CD123/CD33 dual-antibody modified liposomes effectively target acute myeloid leukemia cells and reduce antigen-negative escape

Advances in Drug Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a common and catastrophic hematological neoplasm with high mortality rates. Conventional therapies, including chemotherapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), immune therapy, and targeted agents, have unsatisfactory outcomes for AML patients due to drug toxicity, off-target effects, drug resistance, drug side effects, and AML relapse and refractoriness. These intrinsic limitations of current treatments have promoted the development and application of nanomedicine for more effective and safer leukemia therapy. In this review, the classification of nanoparticles applied in AML therapy, including liposomes, polymersomes, micelles, dendrimers, and inorganic nanoparticles, is reviewed. In addition, various strategies for enhancing therapeutic targetability in nanomedicine, including the use of conjugating ligands, biomimetic-nanotechnology, and bone marrow targeting, which indicates the potential to reverse drug resistance, are discussed. The application of nanomedicine for assisting immunotherapy is also involved. Finally, the advantages and possible challenges of nanomedicine for the transition from the preclinical phase to the clinical phase are discussed.

Engineering aspects of lipid-based delivery systems: In vivo gene delivery, safety criteria, and translation strategies

Defects in the genome cause genetic diseases and can be treated with gene therapy. Due to the limitations encountered in gene delivery, lipid-based supramolecular colloidal materials have emerged as promising gene carrier systems. In their non-functionalized form, lipid nanoparticles often demonstrate lower transgene expression efficiency, leading to suboptimal therapeutic outcomes, specifically through reduced percentages of cells expressing the transgene. Due to chemically active substituents, the engineering of delivery systems for genetic drugs with specific chemical ligands steps forward as an innovative strategy to tackle the drawbacks and enhance their therapeutic efficacy. Despite intense investigations into functionalization strategies, the clinical outcome of such therapies still needs to be improved. Here, we highlight and comprehensively review engineering aspects for functionalizing lipid-based delivery systems and their therapeutic efficacy for developing novel genetic cargoes to provide a full snapshot of the translation from the bench to the clinics. We outline existing challenges in the delivery and internalization processes and narrate recent advances in the functionalization of lipid-based delivery systems for nucleic acids to enhance their therapeutic efficacy and safety. Moreover, we address clinical trials using these vectors to expand their clinical use and principal safety concerns.

Targeting ferroptosis for leukemia therapy: exploring novel strategies from its mechanisms and role in leukemia based on nanotechnology

The latest findings in iron metabolism and the newly uncovered process of ferroptosis have paved the way for new potential strategies in anti-leukemia treatments. In the current project, we reviewed and summarized the current role of nanomedicine in the treatment and diagnosis of leukemia through a comparison made between traditional approaches applied in the treatment and diagnosis of leukemia via the existing investigations about the ferroptosis molecular mechanisms involved in various anti-tumor treatments. The application of nanotechnology and other novel technologies may provide a new direction in ferroptosis-driven leukemia therapies. The article explores the potential of targeting ferroptosis, a new form of regulated cell death, as a new therapeutic strategy for leukemia. It discusses the mechanisms of ferroptosis and its role in leukemia and how nanotechnology can enhance the delivery and efficacy of ferroptosis-inducing agents. The article not only highlights the promise of ferroptosis-targeted therapies and nanotechnology in revolutionizing leukemia treatment, but also calls for further research to overcome challenges and fully realize the clinical potential of this innovative approach. Finally, it discusses the challenges and opportunities in clinical applications of ferroptosis.

Revolutionizing targeting precision: microfluidics-enabled smart microcapsules for tailored delivery and controlled release

As promising delivery systems, smart microcapsules have garnered significant attention owing to their targeted delivery loaded with diverse active materials. By precisely manipulating fluids on the micrometer scale, microfluidic has emerged as a powerful tool for tailoring delivery systems based on potential applications. The desirable characteristics of smart microcapsules are associated with encapsulation capacity, targeted delivery capability, and controlled release of encapsulants. In this review, we briefly describe the principles of droplet-based microfluidics for smart microcapsules. Subsequently, we summarize smart microcapsules as delivery systems for efficient encapsulation and focus on target delivery patterns, including passive targets, active targets, and microfluidics-assisted targets. Additionally, based on release mechanisms, we review controlled release modes adjusted by smart membranes and on/off gates. Finally, we discuss existing challenges and potential implications associated with smart microcapsules.

Multifunctional targetable liposomal drug delivery system in the management of leukemia: Potential, opportunities, and emerging strategies

The concern impeding the success of chemotherapy in leukemia treatment is descending efficacy of drugs because of multiple drug resistance (MDR). The previous failure of traditional treatment methods is primarily responsible for the present era of innovative agents to treat leukemia effectively. The treatment option is a chemotherapeutic agent in most available treatment strategies, which unfortunately leads to high unavoidable toxicities. As a result of the recent surge in marketed products, theranostic nanoparticles, i.e., multifunctional targetable liposomes (MFTL), have been approved for improved and more successful leukemia treatment that blends therapeutic and diagnostic characteristics. Since they broadly offer the required characteristics to get past the traditional/previous limitations, such as the absence of site-specific anti-cancer therapeutic delivery and ongoing real-time surveillance of the leukemia target sites while administering therapeutic activities. To prepare MFTL, suitable targeting ligands or tumor-specific antibodies are required to attach to the surface of the liposomes. This review exhaustively covered and summarized the liposomal-based formulation in leukemia treatment, emphasizing leukemia types; regulatory considerations, patents, and clinical portfolios to overcome clinical translation hurdles have all been explored.

Enhancing the targeting performance and prolonging the antibacterial effects of clove essential oil liposomes to Campylobacter jejuni by antibody modification

The application of plant essential oil liposomes to prevent and control food safety risks caused by Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) still faces challenges such as lack of targeting and low release rate. Here, a bacteria-targeted and protease-activated antibacterial liposome (ACCLPs) was successfully synthesized through encapsulation of clove essential oil (CEO) by film dispersion method, embedding of casein by freeze-thaw method, and conjugation of C. jejuni antibody on the liposome membrane by post-insertion method. The average particle size, the essential oil encapsulation rate, the casein mosaic rate, and the antibody coupling efficiency of ACCLPs were determined as185.87 nm,16.9%,70.1% and 87.5%, respectively. The modification with C. jejuni antibody could significantly improve the targeting of ACCLPs to C. jejuni. Controlled release experiments showed that the exocrine protease from C. jejuni could hydrolyze the embedded casein and perforation on the ACCLPs, thus leading to a bacteria-dependent CEO release and significant prolonging the antibacterial effects of ACCLPs. Application results of ACCLPs on C. jejuni-contaminated foods showed that ACCLPs could effectively inhibit C. jejuni in a variety of meat products, fruits and vegetables and extend their shelf life without significantly affecting food quality. The results above in this work would provide a new view for the development of high efficient liposome-based antibacterial system of plant essential oil.

Endothelial-Specific Targeting of RhoA Signaling via CD31 Antibody-Conjugated Nanoparticles

Existing vascular endothelial growth factor-oriented antiangiogenic approaches are known for their high potency. However, significant side effects associated with their use drive the need for novel antiangiogenic strategies. The small GTPase RhoA is an established regulator of actin cytoskeletal dynamics. Previous studies have highlighted the impact of endothelial RhoA pathway on angiogenesis. Rho-associate kinase (ROCK), a direct RhoA effector, is potently inhibited by Fasudil, a clinically relevant ROCK inhibitor. Here, we aimed to target the RhoA signaling in endothelial cells by generating Fasudil-encapsulated CD31-targeting liposomes as a potential antiangiogenic therapy. The liposomes presented desirable characteristics, preferential binding to CD31-expressing HEK293T cells and to endothelial cells, inhibited stress fiber formation and cytoskeletal-related morphometric parameters, and inhibited in vitro angiogenic functions. Overall, this work shows that the nanodelivery-mediated endothelial targeting of RhoA signaling can offer a promising strategy for angiogenesis inhibition in vascular-related diseases. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Systemic administration of antiangiogenic therapeutics induces side effects to non-targeted tissues. This study, among others, has shown the impact of the RhoA signaling in the endothelial cells and their angiogenic functions. Here, to minimize potential toxicity, this study generated CD31-targeting liposomes with encapsulated Fasudil, a clinically relevant Rho kinase inhibitor, and successfully targeted endothelial cells. In this proof-of-principle study, the efficient Fasudil delivery, its impact on the endothelial signaling, morphometric alterations, and angiogenic functions verify the benefits of site-targeted antiangiogenic therapy.

Lipid nanocapsules for intracellular delivery of microRNA: a first step towards intervertebral disc degeneration therapy

Approximately 40% of cases of lower back pain are caused by disc degeneration disease (DDD). It is well established that microRNA (miR) dysregulation is a key player in various diseases, and its impact on DDD has recently been highlighted. RNAi (miR in particular) is increasingly being considered as a novel therapeutic tool. However, free miR is degraded rapidly in vivo, and its protection is thus a prerequisite. Nanoparticular platforms, such as lipid nanocapsules (LNC), could be specifically adapted for miR delivery, allowing the transfer and release of miR in the cell cytoplasm. The objective of the current study was to formulate and characterize miR-loaded LNC to establish their in vitro potential (cell internalization, bioactivity) as well as to determine the safety and feasibility of in situ intervertebral disc (IVD) injection of miR LNC in a healthy sheep model. Using a miR library, miR-155 was clearly identified as being involved in the DDD process and was selected for further assessment. miR-155-loaded LNC (miR-155 LNC) were successfully formulated using a phase inversion process, with the addition of lipoplexes in the cooling step. Following purification, miR-155 LNC were fully characterized, and the optimized formulation had an average diameter of 75 nm, a polydispersity index below 0.1, and a positive zeta potential. By fluorescence spectroscopy, an encapsulation efficiency (EE) of 75.6% and a drug loading (DL) of 0.6% were obtained, corresponding to a sufficient amount of miR per mL of LNC to potentially have a biological effect. The sustained release of miR-155 from LNC was demonstrated compared with free miR-155: only 22% was released after 2 h and 58% after 24 h. miR-155 protection against endonuclease degradation by LNC was confirmed by gel electrophoresis, a sine qua non condition for it to be administered in vivo. Cell viability assays were performed on human adipose stromal cells (hASCs) and ovine Nucleus pulposus cells (oNP), and a cytotoxicity of less than 30% was obtained at the considered concentrations. Additionally, miR-155 LNC cell internalization was demonstrated by flow cytometry and confocal imaging. Moreover, downregulation of total ERK1/2 in hASCs and oNP cells, after miR-155 LNC treatment, was demonstrated by Western blot and quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), thus confirming maintenance of its bioactivity after formulation and internalization. Finally, the feasibility and safety of miR-155 LNC in situ injection (compared to control groups: blank LNC and sham condition) was demonstrated in healthy sheep by imaging (MRI and T2wsi measurement) and histology (Boos' scoring) analysis. T2wsi was measured, and no significant difference was observed three months after the injection between the different conditions. No histological impact was observed, with no significant difference in Boos' scoring between the different conditions. All these results suggest LNC may be a potent strategy for the encapsulation and delivery of miR (particularly miR-155) and can be considered as a first step towards IVD regenerative medicine.

Nano-drug delivery system for the treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia

Administration of therapeutic drugs has been the core strategy for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), but it is generally limited by its low bioavailability, toxic side effects and intravenous administration. The nano-drug delivery system significantly improves the anti-AML activity through targeted optimization of the drug delivery system. Organic nanocarriers include polymers, liposomes, nanoemulsion, nanomicelle and proteins, which have the advantages of high loading capacity, biocompatibility and functionalization. Inorganic nanocarriers include gold nanoparticles, silicon nanoparticles, iron nanoparticles and other inorganic nanoparticles, which exhibit diverse physical and chemical properties, and have a wide range of biomedical applications including drug carriers. Both organic and inorganic nanocarriers exhibit the potential to alter the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs. This article reviews the recent progress of nanocarriers as drug delivery system in clinical applications of AML treatment.

A robust post-insertion method for the preparation of targeted siRNA LNPs

Targeted delivery of nucleic acids is gaining momentum due to improved efficacy, selectivity, increased circulation time and enhanced tissue retention in target cells. Using nucleic acid-based therapies previously undruggable targets have proven now to be amenable for treatment. Currently, several methods for preparing targeted or labelled delivery vehicles for nucleic acids are based on liposomal formulations. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are structurally different from liposomes and these methods should therefore be evaluated before being translated to siRNA LNPs preparation protocols. Here, we describe a robust and facile method for the preparation of targeted or fluorescently labelled siRNA LNPs. Using a copper free strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC) we demonstrate that post-insertion of ligand-lipid conjugates into preformed LNPs is superior to direct-surface modification because it preserves the physicochemical parameters of the LNPs. We found that the time point of solvent removal by dialysis is critical and affects the hydrodynamic diameter of the LNPs; post-insertion after dialysis shows the smallest increase in hydrodynamic diameter and polydispersity index (PDI). The post-insertion of ligand-lipid conjugates also proceeded with rapid kinetics and high efficacy over a wide temperature range. Using this optimised protocol, we generated siRNA LNPs containing both targeting and fluorescent tracking ligands allowing us to monitor siRNA LNP uptake kinetics in dependence of the targeting ligand. In aggregate, we describe a robust approach for the generation of targeted and labelled siRNA LNPs that allows their controlled and facile decoration with ligand combinations.

Delivery strategies in treatments of leukemia

Leukemia is a hematological malignancy associated with the uncontrolled proliferation of mutant progenitors, suppressing the production of normal blood cells. Current treatments, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, still lead to unsatisfactory results with a 5 year survival rate of only 30-50%. The poor prognosis is related to both disease relapse and treatment-associated toxicity. Delivery strategies can improve the in vivo pharmacokinetics of drugs, navigating the therapeutics to target cells or the tumor microenvironment and reversing drug resistance, which maximizes tumor elimination and alleviates systematic adverse effects. This review discusses available FDA-approved anti-leukemia drugs and therapies with a focus on the advances in the development of anti-leukemia drug delivery systems. Additionally, challenges in clinical translation of the delivery strategies and future research opportunities in leukemia treatment are also included.

Lipid-Based Nanoparticles for Targeted Delivery of the Anti-Cancer Drugs: A Review

Abstract:

Cancer is one of the main reasons for mortality worldwide. Chemotherapeutic agents have been effectively designed to increase certain patients' survival rates, but ordinarily designed chemotherapeutic agents necessarily deliver toxic chemotherapeutic drugs to healthy tissues, resulting in serious side effects. Cancer cells can often acquire drug resistance after repeated dosing of current chemotherapeutic agents, restricting their efficacy. Given such obstacles, investigators have attempted to distribute chemotherapeutic agents using targeted drug delivery systems (DDSs), especially nanotechnology-based DDSs. Lipid-Based Nanoparticles (LBNPs) are a large and complex class of substances that have been utilized to manage a variety of diseases, mostly cancer. Liposomes seem to be the most frequently employed LBNPs, owing to their high biocompatibility, bioactivity, stability, and flexibility; howbeit Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) and Non-structured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) have lately received a lot of interest. Besides that, there are several reports that concentrate on novel therapies via LBNPs to manage various forms of cancer. In the present research, the latest improvements in the application of LBNPs have been shown to deliver different therapeutic agents to cancerous cells and have been demonstrated LBNPs also can be a quite successful candidate in cancer therapy for subsequent use.

Optimization of Nanoparticles for Smart Drug Delivery: A Review

Nanoparticle delivery systems have good application prospects in the treatment of various diseases, especially in cancer treatment. The effect of drug delivery is regulated by the properties of nanoparticles. There have been many studies focusing on optimizing the structure of nanoparticles in recent years, and a series of achievements have been made. This review summarizes the optimization strategies of nanoparticles from three aspects-improving biocompatibility, increasing the targeting efficiency of nanoparticles, and improving the drug loading rate of nanoparticles-aiming to provide some theoretical reference for the subsequent drug delivery of nanoparticles.

Functionalized liposomes as drug nanocarriers for active targeted cancer therapy: a systematic review

Cancer is a broad term used to describe a group of diseases that have more than 270 types. Today, due to the suffering of patients from the side effects of existing methods in the treatment of cancer such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the employment of targeted methods in the treatment of this disease has been received much consideration. In recent years, nanoparticles have revolutionized in the treatment of many diseases such as cancer. Among these nanoparticles, liposomes are more considerable. Active targeted liposomes show an important role in the selective action of the drug on cancer cells. Until now, a variety of anti-cancer agents have been reported for targeted delivery to cancer cells using liposomes. The results of in vitro and studies in vivo have been shown that selective action of the targeted liposomes is increased with reduced side effects and toxicity compared with free drugs or non-targeted liposomes. This systematic review expresses the reports of this type of drug delivery system. Search terms were searched through several online databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct from 1990 to 2019 and the quality evaluation was performed. Out of 11,676 published articles, 196 articles met the inclusion criteria. The current report reviews developments in the liposomes targeted with aptamer, transferrin, folate, and monoclonal antibodies.

Double attack strategy for leukemia using a pre-targeting bispecific antibody (CD20 Ab-mPEG scFv) and actively attracting PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin to enhance anti-tumor activity

BACKGROUND

Tumor-targeted nanoparticles hold great promise as new tools for therapy of liquid cancers. Furthermore, the therapeutic efficacy of nanoparticles can be improved by enhancing the cancer cellular internalization.

METHODS

In this study, we developed a humanized bispecific antibody (BsAbs: CD20 Ab-mPEG scFv) which retains the clinical anti-CD20 whole antibody (Ofatumumab) and is fused with an anti-mPEG single chain antibody (scFv) that can target the systemic liquid tumor cells. This combination achieves the therapeutic function and simultaneously "grabs" Lipo-Dox® (PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin, PLD) to enhance the cellular internalization and anticancer activity of PLD.

RESULTS

We successfully constructed the CD20 Ab-mPEG scFv and proved that CD20 Ab-mPEG scFv can target CD20-expressing Raji cells and simultaneously grab PEGylated liposomal DiD increasing the internalization ability up to 60% in 24 h. We further showed that the combination of CD20 Ab-mPEG scFv and PLD successfully led to a ninefold increase in tumor cytotoxicity (LC₅₀: 0.38 nM) compared to the CD20 Ab-DNS scFv and PLD (lC₅₀: 3.45 nM) in vitro. Importantly, a combination of CD20 Ab-mPEG scFv and PLD had greater anti-liquid tumor efficacy (P = 0.0005) in Raji-bearing mice than CD20 Ab-DNS scFv and PLD.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that this "double-attack" strategy using CD20 Ab-mPEG scFv and PLD can retain the tumor targeting (first attack) and confer PLD tumor-selectivity (second attack) to enhance PLD internalization and improve therapeutic efficacy in liquid tumors.

Dual-targeting nanovesicles enhance specificity to dynamic tumor cells in vitro and in vivo via manipulation of αvβ3-ligand binding

The dynamic or flowing tumor cells just as leukemia cells and circulating tumor cells face a microenvironment difference from the solid tumors, and the related targeting nanomedicines are rarely reported. The existence of fluidic shear stress in blood circulation seems not favorable for the binding of ligand modified nanodrugs with their target receptor. Namely, the binding feature is very essential in this case. Herein, we utilized HSPC, PEG-DSPE, cholesterol and two αvβ3 ligands (RGDm7 and DT4) with different binding rates to build dual-targeting nanovesicles, in an effort to achieve a “fast-binding/slow-unbinding” function. It was demonstrated that the dual-targeting nanovesicles actualized efficient cellular uptake and antitumor effect in vitro both for static and dynamic tumor cells. Besides, the potency of the dual-targeting vesicles for flowing tumor cells was better than that for static tumor cells. Then, a tumor metastasis mice model and a leukemia mice model were established to detect the killing ability of the drug-loaded dual-targeting vesicles to dynamic tumor cells in vivo. The therapy efficacy of the dual-targeting system was higher than other controls including single-targeting ones. Generally, it seems possible to strengthen drug-targeting to dynamic tumor cells via the control of ligand–receptor interaction.

Nanocarriers as Magic Bullets in the Treatment of Leukemia

Leukemia is a type of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell malignancy characterized by the accumulation of immature cells in the blood and bone marrow. Treatment strategies mainly rely on the administration of chemotherapeutic agents, which, unfortunately, are known for their high toxicity and side effects. The concept of targeted therapy as magic bullet was introduced by Paul Erlich about 100 years ago, to inspire new therapies able to tackle the disadvantages of chemotherapeutic agents. Currently, nanoparticles are considered viable options in the treatment of different types of cancer, including leukemia. The main advantages associated with the use of these nanocarriers summarized as follows: i) they may be designed to target leukemic cells selectively; ii) they invariably enhance bioavailability and blood circulation half-life; iii) their mode of action is expected to reduce side effects. FDA approval of many nanocarriers for treatment of relapsed or refractory leukemia and the desired results extend their application in clinics. In the present review, different types of nanocarriers, their capability in targeting leukemic cells, and the latest preclinical and clinical data are discussed.