - Rusen Yang
- School of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Xidian University, Xi'an 710126 China
| | - Hongzhang Deng
- Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University & Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China
- International Joint Research Center for Advanced Medical Imaging and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment & Xi'an Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing and Regulation of trans-Scale Life Information, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China
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8
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Egberink RO, van Asbeck AH, Boswinkel M, Muradjan G, Dieker J, Brock R. Deciphering Structural Determinants Distinguishing Active from Inactive Cell-Penetrating Peptides for Cytosolic mRNA Delivery. Bioconjug Chem 2023; 34:1822-1834. [PMID: 37733627 PMCID: PMC10587869 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00346] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
The formation of noncovalent complexes by mixing of positively charged polymers with negatively charged oligonucleotides (ONs) is a widely explored concept in nanomedicine to achieve cellular delivery of ONs. Uptake of ON complexes occurs through endocytosis, which then requires release of ON from endosomes. As one type of polymer, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are being used which are peptides of about 8-30 amino acids in length. However, only a few CPPs yield effective cytosolic ON delivery and activity. Several strategies have been devised to increase cellular uptake and enhance endosomal release, among which an increase of osmotic pressure through the so-called proton sponge effect, disruption of membrane integrity through membrane activity, and disulfide-mediated polymerization. Here, we address the relevance of these concepts for mRNA delivery by incorporating structural features into the human lactoferrin-derived CPP, which shows uptake but not delivery. The incorporation of histidines was explored to address osmotic pressure and structural motifs of the delivery-active CPP PepFect14 (PF14) to address membrane disturbance, and finally, the impact of polymerization was explored. Whereas oligomerization increased the stability of polyplexes against heparin-induced decomplexation, neither this approach nor the incorporation of histidine residues to promote a proton-sponge effect yielded activity. Also, the replacement of arginine residues with lysine or ornithine residues, as in PF14, was without effect, even though all polyplexes showed cellular uptake. Ultimately, sufficient activity could only be achieved by transferring amphipathic sequence motifs from PF14 into the hLF context with some benefit of oligomerization demonstrating overarching principles of delivery for CPPs, lipid nanoparticles, and other types of delivery polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rik Oude Egberink
- Department
of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander H. van Asbeck
- Department
of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Milou Boswinkel
- Department
of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Grigor Muradjan
- Department
of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jürgen Dieker
- Department
of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Roland Brock
- Department
of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department
of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 329, Bahrain
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9
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Kim KR, Kim J, Cho S, Ahn DR. Human β-Defensin 23 as a Carrier for In Vitro and In Vivo Delivery of mRNA. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2477. [PMID: 37896237 PMCID: PMC10610245 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15102477] [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: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The successful application of mRNA therapeutics hinges on the effective intracellular delivery of mRNA both in vitro and in vivo. However, this remains a formidable challenge due to the polyanionic nature, longitudinal shape, and low nuclease resistance of mRNA. In this study, we introduce a novel mRNA delivery platform utilizing a human β-defensin peptide, hBD23. The positive charge of hBD23 allows it to form nanocomplexes with mRNA, facilitating cellular uptake and providing protection against serum nucleases. When optimized for peptide-to-mRNA (N/P) ratios, these hBD23/mRNA complexes demonstrated efficient cellular delivery and subsequent protein expression both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, as hBD23 is human derived, the complexes exhibited minimal cytotoxicity and immunogenicity. Given its high biocompatibility and delivery efficiency, hBD23 represents a promising platform for the in vitro and in vivo delivery of mRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoung-Ran Kim
- Chemical and Biological Integrative Research Center, Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; (K.-R.K.); (J.K.)
| | - Junghyun Kim
- Chemical and Biological Integrative Research Center, Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; (K.-R.K.); (J.K.)
| | - Seunghye Cho
- Division of Biomedical Science and Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea;
| | - Dae-Ro Ahn
- Chemical and Biological Integrative Research Center, Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; (K.-R.K.); (J.K.)
- Division of Biomedical Science and Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea;
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10
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Yuan M, Han Z, Liang Y, Sun Y, He B, Chen W, Li F. mRNA nanodelivery systems: targeting strategies and administration routes. Biomater Res 2023; 27:90. [PMID: 37740246 PMCID: PMC10517595 DOI: 10.1186/s40824-023-00425-3] [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: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
With the great success of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines, mRNA therapeutics have gained significant momentum for the prevention and treatment of various refractory diseases. To function efficiently in vivo and overcome clinical limitations, mRNA demands safe and stable vectors and a reasonable administration route, bypassing multiple biological barriers and achieving organ-specific targeted delivery of mRNA. Nanoparticle (NP)-based delivery systems representing leading vector approaches ensure the successful intracellular delivery of mRNA to the target organ. In this review, chemical modifications of mRNA and various types of advanced mRNA NPs, including lipid NPs and polymers are summarized. The importance of passive targeting, especially endogenous targeting, and active targeting in mRNA nano-delivery is emphasized, and different cellular endocytic mechanisms are discussed. Most importantly, based on the above content and the physiological structure characteristics of various organs in vivo, the design strategies of mRNA NPs targeting different organs and cells are classified and discussed. Furthermore, the influence of administration routes on targeting design is highlighted. Finally, an outlook on the remaining challenges and future development toward mRNA targeted therapies and precision medicine is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mujie Yuan
- Department of Oral Implantology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Zeyu Han
- Department of Oral Implantology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Yan Liang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266073, China
| | - Yong Sun
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266073, China
| | - Bin He
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China
| | - Wantao Chen
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head & Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.
| | - Fan Li
- Department of Oral Implantology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, China.
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11
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Klipp A, Burger M, Leroux JC. Get out or die trying: Peptide- and protein-based endosomal escape of RNA therapeutics. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 200:115047. [PMID: 37536508 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.115047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
RNA therapeutics offer great potential to transform the biomedical landscape, encompassing the treatment of hereditary conditions and the development of better vaccines. However, the delivery of RNAs into the cell is hampered, among others, by poor endosomal escape. This major hurdle is often tackled using special lipids, polymers, or protein-based delivery vectors. In this review, we will focus on the most prominent peptide- and protein-based endosomal escape strategies with focus on RNA drugs. We discuss cell penetrating peptides, which are still incorporated into novel transfection systems today to promote endosomal escape. However, direct evidence for enhanced endosomal escape by the action of such peptides is missing and their transfection efficiency, even in permissive cell culture conditions, is rather low. Endosomal escape by the help of pore forming proteins or phospholipases, on the other hand, allowed to generate more efficient transfection systems. These are, however, often hampered by considerable toxicity and immunogenicity. We conclude that the perfect enhancer of endosomal escape has yet to be devised. To increase the chances of success, any new transfection system should be tested under relevant conditions and guided by assays that allow direct quantification of endosomal escape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Klipp
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Michael Burger
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Jean-Christophe Leroux
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
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12
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Sun B, Wu W, Narasipura EA, Ma Y, Yu C, Fenton OS, Song H. Engineering nanoparticle toolkits for mRNA delivery. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 200:115042. [PMID: 37536506 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.115042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
The concept of using mRNA to produce its own medicine in situ in the body makes it an ideal drug candidate, holding great potential to revolutionize the way we approach medicine. The unique characteristics of mRNA, as well as its customizable biomedical functions, call for the rational design of delivery systems to protect and transport mRNA molecules. In this review, a nanoparticle toolkit is presented for the development of mRNA-based therapeutics from a drug delivery perspective. Nano-delivery systems derived from either natural systems or chemical synthesis, in the nature of organic or inorganic materials, are summarised. Delivery strategies in controlling the tissue targeting and mRNA release, as well as the role of nanoparticles in building and boosting the activity of mRNA drugs, have also been introduced. In the end, our insights into the clinical and translational development of mRNA nano-drugs are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Sun
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Weixi Wu
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Eshan A Narasipura
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yutian Ma
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Chengzhong Yu
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Owen S Fenton
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | - Hao Song
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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13
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Kong B, Kim Y, Kim EH, Suk JS, Yang Y. mRNA: A promising platform for cancer immunotherapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 199:114993. [PMID: 37414361 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) is now in the limelight as a powerful tool for treating various human diseases, especially malignant tumors, thanks to the remarkable clinical outcomes of mRNA vaccines using lipid nanoparticle technology during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent promising preclinical and clinical results that epitomize the advancement in mRNA and nanoformulation-based delivery technologies have highlighted the tremendous potential of mRNA in cancer immunotherapy. mRNAs can be harnessed for cancer immunotherapy in forms of various therapeutic modalities, including cancer vaccines, adoptive T-cell therapies, therapeutic antibodies, and immunomodulatory proteins. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state and prospects of mRNA-based therapeutics, including numerous delivery and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byoungjae Kong
- Center for Nanomedicine, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Yelee Kim
- Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Hye Kim
- Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Soo Suk
- Center for Nanomedicine, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
| | - Yoosoo Yang
- Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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14
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Periyasamy K, Maloverjan M, Biswas A, Remm A, Pook M, Rebane A, Pooga M. PepFect14 mediates the delivery of mRNA into human primary keratinocytes and in vivo. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1219761. [PMID: 37521463 PMCID: PMC10374019 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1219761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
mRNA-based vaccines and candidate therapeutics have great potential in various medical fields. For the delivery of mRNA into target cells and tissues, lipid formulations are often employed. However, this approach could cause the activation of immune responses, making it unsuitable for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. Therefore, alternative delivery systems are highly demanded. In this study, we evaluated the transport efficiency and characteristics of cell-penetrating peptide PepFect14 (PF14) and mRNA nanoparticles in the presence of different additives. Our results show that all PF14-mRNA formulations entered cultured cells, while calcium chloride enhanced the transport and production of the encoded protein in HeLa and HaCaT cell lines, and polysorbate 80 did so in primary human keratinocytes. All formulations had similar physical properties and did not remarkably affect cell viability. By selectively blocking endocytosis pathways, we show that PF14-mRNA nanoparticles primarily entered HeLa cells via macropinocytosis and HaCaT cells via both macropinocytosis and clathrin-mediated endocytosis, while none of the blockers significantly affected the delivery into primary keratinocytes. Finally, subcutaneous injection of PF14-mRNA nanoparticles before inducing mouse irritant contact dermatitis resulted in the expression of a reporter protein without provoking harmful immune responses in the skin. Together, our findings suggest that PF14-mRNA nanoparticles have the potential for developing mRNA-based therapeutics for treating inflammatory skin conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kapilraj Periyasamy
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | | | - Abhijit Biswas
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Anu Remm
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Martin Pook
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ana Rebane
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Margus Pooga
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
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15
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Wickline SA, Hou KK, Pan H. Peptide-Based Nanoparticles for Systemic Extrahepatic Delivery of Therapeutic Nucleotides. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119455. [PMID: 37298407 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119455] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptide-based nanoparticles (PBN) for nucleotide complexation and targeting of extrahepatic diseases are gaining recognition as potent pharmaceutical vehicles for fine-tuned control of protein production (up- and/or down-regulation) and for gene delivery. Herein, we review the principles and mechanisms underpinning self-assembled formation of PBN, cellular uptake, endosomal release, and delivery to extrahepatic disease sites after systemic administration. Selected examples of PBN that have demonstrated recent proof of concept in disease models in vivo are summarized to offer the reader a comparative view of the field and the possibilities for clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel A Wickline
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33602, USA
| | - Kirk K Hou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stein and Doheny Eye Institutes, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Hua Pan
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
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16
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The Development of Cell-Penetrating Peptides for Efficient and Selective In Vivo Expression of mRNA in Spleen Tissue. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15030952. [PMID: 36986813 PMCID: PMC10055000 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15030952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
mRNA-based therapeutics are presently one of the nucleic acid-based therapeutics with a high potential for extraordinary success as preventive vaccines. Current applications with mRNA therapeutics rely on lipid nanoparticle (LNP) mediated delivery of nucleic acids. In order to achieve the transition from preventive to therapeutic vaccines, there is a challenge of delivering the mRNA into non-hepatic tissues, especially into lymphoid tissues such as the spleen and lymph nodes. In this work, we characterize new cell-penetrating peptides NF424 and NF436 that exhibit preferential delivery of mRNA into the spleen after a single i.v. injection, without the use of any active targeting mechanisms. We show that between the spleen, liver, and the lungs, >95% of mRNA expression arises in the spleen tissue and the majority of expression occurs in the dendritic cells. The cell-penetrating peptides NF424 and NF436 represent promising candidates for cancer immunotherapeutic applications with tumor antigens.
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17
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Li X, Guo X, Hu M, Cai R, Chen C. Optimal delivery strategies for nanoparticle-mediated mRNA delivery. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:2063-2077. [PMID: 36794598 DOI: 10.1039/d2tb02455a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) has emerged as a new and efficient agent for the treatment of various diseases. The success of lipid nanoparticle-mRNA against the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia epidemic has proved the clinical potential of nanoparticle-mRNA formulations. However, the deficiency in the effective biological distribution, high transfection efficiency and good biosafety are still the major challenges in clinical translation of nanomedicine for mRNA delivery. To date, a variety of promising nanoparticles have been constructed and then gradually optimized to facilitate the effective biodistribution of carriers and efficient mRNA delivery. In this review, we describe the design of nanoparticles with an emphasis on lipid nanoparticles, and discuss the manipulation strategies for nanoparticle-biology (nano-bio) interactions for mRNA delivery to overcome the biological barriers and improve the delivery efficiency, because the specific nano-bio interaction of nanoparticles usually remoulds the biomedical and physiological properties of the nanoparticles especially the biodistribution, mechanism of cellular internalization and immune response. Finally, we give a perspective for the future applications of this promising technology. We believe that the regulation of nano-bio interactions would be a significant breakthrough to improve the mRNA delivery efficiency and cross biological barriers. This review may provide a new direction for the design of nanoparticle-mediated mRNA delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Li
- Henan Institute of Advanced Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.,CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety & CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China.
| | - Xiaocui Guo
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety & CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China.
| | - Mingdi Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety & CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Rong Cai
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety & CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China.
| | - Chunying Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety & CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.,The GBA National Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation, Guangzhou 510700, China
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18
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Protein Transduction Domain-Mediated Delivery of Recombinant Proteins and In Vitro Transcribed mRNAs for Protein Replacement Therapy of Human Severe Genetic Mitochondrial Disorders: The Case of Sco2 Deficiency. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15010286. [PMID: 36678915 PMCID: PMC9861957 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15010286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial disorders represent a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders with variations in severity and clinical outcomes, mostly characterized by respiratory chain dysfunction and abnormal mitochondrial function. More specifically, mutations in the human SCO2 gene, encoding the mitochondrial inner membrane Sco2 cytochrome c oxidase (COX) assembly protein, have been implicated in the mitochondrial disorder fatal infantile cardioencephalomyopathy with COX deficiency. Since an effective treatment is still missing, a protein replacement therapy (PRT) was explored using protein transduction domain (PTD) technology. Therefore, the human recombinant full-length mitochondrial protein Sco2, fused to TAT peptide (a common PTD), was produced (fusion Sco2 protein) and successfully transduced into fibroblasts derived from a SCO2/COX-deficient patient. This PRT contributed to effective COX assembly and partial recovery of COX activity. In mice, radiolabeled fusion Sco2 protein was biodistributed in the peripheral tissues of mice and successfully delivered into their mitochondria. Complementary to that, an mRNA-based therapeutic approach has been more recently considered as an innovative treatment option. In particular, a patented, novel PTD-mediated IVT-mRNA delivery platform was developed and applied in recent research efforts. PTD-IVT-mRNA of full-length SCO2 was successfully transduced into the fibroblasts derived from a SCO2/COX-deficient patient, translated in host ribosomes into a nascent chain of human Sco2, imported into mitochondria, and processed to the mature protein. Consequently, the recovery of reduced COX activity was achieved, thus suggesting the potential of this mRNA-based technology for clinical translation as a PRT for metabolic/genetic disorders. In this review, such research efforts will be comprehensibly presented and discussed to elaborate their potential in clinical application and therapeutic usefulness.
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19
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Minkner R, Boonyakida J, Park EY, Wätzig H. Oligonucleotide separation techniques for purification and analysis: What can we learn for today's tasks? Electrophoresis 2022; 43:2402-2427. [PMID: 36285667 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202200079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Nucleic acids are the blueprint of life. They are not only the construction plan of the single cell or higher associations of them, but also necessary for function, communication and regulation. Due to the pandemic, the attention shifted in particular to their therapeutic potential as a vaccine. As pharmaceutical oligonucleotides are unique in terms of their stability and application, special delivery systems were also considered. Oligonucleotide production systems can vary and depend on the feasibility, availability, price and intended application. To achieve good purity, reliable results and match the strict specifications in the pharmaceutical industry, the separation of oligonucleotides is always essential. Besides the separation required for production, additional and specifically different separation techniques are needed for analysis to determine if the product complies with the designated specifications. After a short introduction to ribonucleic acids (RNAs), messenger RNA vaccines, and their production and delivery systems, an overview regarding separation techniques will be provided. This not only emphasises electrophoretic separations but also includes spin columns, extractions, precipitations, magnetic nanoparticles and several chromatographic separation principles, such as ion exchange chromatography, ion-pair reversed-phase, size exclusion and affinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Minkner
- Institute of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jirayu Boonyakida
- Department of Bioscience, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan.,Laboratory of Biotechnology, Green Chemistry Research Division, Research Institute of Green Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Enoch Y Park
- Department of Bioscience, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan.,Laboratory of Biotechnology, Green Chemistry Research Division, Research Institute of Green Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Hermann Wätzig
- Institute of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
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20
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Porosk L, Langel Ü. Approaches for evaluation of novel CPP-based cargo delivery systems. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1056467. [PMID: 36339538 PMCID: PMC9634181 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1056467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) can be broadly defined as relatively short synthetic, protein derived or chimeric peptides. Their most remarkable property is their ability to cross cell barriers and facilitate the translocation of cargo, such as drugs, nucleic acids, peptides, small molecules, dyes, and many others across the plasma membrane. Over the years there have been several approaches used, adapted, and developed for the evaluation of CPP efficacies as delivery systems, with the fluorophore attachment as the most widely used approach. It has become progressively evident, that the evaluation method, in order to lead to successful outcome, should concede with the specialties of the delivery. For characterization and assessment of CPP-cargo a combination of research tools of chemistry, physics, molecular biology, engineering, and other fields have been applied. In this review, we summarize the diverse, in silico, in vitro and in vivo approaches used for evaluation and characterization of CPP-based cargo delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ly Porosk
- Laboratory of Drug Delivery, Institute of Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ülo Langel
- Laboratory of Drug Delivery, Institute of Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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21
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Biomaterial-Mediated Protein Expression Induced by Peptide-mRNA Nanoparticles Embedded in Lyophilized Collagen Scaffolds. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14081619. [PMID: 36015245 PMCID: PMC9414905 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14081619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In our aging society, the number of patients suffering from poorly healing bone defects increases. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are used in the clinic to promote bone regeneration. However, poor control of BMP delivery and thus activity necessitates high doses, resulting in adverse effects and increased costs. It has been demonstrated that messenger RNA (mRNA) provides a superior alternative to protein delivery due to local uptake and prolonged expression restricted to the site of action. Here, we present the development of porous collagen scaffolds incorporating peptide-mRNA nanoparticles (NPs). Nanoparticles were generated by simply mixing aqueous solutions of the cationic cell-penetrating peptide PepFect14 (PF14) and mRNA. Peptide-mRNA complexes were uniformly distributed throughout the scaffolds, and matrices fully preserved cell attachment and viability. There was a clear dependence of protein expression on the incorporated amount of mRNA. Importantly, after lyophilization, the mRNA formulation in the collagen scaffolds retained activity also at 4 °C over two weeks. Overall, our results demonstrate that collagen scaffolds incorporating peptide-mRNA complexes hold promise as off-the-shelf functional biomaterials for applications in regenerative medicine and constitute a viable alternative to lipid-based mRNA formulations.
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22
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Yang L, Tang L, Zhang M, Liu C. Recent Advances in the Molecular Design and Delivery Technology of mRNA for Vaccination Against Infectious Diseases. Front Immunol 2022; 13:896958. [PMID: 35928814 PMCID: PMC9345514 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.896958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccines can prevent many millions of illnesses against infectious diseases and save numerous lives every year. However, traditional vaccines such as inactivated viral and live attenuated vaccines cannot adapt to emerging pandemics due to their time-consuming development. With the global outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, the virus continues to evolve and mutate, producing mutants with enhanced transmissibility and virulence; the rapid development of vaccines against such emerging global pandemics becomes more and more critical. In recent years, mRNA vaccines have been of significant interest in combating emerging infectious diseases due to their rapid development and large-scale production advantages. However, their development still suffers from many hurdles such as their safety, cellular delivery, uptake, and response to their manufacturing, logistics, and storage. More efforts are still required to optimize the molecular designs of mRNA molecules with increased protein expression and enhanced structural stability. In addition, a variety of delivery systems are also needed to achieve effective delivery of vaccines. In this review, we highlight the advances in mRNA vaccines against various infectious diseases and discuss the molecular design principles and delivery systems of associated mRNA vaccines. The current state of the clinical application of mRNA vaccine pipelines against various infectious diseases and the challenge, safety, and protective effect of associated vaccines are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Yang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Tang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Chaoyong Liu, ; Ming Zhang,
| | - Chaoyong Liu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Chaoyong Liu, ; Ming Zhang,
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23
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Feng R, Chang ACY, Ni R, Li JCY, Chau Y. mRNA Delivery and Storage by Co-Assembling Nanostructures with Designer Oligopeptides. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2022; 5:3476-3486. [PMID: 35729172 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Broadening the applicable tools for mRNA delivery provides more flexibility in research and those proven effective and safe can potentially be translated for clinical use. We report here a 27-amino acid peptide sequence mimicking the viral capsid protein, termed pepMAX, capable of co-assembling with mRNA into 100-150 nm nanostructures for efficient transfection of multiple cell lines. The mRNA loading and N/P ratio have been systematically optimized for each cell line. In HeLa, HEK293, and SKNMC, the transfection attained (>80%) is comparable with that of commercially available vectors Lipofectamine MessengerMAXTM (LipoMMAX). Confocal microscopy reveals that pepMAX efficiently delivers mRNA into the cytosol and induces efficient protein production. The pepMAX/mRNA co-assemblies retain their transfection efficiency after storage up to one week at room temperature in lyophilized form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruilu Feng
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Atta Cheuk Yan Chang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Rong Ni
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Jacky Cheuk Yin Li
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Ying Chau
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
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24
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Kim Y, Kim H, Kim EH, Jang H, Jang Y, Chi SG, Yang Y, Kim SH. The Potential of Cell-Penetrating Peptides for mRNA Delivery to Cancer Cells. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14061271. [PMID: 35745843 PMCID: PMC9227323 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14061271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In vitro transcribed mRNA for the synthesis of any given protein has shown great potential in cancer gene therapy, especially in cancer vaccines for immunotherapy. To overcome physiological barriers, such as rapid degradation by enzymatic attack and poor cellular uptake due to their large size and hydrophilic properties, many delivery carriers for mRNAs are being investigated for improving the bioavailability of mRNA. Recently, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have received attention as promising tools for gene delivery. In terms of their biocompatibility and the ability to target specific cells with the versatility of peptide sequences, they may provide clues to address the challenges of conventional delivery systems for cancer mRNA delivery. In this study, optimal conditions for the CPP/mRNA complexes were identified in terms of complexation capacity and N/P ratio, and protection against RNase was confirmed. When cancer cells were treated at a concentration of 6.8 nM, which could deliver the highest amount of mRNA without toxicity, the amphipathic CPP/mRNA complexes with a size less than 200 nm showed high cellular uptake and protein expression. With advances in our understanding of CPPs, CPPs designed to target tumor tissues will be promising for use in developing a new class of mRNA delivery vehicles in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yelee Kim
- Medical Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea; (Y.K.); (H.K.); (E.H.K.); (H.J.); (Y.J.)
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea;
| | - Hyosuk Kim
- Medical Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea; (Y.K.); (H.K.); (E.H.K.); (H.J.); (Y.J.)
| | - Eun Hye Kim
- Medical Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea; (Y.K.); (H.K.); (E.H.K.); (H.J.); (Y.J.)
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea;
| | - Hochung Jang
- Medical Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea; (Y.K.); (H.K.); (E.H.K.); (H.J.); (Y.J.)
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Korea
| | - Yeongji Jang
- Medical Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea; (Y.K.); (H.K.); (E.H.K.); (H.J.); (Y.J.)
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea;
| | - Sung-Gil Chi
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea;
| | - Yoosoo Yang
- Medical Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea; (Y.K.); (H.K.); (E.H.K.); (H.J.); (Y.J.)
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Korea
- Correspondence: (Y.Y.); (S.H.K.); Tel.: +82-2-958-6655 (Y.Y.); +82-2-958-6639 (S.H.K.)
| | - Sun Hwa Kim
- Medical Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea; (Y.K.); (H.K.); (E.H.K.); (H.J.); (Y.J.)
- Correspondence: (Y.Y.); (S.H.K.); Tel.: +82-2-958-6655 (Y.Y.); +82-2-958-6639 (S.H.K.)
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Ladak RJ, He AJ, Huang YH, Ding Y. The Current Landscape of mRNA Vaccines Against Viruses and Cancer-A Mini Review. Front Immunol 2022; 13:885371. [PMID: 35603213 PMCID: PMC9120423 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.885371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Both infectious viral diseases and cancer have historically been some of the most common causes of death worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic is a decidedly relevant example of the former. Despite progress having been made over past decades, new and improved techniques are still needed to address the limitations faced by current treatment standards, with mRNA-based therapy emerging as a promising solution. Highly flexible, scalable and cost-effective, mRNA therapy is proving to be a compelling vaccine platform against viruses. Likewise, mRNA vaccines show similar promise against cancer as a platform capable of encoding multiple antigens for a diverse array of cancers, including those that are patient specific as a novel form of personalized medicine. In this review, the molecular mechanisms, biotechnological aspects, and clinical developments of mRNA vaccines against viral infections and cancer are discussed to provide an informative update on the current state of mRNA therapy research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reese Jalal Ladak
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Alexander J. He
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Yu-Hsun Huang
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Yu Ding
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Luna Velez MV, Paulino da Silva Filho O, Verhaegh GW, van Hooij O, El Boujnouni N, Brock R, Schalken JA. Delivery of antisense oligonucleotides for splice-correction of androgen receptor pre-mRNA in castration-resistant prostate cancer models using cell-penetrating peptides. Prostate 2022; 82:657-665. [PMID: 35098567 PMCID: PMC9303360 DOI: 10.1002/pros.24309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are a promising approach for delivering antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) as they form nanosized complexes through noncovalent interactions that show efficient cellular uptake. Previously, we have designed an AON system to correct splicing of the androgen receptor (AR) pre-mRNA, thereby preventing the generation of the splice variant AR-V7 mRNA. AON-mediated knockdown of AR-V7 resulted in inhibition of androgen-independent cell proliferation. In this study, we evaluated the CPP-mediated delivery of this AON into castration-resistant prostate cancer cell line models 22Rv1, DuCaP (dura mater cancer of the prostate), and VCaP (vertebral cancer of the prostate). METHODS Nanoparticles (polyplexes) of AONs and CPPs were formed through rapid mixing. The impact of the peptide carrier, the formulation parameters, and cell incubation conditions on cellular uptake of fluorescently labeled AONs were assessed through flow cytometry. The cytotoxic activity of these formulations was measured using the CellTiter-Glo cell viability assay. The effectivity of CPP-mediated delivery of the splice-correcting AON-intronic splicing enhancer (ISE) targeting the ISE in the castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC)-derived 22Rv1, DuCaP, and VCaP cells was determined by measuring levels of AR-V7 mRNA normalized to those of the human heterochromatin protein 1 binding protein 3 (HP1BP3). Western blot analysis was used to confirm AR-V7 downregulation at a protein level. The cellular distribution of fluorescently labeled AON delivered by a CPP or a transfection reagent was determined through confocal laser scanning microscopy. RESULTS The amphipathic and stearylated CPP PepFect 14 (PF14) showed higher uptake efficiency than arginine-rich CPPs. Through adjustment of formulation parameters, concentration and incubation time, an optimal balance between carrier-associated toxicity and delivery efficiency was found with a formulation consisting of an amino/phosphate ratio of 3, 0.35 μM AON concentration and 30 min incubation time of the cells with polyplexes. Cellular delivery of AON-ISE directed against AR pre-mRNA achieved significant downregulation of AR-V7 by 50%, 37%, and 59% for 22Rv1, DuCaP, and VCaP cells, respectively, and reduced androgen-independent cell proliferation of DuCaP and VCaP cells. CONCLUSIONS This proof-of-principle study constitutes the basis for further development of CPP-mediated delivery of AONs for targeted therapy in prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria V. Luna Velez
- Department of Urology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life SciencesRadboud University Medical CenterNijmegenthe Netherlands
| | - Omar Paulino da Silva Filho
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life SciencesRadboud University Medical CenterNijmegenthe Netherlands
- CAPES FoundationMinistry of Education of BrazilBrasíliaBrazil
| | - Gerald W. Verhaegh
- Department of Urology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life SciencesRadboud University Medical CenterNijmegenthe Netherlands
| | - Onno van Hooij
- Department of Urology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life SciencesRadboud University Medical CenterNijmegenthe Netherlands
| | - Najoua El Boujnouni
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life SciencesRadboud University Medical CenterNijmegenthe Netherlands
| | - Roland Brock
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life SciencesRadboud University Medical CenterNijmegenthe Netherlands
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Medical SciencesArabian Gulf UniversityKingdom of Bahrain
| | - Jack A. Schalken
- Department of Urology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life SciencesRadboud University Medical CenterNijmegenthe Netherlands
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Hussain A, Yang H, Zhang M, Liu Q, Alotaibi G, Irfan M, He H, Chang J, Liang XJ, Weng Y, Huang Y. mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 and diverse diseases. J Control Release 2022; 345:314-333. [PMID: 35331783 PMCID: PMC8935967 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.03.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Since its outbreak in late 2019, the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread to every continent on the planet. The global pandemic has affected human health and socioeconomic status around the world. At first, the global response to the pandemic was to isolate afflicted individuals to prevent the virus from spreading, while vaccine development was ongoing. The genome sequence was first presented in early January 2020, and the phase I clinical trial of the vaccine started in March 2020 in the United States using novel lipid-based nanoparticle (LNP), encapsulated with mRNA termed as mRNA-1273. Till now, various mRNA-based vaccines are in development, while one mRNA-based vaccine got market approval from US-FDA for the prevention of COVID-19. Previously, mRNA-based vaccines were thought to be difficult to develop, but the current development is a significant accomplishment. However, widespread production and global availability of mRNA-based vaccinations to combat the COVID-19 pandemic remains a major challenge, especially when the mutations continually occur on the virus (e.g., the recent outbreaks of Omicron variant). This review elaborately discusses the COVID-19 pandemic, the biology of SARS-CoV-2 and the progress of mRNA-based vaccines. Moreover, the review also highlighted a detailed description of mRNA delivery technologies and the application potential in controlling other life-threatening diseases. Therefore, it provides a comprehensive view and multidisciplinary insights into mRNA therapy for broader audiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abid Hussain
- Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Science, School of Life Science, School of Medical Technology (Institute of Engineering Medicine), Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Key Laboratory of Medical Molecule Science and Pharmaceutics Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Haiyin Yang
- Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Science, School of Life Science, School of Medical Technology (Institute of Engineering Medicine), Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Key Laboratory of Medical Molecule Science and Pharmaceutics Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Mengjie Zhang
- Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Science, School of Life Science, School of Medical Technology (Institute of Engineering Medicine), Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Key Laboratory of Medical Molecule Science and Pharmaceutics Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Science, School of Life Science, School of Medical Technology (Institute of Engineering Medicine), Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Key Laboratory of Medical Molecule Science and Pharmaceutics Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Ghallab Alotaibi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Al-Dawadmi Campus, Shaqra University, Shaqra, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Irfan
- School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; School of Business Administration, Ilma University, Karachi 75190, Pakistan
| | - Huining He
- Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics, School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Jin Chang
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin Engineering Center of Micro Nano Biomaterials and Detection Treatment Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Xing-Jie Liang
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nano safety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Yuhua Weng
- Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Science, School of Life Science, School of Medical Technology (Institute of Engineering Medicine), Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Key Laboratory of Medical Molecule Science and Pharmaceutics Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yuanyu Huang
- Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Science, School of Life Science, School of Medical Technology (Institute of Engineering Medicine), Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Key Laboratory of Medical Molecule Science and Pharmaceutics Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
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28
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Unleashing cell-penetrating peptide applications for immunotherapy. Trends Mol Med 2022; 28:482-496. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2022.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Fang E, Liu X, Li M, Zhang Z, Song L, Zhu B, Wu X, Liu J, Zhao D, Li Y. Advances in COVID-19 mRNA vaccine development. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:94. [PMID: 35322018 PMCID: PMC8940982 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-00950-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 80.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
To date, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has determined 399,600,607 cases and 5,757,562 deaths worldwide. COVID-19 is a serious threat to human health globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19 pandemic a major public health emergency. Vaccination is the most effective and economical intervention for controlling the spread of epidemics, and consequently saving lives and protecting the health of the population. Various techniques have been employed in the development of COVID-19 vaccines. Among these, the COVID-19 messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine has been drawing increasing attention owing to its great application prospects and advantages, which include short development cycle, easy industrialization, simple production process, flexibility to respond to new variants, and the capacity to induce better immune response. This review summarizes current knowledge on the structural characteristics, antigen design strategies, delivery systems, industrialization potential, quality control, latest clinical trials and real-world data of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines as well as mRNA technology. Current challenges and future directions in the development of preventive mRNA vaccines for major infectious diseases are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enyue Fang
- National Institute for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, 102629, China
- Wuhan Institute of Biological Products, Co., Ltd., Wuhan, 430207, China
| | - Xiaohui Liu
- National Institute for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, 102629, China
| | - Miao Li
- National Institute for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, 102629, China
| | - Zelun Zhang
- National Institute for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, 102629, China
| | - Lifang Song
- National Institute for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, 102629, China
| | - Baiyu Zhu
- Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Xiaohong Wu
- National Institute for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, 102629, China
| | - Jingjing Liu
- National Institute for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, 102629, China
| | - Danhua Zhao
- National Institute for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, 102629, China
| | - Yuhua Li
- National Institute for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, 102629, China.
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Byun MJ, Lim J, Kim SN, Park DH, Kim TH, Park W, Park CG. Advances in Nanoparticles for Effective Delivery of RNA Therapeutics. BIOCHIP JOURNAL 2022; 16:128-145. [PMID: 35261724 PMCID: PMC8891745 DOI: 10.1007/s13206-022-00052-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
RNA therapeutics, including messenger RNA (mRNA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA), are genetic materials that mediate the translation of genetic direction from genes to induce or inhibit specific protein production. Although the interest in RNA therapeutics is rising globally, the absence of an effective delivery system is an obstacle to the clinical application of RNA therapeutics. Additionally, immunogenicity, short duration of protein expression, unwanted enzymatic degradation, and insufficient cellular uptake could limit the therapeutic efficacy of RNA therapeutics. In this regard, novel platforms based on nanoparticles are crucial for delivering RNAs to the targeted site to increase efficiency without toxicity. In this review, the most recent status of nanoparticles as RNA delivery vectors, with a focus on polymeric nanoparticles, peptide-derived nanoparticles, inorganic nanoparticles, and hybrid nanoparticles, is discussed. These nanoparticular platforms can be utilized for safe and effective RNA delivery to augment therapeutic effects. Ultimately, RNA therapeutics encapsulated in nanoparticle-based carriers will be used to treat many diseases and save lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Ji Byun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, SKKU Institute for Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Gyeonggi 16419 Republic of Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, SKKU Institute for Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Gyeonggi 16419 Republic of Korea
| | - Jaesung Lim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, SKKU Institute for Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Gyeonggi 16419 Republic of Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, SKKU Institute for Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Gyeonggi 16419 Republic of Korea
| | - Se-Na Kim
- Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080 Republic of Korea
| | - Dae-Hwan Park
- Department of Engineering Chemistry, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk 28644 Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Hyung Kim
- School of Integrative Engineering, Chung-Ang University, 84, Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 06974 Republic of Korea
| | - Wooram Park
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Gyeonggi 16419 Republic of Korea
| | - Chun Gwon Park
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, SKKU Institute for Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Gyeonggi 16419 Republic of Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, SKKU Institute for Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Gyeonggi 16419 Republic of Korea
- Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU (BICS), Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi 16419 Republic of Korea
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon, Gyeonggi 16419 Republic of Korea
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31
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Nonviral Delivery Systems of mRNA Vaccines for Cancer Gene Therapy. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14030512. [PMID: 35335891 PMCID: PMC8949480 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14030512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the use of messenger RNA (mRNA) in the fields of gene therapy, immunotherapy, and stem cell biomedicine has received extensive attention. With the development of scientific technology, mRNA applications for tumor treatment have matured. Since the SARS-CoV-2 infection outbreak in 2019, the development of engineered mRNA and mRNA vaccines has accelerated rapidly. mRNA is easy to produce, scalable, modifiable, and not integrated into the host genome, showing tremendous potential for cancer gene therapy and immunotherapy when used in combination with traditional strategies. The core mechanism of mRNA therapy is vehicle-based delivery of in vitro transcribed mRNA (IVT mRNA), which is large, negatively charged, and easily degradable, into the cytoplasm and subsequent expression of the corresponding proteins. However, effectively delivering mRNA into cells and successfully activating the immune response are the keys to the clinical transformation of mRNA therapy. In this review, we focus on nonviral nanodelivery systems of mRNA vaccines used for cancer gene therapy and immunotherapy.
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32
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Geng J, Xia X, Teng L, Wang L, Chen L, Guo X, Belingon B, Li J, Feng X, Li X, Shang W, Wan Y, Wang H. Emerging landscape of cell-penetrating peptide-mediated nucleic acid delivery and their utility in imaging, gene-editing, and RNA-sequencing. J Control Release 2022; 341:166-183. [PMID: 34822907 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.11.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The safety issues like immunogenicity and unacceptable cancer risk of viral vectors for DNA/mRNA vaccine delivery necessitate the development of non-viral vectors with no toxicity. Among the non-viral strategies, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have been a topic of interest recently because of their ability to cross plasma membranes and facilitate nucleic acids delivery both in vivo and in vitro. In addition to the application in the field of gene vaccine and gene therapy, CPPs based nucleic acids delivery have been proved by its potential application like gene editing, RNA-sequencing, and imaging. Here, we focus on summarizing the recent applications and progress of CPPs-mediated nucleic acids delivery and discuss the current problems and solutions in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingping Geng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Xuan Xia
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical School, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Lin Teng
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Clinical Medical College of China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Lidan Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Linlin Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China; Affiliated Ren He Hospital of China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Xiangli Guo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Bonn Belingon
- Institute of Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21210, USA
| | - Jason Li
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21210, USA
| | - Xuemei Feng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Xianghui Li
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Wendou Shang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Yingying Wan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Hu Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China.
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Yokoo H, Oba M, Uchida S. Cell-Penetrating Peptides: Emerging Tools for mRNA Delivery. Pharmaceutics 2021; 14:pharmaceutics14010078. [PMID: 35056974 PMCID: PMC8781296 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14010078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Messenger RNAs (mRNAs) were previously shown to have great potential for preventive vaccination against infectious diseases and therapeutic applications in the treatment of cancers and genetic diseases. Delivery systems for mRNAs, including lipid- and polymer-based carriers, are being developed for improving mRNA bioavailability. Among these systems, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) of 4–40 amino acids have emerged as powerful tools for mRNA delivery, which were originally developed to deliver membrane-impermeable drugs, peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids to cells and tissues. Various functionalities can be integrated into CPPs by tuning the composition and sequence of natural and non-natural amino acids for mRNA delivery. With the employment of CPPs, improved endosomal escape efficiencies, selective targeting of dendritic cells (DCs), modulation of endosomal pathways for efficient antigen presentation by DCs, and effective mRNA delivery to the lungs by dry powder inhalation have been reported; additionally, they have been found to prolong protein expression by intracellular stabilization of mRNA. This review highlights the distinctive features of CPP-based mRNA delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidetomo Yokoo
- Medical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 606-0823, Japan;
| | - Makoto Oba
- Medical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 606-0823, Japan;
- Correspondence: (M.O.); (S.U.); Tel.: +81-75-703-4937 (M.O.); +81-75-703-4938 (S.U.)
| | - Satoshi Uchida
- Medical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 606-0823, Japan;
- Innovation Center of NanoMedicine (iCONM), Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, Kawasaki 210-0821, Japan
- Correspondence: (M.O.); (S.U.); Tel.: +81-75-703-4937 (M.O.); +81-75-703-4938 (S.U.)
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Ouranidis A, Vavilis T, Mandala E, Davidopoulou C, Stamoula E, Markopoulou CK, Karagianni A, Kachrimanis K. mRNA Therapeutic Modalities Design, Formulation and Manufacturing under Pharma 4.0 Principles. Biomedicines 2021; 10:50. [PMID: 35052730 PMCID: PMC8773365 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10010050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the quest for a formidable weapon against the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, mRNA therapeutics have stolen the spotlight. mRNA vaccines are a prime example of the benefits of mRNA approaches towards a broad array of clinical entities and druggable targets. Amongst these benefits is the rapid cycle "from design to production" of an mRNA product compared to their peptide counterparts, the mutability of the production line should another target be chosen, the side-stepping of safety issues posed by DNA therapeutics being permanently integrated into the transfected cell's genome and the controlled precision over the translated peptides. Furthermore, mRNA applications are versatile: apart from vaccines it can be used as a replacement therapy, even to create chimeric antigen receptor T-cells or reprogram somatic cells. Still, the sudden global demand for mRNA has highlighted the shortcomings in its industrial production as well as its formulation, efficacy and applicability. Continuous, smart mRNA manufacturing 4.0 technologies have been recently proposed to address such challenges. In this work, we examine the lab and upscaled production of mRNA therapeutics, the mRNA modifications proposed that increase its efficacy and lower its immunogenicity, the vectors available for delivery and the stability considerations concerning long-term storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Ouranidis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Theofanis Vavilis
- Laboratory of Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Evdokia Mandala
- Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Christina Davidopoulou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Eleni Stamoula
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Catherine K Markopoulou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Anna Karagianni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Kyriakos Kachrimanis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
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Miliotou AN, Pappas IS, Spyroulias G, Vlachaki E, Tsiftsoglou AS, Vizirianakis IS, Papadopoulou LC. Development of a novel PTD-mediated IVT-mRNA delivery platform for potential protein replacement therapy of metabolic/genetic disorders. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2021; 26:694-710. [PMID: 34703653 PMCID: PMC8517095 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The potential clinical applications of the powerful in vitro-transcribed (IVT)-mRNAs, to restore defective protein functions, strongly depend on their successful intracellular delivery and transient translation through the development of safe and efficient delivery platforms. In this study, an innovative (international patent-pending) methodology was developed, combining the IVT-mRNAs with the protein transduction domain (PTD) technology, as an efficient delivery platform. Based on the PTD technology, which enables the intracellular delivery of various cargoes intracellularly, successful conjugation of a PTD to the IVT-mRNAs was achieved and evaluated by band-shift assay and NMR spectroscopy. In addition, the PTD-IVT-mRNAs were applied and evaluated in two protein-disease models, including the mitochondrial disorder fatal infantile cardioencephalomyopathy and cytochrome c oxidase (COX) deficiency (attributed to SCO2 gene mutations) and β-thalassemia. The PTD-IVT-mRNA of SCO2 was successfully transduced and translated to the corresponding Sco2 protein inside the primary fibroblasts of a SCO2/COX-deficient patient, whereas the PTD-IVT-mRNA of β-globin was transduced and translated in bone marrow cells, derived from three β-thalassemic patients. The transducibility and the structural stability of the PDT-IVT-mRNAs, in both cases, were confirmed at the RNA and protein levels. We propose that our novel delivery platform could be clinically applicable as a protein therapy for metabolic/genetic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Androulla N Miliotou
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 546 42 Macedonia, Greece
| | - Ioannis S Pappas
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, 431 00 Thessaly, Greece
| | | | - Efthimia Vlachaki
- Adult Thalassemia Unit, Hippokrateion General Hospital, Thessaloniki, 546 42 Macedonia, Greece
| | - Asterios S Tsiftsoglou
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 546 42 Macedonia, Greece
| | - Ioannis S Vizirianakis
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 546 42 Macedonia, Greece.,Department of Life and Health Sciences, University of Nicosia, 1700 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Lefkothea C Papadopoulou
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 546 42 Macedonia, Greece
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36
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Chabanovska O, Galow AM, David R, Lemcke H. mRNA - A game changer in regenerative medicine, cell-based therapy and reprogramming strategies. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 179:114002. [PMID: 34653534 PMCID: PMC9418126 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.114002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
After thirty years of intensive research shaping and optimizing the technology, the approval of the first mRNA-based formulation by the EMA and FDA in order to stop the COVID-19 pandemic was a breakthrough in mRNA research. The astonishing success of these vaccines have brought the mRNA platform into the spotlight of the scientific community. The remarkable persistence of the groundwork is mainly attributed to the exceptional benefits of mRNA application, including the biological origin, immediate but transitory mechanism of action, non-integrative properties, safe and relatively simple manufacturing as well as the flexibility to produce any desired protein. Based on these advantages, a practical implementation of in vitro transcribed mRNA has been considered in most areas of medicine. In this review, we discuss the key preconditions for the rise of the mRNA in the medical field, including the unique structural and functional features of the mRNA molecule and its vehicles, which are crucial aspects for a production of potent mRNA-based therapeutics. Further, we focus on the utility of mRNA tools particularly in the scope of regenerative medicine, i.e. cell reprogramming approaches or manipulation strategies for targeted tissue restoration. Finally, we highlight the strong clinical potential but also the remaining hurdles to overcome for the mRNA-based regenerative therapy, which is only a few steps away from becoming a reality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleksandra Chabanovska
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Reference and Translation Center for Cardiac Stem Cell Therapy (RTC), Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany,Faculty of Interdisciplinary Research, Department Life, Light & Matter, University Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Anne-Marie Galow
- Institute of Genome Biology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Robert David
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Reference and Translation Center for Cardiac Stem Cell Therapy (RTC), Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany,Faculty of Interdisciplinary Research, Department Life, Light & Matter, University Rostock, Rostock, Germany,Corresponding author at: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Reference and Translation Center for Cardiac Stem Cell Therapy (RTC), Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Heiko Lemcke
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Reference and Translation Center for Cardiac Stem Cell Therapy (RTC), Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany,Faculty of Interdisciplinary Research, Department Life, Light & Matter, University Rostock, Rostock, Germany
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Palacio-Castañeda V, Oude Egberink R, Sait A, Andrée L, Sala BM, Hassani Besheli N, Oosterwijk E, Nilvebrant J, Leeuwenburgh SCG, Brock R, Verdurmen WPR. Mimicking the Biology of Engineered Protein and mRNA Nanoparticle Delivery Using a Versatile Microfluidic Platform. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13111944. [PMID: 34834361 PMCID: PMC8624409 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13111944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate the delivery of next-generation macromolecular drugs, such as engineered proteins and mRNA-containing nanoparticles, there is an increasing push towards the use of physiologically relevant disease models that incorporate human cells and do not face ethical dilemmas associated with animal use. Here, we illustrate the versatility and ease of use of a microfluidic platform for studying drug delivery using high-resolution microscopy in 3D. Using this microfluidic platform, we successfully demonstrate the specific targeting of carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) on cells overexpressing the protein in a tumor-mimicking chip system using affibodies, with CAIX-negative cells and non-binding affibodies as controls. Furthermore, we demonstrate this system’s feasibility for testing mRNA-containing biomaterials designed to regenerate bone defects. To this end, peptide- and lipid-based mRNA formulations were successfully mixed with colloidal gelatin in microfluidic devices, while translational activity was studied by the expression of a green fluorescent protein. This microfluidic platform enables the testing of mRNA delivery from colloidal biomaterials of relatively high densities, which represents a first important step towards a bone-on-a-chip platform. Collectively, by illustrating the ease of adaptation of our microfluidic platform towards use in distinct applications, we show that our microfluidic chip represents a powerful and flexible way to investigate drug delivery in 3D disease-mimicking culture systems that recapitulate key parameters associated with in vivo drug application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Palacio-Castañeda
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (V.P.-C.); (R.O.E.); (A.S.)
| | - Rik Oude Egberink
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (V.P.-C.); (R.O.E.); (A.S.)
| | - Arbaaz Sait
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (V.P.-C.); (R.O.E.); (A.S.)
| | - Lea Andrée
- Department of Dentistry—Regenerative Biomaterials, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Philips van Leydenlaan 25, 6525 EX Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (L.A.); (N.H.B.); (S.C.G.L.)
| | - Benedetta Maria Sala
- Division of Protein Engineering, Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, AlbaNova University Center, Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden; (B.M.S.); (J.N.)
| | - Negar Hassani Besheli
- Department of Dentistry—Regenerative Biomaterials, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Philips van Leydenlaan 25, 6525 EX Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (L.A.); (N.H.B.); (S.C.G.L.)
| | - Egbert Oosterwijk
- Department of Urology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 26/28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Johan Nilvebrant
- Division of Protein Engineering, Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, AlbaNova University Center, Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden; (B.M.S.); (J.N.)
| | - Sander C. G. Leeuwenburgh
- Department of Dentistry—Regenerative Biomaterials, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Philips van Leydenlaan 25, 6525 EX Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (L.A.); (N.H.B.); (S.C.G.L.)
| | - Roland Brock
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (V.P.-C.); (R.O.E.); (A.S.)
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 329, Bahrain
- Correspondence: (R.B.); (W.P.R.V.)
| | - Wouter P. R. Verdurmen
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (V.P.-C.); (R.O.E.); (A.S.)
- Correspondence: (R.B.); (W.P.R.V.)
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Chaudhary N, Weissman D, Whitehead KA. mRNA vaccines for infectious diseases: principles, delivery and clinical translation. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2021; 20:817-838. [PMID: 34433919 PMCID: PMC8386155 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-021-00283-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 505] [Impact Index Per Article: 168.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Over the past several decades, messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines have progressed from a scepticism-inducing idea to clinical reality. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic catalysed the most rapid vaccine development in history, with mRNA vaccines at the forefront of those efforts. Although it is now clear that mRNA vaccines can rapidly and safely protect patients from infectious disease, additional research is required to optimize mRNA design, intracellular delivery and applications beyond SARS-CoV-2 prophylaxis. In this Review, we describe the technologies that underlie mRNA vaccines, with an emphasis on lipid nanoparticles and other non-viral delivery vehicles. We also overview the pipeline of mRNA vaccines against various infectious disease pathogens and discuss key questions for the future application of this breakthrough vaccine platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namit Chaudhary
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Drew Weissman
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kathryn A Whitehead
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Cell-Penetrating Peptide and siRNA-Mediated Therapeutic Effects on Endometriosis and Cancer In Vitro Models. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13101618. [PMID: 34683911 PMCID: PMC8541686 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13101618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy is a powerful tool for the development of new treatment strategies for various conditions, by aiming to transport biologically active nucleic acids into diseased cells. To achieve that goal, we used highly potential delivery vectors, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), as oligonucleotide carriers for the development of a therapeutic approach for endometriosis and cancer. Despite marked differences, both of these conditions still exhibit similarities, like excessive, uncoordinated, and autonomous cellular proliferation and invasion, accompanied by overlapping gene expression patterns. Thus, in the current study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of CPP and siRNA nanoparticles using in vitro models of benign endometriosis and malignant glioblastoma. We demonstrated that CPPs PepFect6 and NickFect70 are highly effective in transfecting cell lines, primary cell cultures, and three-dimensional spheroids. CPP nanoparticles are capable of inducing siRNA-specific knockdown of therapeutic genes, ribonucleotide reductase subunit M2 (RRM2), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which results in the reduction of in vitro cellular proliferation, invasion, and migration. In addition, we proved that it is possible to achieve synergistic suppression of endometriosis cellular proliferation and invasion by combining gene therapy and hormonal treatment approaches by co-administering CPP/siRNA nanoparticles together with the endometriosis-drug danazol. We suggest a novel target, RRM2, for endometriosis therapy and as a proof-of-concept, we propose a CPP-mediated gene therapy approach for endometriosis and cancer.
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40
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Ibba ML, Ciccone G, Esposito CL, Catuogno S, Giangrande PH. Advances in mRNA non-viral delivery approaches. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 177:113930. [PMID: 34403751 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.113930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Messenger RNAs (mRNAs) present a great potential as therapeutics for the treatment and prevention of a wide range of human pathologies, allowing for protein replacement, vaccination, cancer immunotherapy, and genomic engineering. Despite advances in the design of mRNA-based therapeutics, a key aspect for their widespread translation to clinic is the development of safe and effective delivery strategies. To this end, non-viral delivery systems including peptide-based complexes, lipidic or polymeric nanoparticles, and hybrid formulations are attracting growing interest. Despite displaying somewhat reduced efficacy compared to viral-based systems, non-viral carriers offer important advantages in terms of biosafety and versatility. In this review, we provide an overview of current mRNA therapeutic applications and discuss key biological barriers to delivery and recent advances in the development of non-viral systems. Challenges and future applications of this novel therapeutic modality are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria L Ibba
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, "Federico II" University of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ciccone
- Institute Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology "Gaetano Salvatore" (IEOS), National Research Council (CNR), 80145 Naples, Italy
| | - Carla L Esposito
- Institute Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology "Gaetano Salvatore" (IEOS), National Research Council (CNR), 80145 Naples, Italy.
| | - Silvia Catuogno
- Institute Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology "Gaetano Salvatore" (IEOS), National Research Council (CNR), 80145 Naples, Italy.
| | - Paloma H Giangrande
- University of Iowa, Department of Internal Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA; Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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Tarvirdipour S, Skowicki M, Schoenenberger CA, Palivan CG. Peptide-Assisted Nucleic Acid Delivery Systems on the Rise. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9092. [PMID: 34445799 PMCID: PMC8396486 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22169092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Concerns associated with nanocarriers' therapeutic efficacy and side effects have led to the development of strategies to advance them into targeted and responsive delivery systems. Owing to their bioactivity and biocompatibility, peptides play a key role in these strategies and, thus, have been extensively studied in nanomedicine. Peptide-based nanocarriers, in particular, have burgeoned with advances in purely peptidic structures and in combinations of peptides, both native and modified, with polymers, lipids, and inorganic nanoparticles. In this review, we summarize advances on peptides promoting gene delivery systems. The efficacy of nucleic acid therapies largely depends on cell internalization and the delivery to subcellular organelles. Hence, the review focuses on nanocarriers where peptides are pivotal in ferrying nucleic acids to their site of action, with a special emphasis on peptides that assist anionic, water-soluble nucleic acids in crossing the membrane barriers they encounter on their way to efficient function. In a second part, we address how peptides advance nanoassembly delivery tools, such that they navigate delivery barriers and release their nucleic acid cargo at specific sites in a controlled fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabnam Tarvirdipour
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; (S.T.); (M.S.)
- Department of Biosystem Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Michal Skowicki
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; (S.T.); (M.S.)
- NCCR-Molecular Systems Engineering, BPR1095, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Cora-Ann Schoenenberger
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; (S.T.); (M.S.)
- NCCR-Molecular Systems Engineering, BPR1095, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Cornelia G. Palivan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; (S.T.); (M.S.)
- NCCR-Molecular Systems Engineering, BPR1095, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
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Internalisation and Biological Activity of Nucleic Acids Delivering Cell-Penetrating Peptide Nanoparticles Is Controlled by the Biomolecular Corona. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14070667. [PMID: 34358093 PMCID: PMC8308718 DOI: 10.3390/ph14070667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acid molecules can be transferred into cells to alter gene expression and, thus, alleviate certain pathological conditions. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are vectors that can be used for transfecting nucleic acids as well as many other compounds. CPPs associate nucleic acids non-covalently, forming stable nanoparticles and providing efficient transfection of cells in vitro. However, in vivo, expected efficiency is achieved only in rare cases. One of the reasons for this discrepancy is the formation of protein corona around nanoparticles, once they are exposed to a biological environment, e.g., blood stream. In this study, we compared protein corona of CPP-nucleic acid nanoparticles formed in the presence of bovine, murine and human serum. We used Western blot and mass-spectrometry to identify the major constituents of protein corona forming around nanoparticles, showing that proteins involved in transport, haemostasis and complement system are its major components. We investigated physical features of nanoparticles and measured their biological efficiency in splice-correction assay. We showed that protein corona constituents might alter the fate of nanoparticles in vivo, e.g., by subjecting them to phagocytosis. We demonstrated that composition of protein corona of nanoparticles is species-specific that leads to dissimilar transfection efficiency and should be considered while developing delivery systems for nucleic acids.
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Chakraborty C, Sharma AR, Bhattacharya M, Lee SS. From COVID-19 to Cancer mRNA Vaccines: Moving From Bench to Clinic in the Vaccine Landscape. Front Immunol 2021; 12:679344. [PMID: 34305909 PMCID: PMC8293291 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.679344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, mRNA vaccines have become a significant type of therapeutic and have created new fields in the biopharmaceutical industry. mRNA vaccines are promising next-generation vaccines that have introduced a new age in vaccinology. The recent approval of two COVID-19 mRNA vaccines (mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2) has accelerated mRNA vaccine technology and boosted the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. These mRNA vaccines will help to tackle COVID-19 pandemic through immunization, offering considerable hope for future mRNA vaccines. Human trials with data both from mRNA cancer vaccines and mRNA infectious disease vaccines have provided encouraging results, inspiring the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to focus on this area of research. In this article, we discuss current mRNA vaccines broadly in two parts. In the first part, mRNA vaccines in general and COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are discussed. We presented the mRNA vaccine structure in general, the different delivery systems, the immune response, and the recent clinical trials for mRNA vaccines (both for cancer mRNA vaccines and different infectious diseases mRNA vaccines). In the second part, different COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are explained. Finally, we illustrated a snapshot of the different leading mRNA vaccine developers, challenges, and future prospects of mRNA vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiranjib Chakraborty
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Adamas University, Kolkata, India
- Institute for Skeletal Aging & Orthopedic Surgery, Hallym University-Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, South Korea
| | - Ashish Ranjan Sharma
- Institute for Skeletal Aging & Orthopedic Surgery, Hallym University-Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, South Korea
| | | | - Sang-Soo Lee
- Institute for Skeletal Aging & Orthopedic Surgery, Hallym University-Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, South Korea
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Cell-Penetrating Peptides and Transportan. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13070987. [PMID: 34210007 PMCID: PMC8308968 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13070987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In the most recent 25–30 years, multiple novel mechanisms and applications of cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) have been demonstrated, leading to novel drug delivery systems. In this review, I present a brief introduction to the CPP area with selected recent achievements. This is followed by a nostalgic journey into the research in my own laboratories, which lead to multiple CPPs, starting from transportan and paving a way to CPP-based therapeutic developments in the delivery of bio-functional materials, such as peptides, proteins, vaccines, oligonucleotides and small molecules, etc.
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Peptide-Based Nanoparticles for Therapeutic Nucleic Acid Delivery. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9050583. [PMID: 34065544 PMCID: PMC8161338 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9050583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy offers the possibility to skip, repair, or silence faulty genes or to stimulate the immune system to fight against disease by delivering therapeutic nucleic acids (NAs) to a patient. Compared to other drugs or protein treatments, NA-based therapies have the advantage of being a more universal approach to designing therapies because of the versatility of NA design. NAs (siRNA, pDNA, or mRNA) have great potential for therapeutic applications for an immense number of indications. However, the delivery of these exogenous NAs is still challenging and requires a specific delivery system. In this context, beside other non-viral vectors, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) gain more and more interest as delivery systems by forming a variety of nanocomplexes depending on the formulation conditions and the properties of the used CPPs/NAs. In this review, we attempt to cover the most important biophysical and biological aspects of non-viral peptide-based nanoparticles (PBNs) for therapeutic nucleic acid formulations as a delivery system. The most relevant peptides or peptide families forming PBNs in the presence of NAs described since 2015 will be presented. All these PBNs able to deliver NAs in vitro and in vivo have common features, which are characterized by defined formulation conditions in order to obtain PBNs from 60 nm to 150 nm with a homogeneous dispersity (PdI lower than 0.3) and a positive charge between +10 mV and +40 mV.
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van Asbeck AH, Dieker J, Oude Egberink R, van den Berg L, van der Vlag J, Brock R. Protein Expression Correlates Linearly with mRNA Dose over Up to Five Orders of Magnitude In Vitro and In Vivo. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9050511. [PMID: 34063094 PMCID: PMC8148180 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9050511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Messenger RNA is rapidly gaining significance as a therapeutic modality. Here, we address the dependence of dose-response functions on the type of delivery vehicle, cell line, and incubation time. Knowledge of these characteristics is crucial for the application of mRNA. As delivery vehicles, a lipid-based formulation and the cell-penetrating peptide Pepfect14 (PF14) were employed. As cell lines, we included a glomerular endothelial cell line (mGEnC) as a model for differentiated cells, HeLa cells, and SKOV-3 ovarian carcinoma cells. Uptake and expression were detected by flow cytometry, using a Cy5-labelled mRNA coding for enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). There was a linear correlation of dose, uptake, and expression, and this correlation was maintained for over up to 72 h. Through application of a multistep kinetic model, we show that differences in expression levels can already be explained by the number of mRNAs packaged per delivery vehicle. Using luciferase as a reporter protein, linearity of expression was observed over 5 orders of magnitude in vitro and 3 orders of magnitude in vivo. Overall, the results demonstrate that mRNA provides excellent quantitative control over protein expression, also over extended periods of time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander H. van Asbeck
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (A.H.v.A.); (J.D.); (R.O.E.); (L.v.d.B.)
| | - Jürgen Dieker
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (A.H.v.A.); (J.D.); (R.O.E.); (L.v.d.B.)
| | - Rik Oude Egberink
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (A.H.v.A.); (J.D.); (R.O.E.); (L.v.d.B.)
| | - Lennard van den Berg
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (A.H.v.A.); (J.D.); (R.O.E.); (L.v.d.B.)
| | - Johan van der Vlag
- Department of Nephrology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Roland Brock
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (A.H.v.A.); (J.D.); (R.O.E.); (L.v.d.B.)
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Medical Science, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 293, Kingdom of Bahrain
- Correspondence:
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Reissmann S, Filatova MP. New generation of cell‐penetrating peptides: Functionality and potential clinical application. J Pept Sci 2021; 27:e3300. [DOI: 10.1002/psc.3300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Siegmund Reissmann
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics Friedrich Schiller University Dornburger Str. 25 Jena Thueringia 07743 Germany
| | - Margarita P. Filatova
- Shemyakin‐Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
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Cell-penetrating peptides in oncologic pharmacotherapy: A review. Pharmacol Res 2020; 162:105231. [PMID: 33027717 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world and its treatment is extremely challenging, mainly due to its complexity. Cell-Penetrating Peptides (CPPs) are peptides that can transport into the cell a wide variety of biologically active conjugates (or cargoes), and are, therefore, promising in the treatment and in the diagnosis of several types of cancer. Some notable examples are TAT and Penetratin, capable of penetrating the central nervous system (CNS) and, therefore, acting in cancers of this system, such as Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). These above-mentioned peptides, conjugated with traditional chemotherapeutic such as Doxorubicin (DOX) and Paclitaxel (PTX), have also been shown to induce apoptosis of breast and liver cancer cells, as well as in lung cancer cells, respectively. In other cancers, such as esophageal cancer, the attachment of Magainin 2 (MG2) to Bombesin (MG2B), another CPP, led to pronounced anticancer effects. Other examples are CopA3, that selectively decreased the viability of gastric cancer cells, and the CPP p28. Furthermore, in preclinical tests, the anti-tumor efficacy of this peptide was evaluated on human breast cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, and melanoma cells in vitro, leading to high expression of p53 and promoting cell cycle arrest. Despite the numerous in vitro and in vivo studies with promising results, and the increasing number of clinical trials using CPPs, few treatments reach the expected clinical efficacy. Usually, their clinical application is limited by its poor aqueous solubility, immunogenicity issues and dose-limiting toxicity. This review describes the most recent advances and innovations in the use of CPPs in several types of cancer, highlighting their crucial importance for various purposes, from therapeutic to diagnosis. Further clinical trials with these peptides are warranted to examine its effects on various types of cancer.
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Adeola HA, Sabiu S, Adekiya TA, Aruleba RT, Aruwa CE, Oyinloye BE. Prospects of nanodentistry for the diagnosis and treatment of maxillofacial pathologies and cancers. Heliyon 2020; 6:e04890. [PMID: 32984600 PMCID: PMC7492852 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the commendable milestones achieved in molecular maxillofacial pathology in the last decade, there remains a paucity of utilization of ancillary nanomolecular tools that complement the omics-based approaches. As the advent of omics science transforms our understanding of tumour biology from a phenomenological to a complex network (systems-oriented) paradigm, several ancillary tools have emerged to improve the scope of individualized medicine. Targeted nano drug delivery systems have significantly reduced toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents in a precise manner. Many conventional cancer therapies are limited in efficacy and this has led to the emergence of nanomedical innovations. Despite the success of nanomedicine, a major challenge that persists is tumour heterogeneity and biological complexity. A good understanding of the interaction between inorganic nanoparticles and the biological systems has led to the development of better tools for individualized medicine. Tools such as the composite organic-inorganic nanoparticles (COINs) and the quantum dots (QD) have significantly improved the identification and quantification of disease biomarkers, histopathological detection methods, as well as improving the clinical translation and utility of these nanomaterials. Nanomedicine has lent credence to several multipronged theranostic applications in medicine, and this has improved the medical practice tremendously. Despite the palpable influence of nanomedicine on the delivery of individualized medical therapies, the term "nanodentistry" remains in the background without much hype, albeit some progress has been made in this area. Hence, this review discusses the potential and challenges of nanodentistry in the diagnosis and treatment of maxillofacial pathologies, particularly cancer in resource-limited settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry A. Adeola
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of the Western Cape and Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town South Africa
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences and Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town South Africa
| | - Saheed Sabiu
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Durban University of Technology, Steve Biko Campus, Steve Biko Road, Berea, Durban 4001, South Africa
| | - Tayo A. Adekiya
- Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform Research Unit, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193, South Africa
| | - Raphael T. Aruleba
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - Christiana E. Aruwa
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Durban University of Technology, Steve Biko Campus, Steve Biko Road, Berea, Durban 4001, South Africa
| | - Babatunji E. Oyinloye
- Phytomedicine, Biochemical Toxicology and Biotechnology Research Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Afe Babalola University, P.M.B 5454 Ado Ekiti 360001, Nigeria
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Wadhwa A, Aljabbari A, Lokras A, Foged C, Thakur A. Opportunities and Challenges in the Delivery of mRNA-based Vaccines. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:E102. [PMID: 32013049 PMCID: PMC7076378 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12020102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 263] [Impact Index Per Article: 65.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In the past few years, there has been increasing focus on the use of messenger RNA (mRNA) as a new therapeutic modality. Current clinical efforts encompassing mRNA-based drugs are directed toward infectious disease vaccines, cancer immunotherapies, therapeutic protein replacement therapies, and treatment of genetic diseases. However, challenges that impede the successful translation of these molecules into drugs are that (i) mRNA is a very large molecule, (ii) it is intrinsically unstable and prone to degradation by nucleases, and (iii) it activates the immune system. Although some of these challenges have been partially solved by means of chemical modification of the mRNA, intracellular delivery of mRNA still represents a major hurdle. The clinical translation of mRNA-based therapeutics requires delivery technologies that can ensure stabilization of mRNA under physiological conditions. Here, we (i) review opportunities and challenges in the delivery of mRNA-based therapeutics with a focus on non-viral delivery systems, (ii) present the clinical status of mRNA vaccines, and (iii) highlight perspectives on the future of this promising new type of medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Aneesh Thakur
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
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