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Xin J, Lu X, Cao J, Wu W, Liu Q, Wang D, Zhou X, Ding D. Fluorinated Organic Polymers for Cancer Drug Delivery. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2404645. [PMID: 38678386 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202404645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/30/2024]
Abstract
In the realm of cancer therapy, the spotlight is on nanoscale pharmaceutical delivery systems, especially polymer-based nanoparticles, for their enhanced drug dissolution, extended presence in the bloodstream, and precision targeting achieved via surface engineering. Leveraging the amplified permeation and retention phenomenon, these systems concentrate therapeutic agents within tumor tissues. Nonetheless, the hurdles of systemic toxicity, biological barriers, and compatibility with living systems persist. Fluorinated polymers, distinguished by their chemical idiosyncrasies, are poised for extensive biomedical applications, notably in stabilizing drug metabolism, augmenting lipophilicity, and optimizing bioavailability. Material science heralds the advent of fluorinated polymers that, by integrating fluorine atoms, unveil a suite of drug delivery merits: the hydrophobic traits of fluorinated alkyl chains ward off lipid or protein disruption, the carbon-fluorine bond's stability extends the drug's lifecycle in the system, and a lower alkalinity coupled with a diminished ionic charge bolsters the drug's ability to traverse cellular membranes. This comprehensive review delves into the utilization of fluorinated polymers for oncological pharmacotherapy, elucidating their molecular architecture, synthetic pathways, and functional attributes, alongside an exploration of their empirical strengths and the quandaries they encounter in both experimental and clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingrui Xin
- College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Xue Lu
- Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai International Advanced Research Institute (Shenzhen, Futian), and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Jimin Cao
- Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical University, Ministry of Education, and First Clinical Medical College, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Weihui Wu
- Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai International Advanced Research Institute (Shenzhen, Futian), and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Qian Liu
- Department of Urology, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, 300192, China
| | - Deping Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical University, Ministry of Education, and First Clinical Medical College, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical University, Ministry of Education, and First Clinical Medical College, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Dan Ding
- Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai International Advanced Research Institute (Shenzhen, Futian), and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
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Luo R, Le H, Wu Q, Gong C. Nanoplatform-Based In Vivo Gene Delivery Systems for Cancer Therapy. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2312153. [PMID: 38441386 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202312153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/26/2024]
Abstract
Gene therapy uses modern molecular biology methods to repair disease-causing genes. As a burgeoning therapeutic, it has been widely applied for cancer therapy. Since 1989, there have been numerous clinical gene therapy cases worldwide. However, a few are successful. The main challenge of clinical gene therapy is the lack of efficient and safe vectors. Although viral vectors show high transfection efficiency, their application is still limited by immune rejection and packaging capacity. Therefore, the development of non-viral vectors is overwhelming. Nanoplatform-based non-viral vectors become a hotspot in gene therapy. The reasons are mainly as follows. 1) Non-viral vectors can be engineered to be uptaken by specific types of cells or tissues, providing effective targeting capability. 2) Non-viral vectors can protect goods that need to be delivered from degradation. 3) Nanoparticles can transport large-sized cargo such as CRISPR/Cas9 plasmids and nucleoprotein complexes. 4) Nanoparticles are highly biosafe, and they are not mutagenic in themselves compared to viral vectors. 5) Nanoparticles are easy to scale preparation, which is conducive to clinical conversion and application. Here, an overview of the categories of nanoplatform-based non-viral gene vectors, the limitations on their development, and their applications in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Luo
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Hao Le
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Qinjie Wu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Changyang Gong
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
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Ma S, Li Y, Liu F, Wang X, Qin Z, Wang L, Yang J, Wang L, Yang W, Wang N, You Y, Wu Q, Gong C. Hierarchical-unlocking virus-esque NanoCRISPR precisely disrupts autocrine and paracrine pathway of VEGF for tumor inhibition and antiangiogenesis. J Control Release 2024; 366:505-518. [PMID: 38184233 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.01.001] [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: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) not only serves as an autocrine survival factor for tumor cells themselves, but also stimulates angiogenesis by paracrine pathway. Strategies targeting VEGF holds tremendous potential for tumor therapy, however, agents targeting VEGF are limited by intolerable side effects, together with incomplete and temporary blocking of VEGF, resulting in unsatisfactory and unsustained therapeutic outcomes. Herein, hierarchical-unlocking virus-esque NanoCRISPR (HUNGER) is constructed for complete, permanent and efficient intracellular disruption of autocrine and paracrine pathway of VEGF, thereby eliciting notable tumor inhibition and antiangiogenesis. After intravenous administration, HUNGER exhibits prolonged blood circulation and hyaluronic acid-CD44 mediated tumor-targeting capability. Subsequently, when matrix metalloproteinase-2 is overexpressed in the tumor microenvironment, the PEG layer will be removed. The cell-penetrating peptide R8 endows HUNGER deep tumor penetration and specific cellular uptake. Upon cellular internalization, HUNGER undergoes hyaluronidase-triggered deshielding in lysosome, lysosomal escape is realized swiftly, and then the loaded CRISPR/Cas9 plasmid (>8 kb) is transported to nucleus efficiently. Consequentially, complete, permanent and efficient intracellular disruption of autocrine and paracrine pathway of VEGF ensures inhibition of angiogenesis and tumor growth with inappreciable toxicity. Overall, this work opens a brand-new avenue for anti-VEGF therapy and presents a feasible strategy for in vivo delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Ma
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yingjie Li
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Furong Liu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xinxin Wang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zeyi Qin
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jin Yang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Wen Yang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Ning Wang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yanjie You
- Department of Gastroenterology, People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Yinchuan 750002, China
| | - Qinjie Wu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Changyang Gong
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
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Yang S, Wu Y, Zhong W, Chen R, Wang M, Chen M. GSH/pH Dual Activatable Cross-linked and Fluorinated PEI for Cancer Gene Therapy Through Endogenous Iron De-Hijacking and in Situ ROS Amplification. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2304098. [PMID: 37689975 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202304098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
Ferroptosis-related cancer therapy is limited by insufficient Fe2+ /Fe3+ redox pair and hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) for producing lethal hydroxyl radicals (·OH). Although exogenous iron or ROS-producing drugs can enhance ferroptosis, exploiting endogenous iron (labile iron pool, LIP) stored in ferritin and promoting ROS generation may be safer. Herein, a metal/drug-free nanomedicine is developed for responsive LIP release and H2 O2 generation on the mitochondria membranes, amplifying hydroxyl radical production to enhance ferroptosis-mediated antitumor effects. A glutathione(GSH)/pH dual activatable fluorinated and cross-linked polyethyleneimine (PEI) with dialdehyde polyethylene glycol layer nanocomplex loaded with MTS-KR-SOD (Mitochondria-targeting-sequence-KillerRed-Superoxide Dismutase) and CRISPR/Cas9-CA IX (Carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX)) plasmids (FP@MC) are developed for enhanced ferroptosis through endogenous iron de-hijacking and in situ ROS amplification. Two plasmids are constructed to knockdown CA IX and translate KillerRed-SOD recombinant protein specifically on mitochondria membranes, respectively. The CA IX knockdown acidifies the intracellular environment, leading the release of LIP from ferritin as a "flare" to initiate endogenous chemodynamic therapy. Meanwhile, MTS-KR-SOD generates H2 O2 when irradiated by a 590 nm laser to assist chemodynamic therapy, leading to ROS amplification for mitochondria damage and lipid peroxide accumulation. The combined therapeutic effects aggravate cancer ferroptosis and suppress tumor growth, providing a new paradigm for amplifying ROS and iron ions to promote ferroptosis-related cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suleixin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, 999078, China
| | - Yi Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, 999078, China
| | - Wenzhao Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, 999078, China
| | - Ruie Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, 999078, China
| | - Meilin Wang
- MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Macau SAR, 999078, China
| | - Meiwan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, 999078, China
- MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Macau SAR, 999078, China
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Lin M, Wang X. Natural Biopolymer-Based Delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 for Cancer Treatment. Pharmaceutics 2023; 16:62. [PMID: 38258073 PMCID: PMC10819213 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16010062] [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: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, the clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system has become the most promising gene editing tool and is broadly utilized to manipulate the gene for disease treatment, especially for cancer, which involves multiple genetic alterations. Typically, CRISPR/Cas9 machinery is delivered in one of three forms: DNA, mRNA, or ribonucleoprotein. However, the lack of efficient delivery systems for these macromolecules confined the clinical breakthrough of this technique. Therefore, a variety of nanomaterials have been fabricated to improve the stability and delivery efficiency of the CRISPR/Cas9 system. In this context, the natural biopolymer-based carrier is a particularly promising platform for CRISPR/Cas9 delivery due to its great stability, low toxicity, excellent biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Here, we focus on the advances of natural biopolymer-based materials for CRISPR/Cas9 delivery in the cancer field and discuss the challenges for their clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xueyan Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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Yang J, Bai L, Shen M, Gou X, Xiang Z, Ma S, Wu Q, Gong C. A Multiple Stimuli-Responsive NanoCRISPR Overcomes Tumor Redox Heterogeneity to Augment Photodynamic Therapy. ACS NANO 2023. [PMID: 37310989 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c00940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Redox heterogeneity of tumor cells has become one of the key factors leading to the failure of conventional photodynamic therapy (PDT). Exploration of a distinctive therapeutic strategy addressing heterogeneous predicaments is an appealing yet highly challenging task. Herein, a multiple stimuli-responsive nanoCRISPR (Must-nano) with spatial arrangement peculiarities in nanostructure and intracellular delivery is fabricated to overcome redox heterogeneity at both genetic and phenotypic levels for tumor-specific activatable PDT. Must-nano consists of a redox-sensitive core loading CRISPR/Cas9 targeting hypoxia-inducible factors-1α (HIF-1α) and a rationally designed multiple-responsive shell anchored by chlorin e6 (Ce6). Benefiting from the perfect coordination of structure and function, Must-nano avoids enzyme/photodegradation of the CRISPR/Cas9 system and exerts prolonged circulation, precise tumor recognition, and cascade-responsive performances to surmount tumor extra/intracellular barriers. After internalization into tumor cells, Must-nano could undergo hyaluronidase-triggered self-disassembly with charge reversal and rapid endosomal escape, followed by site-specific release and spatially asynchronous delivery of Ce6 and CRISPR/Cas9 under stimulations of redox signals, which not only improves tumor vulnerability to oxidative stress by complete HIF-1α disruption but also destroys the intrinsic antioxidant mechanism through glutathione depletion, thereby homogenizing redox-heterogeneous cells into oxidative stress-sensitive cell subsets. Under laser irradiation, Must-nano eventually exhibits optimal potency to amplify oxidative damage, effectively inhibiting the growth and hypoxia survival of redox-heterogeneous tumor in vitro and in vivo. Overall, our redox homogenization tactic significantly maximizes PDT efficacy and offers a promising strategy to overcome tumor redox heterogeneity in the development of antitumor therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Liping Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Meiling Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinyu Gou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongzheng Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinjie Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Changyang Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
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Yang Y, Liu Z, Ma H, Cao M. Application of Peptides in Construction of Nonviral Vectors for Gene Delivery. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:nano12224076. [PMID: 36432361 PMCID: PMC9693978 DOI: 10.3390/nano12224076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy, which aims to cure diseases by knocking out, editing, correcting or compensating abnormal genes, provides new strategies for the treatment of tumors, genetic diseases and other diseases that are closely related to human gene abnormalities. In order to deliver genes efficiently to abnormal sites in vivo to achieve therapeutic effects, a variety of gene vectors have been designed. Among them, peptide-based vectors show superior advantages because of their ease of design, perfect biocompatibility and safety. Rationally designed peptides can carry nucleic acids into cells to perform therapeutic effects by overcoming a series of biological barriers including cellular uptake, endosomal escape, nuclear entrance and so on. Moreover, peptides can also be incorporated into other delivery systems as functional segments. In this review, we referred to the biological barriers for gene delivery in vivo and discussed several kinds of peptide-based nonviral gene vectors developed for overcoming these barriers. These vectors can deliver different types of genetic materials into targeted cells/tissues individually or in combination by having specific structure-function relationships. Based on the general review of peptide-based gene delivery systems, the current challenges and future perspectives in development of peptidic nonviral vectors for clinical applications were also put forward, with the aim of providing guidance towards the rational design and development of such systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Department of Biological and Energy Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), 66 Changjiang West Road, Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Zhen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Department of Biological and Energy Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), 66 Changjiang West Road, Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Hongchao Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Department of Biological and Energy Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), 66 Changjiang West Road, Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Meiwen Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Department of Biological and Energy Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), 66 Changjiang West Road, Qingdao 266580, China
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Gene delivery vectors are a crucial determinant for gene therapeutic efficacy. Usually, it is necessary to use an excess of cationic vectors to achieve better transfection efficiency. However, it will cause severe cytotoxicity. In addition, cationic vectors are not resistant to serum, suffering from reduced transfection efficiency by forming large aggregates. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop optimized gene delivery vectors. Recently, fluorination of vectors has been extensively applied to increase the gene delivery performance because of the unique properties of both hydrophobicity and lipophobicity, and chemical and biological inertness. AREAS COVERED This review will discuss the fluorophilic effects that impact gene delivery efficiency, and chemical modification approaches for fluorination. Next, recent advances and applications of fluorinated polymeric and lipidic vectors in gene therapy and gene editing are summarized. EXPERT OPINION Fluorinated vectors are a promising candidate for gene delivery. However, it still needs further studies to obtain pure and well-defined fluorinated polymers, guarantee the biosafety, and clarify the detailed mechanism. Apart from the improvements in gene delivery, exploiting other versatility of fluorinated vectors, such as oxygen-carrying ability, high affinity with fluorine-containing drugs, and imaging property upon introducing 19F, will further facilitate their applications in gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wan
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
| | - Yuhan Yang
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
| | - Mingyu Wu
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
| | - Shun Feng
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
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Yang S, Wong KH, Hua P, He C, Yu H, Shao D, Shi Z, Chen M. ROS-responsive fluorinated polyethyleneimine vector to co-deliver shMTHFD2 and shGPX4 plasmids induces ferroptosis and apoptosis for cancer therapy. Acta Biomater 2022; 140:492-505. [PMID: 34879292 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.11.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Ferroptosis is a newly discovered non-apoptotic cell death form but its therapeutic efficacy triggered by traditional iron-based nanomaterials or classic drug inducers has been far from satisfactory due to the high glutathione (GSH) level in cancer cells and insufficient lipid peroxide production. Here we reported a ferroptosis/apoptosis combinational therapy by depleting GSH and downregulating GPX4 to disrupt redox homeostasis and amplify ferroptosis-related oxidation effect. In this study, we developed reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive serum-resistant nanoparticles with thioketal-crosslinked fluorinated polyethyleneimine 1.8K (TKPF) as the core, which were wrapped with hyaluronic acid (HA) as the shell (TKPFH NP) to co-deliver shGPX4 and shMTHFD2 plasmids for cancer treatment. The highly efficient and tumor-selective gene carrier TKPFH NPs revealed outstanding transfection efficiency (∼100 %) and sustained the efficiency (∼50 %) even in media containing 90 % FBS. Mediated by HA, TKPFH NPs actively targeted CD44 receptors, thus enabling efficient uptake by tumor cells and experiencing surface charge conversion to induce subsequent lysosomal escape. Then the TKPF NPs were effectively disintegrated by the abundant ROS in cancer cells, which facilitated the release of plasmids and avoided the cytotoxicity of cationic polymers. shGPX4 plasmid induced ferroptosis by producing ROS and lipid peroxides via downregulating GPX4, while shMTHFD2 triggered apoptosis by modulating NADPH/NADP and depleting GSH of the cancer cells. Moreover, GSH consumption caused by shMTHFD2 indirectly suppressed GPX4 and further augmented ferroptosis, showing synergistic anticancer effect against B16-F10 cells. Taken together, the rationally designed dual-gene loaded TKPFH NPs provided a safe and high-performance platform for enhanced ferroptosis-apoptosis combined anticancer efficacy based on gene therapy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The therapeutic efficacy of ferroptosis has been far from satisfactory due to high GSH level and insufficient lipid peroxide production in cancer cells. Herein, we reported a ferroptosis/apoptosis combinational therapy by depleting GSH and downregulating GPX4 to disrupt redox homeostasis and amplify ferroptosis-related oxidation effect. ROS-responsive serum-resistant nanoparticles were fabricated with thioketal-crosslinked fluorinated PEI 1.8K (TKPF) as the core and hyaluronic acid (HA) as the shell (TKPFH NP) to co-deliver shGPX4 and shMTHFD2 plasmids. The shGPX4 plasmid induced ferroptosis by producing ROS and lipid peroxides via downregulating GPX4, while shMTHFD2 triggered apoptosis by modulating NADPH/NADP and depleting GSH. The rationally designed dual-gene loaded TKPFH NPs provided a safe and high-performance platform aimed for enhanced ferroptosis-apoptosis combined anticancer efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suleixin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Ka Hong Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Peng Hua
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Chengwei He
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Hua Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Dan Shao
- Institutes of Life Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Zhi Shi
- Department of Cell Biology, MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Meiwan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China.
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Coelho F, Botelho C, Paris JL, Marques EF, Silva BF. Influence of the media ionic strength on the formation and in vitro biological performance of polycation-DNA complexes. J Mol Liq 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2021.117930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Dehghani S, Alibolandi M, Tehranizadeh ZA, Oskuee RK, Nosrati R, Soltani F, Ramezani M. Self-assembly of an aptamer-decorated chimeric peptide nanocarrier for targeted cancer gene delivery. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2021; 208:112047. [PMID: 34418722 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2021.112047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we developed a peptide-based non-viral carrier decorated with aptamer to overcome the specific gene delivery barriers. The carrier (KLN/Apt) was designed to contain multiple functional segments, including 1) two tandem repeating units of low molecular weight protamine (LMWP) to condense DNA into stable nanosize particles and protect it from enzymatic digestion, 2) AS1411 aptamer as targeting moiety to target nucleolin and promote carrier internalization, 3) a synthetic pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide (KALA) for disrupting endosomal membranes and enhancing cytosol escape of the nanoparticles, and 4) a nuclear localization signal (NLS) for active cytoplasmic trafficking and nuclear delivery of DNA. The obtained results revealed the developed carrier capacity in terms of specific cell targeting, overcoming cellular gene delivery barriers, and mediating efficient gene transfection. The KLN/pDNA/aptamer nanoparticles offer remarkable potential for the conceptual design and formation of promising multi-functionalized carriers towards the most demanding therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadegh Dehghani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mona Alibolandi
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Zeinab Amiri Tehranizadeh
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Reza Kazemi Oskuee
- Targeted Drug Delivery Research Center, Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Rahim Nosrati
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Cellular and Molecular Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Soltani
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Ramezani
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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Tan G, Li J, Liu D, Pan H, Zhu R, Yang Y, Pan W. Amino acids functionalized dendrimers with nucleus accumulation for efficient gene delivery. Int J Pharm 2021; 602:120641. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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Cui H, Shen Y, Schiffelers RM, Hennink WE. Transform nanomedicine with breakthrough thinking? J Control Release 2021; 330:1130-1131. [PMID: 33189787 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Honggang Cui
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Institute for NanoBiotechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, 221 Maryland Hall, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore 21218, MD, USA.
| | - Youqing Shen
- Center for Bionanoengineering, Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
| | - Raymond M Schiffelers
- Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, Utrecht 3584 CX, The Netherlands.
| | - Wim E Hennink
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Science for Life, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80082, Utrecht 3508 TB, The Netherlands.
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Lv J, Cheng Y. Fluoropolymers in biomedical applications: state-of-the-art and future perspectives. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:5435-5467. [DOI: 10.1039/d0cs00258e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Biomedical applications of fluoropolymers in gene delivery, protein delivery, drug delivery, 19F MRI, PDT, anti-fouling, anti-bacterial, cell culture, and tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Lv
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology
- School of Life Sciences
- East China Normal University
- Shanghai
- China
| | - Yiyun Cheng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology
- School of Life Sciences
- East China Normal University
- Shanghai
- China
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Gao X, Ding J, Long Q, Zhan C. Virus-mimetic systems for cancer diagnosis and therapy. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2020; 13:e1692. [PMID: 33354937 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Over past decades, various strategies have been developed to enhance the delivery efficiency of therapeutics and imaging agents to tumor tissues. However, the therapeutic outcome of tumors to date have not been significantly improved, which can be partly attributed to the weak targeting ability, fast elimination, and low stability of conventional delivery systems. Viruses are the most efficient agents for gene transfer, serving as a valuable source of inspiration for designing nanoparticle-based delivery systems. Based on the properties of viruses, including well-defined geometry, precise composition, easy modification, stable construction, and specific infection, researchers attempt to design biocompatible delivery vectors by mimicking virus assembly and using the vector system to selectively concentrate drugs or imaging probes in tumors with mitigated toxicity and improved efficacy. In this review, we introduce common viruses features and provide an overview of various virus-mimetic strategies for cancer therapy and diagnosis. The challenges faced by virus-mimetic systems are also discussed. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xihui Gao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences & Center of Medical Research and Innovation, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Junqiang Ding
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University & Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery (Fudan University), Ministry of Education and PLA, Shanghai, China
| | - Qianqian Long
- School of Basic Medical Sciences & Center of Medical Research and Innovation, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Changyou Zhan
- School of Basic Medical Sciences & Center of Medical Research and Innovation, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Malla WA, Arora R, Khan RIN, Mahajan S, Tiwari AK. Apoptin as a Tumor-Specific Therapeutic Agent: Current Perspective on Mechanism of Action and Delivery Systems. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:524. [PMID: 32671070 PMCID: PMC7330108 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide in humans and animals. Conventional treatment regimens often fail to produce the desired outcome due to disturbances in cell physiology that arise during the process of transformation. Additionally, development of treatment regimens with no or minimum side-effects is one of the thrust areas of modern cancer research. Oncolytic viral gene therapy employs certain viral genes which on ectopic expression find and selectively destroy malignant cells, thereby achieving tumor cell death without harming the normal cells in the neighborhood. Apoptin, encoded by Chicken Infectious Anemia Virus' VP3 gene, is a proline-rich protein capable of inducing apoptosis in cancer cells in a selective manner. In normal cells, the filamentous Apoptin becomes aggregated toward the cell margins, but is eventually degraded by proteasomes without harming the cells. In malignant cells, after activation by phosphorylation by a cancer cell-specific kinase whose identity is disputed, Apoptin accumulates in the nucleus, undergoes aggregation to form multimers, and prevents the dividing cancer cells from repairing their DNA lesions, thereby forcing them to undergo apoptosis. In this review, we discuss the present knowledge about the structure of Apoptin protein, elaborate on its mechanism of action, and summarize various strategies that have been used to deliver it as an anticancer drug in various cancer models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waseem Akram Malla
- Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
| | - Richa Arora
- Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
| | - Raja Ishaq Nabi Khan
- Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
| | - Sonalika Mahajan
- Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
| | - Ashok Kumar Tiwari
- Division of Biological Standardisation, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
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