1
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Giulimondi F, Digiacomo L, Renzi S, Cassone C, Pirrottina A, Molfetta R, Palamà IE, Maiorano G, Gigli G, Amenitsch H, Pozzi D, Zingoni A, Caracciolo G. Optimizing Transfection Efficiency in CAR-T Cell Manufacturing through Multiple Administrations of Lipid-Based Nanoparticles. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2024; 7:3746-3757. [PMID: 38775109 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.4c00103] [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] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
The existing manufacturing protocols for CAR-T cell therapies pose notable challenges, particularly in attaining a transient transfection that endures for a significant duration. To address this gap, this study aims to formulate a transfection protocol utilizing multiple lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) administrations to enhance transfection efficiency (TE) to clinically relevant levels. By systematically fine-tuning and optimizing our transfection protocol through a series of iterative refinements, we have accomplished a remarkable one-order-of-magnitude augmentation in TE within the immortalized T-lymphocyte Jurkat cell line. This enhancement has been consistently observed over 2 weeks, and importantly, it has been achieved without any detrimental impact on cell viability. In the subsequent phase of our study, we aimed to optimize the gene delivery system by evaluating three lipid-based formulations tailored for DNA encapsulation using our refined protocol. These formulations encompassed two LNPs constructed from ionizable lipids and featuring systematic variations in lipid composition (iLNPs) and a cationic lipoplex (cLNP). Our findings showcased a notable standout among the three formulations, with cLNP emerging as a frontrunner for further refinement and integration into the production pipeline of CAR-T therapies. Consequently, cLNP was scrutinized for its potential to deliver CAR-encoding plasmid DNA to the HEK-293 cell line. Confocal microscopy experiments demonstrated its efficiency, revealing substantial internalization compared to iLNPs. By employing a recently developed confocal image analysis method, we substantiated that cellular entry of cLNP predominantly occurs through macropinocytosis. This mechanism leads to heightened intracellular endosomal escape and mitigates lysosomal accumulation. The successful expression of anti-CD19-CD28-CD3z, a CAR engineered to target CD19, a protein often expressed on the surface of B cells, was confirmed using a fluorescence-based assay. Overall, our results indicated the effectiveness of cLNP in gene delivery and suggested the potential of multiple administration transfection as a practical approach for refining T-cell engineering protocols in CAR therapies. Future investigations may focus on refining outcomes by adjusting transfection parameters like nucleic acid concentration, lipid-to-DNA ratio, and incubation time to achieve improved TE and increased gene expression levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Giulimondi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, V.le Regina Elena 291, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Luca Digiacomo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, V.le Regina Elena 291, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Serena Renzi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, V.le Regina Elena 291, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Chiara Cassone
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, V.le Regina Elena 291, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Andrea Pirrottina
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, V.le Regina Elena 291, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Rosa Molfetta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, V.le Regina Elena 291, Rome 00161, Italy
| | | | - Gabriele Maiorano
- Nanotechnology Institute, CNR-NANOTEC, Via Monteroni, Lecce 73100, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gigli
- Nanotechnology Institute, CNR-NANOTEC, Via Monteroni, Lecce 73100, Italy
- Department of Medicine, University of Salento, Arnesano street c/o Campus Ecotekne, Lecce 73100, Italy
| | - Heinz Amenitsch
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, Graz 8010, Austria
| | - Daniela Pozzi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, V.le Regina Elena 291, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Alessandra Zingoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, V.le Regina Elena 291, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Giulio Caracciolo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, V.le Regina Elena 291, Rome 00161, Italy
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2
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Pozzi D, Caracciolo G. Looking Back, Moving Forward: Lipid Nanoparticles as a Promising Frontier in Gene Delivery. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2023; 6:1561-1573. [PMID: 37974625 PMCID: PMC10644400 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00185] [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: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have shown remarkable success in delivering genetic materials like COVID-19 LNP vaccines, such as mRNA-1273/SpikeVax by Moderna and BNT162b2/Comirnaty by BioNTech/Pfizer, as well as siRNA for rare inherited diseases, such as Onpattro from Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. These LNPs are advantageous since they minimize side effects, target specific cells, and regulate payload delivery. There has been a surge of interest in these particles due to their success stories; however, we still do not know much about how they work. This perspective will recapitulate the evolution of lipid-based gene delivery, starting with Felgner's pioneering 1987 PNAS paper, which introduced the initial DNA-transfection method utilizing a synthetic cationic lipid. Our journey takes us to the early 2020s, a time when advancements in bionano interactions enabled us to create biomimetic lipoplexes characterized by a remarkable ability to evade capture by immune cells in vivo. Through this overview, we propose leveraging previous achievements to assist us in formulating improved research goals when optimizing LNPs for medical conditions such as infectious diseases, cancer, and heritable disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Pozzi
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department
of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University
of Rome, Viale Regina
Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulio Caracciolo
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department
of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University
of Rome, Viale Regina
Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
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3
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Kojima C, Sawada M, Nakase I, Matsumoto A. Gene Delivery into T-Cells Using Ternary Complexes of DNA, Lipofectamine, and Carboxy-Terminal Phenylalanine-Modified Dendrimers. Macromol Biosci 2023; 23:e2300139. [PMID: 37285588 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202300139] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
T-cells play critical roles in various immune reactions, and genetically engineered T-cells have attracted attention for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Previously, it is shown that a polyamidoamine dendrimer of generation 4 (G4), modified with 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride (CHex) and phenylalanine (Phe) (G4-CHex-Phe), is useful for delivery into T-cells and their subsets. In this study, an efficient non-viral gene delivery system is constructed using this dendrimer. Ternary complexes are prepared using different ratios of plasmid DNA, Lipofectamine, and G4-CHex-Phe. A carboxy-terminal dendrimer lacking Phe (G3.5) is used for comparison. These complexes are characterized using agarose gel electrophoresis, dynamic light scattering, and ζpotential measurements. In Jurkat cells, the ternary complex with G4-CHex-Phe at a P/COOH ratio of 1/5 shows higher transfection activity than other complexes, such as binary and ternary complexes with G3.5, without any significant cytotoxicity. The transfection efficiency of the G4-CHex-Phe ternary complexes decreases considerably in the presence of free G4-CHex-Phe and upon altering the complex preparation method. These results suggest that G4-CHex-Phe promotes the cellular internalization of the complexes, which is useful for gene delivery into T-cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chie Kojima
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Metropolitan University, 1-1 Gakuen-cho, Naka-ku, Sakai, Osaka, 599-8531, Japan
| | - Mei Sawada
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Metropolitan University, 1-1 Gakuen-cho, Naka-ku, Sakai, Osaka, 599-8531, Japan
| | - Ikuhiko Nakase
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, 1-1 Gakuen-cho, Naka-ku, Sakai, Osaka, 599-8531, Japan
| | - Akikazu Matsumoto
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Metropolitan University, 1-1 Gakuen-cho, Naka-ku, Sakai, Osaka, 599-8531, Japan
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4
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Digiacomo L, Renzi S, Quagliarini E, Pozzi D, Amenitsch H, Ferri G, Pesce L, De Lorenzi V, Matteoli G, Cardarelli F, Caracciolo G. Investigating the mechanism of action of DNA-loaded PEGylated lipid nanoparticles. NANOMEDICINE : NANOTECHNOLOGY, BIOLOGY, AND MEDICINE 2023; 53:102697. [PMID: 37507061 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2023.102697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
PEGylated lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are commonly used to deliver bioactive molecules, but the role of PEGylation in DNA-loaded LNP interactions at the cellular and subcellular levels remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of action of DNA-loaded PEGylated LNPs using gene reporter technologies, dynamic light scattering (DLS), synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and fluorescence confocal microscopy (FCS). We found that PEG has no significant impact on the size or nanostructure of DNA LNPs but reduces their zeta potential and interaction with anionic cell membranes. PEGylation increases the structural stability of LNPs and results in lower DNA unloading. FCS experiments revealed that PEGylated LNPs are internalized intact inside cells and largely shuttled to lysosomes, while unPEGylated LNPs undergo massive destabilization on the plasma membrane. These findings can inform the design, optimization, and validation of DNA-loaded LNPs for gene delivery and vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Digiacomo
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Serena Renzi
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Erica Quagliarini
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Pozzi
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Heinz Amenitsch
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Gianmarco Ferri
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Luca Pesce
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Giulia Matteoli
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Giulio Caracciolo
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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5
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Pinto IS, Cordeiro RA, Faneca H. Polymer- and lipid-based gene delivery technology for CAR T cell therapy. J Control Release 2023; 353:196-215. [PMID: 36423871 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.11.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T cell) therapy is a revolutionary approach approved by the FDA and EMA to treat B cell malignancies and multiple myeloma. The production of these T cells has been done through viral vectors, which come with safety concerns, high cost and production challenges, and more recently also through electroporation, which can be extremely cytotoxic. In this context, nanosystems can constitute an alternative to overcome the challenges associated with current methods, resulting in a safe and cost-effective platform. However, the barriers associated with T cells transfection show that the design and engineering of novel approaches in this field are highly imperative. Here, we present an overview from CAR constitution to transfection technologies used in T cells, highlighting the lipid- and polymer-based nanoparticles as a potential delivery platform. Specifically, we provide examples, strengths and weaknesses of nanosystem formulations, and advances in nanoparticle design to improve transfection of T cells. This review will guide the researchers in the design and development of novel nanosystems for next-generation CAR T therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês S Pinto
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Agra do Castro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Rosemeyre A Cordeiro
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; Institute of Interdisciplinary Research (III), University of Coimbra, Casa Costa Alemão - Pólo II, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Henrique Faneca
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; Institute of Interdisciplinary Research (III), University of Coimbra, Casa Costa Alemão - Pólo II, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal.
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6
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Quagliarini E, Wang J, Renzi S, Cui L, Digiacomo L, Ferri G, Pesce L, De Lorenzi V, Matteoli G, Amenitsch H, Masuelli L, Bei R, Pozzi D, Amici A, Cardarelli F, Marchini C, Caracciolo G. Mechanistic Insights into the Superior DNA Delivery Efficiency of Multicomponent Lipid Nanoparticles: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:56666-56677. [PMID: 36524967 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c20019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are currently having an increasing impact on nanomedicines as delivery agents, among others, of RNA molecules (e.g., short interfering RNA for the treatment of hereditary diseases or messenger RNA for the development of COVID-19 vaccines). Despite this, the delivery of plasmid DNA (pDNA) by LNPs in preclinical studies is still unsatisfactory, mainly due to the lack of systematic structural and functional studies on DNA-loaded LNPs. To tackle this issue, we developed, characterized, and tested a library of 16 multicomponent DNA-loaded LNPs which were prepared by microfluidics and differed in lipid composition, surface functionalization, and manufacturing factors. 8 out of 16 formulations exhibited proper size and zeta potential and passed to the validation step, that is, the simultaneous quantification of transfection efficiency and cell viability in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293). The most efficient formulation (LNP15) was then successfully validated both in vitro, in an immortalized adult keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) and in an epidermoid cervical cancer cell line (CaSki), and in vivo as a nanocarrier to deliver a cancer vaccine against the benchmark target tyrosine-kinase receptor HER2 in C57BL/6 mice. Finally, by a combination of confocal microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering, we were able to show that the superior efficiency of LNP15 can be linked to its disordered nanostructure consisting of small-size unoriented layers of pDNA sandwiched between closely apposed lipid membranes that undergo massive destabilization upon interaction with cellular lipids. Our results provide new insights into the structure-activity relationship of pDNA-loaded LNPs and pave the way to the clinical translation of this gene delivery technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Quagliarini
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161Rome, Italy
| | - Junbiao Wang
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032Camerino, Italy
| | - Serena Renzi
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161Rome, Italy
| | - Lishan Cui
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032Camerino, Italy
| | - Luca Digiacomo
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161Rome, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Ferri
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127Pisa, Italy
| | - Luca Pesce
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127Pisa, Italy
| | - Valentina De Lorenzi
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulia Matteoli
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127Pisa, Italy
| | - Heinz Amenitsch
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, 8010Graz, Austria
| | - Laura Masuelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", 00161Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Bei
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Pozzi
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161Rome, Italy
| | - Augusto Amici
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032Camerino, Italy
| | - Francesco Cardarelli
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127Pisa, Italy
| | - Cristina Marchini
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032Camerino, Italy
| | - Giulio Caracciolo
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161Rome, Italy
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7
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Cui L, Renzi S, Quagliarini E, Digiacomo L, Amenitsch H, Masuelli L, Bei R, Ferri G, Cardarelli F, Wang J, Amici A, Pozzi D, Marchini C, Caracciolo G. Efficient Delivery of DNA Using Lipid Nanoparticles. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14081698. [PMID: 36015328 PMCID: PMC9416266 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14081698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA vaccination has been extensively studied as a promising strategy for tumor treatment. Despite the efforts, the therapeutic efficacy of DNA vaccines has been limited by their intrinsic poor cellular internalization. Electroporation, which is based on the application of a controlled electric field to enhance DNA penetration into cells, has been the method of choice to produce acceptable levels of gene transfer in vivo. However, this method may cause cell damage or rupture, non-specific targeting, and even degradation of pDNA. Skin irritation, muscle contractions, pain, alterations in skin structure, and irreversible cell damage have been frequently reported. To overcome these limitations, in this work, we use a microfluidic platform to generate DNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) which are then characterized by a combination of dynamic light scattering (DLS), synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Despite the clinical successes obtained by LNPs for mRNA and siRNA delivery, little is known about LNPs encapsulating bulkier DNA molecules, the clinical application of which remains challenging. For in vitro screening, LNPs were administered to human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK-293) and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines and ranked for their transfection efficiency (TE) and cytotoxicity. The LNP formulation exhibiting the highest TE and the lowest cytotoxicity was then tested for the delivery of the DNA vaccine pVAX-hECTM targeting the human neoantigen HER2, an oncoprotein overexpressed in several cancer types. Using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), immunofluorescence assays and fluorescence confocal microscopy (FCS), we proved that pVAX-hECTM-loaded LNPs produce massive expression of the HER2 antigen on the cell membrane of HEK-293 cells. Our results provide new insights into the structure–activity relationship of DNA-loaded LNPs and pave the way for the access of this gene delivery technology to preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lishan Cui
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Serena Renzi
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Erica Quagliarini
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Digiacomo
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Heinz Amenitsch
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Laura Masuelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Bei
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Ferri
- National Enterprise for NanoScience and NanoTechnology (NEST), Scuola Normale Superiore, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Cardarelli
- National Enterprise for NanoScience and NanoTechnology (NEST), Scuola Normale Superiore, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Junbiao Wang
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Augusto Amici
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Daniela Pozzi
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Marchini
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
- Correspondence: (C.M.); (G.C.)
| | - Giulio Caracciolo
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (C.M.); (G.C.)
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8
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Gene-Delivery Ability of New Hydrogenated and Partially Fluorinated Gemini bispyridinium Surfactants with Six Methylene Spacers. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063062. [PMID: 35328483 PMCID: PMC8949414 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The pandemic emergency determined by the spreading worldwide of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has focused the scientific and economic efforts of the pharmaceutical industry and governments on the possibility to fight the virus by genetic immunization. The genetic material must be delivered inside the cells by means of vectors. Due to the risk of adverse or immunogenic reaction or replication connected with the more efficient viral vectors, non-viral vectors are in many cases considered as a preferred strategy for gene delivery into eukaryotic cells. This paper is devoted to the evaluation of the gene delivery ability of new synthesized gemini bis-pyridinium surfactants with six methylene spacers, both hydrogenated and fluorinated, in comparison with compounds with spacers of different lengths, previously studied. Results from MTT proliferation assay, electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA), transient transfection assay tests and atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging confirm that pyridinium gemini surfactants could be a valuable tool for gene delivery purposes, but their performance is highly dependent on the spacer length and strictly related to their structure in solution. All the fluorinated compounds are unable to transfect RD-4 cells, if used alone, but they are all able to deliver a plasmid carrying an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression cassette, when co-formulated with 1,2-dioleyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) in a 1:2 ratio. The fluorinated compounds with spacers formed by six (FGP6) and eight carbon atoms (FGP8) give rise to a very interesting gene delivery activity, greater to that of the commercial reagent, when formulated with DOPE. The hydrogenated compound GP16_6 is unable to sufficiently compact the DNA, as shown by AFM images.
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9
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Giulimondi F, Vulpis E, Digiacomo L, Giuli MV, Mancusi A, Capriotti AL, Laganà A, Cerrato A, Zenezini Chiozzi R, Nicoletti C, Amenitsch H, Cardarelli F, Masuelli L, Bei R, Screpanti I, Pozzi D, Zingoni A, Checquolo S, Caracciolo G. Opsonin-Deficient Nucleoproteic Corona Endows UnPEGylated Liposomes with Stealth Properties In Vivo. ACS NANO 2022; 16:2088-2100. [PMID: 35040637 PMCID: PMC8867903 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c07687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
For several decades, surface grafted polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been a go-to strategy for preserving the synthetic identity of liposomes in physiological milieu and preventing clearance by immune cells. However, the limited clinical translation of PEGylated liposomes is mainly due to the protein corona formation and the subsequent modification of liposomes' synthetic identity, which affects their interactions with immune cells and blood residency. Here we exploit the electric charge of DNA to generate unPEGylated liposome/DNA complexes that, upon exposure to human plasma, gets covered with an opsonin-deficient protein corona. The final product of the synthetic process is a biomimetic nanoparticle type covered by a proteonucleotidic corona, or "proteoDNAsome", which maintains its synthetic identity in vivo and is able to slip past the immune system more efficiently than PEGylated liposomes. Accumulation of proteoDNAsomes in the spleen and the liver was lower than that of PEGylated systems. Our work highlights the importance of generating stable biomolecular coronas in the development of stealth unPEGylated particles, thus providing a connection between the biological behavior of particles in vivo and their synthetic identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Giulimondi
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University
of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Vulpis
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University
of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Digiacomo
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University
of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Valeria Giuli
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University
of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Angelica Mancusi
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University
of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Laura Capriotti
- Department
of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Aldo Laganà
- Department
of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Cerrato
- Department
of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Riccardo Zenezini Chiozzi
- Biomolecular
Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular
Research, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Carmine Nicoletti
- Unit
of Histology and Medical Embryology, Department of Anatomy, Histology,
Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics, Sapienza
University of Rome, Viale A. Scarpa 16, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Heinz Amenitsch
- Institute
of inorganic Chemistry, Graz University
of Technology, Stremayerg 6/IV, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | | | - Laura Masuelli
- Department
of Experimental Medicine, University of
Rome “Sapienza”, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Bei
- Department
of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Screpanti
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University
of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Pozzi
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University
of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Zingoni
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University
of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Saula Checquolo
- Department
of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Giulio Caracciolo
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University
of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
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10
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Quagliarini E, Renzi S, Digiacomo L, Giulimondi F, Sartori B, Amenitsch H, Tassinari V, Masuelli L, Bei R, Cui L, Wang J, Amici A, Marchini C, Pozzi D, Caracciolo G. Microfluidic Formulation of DNA-Loaded Multicomponent Lipid Nanoparticles for Gene Delivery. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:1292. [PMID: 34452253 PMCID: PMC8400491 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13081292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have gained considerable attention in numerous research fields ranging from gene therapy to cancer immunotherapy and DNA vaccination. While some RNA-encapsulating LNP formulations passed clinical trials, DNA-loaded LNPs have been only marginally explored so far. To fulfil this gap, herein we investigated the effect of several factors influencing the microfluidic formulation and transfection behavior of DNA-loaded LNPs such as PEGylation, total flow rate (TFR), concentration and particle density at the cell surface. We show that PEGylation and post-synthesis sample concentration facilitated formulation of homogeneous and small size LNPs with high transfection efficiency and minor, if any, cytotoxicity on human Embryonic Kidney293 (HEK-293), spontaneously immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT), immortalized keratinocytes (N/TERT) generated from the transduction of human primary keratinocytes, and epidermoid cervical cancer (CaSki) cell lines. On the other side, increasing TFR had a detrimental effect both on the physicochemical properties and transfection properties of LNPs. Lastly, the effect of particle concentration at the cell surface on the transfection efficiency (TE) and cell viability was largely dependent on the cell line, suggesting that its case-by-case optimization would be necessary. Overall, we demonstrate that fine tuning formulation and microfluidic parameters is a vital step for the generation of highly efficient DNA-loaded LNPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Quagliarini
- Department of Chemistry, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Serena Renzi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (S.R.); (L.D.); (F.G.); (V.T.)
| | - Luca Digiacomo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (S.R.); (L.D.); (F.G.); (V.T.)
| | - Francesca Giulimondi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (S.R.); (L.D.); (F.G.); (V.T.)
| | - Barbara Sartori
- Institute of inorganic Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, 8010 Graz, Austria; (B.S.); (H.A.)
| | - Heinz Amenitsch
- Institute of inorganic Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, 8010 Graz, Austria; (B.S.); (H.A.)
| | - Valentina Tassinari
- Department of Molecular Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (S.R.); (L.D.); (F.G.); (V.T.)
| | - Laura Masuelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Roberto Bei
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Lishan Cui
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (L.C.); (J.W.); (A.A.); (C.M.)
| | - Junbiao Wang
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (L.C.); (J.W.); (A.A.); (C.M.)
| | - Augusto Amici
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (L.C.); (J.W.); (A.A.); (C.M.)
| | - Cristina Marchini
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (L.C.); (J.W.); (A.A.); (C.M.)
| | - Daniela Pozzi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (S.R.); (L.D.); (F.G.); (V.T.)
| | - Giulio Caracciolo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (S.R.); (L.D.); (F.G.); (V.T.)
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11
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Perini G, Giulimondi F, Palmieri V, Augello A, Digiacomo L, Quagliarini E, Pozzi D, Papi M, Caracciolo G. Inhibiting the Growth of 3D Brain Cancer Models with Bio-Coronated Liposomal Temozolomide. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13030378. [PMID: 33809262 PMCID: PMC7999290 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13030378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as an effective means to deliver anticancer drugs into the brain. Among various forms of NPs, liposomal temozolomide (TMZ) is the drug-of-choice for the treatment and management of brain tumours, but its therapeutic benefit is suboptimal. Although many possible reasons may account for the compromised therapeutic efficacy, the inefficient tumour penetration of liposomal TMZ can be a vital obstacle. Recently, the protein corona, i.e., the layer of plasma proteins that surround NPs after exposure to human plasma, has emerged as an endogenous trigger that mostly controls their anticancer efficacy. Exposition of particular biomolecules from the corona referred to as protein corona fingerprints (PCFs) may facilitate interactions with specific receptors of target cells, thus, promoting efficient internalization. In this work, we have synthesized a set of four TMZ-encapsulating nanomedicines made of four cationic liposome (CL) formulations with systematic changes in lipid composition and physical−chemical properties. We have demonstrated that precoating liposomal TMZ with a protein corona made of human plasma proteins can increase drug penetration in a 3D brain cancer model derived from U87 human glioblastoma multiforme cell line leading to marked inhibition of tumour growth. On the other side, by fine-tuning corona composition we have also provided experimental evidence of a non-unique effect of the corona on the tumour growth for all the complexes investigated, thus, clarifying that certain PCFs (i.e., APO-B and APO-E) enable favoured interactions with specific receptors of brain cancer cells. Reported results open new perspectives into the development of corona-coated liposomal drugs with enhanced tumour penetration and antitumour efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giordano Perini
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.P.); (V.P.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCSS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Francesca Giulimondi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy; (F.G.); (L.D.); (D.P.)
| | - Valentina Palmieri
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.P.); (V.P.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCSS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
- Istituto dei Sistemi Complessi, CNR, Via dei Taurini 19, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Augello
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCSS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Luca Digiacomo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy; (F.G.); (L.D.); (D.P.)
| | - Erica Quagliarini
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Daniela Pozzi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy; (F.G.); (L.D.); (D.P.)
| | - Massimiliano Papi
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.P.); (V.P.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCSS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
- Correspondence: (M.P.); (G.C.)
| | - Giulio Caracciolo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy; (F.G.); (L.D.); (D.P.)
- Correspondence: (M.P.); (G.C.)
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12
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Bellefroid C, Reusch C, Lechanteur A, Evrard B, Debacq-Chainiaux F, Mottet D, Piel G. Systematic study of liposomes composition towards efficient delivery of plasmid DNA as potential application of dermal fibroblasts targeting. Int J Pharm 2020; 593:120122. [PMID: 33307161 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2020.120122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The use of non-viral DNA vectors to topically treat skin diseases has demonstrated a high potential. However, vectors applied on the skin face extracellular barriers including the stratum corneum and intracellular barriers such as the endosomal escape and the nuclear targeting of the plasmid DNA. The aim of this study was to develop a formulation suitable for dermal application and effective for delivering plasmid DNA into cells. Different formulations were prepared using different cationic lipids (DOTAP, DC-Chol, DOTMA) and co-lipids (DOPE, DSPE). Lipoplexes were produced by complexing liposomes with plasmid DNA at different pDNA/CL (w/w) ratios. Our results showed that appropriate pDNA/CL ratios allowing total complexation of plasmid DNA differed depending on the structure of the lipid used. The transfection rates showed that (i) higher rates were obtained with DOTMA lipoplexes, (ii) DC-Chol lipoplexes provided a transfection twice as important as DOTAP lipoplexes and (iii) when DSPE was added, the cytotoxicity decreased while transfection rates were similar. We found that formulations composed of DC-Chol:DOPE:DSPE or DOTMA:DOPE were appropriate to complex plasmid DNA and to transfect human primary dermal fibroblasts with efficacy and limited cytotoxicity. Therefore, these formulations are highly promising in the context of gene therapy to treat skin diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Bellefroid
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Nanomedicine Development, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Medicines (CIRM), University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - C Reusch
- Laboratory of Gene Expression and Cancer, GIGA-Molecular Biology of Diseases, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - A Lechanteur
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Nanomedicine Development, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Medicines (CIRM), University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - B Evrard
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Nanomedicine Development, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Medicines (CIRM), University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - F Debacq-Chainiaux
- URBC, Namur Research Institute for Life Science (NARILIS), University of Namur, 5000 Namur, Belgium
| | - D Mottet
- Laboratory of Gene Expression and Cancer, GIGA-Molecular Biology of Diseases, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - G Piel
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Nanomedicine Development, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Medicines (CIRM), University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
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13
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Recent advances in micro/nanoscale intracellular delivery. NANOTECHNOLOGY AND PRECISION ENGINEERING 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.npe.2019.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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14
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A mechanistic explanation of the inhibitory role of the protein corona on liposomal gene expression. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2019; 1862:183159. [PMID: 31857070 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2019.183159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The past three decades have witnessed fast advances in the use of cationic liposome-DNA complexes (lipoplexes) for gene delivery applications. However, no lipoplex formulation has reached into the clinical practice so far. The primary drawback limiting clinical use of lipoplexes is the lack of mechanistic understanding of their low transfection efficiency (TE) in vivo. In physiological environments, lipoplexes are coated by a protein corona (PC) that mediates the interactions with the cell machinery. Here we show that the formation of PC can change the interactions of multicomponent (MC) lipoplexes with our cell model (i.e., HeLa). At the highest lipoplex concentration, the formation of PC can reduce the TE of MC lipoplexes from 60% to <5%. Combining dynamic light scattering and synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), we clarify that the formation of PC modifies physical-chemical properties of MC lipoplexes so as to affect their TE. Moreover, we examined single transfection barriers by a combination of fluorescence-activated cell sorting, single-cell real-time fluorescence confocal microscopy, and synchrotron SAXS. We demonstrate that PC formation has the ability to modify the relative contribution of caveolae-mediated endocytosis and macropinocytosis in lipoplexes uptake, in favor of the latter, increasing accumulation of PC-decorated lipoplexes into degradative lysosomal compartments. Finally, we report evidences that PC reduces the structural stability of lipoplexes against solubilization by cellular lipids, likely favoring premature DNA release and cytosolic digestion by DNAase. These combined effects revealed here offer a comprehensive mechanistic explanation on the reason behind reduction in gene expression of MC lipoplexes.
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15
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Guo J, Guo C, Xu L, Jia J, Jia R. Enhanced transfection efficiency by using a novel semi-attachment method in cell line and primary cells. Anal Biochem 2019; 587:113465. [PMID: 31585099 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2019.113465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Revised: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
DNA transfection in cells is a key technique in biological studies. Cationic liposomes can form nanoparticle complexes with DNA and are widely used for gene delivery in mammalian cells. However, the major drawback of cationic liposomes is their low transfection efficiency in hard-to-transfect cells, such as primary cultured cells. In this study, we established a novel semi-attachment transfection method that showed remarkably improved transfection efficiency compared with traditional forward transfection method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihua Guo
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China; Department of Endodontics, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China.
| | - Chen Guo
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China.
| | - Lingfeng Xu
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China.
| | - Jun Jia
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China.
| | - Rong Jia
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China.
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16
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Di Santo R, Digiacomo L, Palchetti S, Palmieri V, Perini G, Pozzi D, Papi M, Caracciolo G. Microfluidic manufacturing of surface-functionalized graphene oxide nanoflakes for gene delivery. NANOSCALE 2019; 11:2733-2741. [PMID: 30672541 DOI: 10.1039/c8nr09245a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Graphene oxide (GO) is a single-atomic-layered material made of a sheet of oxidized carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb structure. Thanks to the notable physical and chemical properties of GO, GO-based nanomaterials have applications in many fields of research, including gene delivery. It has been reported that pristine GO can absorb single-stranded DNA and RNA through π-π stacking, which cannot be used as a gene carrier because it is hard to load double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). To tackle this issue, this work was aimed at developing a hybrid nanoparticle (NP) system made of GO coated with cationic lipids (hereafter referred to as GOCL) with suitable physical-chemical properties for gene delivery applications. To this end, nanosized GO flakes (nGO) were coated with the cationic lipid 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) by microfluidic mixing. Comprehensive characterization of GOCL NPs was performed by a combination of dynamic light scattering (DLS), micro-electrophoresis and atom force microscopy (AFM). Our results show that GOCL NPs exhibit adequate size (<150 nm) and surface charge (ξ = +15 mV) for gene delivery purposes. Complexes made of GOCL NPs and plasmid DNA (pDNA) were used to transfect human cervical cancer cells (HeLa) and human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells. Pristine nGO and DOTAP cationic liposomes were used as a reference. GOCL NPs exhibited a similar TE but a much higher cell viability compared with DOTAP cationic liposomes. Confocal fluorescence microscopy provided a reasonable explanation for the superior performance of GOCL/DNA complexes showing that they are much more numerous, regular in size and homogeneously distributed than DOTAP/DNA complexes, thus splitting their gene payload over the entire cell population. Because of the imperative demand for efficient and safe nanocarriers, this study will contribute to the development of novel surface-functionalized GO-based hybrid gene vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Di Santo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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17
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Arcella A, Palchetti S, Digiacomo L, Pozzi D, Capriotti AL, Frati L, Oliva MA, Tsaouli G, Rota R, Screpanti I, Mahmoudi M, Caracciolo G. Brain Targeting by Liposome-Biomolecular Corona Boosts Anticancer Efficacy of Temozolomide in Glioblastoma Cells. ACS Chem Neurosci 2018; 9:3166-3174. [PMID: 30015470 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Temozolomide (TMZ) is the current first-line chemotherapy for treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). However, similar to other brain therapeutic compounds, access of TMZ to brain tumors is impaired by the blood-brain barrier (BBB) leading to poor response for GBM patients. To overcome this major hurdle, we have synthesized a set of TMZ-encapsulating nanomedicines made of four cationic liposome (CL) formulations with systematic changes in lipid composition and physical-chemical properties. The targeting nature of this nanomedicine is provided by the recruitment of proteins, with natural targeting capacity, in the biomolecular corona (BC) layer that forms around CLs after exposure to human plasma (HP). TMZ-loaded CL-BC complexes were thoroughly characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), electrophoretic light scattering (ELS), and nanoliquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (nano-LC MS/MS). BCs were found to be enriched of typical BC fingerprints (BCFs) (e.g., Apolipoproteins, Vitronectin, and vitamin K-dependent protein), which have a substantial capacity in binding to receptors that are overexpressed at the BBB (e.g., scavenger receptor class B, type I and low-density lipoprotein receptor). We found that the CL formulation exhibiting the highest levels of targeting BCFs had larger uptake in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) that are commonly used as an in vitro model of the BBB. This formulation could also deliver TMZ to the human glioblastoma U-87 MG cell line and thus substantially enhance their antitumor efficacy compared to corona free CLs. Thus, we propose that the BC-based nanomedicines may pave a more effective way for efficient treatment of GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonietta Arcella
- Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo Neuromed, Via dell’Elettronica 86077 Pozzilli (IS), Italy
| | - Sara Palchetti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Digiacomo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Pozzi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Laura Capriotti
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Frati
- Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo Neuromed, Via dell’Elettronica 86077 Pozzilli (IS), Italy
| | - Maria Antonietta Oliva
- Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo Neuromed, Via dell’Elettronica 86077 Pozzilli (IS), Italy
| | - Georgia Tsaouli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Rota
- Department of Oncohematology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesu’, Viale San Paolo 15, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Screpanti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Morteza Mahmoudi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Giulio Caracciolo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
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18
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Li X, Aghaamoo M, Liu S, Lee DH, Lee AP. Lipoplex-Mediated Single-Cell Transfection via Droplet Microfluidics. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2018; 14:e1802055. [PMID: 30199137 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201802055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
While lipoplex (cationic lipid-nucleic acid complex)-mediated intracellular delivery is widely adopted in mammalian cell transfection, its transfection efficiency for suspension cells, e.g., lymphatic and hematopoietic cells, is reported at only ≈5% or even lower. Here, efficient and consistent lipoplex-mediated transfection is demonstrated for hard-to-transfect suspension cells via a single-cell, droplet-microfluidics approach. In these microdroplets, monodisperse lipoplexes for effective gene delivery are generated via chaotic mixing induced by the serpentine microchannel and co-confined with single cells. Moreover, the cell membrane permeability increases due to the shear stress exerted on the single cells when they pass through the droplet pinch-off junction. The transfection efficiency, examined by the delivery of the pcDNA3-EGFP plasmid, improves from ≈5% to ≈50% for all three tested suspension cell lines, i.e., K562, THP-1, Jurkat, and with significantly reduced cell-to-cell variation, compared to the bulk method. Efficient targeted knockout of the TP53BP1 gene for K562 cells via the CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-CAS9 (CRISPR-associated nuclease 9) mechanism is also achieved using this platform. Lipoplex-mediated single-cell transfection via droplet microfluidics is expected to have broad applications in gene therapy and regenerative medicine by providing high transfection efficiency and low cell-to-cell variation for hard-to-transfect suspension cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Mohammad Aghaamoo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Shiyue Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Do-Hyun Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Abraham P Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
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19
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Digiacomo L, Palchetti S, Pozzi D, Amici A, Caracciolo G, Marchini C. Cationic lipid/DNA complexes manufactured by microfluidics and bulk self-assembly exhibit different transfection behavior. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 503:508-512. [PMID: 29733845 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in biochemical and biophysical research have been achieved through the employment of microfluidic devices. Microfluidic mixing of therapeutic agents with biomaterials yields systems with finely tuned physical-chemical properties for applications in drug and gene delivery. Here, we investigate the role of preparation technology (microfluidic mixing vs. bulk self-assembly) on the transfection efficiency (TE) and cytotoxicity of multicomponent cationic liposome/DNA complexes (lipoplexes) in live Chinese hamster ovarian (CHO) cells. Decoupling TE and cytotoxicity allowed us to combine them in a unique coherent vision. While bulk self-assembly produces highly efficient and highly toxic MC lipoplexes, microfluidics manufacture leads to less efficient, but less cytotoxic complexes. This discrepancy is ascribed to two main factors controlling lipid-mediated cell transfection, i.e. the lipoplex concentration at the cell surface and the lipoplex arrangement at the nanoscale. Further research is required to optimize microfluidic manufacturing of lipoplexes to obtain highly efficient and not cytotoxic gene delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Digiacomo
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy; Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Palchetti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Pozzi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Augusto Amici
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Giulio Caracciolo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Cristina Marchini
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
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20
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Cordas Dos Santos DM, Eilers J, Sosa Vizcaino A, Orlova E, Zimmermann M, Stanulla M, Schrappe M, Börner K, Grimm D, Muckenthaler MU, Kulozik AE, Kunz JB. MAP3K7 is recurrently deleted in pediatric T-lymphoblastic leukemia and affects cell proliferation independently of NF-κB. BMC Cancer 2018; 18:663. [PMID: 29914415 PMCID: PMC6006985 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-018-4525-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deletions of 6q15-16.1 are recurrently found in pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). This chromosomal region includes the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 7 (MAP3K7) gene which has a crucial role in innate immune signaling and was observed to be functionally and prognostically relevant in different cancer entities. Therefore, we correlated the presence of MAP3K7 deletions with clinical parameters in a cohort of 327 pediatric T-ALL patients and investigated the function of MAP3K7 in the T-ALL cell lines CCRF-CEM, Jurkat and MOLT-4. METHODS MAP3K7 deletions were detected by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). T-ALL cell lines were transduced with adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors expressing anti-MAP3K7 shRNA or a non-silencing shRNA together with a GFP reporter. Transduction efficiency was measured by flow cytometry and depletion efficiency by RT-PCR and Western blots. Induction of apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry after staining with PE-conjugated Annexin V. In order to assess the contribution of NF-κB signaling to the effects of MAP3K7 depletion, cells were treated with TNF-α and cell lysates analyzed for components of the NF-κB pathway by Western blotting and for expression of the NF-κB target genes BCL2, CMYC, FAS, PTEN and TNF-α by RT-PCR. RESULTS MAP3K7 is deleted in approximately 10% and point-mutated in approximately 1% of children with T-ALL. In 32 of 33 leukemias the deletion of MAP3K7 also included the adjacent CASP8AP2 gene. MAP3K7 deletions were associated with the occurrence of SIL-TAL1 fusions and a mature immunophenotype, but not with response to treatment and outcome. Depletion of MAP3K7 expression in T-ALL cell lines by shRNAs slowed down proliferation and induced apoptosis, but neither changed protein levels of components of NF-κB signaling nor NF-κB target gene expression after stimulation with TNF-α. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed that the recurrent deletion of MAP3K7/CASP8AP2 is associated with SIL-TAL1 fusions and a mature immunophenotype, but not with response to treatment and risk of relapse. Homozygous deletions of MAP3K7 were not observed, and efficient depletion of MAP3K7 interfered with viability of T-ALL cells, indicating that a residual expression of MAP3K7 is indispensable for T-lymphoblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Cordas Dos Santos
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, Immunology and Pulmonology, Heidelberg University Children's Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Juliane Eilers
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, Immunology and Pulmonology, Heidelberg University Children's Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alfonso Sosa Vizcaino
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, Immunology and Pulmonology, Heidelberg University Children's Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Elena Orlova
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, Immunology and Pulmonology, Heidelberg University Children's Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martin Zimmermann
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, MH Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Martin Stanulla
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, MH Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Martin Schrappe
- Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Kathleen Börner
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,BioQuant Center, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dirk Grimm
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,BioQuant Center, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence CellNetworks, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martina U Muckenthaler
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, Immunology and Pulmonology, Heidelberg University Children's Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andreas E Kulozik
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, Immunology and Pulmonology, Heidelberg University Children's Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Joachim B Kunz
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, Immunology and Pulmonology, Heidelberg University Children's Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany. .,Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), Heidelberg, Germany. .,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany.
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21
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Bang JS, Choi NY, Lee M, Ko K, Lee HJ, Park YS, Jeong D, Chung HM, Ko K. Optimization of episomal reprogramming for generation of human induced pluripotent stem cells from fibroblasts. Anim Cells Syst (Seoul) 2018; 22:132-139. [PMID: 30460090 PMCID: PMC6138300 DOI: 10.1080/19768354.2018.1451367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2017] [Revised: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by defined factors (OCT4, SOX2, C-MYC, and KLF4) from various human primary cells has been reported. Human fibroblasts have been widely used as a cellular source in reprogramming studies over recent decades. The original method of iPSC generation uses retro- or lentivirus vectors that require integration of viral DNA into the target cells. The integration of exogenous genes encoding transcription factors (OCT4, SOX2, C-MYC, and KLF4) can be detected in iPSCs, raising concern about the risk of mutagenesis and tumor formation. Therefore, stem cell therapy would ideally require generation of integration-free iPSCs using non-integration gene delivery system such as Sendai virus, recombinant proteins, synthetic mRNA, and episomal vectors. Several groups have reported that episomal vectors are capable of reprogramming human fibroblasts into iPSCs. Although vector concentration and cell density are important in the episomal vector reprogramming method, optimization of this method for human fibroblasts has not been reported. In this study, we determined optimal conditions for generating integration-free iPSCs from human fibroblasts through the use of different concentrations of episomal vectors (OCT4/p53, SOX2/KLF4, L-MYC/LIN28A) and different plating cell density. We found that optimized vector concentration and cell density accelerate reprogramming and improve iPSC generation. Our study provides a detailed stepwise protocol for improved generation of integration-free iPSCs from human fibroblasts by transfection with episomal vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Seok Bang
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.,Center for Stem Cell Research, Institute of Advanced Biomedical Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Na Young Choi
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.,Center for Stem Cell Research, Institute of Advanced Biomedical Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Minseong Lee
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.,Center for Stem Cell Research, Institute of Advanced Biomedical Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kisung Ko
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hye Jeong Lee
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.,Center for Stem Cell Research, Institute of Advanced Biomedical Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yo Seph Park
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.,Center for Stem Cell Research, Institute of Advanced Biomedical Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Dahee Jeong
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.,Center for Stem Cell Research, Institute of Advanced Biomedical Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyung-Min Chung
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.,Center for Stem Cell Research, Institute of Advanced Biomedical Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.,Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kinarm Ko
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.,Center for Stem Cell Research, Institute of Advanced Biomedical Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.,Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
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22
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Digiacomo L, Cardarelli F, Pozzi D, Palchetti S, Digman MA, Gratton E, Capriotti AL, Mahmoudi M, Caracciolo G. An apolipoprotein-enriched biomolecular corona switches the cellular uptake mechanism and trafficking pathway of lipid nanoparticles. NANOSCALE 2017; 9:17254-17262. [PMID: 29115333 PMCID: PMC5700750 DOI: 10.1039/c7nr06437c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Following exposure to biological milieus (e.g. after systemic administration), nanoparticles (NPs) get covered by an outer biomolecular corona (BC) that defines many of their biological outcomes, such as the elicited immune response, biodistribution, and targeting abilities. In spite of this, the role of BC in regulating the cellular uptake and the subcellular trafficking properties of NPs has remained elusive. Here, we tackle this issue by employing multicomponent (MC) lipid NPs, human plasma (HP) and HeLa cells as models for nanoformulations, biological fluids, and target cells, respectively. By conducting confocal fluorescence microscopy experiments and image correlation analyses, we quantitatively demonstrate that the BC promotes a neat switch of the cell entry mechanism and subsequent intracellular trafficking, from macropinocytosis to clathrin-dependent endocytosis. Nano-liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry identifies apolipoproteins as the most abundant components of the BC tested here. Interestingly, this class of proteins target the LDL receptors, which are overexpressed in clathrin-enriched membrane domains. Our results highlight the crucial role of BC as an intrinsic trigger of specific NP-cell interactions and biological responses and set the basis for a rational exploitation of the BC for targeted delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Digiacomo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032 Camerino, (MC), Italy
| | - F. Cardarelli
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze, CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, Pisa, Italy
| | - D. Pozzi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - S. Palchetti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - M. A. Digman
- Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics, Biomedical Engineering Department, University of California Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - E. Gratton
- Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics, Biomedical Engineering Department, University of California Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - A. L. Capriotti
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - M. Mahmoudi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Nanotechnology Research Centre, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 13169-43551, Iran
| | - G. Caracciolo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
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23
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Dynamic fingerprinting of sub-cellular nanostructures by image mean square displacement analysis. Sci Rep 2017; 7:14836. [PMID: 29093485 PMCID: PMC5665924 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13865-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we provide demonstration that image mean square displacement (iMSD) analysis is a fast and robust platform to address living matter dynamic organization at the level of sub-cellular nanostructures (e.g. endocytic vesicles, early/late endosomes, lysosomes), with no a-priori knowledge of the system, and no need to extract single trajectories. From each iMSD, a unique triplet of average parameters (namely: diffusivity, anomalous coefficient, size) are extracted and represented in a 3D parametric space, where clustering of single-cell points readily defines the structure "dynamic fingerprint", at the whole-cell-population level. We demonstrate that different sub-cellular structures segregate into separate regions of the parametric space. The potency of this approach is further proved through application to two exemplary, still controversial, cases: i) the intracellular trafficking of lysosomes, comprising both free diffusion and directed motion along cytoskeletal components, and ii) the evolving dynamic properties of macropinosomes, passing from early to late stages of intracellular trafficking. We strongly believe this strategy may represent a flexible, multiplexed platform to address the dynamic properties of living matter at the sub-cellular level, both in the physiological and pathological state.
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24
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Martínez-Negro M, Caracciolo G, Palchetti S, Pozzi D, Capriotti AL, Cavaliere C, Laganà A, Ortiz Mellet C, Benito JM, García Fernández JM, Aicart E, Junquera E. Biophysics and protein corona analysis of Janus cyclodextrin-DNA nanocomplexes. Efficient cellular transfection on cancer cells. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2017; 1861:1737-1749. [PMID: 28315770 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2017.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Revised: 02/26/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The self-assembling processes underlining the capabilities of facially differentiated ("Janus") polycationic amphiphilic cyclodextrins (paCDs) as non-viral gene nanocarriers have been investigated by a pluridisciplinary approach. Three representative Janus paCDs bearing a common tetradecahexanoyl multitail domain at the secondary face and differing in the topology of the cluster of amino groups at the primary side were selected for this study. All of them compact pEGFP-C3 plasmid DNA and promote transfection in HeLa and MCF-7 cells, both in absence and in presence of human serum. The electrochemical and structural characteristics of the paCD-pDNA complexes (CDplexes) have been studied by using zeta potential, DLS, SAXS, and cryo-TEM. paCDs and pDNA, when assembled in CDplexes, render effective charges that are lower than the nominal ones. The CDplexes show a self-assembling pattern corresponding to multilamellar lyotropic liquid crystal phases, characterized by a lamellar stacking of bilayers of the CD-based vectors with anionic pDNA sandwiched among them. When exposed to human serum, either in the absence or in the presence of pDNA, the surface of the cationic CD-based vector becomes coated by a protein corona (PC) whose composition has been analyzed by nanoLC-MS/MS. Some of the CDplexes herein studied showed moderate-to-high transfection levels in HeLa and MCF-7 cancer cells combined with moderate-to-high cell viabilities, as determined by FACS and MTT reduction assays. The ensemble of data provides a detail picture of the paCD-pDNA-PC association processes and a rational base to exploit the protein corona for targeted gene delivery on future in vivo applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Martínez-Negro
- Grupo de Química Coloidal y Supramolecular, Departamento de Química Física I, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - G Caracciolo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - S Palchetti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - D Pozzi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - A L Capriotti
- Department of Chemistry, "La Sapienza" University of Rome, Pzle Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - C Cavaliere
- Department of Chemistry, "La Sapienza" University of Rome, Pzle Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - A Laganà
- Department of Chemistry, "La Sapienza" University of Rome, Pzle Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - C Ortiz Mellet
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de Sevilla, c/ Profesor García González 1, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - J M Benito
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químicas (IIQ), CSIC - Universidad de Sevilla, Avda., Américo Vespucio 49, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - J M García Fernández
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químicas (IIQ), CSIC - Universidad de Sevilla, Avda., Américo Vespucio 49, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - E Aicart
- Grupo de Química Coloidal y Supramolecular, Departamento de Química Física I, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - E Junquera
- Grupo de Química Coloidal y Supramolecular, Departamento de Química Física I, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
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25
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A novel inducible lentiviral system for multi-gene expression with human HSP70 promoter and tetracycline-induced promoter. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2017; 101:3689-3702. [PMID: 28160047 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-017-8132-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Revised: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Despite lentiviral system's predominance, its ultimate potential for gene therapy has not been fully exploited. Currently, most lentivirus vectors are non-inducible expression system or single-gene-induced system, which limits the extensive application in gene therapy. In this study, we designed a novel lentiviral vector containing HSP70 promoter and TRE promoter. Compared to traditional lentiviral vectors and inducible vectors, our controllable system has many advantages. Firstly, it contains multiple gene or shRNA targets. Secondly, genes expression is on/off in response to heat shock and DOX induction in time of need respectively with high effectivity and sensitivity. Thirdly, TRE promoter and HSP70 promoter can work with no interference from each other in the same inducible lentiviral vector. In addition, our study also shows that our novel vector has a higher downstream gene expression efficiency than co-transfection method and can co-position multi-genes in single cell effectively. Finally, we propose four derived models based on our vector at the end, which may be useful in biological research and clinical research in the future. Therefore, we believe that this novel lentiviral system could be promising in gene therapy for tumor.
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