1
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Alkhamis O, Canoura J, Wang L, Xiao Y. Nuclease-assisted selection of slow-off rate aptamers. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadl3426. [PMID: 38865469 PMCID: PMC11168469 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl3426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Conventional directed evolution methods offer the ability to select bioreceptors with high binding affinity for a specific target in terms of thermodynamic properties. However, there is a lack of analogous approaches for kinetic selection, which could yield affinity reagents that exhibit slow off-rates and thus remain tightly bound to targets for extended periods. Here, we describe an in vitro directed evolution methodology that uses the nuclease flap endonuclease 1 to achieve the efficient discovery of aptamers that have slow dissociation rates. Our nuclease-assisted selection strategy can yield specific aptamers for both small molecules and proteins with off-rates that are an order of magnitude slower relative to those obtained with conventional selection methods while still retaining excellent overall target affinity in terms of thermodynamics. This new methodology provides a generalizable approach for generating slow off-rate aptamers for diverse targets, which could, in turn, prove valuable for applications including molecular devices, bioimaging, and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Obtin Alkhamis
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Juan Canoura
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Linlin Wang
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
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2
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Bisht A, Bhowmik S, Patel P, Gupta GD, Kurmi BD. Aptamer as a targeted approach towards treatment of breast cancer. J Drug Target 2024; 32:510-528. [PMID: 38512151 DOI: 10.1080/1061186x.2024.2333866] [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: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Aptamers, a novel type of targeted ligand used in drug delivery, have quickly gained popularity due to their high target specificity and affinity. Different aptamer-mediated drug delivery systems, such as aptamer-drug conjugate (ApDC), aptamer-siRNA, and aptamer-functionalised nanoparticle systems, are currently being developed for the successful treatment of cancer based on the excellent properties of aptamers. These systems can decrease potential toxicity and enhance therapeutic efficacy by targeting the drug moiety. In this review, we provide an overview of recent developments in aptamer-mediated delivery systems for cancer therapy, specifically for breast cancer, and talk about the potential applications and current issues of novel aptamer-based techniques. This study in aptamer technology for breast cancer therapy highlights key aptamers targeting well-established biomarkers such as HER2, oestrogen receptor, and progesterone receptor. Additionally, we explore the potential of aptamers in overcoming various challenges such as drug resistance and improving the delivery of therapeutic agents. This review aims to provide a deeper understanding of the present aptamer-based targeted delivery applications through in-depth analysis to increase efficacy and create new therapeutic approaches that may ultimately lead to better treatment outcomes for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Bisht
- Department of Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance, ISF College Pharmacy, Moga, India
| | | | - Preeti Patel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College Pharmacy, Moga, India
| | | | - Balak Das Kurmi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, ISF College Pharmacy, Moga, India
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3
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Martin DR, Mutombwera AT, Madiehe AM, Onani MO, Meyer M, Cloete R. Molecular modeling and simulation studies of SELEX-derived high-affinity DNA aptamers to the Ebola virus nucleoprotein. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-18. [PMID: 38217874 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2302922] [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: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Ebola viral disease (EVD) is a highly infectious and potentially fatal illness with a case fatality rate ranging from 25% to 90%. To effectively control its spread, there is a need for rapid, reliable and lowcost point-of-care (P OC) diagnostic tests. While various EVD diagnostic tests exist, few are P OC tests, and many are not cost-effective. The use of antibodies in these tests has limitations, prompting the exploration of aptamers as potential alternatives. Various proteins from the Ebola virus (EBOV) proteome, including EBOV nucleoprotein (NP), are considered viable targets for diagnostic assays. A previous study identified three aptamers (Apt1. Apt2 and Apt3) with high affinity for EBOV NP using systemic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). This study aimed to employ in silico methods, such as Phyre2, RNAfold, RNAComposer, HADDOCK and GROMACS, to model the structures of EBOV NP and the aptamers, and to investigate their binding. The in silico analysis revealed successful binding of all the three aptamers to EBOV NP, with a suggested ranking of Apt1 > Apt2 > Apt3 based on binding affinity. Microscale thermophoresis (MST) analysis confirmed the binding, providing dissociation constants of 25 ± 2.84, 56 ± 2.76 and 140 ±3.69 nM for Apt1, Apt2 and Apt3, respectively. The study shows that the findings of the in silico analysis was in agreement with the MST analysis. Inclusion of these in silico approaches in diagnostic assay development can expedite the selection of candidate aptamers, potentially overcoming challenges associated with aptamer application in diagnostics.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- D R Martin
- Department of Science and Innovation/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, Biolabels Node, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council Bioinformatics Unit, South African National Bioinformatics Institute (SANBI), University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa Cape Town, South Africa
| | - A T Mutombwera
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
| | - A M Madiehe
- Department of Science and Innovation/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, Biolabels Node, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
- Nanobiotechnology Research Group, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - M O Onani
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - M Meyer
- Department of Science and Innovation/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, Biolabels Node, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - R Cloete
- South African Medical Research Council Bioinformatics Unit, South African National Bioinformatics Institute (SANBI), University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa Cape Town, South Africa
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4
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Bauer D, Cornejo MA, Hoang TT, Lewis JS, Zeglis BM. Click Chemistry and Radiochemistry: An Update. Bioconjug Chem 2023; 34:1925-1950. [PMID: 37737084 PMCID: PMC10655046 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
The term "click chemistry" describes a class of organic transformations that were developed to make chemical synthesis simpler and easier, in essence allowing chemists to combine molecular subunits as if they were puzzle pieces. Over the last 25 years, the click chemistry toolbox has swelled from the canonical copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition to encompass an array of ligations, including bioorthogonal variants, such as the strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition and the inverse electron-demand Diels-Alder reaction. Without question, the rise of click chemistry has impacted all areas of chemical and biological science. Yet the unique traits of radiopharmaceutical chemistry have made it particularly fertile ground for this technology. In this update, we seek to provide a comprehensive guide to recent developments at the intersection of click chemistry and radiopharmaceutical chemistry and to illuminate several exciting trends in the field, including the use of emergent click transformations in radiosynthesis, the clinical translation of novel probes synthesized using click chemistry, and the advent of click-based in vivo pretargeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Bauer
- Department
of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer
Center, New York, New York 10021, United States
| | - Mike A. Cornejo
- Department
of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer
Center, New York, New York 10021, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, Hunter College, City University
of New York, New York, New York 10065, United States
- Ph.D.
Program in Chemistry, Graduate Center of
the City University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
| | - Tran T. Hoang
- Department
of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer
Center, New York, New York 10021, United States
- Department
of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Jason S. Lewis
- Department
of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer
Center, New York, New York 10021, United States
- Department
of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York 10021, New York United States
| | - Brian M. Zeglis
- Department
of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer
Center, New York, New York 10021, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, Hunter College, City University
of New York, New York, New York 10065, United States
- Ph.D.
Program in Chemistry, Graduate Center of
the City University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Department
of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10065, United States
- Department
of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York 10021, New York United States
- Ph.D.
Program
in Biochemistry, Graduate Center of the
City University of New York, New
York, New York 10016, United States
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5
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Szymanowski W, Szymanowska A, Bielawska A, Lopez-Berestein G, Rodriguez-Aguayo C, Amero P. Aptamers as Potential Therapeutic Tools for Ovarian Cancer: Advancements and Challenges. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5300. [PMID: 37958473 PMCID: PMC10647731 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15215300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most common lethal gynecologic cause of death in women worldwide, with a high mortality rate and increasing incidence. Despite advancements in the treatment, most OC patients still die from their disease due to late-stage diagnosis, the lack of effective diagnostic methods, and relapses. Aptamers, synthetic, short single-stranded oligonucleotides, have emerged as promising anticancer therapeutics. Their ability to selectively bind to target molecules, including cancer-related proteins and receptors, has revolutionized drug discovery and biomarker identification. Aptamers offer unique insights into the molecular pathways involved in cancer development and progression. Moreover, they show immense potential as drug delivery systems, enabling targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to cancer cells while minimizing off-target effects and reducing systemic toxicity. In the context of OC, the integration of aptamers with non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) presents an opportunity for precise and efficient gene targeting. Additionally, the conjugation of aptamers with nanoparticles allows for accurate and targeted delivery of ncRNAs to specific cells, tissues, or organs. In this review, we will summarize the potential use and challenges associated with the use of aptamers alone or aptamer-ncRNA conjugates, nanoparticles, and multivalent aptamer-based therapeutics for the treatment of OC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech Szymanowski
- Department of Biotechnology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland; (W.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Anna Szymanowska
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (A.S.); (G.L.-B.); (C.R.-A.)
| | - Anna Bielawska
- Department of Biotechnology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland; (W.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Gabriel Lopez-Berestein
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (A.S.); (G.L.-B.); (C.R.-A.)
- Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNA, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Cristian Rodriguez-Aguayo
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (A.S.); (G.L.-B.); (C.R.-A.)
- Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNA, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Paola Amero
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (A.S.); (G.L.-B.); (C.R.-A.)
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6
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Park JY, Cho YL, Chae JR, Lee JH, Kang WJ. Enhancement of in vivo targeting properties of ErbB2 aptamer by chemical modification. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291624. [PMID: 37729138 PMCID: PMC10511116 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Aptamers have great potential for diagnostics and therapeutics due to high specificity to target molecules. However, studies have shown that aptamers are rapidly distributed and excreted from blood circulation due to nuclease degradation. To overcome this issue and to improve in vivo pharmacokinetic properties, inverted deoxythymidine (idT) incorporation at the end of aptamer has been developed. The goal of this study was to evaluate the biological characterization of 3'-idT modified ErbB2 aptamer and compare with that of unmodified aptamer via nuclear imaging. ErbB2-idT aptamer was labeled with radioisotope F-18 by base-pair hybridization using complementary oligonucleotide platform. The hyErbB2-idT aptamer demonstrated specific binding to targets in a ErbB2 expressing SK-BR-3 and KPL4 cells in vitro. Ex vivo biodistribution and in vivo imaging was studied in KPL4 xenograft bearing Balb/c nu/nu mice. 18F-hyErbB2-idT aptamer had significantly higher retention in the tumor (1.36 ± 0.17%ID/g) than unmodified 18F-hyErbB2 (0.98 ± 0.19%ID/g) or scrambled aptamer (0.79 ± 0.26% ID/g) at 1 h post-injection. 18F-hyErbB2-idT aptamer exhibited relatively slow blood clearance and delayed excretion by the renal and hepatobiliary system than 18F-hyErbB2 aptamer. In vivo PET imaging study showed that 18F-hyErbB2-idT aptamer had more stronger PET signals on KPL4 tumor than 18F-hyErbB2 aptamer. The results of this study demonstrate that attachment of idT at 3'-end of aptamer have a substantial influence on biological stability and extended blood circulation led to enhanced tumor uptake of aptamer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Young Park
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ye Lim Cho
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju Ri Chae
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Hwan Lee
- INTEROligo Corporation, Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Jun Kang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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7
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Chassé M, Pees A, Lindberg A, Liang SH, Vasdev N. Spirocyclic Iodonium Ylides for Fluorine-18 Radiolabeling of Non-Activated Arenes: From Concept to Clinical Research. CHEM REC 2023; 23:e202300072. [PMID: 37183954 DOI: 10.1002/tcr.202300072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Positron emission tomography (PET) is a powerful imaging tool for drug discovery, clinical diagnosis, and monitoring of disease progression. Fluorine-18 is the most common radionuclide used for PET, but advances in radiotracer development have been limited by the historical lack of methodologies and precursors amenable to radiolabeling with fluorine-18. Radiolabeling of electron-rich (hetero)aromatic rings remains a long-standing challenge in the production of PET radiopharmaceuticals. In this personal account, we discuss the history of spirocyclic iodonium ylide precursors, from inception to applications in clinical research, for the incorporation of fluorine-18 into complex non-activated (hetero)aromatic rings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Chassé
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, 1 Kings College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Azrieli Centre for Neuro-Radiochemistry, Brain Health Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 250 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Anna Pees
- Azrieli Centre for Neuro-Radiochemistry, Brain Health Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 250 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Anton Lindberg
- Azrieli Centre for Neuro-Radiochemistry, Brain Health Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 250 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Steven H Liang
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Neil Vasdev
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, 1 Kings College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Azrieli Centre for Neuro-Radiochemistry, Brain Health Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 250 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
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8
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Ahmad K, Javed A, Lanphere C, Coveney PV, Orlova EV, Howorka S. Structure and dynamics of an archetypal DNA nanoarchitecture revealed via cryo-EM and molecular dynamics simulations. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3630. [PMID: 37336895 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38681-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA can be folded into rationally designed, unique, and functional materials. To fully realise the potential of these DNA materials, a fundamental understanding of their structure and dynamics is necessary, both in simple solvents as well as more complex and diverse anisotropic environments. Here we analyse an archetypal six-duplex DNA nanoarchitecture with single-particle cryo-electron microscopy and molecular dynamics simulations in solvents of tunable ionic strength and within the anisotropic environment of biological membranes. Outside lipid bilayers, the six-duplex bundle lacks the designed symmetrical barrel-type architecture. Rather, duplexes are arranged in non-hexagonal fashion and are disorted to form a wider, less elongated structure. Insertion into lipid membranes, however, restores the anticipated barrel shape due to lateral duplex compression by the bilayer. The salt concentration has a drastic impact on the stability of the inserted barrel-shaped DNA nanopore given the tunable electrostatic repulsion between the negatively charged duplexes. By synergistically combining experiments and simulations, we increase fundamental understanding into the environment-dependent structural dynamics of a widely used nanoarchitecture. This insight will pave the way for future engineering and biosensing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katya Ahmad
- Centre for Computational Science, University College London, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - Abid Javed
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London, WC1E 7HX, UK
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Conor Lanphere
- Department of Chemistry, Institute for Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, WC1H0AJ, UK
| | - Peter V Coveney
- Centre for Computational Science, University College London, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK.
- Advanced Research Computing Centre, University College London, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK.
- Informatics Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1090 GH, The Netherlands.
| | - Elena V Orlova
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London, WC1E 7HX, UK.
| | - Stefan Howorka
- Department of Chemistry, Institute for Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, WC1H0AJ, UK.
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9
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Kara N, Ayoub N, Ilgu H, Fotiadis D, Ilgu M. Aptamers Targeting Membrane Proteins for Sensor and Diagnostic Applications. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28093728. [PMID: 37175137 PMCID: PMC10180177 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28093728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Many biological processes (physiological or pathological) are relevant to membrane proteins (MPs), which account for almost 30% of the total of human proteins. As such, MPs can serve as predictive molecular biomarkers for disease diagnosis and prognosis. Indeed, cell surface MPs are an important class of attractive targets of the currently prescribed therapeutic drugs and diagnostic molecules used in disease detection. The oligonucleotides known as aptamers can be selected against a particular target with high affinity and selectivity by iterative rounds of in vitro library evolution, known as Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential Enrichment (SELEX). As an alternative to antibodies, aptamers offer unique features like thermal stability, low-cost, reuse, ease of chemical modification, and compatibility with various detection techniques. Particularly, immobilized-aptamer sensing platforms have been under investigation for diagnostics and have demonstrated significant value compared to other analytical techniques. These "aptasensors" can be classified into several types based on their working principle, which are commonly electrochemical, optical, or mass-sensitive. In this review, we review the studies on aptamer-based MP-sensing technologies for diagnostic applications and have included new methodological variations undertaken in recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilufer Kara
- Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara 06800, Turkey
| | - Nooraldeen Ayoub
- Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara 06800, Turkey
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Huseyin Ilgu
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Dimitrios Fotiadis
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Muslum Ilgu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara 06800, Turkey
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
- Aptalogic Inc., Ames, IA 50014, USA
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10
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Liu L, Xiong M, Rong Q, Zhang M, Zhang X. Nucleic acid sensors in vivo: challenges and opportunities. VIEW 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/viw.20220064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
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11
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Keyvani V, Mahmoudian RA, Mollazadeh S, Kheradmand N, Ghorbani E, Khazaei M, Saeed Al-Hayawi I, Hassanian SM, Ferns GA, Avan A, Anvari K. Insight into RNA-based Therapies for Ovarian Cancer. Curr Pharm Des 2023; 29:2692-2701. [PMID: 37916491 DOI: 10.2174/0113816128270476231023052228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common malignancies in women and is associated with poor outcomes. The treatment for OC is often associated with resistance to therapies and hence this has stimulated the search for alternative therapeutic approaches, including RNA-based therapeutics. However, this approach has some challenges that include RNA degradation. To solve this critical issue, some novel delivery systems have been proposed. In current years, there has been growing interest in the improvement of RNAbased therapeutics as a promising approach to target ovarian cancer and improve patient outcomes. This paper provides a practical insight into the use of RNA-based therapeutics in ovarian cancers, highlighting their potential benefits, challenges, and current research progress. RNA-based therapeutics offer a novel and targeted approach to treat ovarian cancer by exploiting the unique characteristics of RNA molecules. By targeting key oncogenes or genes responsible for drug resistance, siRNAs can effectively inhibit tumor growth and sensitize cancer cells to conventional therapies. Furthermore, messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines have emerged as a revolutionary tool in cancer immunotherapy. MRNA vaccines can be designed to encode tumor-specific antigens, stimulating the immune system to distinguish and eliminate ovarian cancer cells. A nano-based delivery platform improves the release of loaded RNAs to the target location and reduces the off-target effects. Additionally, off-target effects and immune responses triggered by RNA molecules necessitate careful design and optimization of these therapeutics. Several preclinical and clinical researches have shown promising results in the field of RNA-based therapeutics for ovarian cancer. In a preclinical study, siRNA-mediated silencing of the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) gene, involved in DNA repair, sensitized ovarian cancer cells to PARP inhibitors, leading to enhanced therapeutic efficacy. In clinical trials, mRNA-based vaccines targeting tumor-associated antigens have demonstrated safety and efficacy in stimulating immune responses in ovarian cancer patients. In aggregate, RNA-based therapeutics represent a promising avenue for the therapy of ovarian cancers. The ability to specifically target oncogenes or stimulate immune responses against tumor cells holds great potential for improving patient outcomes. However, further research is needed to address challenges related to delivery, permanence, and off-target effects. Clinical trials assessing the care and effectiveness of RNAbased therapeutics in larger patient cohorts are warranted. With continued advancements in the field, RNAbased therapeutics have the potential to develop the management of ovarian cancer and provide new hope for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahideh Keyvani
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Reihaneh Alsadat Mahmoudian
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Cancer Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Basic Sciences Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Samaneh Mollazadeh
- Natural Products and Medicinal Plants Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
| | - Nahid Kheradmand
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Elnaz Ghorbani
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Majid Khazaei
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | | | - Seyed Mahdi Hassanian
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Gordon A Ferns
- Division of Medical Education, Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Falmer, Brighton, Sussex BN1 9PH, UK
| | - Amir Avan
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- College of Medicine, University of Warith Al-Anbiyaa, Karbala, Iraq
- Faculty of Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4059, Australia
| | - Kazem Anvari
- Cancer Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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12
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Gao F, Yin J, Chen Y, Guo C, Hu H, Su J. Recent advances in aptamer-based targeted drug delivery systems for cancer therapy. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:972933. [PMID: 36051580 PMCID: PMC9424825 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.972933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The past decade has become an important strategy in precision medicine for the targeted therapy of many diseases, expecially various types of cancer. As a promising targeted element, nucleic acid aptamers are single-stranded functional oligonucleotides which have specific abilities to bind with various target molecules ranging from small molecules to entire organisms. They are often named ‘chemical antibody’ and have aroused extensive interest in diverse clinical studies on account of their advantages, such as considerable biostability, versatile chemical modification, low immunogenicity and quick tissue penetration. Thus, aptamer-embedded drug delivery systems offer an unprecedented opportunity in bioanalysis and biomedicine. In this short review, we endeavor to discuss the recent advances in aptamer-based targeted drug delivery platforms for cancer therapy. Some perspectives on the advantages, challenges and opportunities are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Gao
- Institude of Translation Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianhui Yin
- Institude of Translation Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Medical Supplies Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Changyong Guo
- Institude of Translation Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Honggang Hu
- Institude of Translation Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Jiacan Su, ; Honggang Hu,
| | - Jiacan Su
- Institude of Translation Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Jiacan Su, ; Honggang Hu,
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Poustforoosh A, Faramarz S, Nematollahi MH, Hashemipour H, Negahdaripour M, Pardakhty A. In silico SELEX screening and statistical analysis of newly designed 5mer peptide-aptamers as Bcl-xl inhibitors using the Taguchi method. Comput Biol Med 2022; 146:105632. [PMID: 35617726 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2022.105632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Drug development for cancer treatment is a complex process that requires special efforts. Targeting crucial proteins is the most essential purpose of drug design in cancers. Bcl-xl is an anti-apoptotic protein that binds to pro-apoptotic proteins and interrupts their signals. Pro-apoptotic Bcl-xl effectors are short BH3 sequences that form an alpha helix and bind to anti-apoptotic proteins to inhibit their activity. Computational systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) is an exclusive approach for developing peptide aptamers as potential effectors. Here, the amino acids with a high tendency for constructing an alpha-helical structure were selected. Due to the enormous number of pentapeptides, Taguchi method was used to study a selected number of peptides. The binding affinity of the peptides to Bcl-xl was assessed using molecular docking, and after analysis of the obtained results, a final set of optimized peptides was arranged and constructed. For a better comparison, three chemical compounds with approved anti-Bcl-xl activity were selected for comparison with the top-ranked 5mer peptides. The optimized peptides showed considerable binding affinity to Bcl-xl. The molecular dynamics (MD) simulation indicated that the designed peptide (PO5) could create considerable interactions with the BH3 domain of Bcl-xl. The MM/GBSA calculations revealed that these interactions were even stronger than those created by chemical compounds. In silico SELEX is a novel approach to design and evaluate peptide-aptamers. The experimental design improves the SELEX process considerably. Finally, PO5 could be considered a potential inhibitor of Bcl-xl and a potential candidate for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Poustforoosh
- Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.
| | - Sanaz Faramarz
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hadi Nematollahi
- Physiology Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Hassan Hashemipour
- Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan, Rafsanjan, Iran
| | - Manica Negahdaripour
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Abbas Pardakhty
- Pharmaceutics Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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Zhao J, Tan W, Zheng J, Su Y, Cui M. Aptamer Nanomaterials for Ovarian Cancer Target Theranostics. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:884405. [PMID: 35419352 PMCID: PMC8996158 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.884405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is among the leading causes of gynecological cancer-related mortality worldwide. Early and accurate diagnosis and an effective treatment strategy are the two primary means of improving the prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer. The development of targeted nanomaterials provides a potentially efficient strategy for ovarian cancer theranostics. Aptamer nanomaterials have emerged as promising nanoplatforms for accurate ovarian cancer diagnosis by recognizing relevant biomarkers in the serum and/or on the surface of tumor cells, as well as for effective ovarian cancer inhibition via target protein blockade on tumor cells and targeted delivery of various therapeutic agents. In this review, we summarize recent advances in aptamer nanomaterials as targeted theranostic platforms for ovarian cancer and discusses the challenges and opportunities for their clinical application. The information presented in this review represents a valuable reference for creation of a new generation of aptamer nanomaterials for use in the precise detection and treatment of ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhao
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wenxi Tan
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jingying Zheng
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yuanzhen Su
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, China,School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Manhua Cui
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China,*Correspondence: Manhua Cui,
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Li J, Xie S, Qu F, Tan W. Aptasensors for Cancerous Exosome Detection. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2504:3-20. [PMID: 35467275 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2341-1_1] [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: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Cancerous exosomes that carry multiple biomarkers are attractive targets for the early diagnosis and therapy of cancer. As one of the powerful molecular recognition tools, aptamers with excellent binding affinity and specificity toward biomarkers have been exploited to construct various aptamer-based biosensors (aptasensors) for exosome detection. Here, we review recent advances in aptasensors for the detection of cancerous exosomes. We first discuss the importance and potential of cancerous exosomes in cancer diagnosis and then summarize some conventional aptasensors from the perspective of biomarker recognition and signal collection strategies. Finally, we comment on the outlook for aptasensor research and new directions for cancerous exosome detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Li
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Sitao Xie
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fengli Qu
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Weihong Tan
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Chemistry and Molecular Medicine, Hunan University, Changsha, China.
- Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM), Renji Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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Ozerskaya AV, Zamay TN, Kolovskaya OS, Tokarev NA, Belugin KV, Chanchikova NG, Badmaev ON, Zamay GS, Shchugoreva IA, Moryachkov RV, Zabluda VN, Khorzhevskii VA, Shepelevich N, Gappoev SV, Karlova EA, Saveleva AS, Volzhentsev AA, Blagodatova AN, Lukyanenko KA, Veprintsev DV, Smolyarova TE, Tomilin FN, Zamay SS, Silnikov VN, Berezovski MV, Kichkailo AS. 11C-radiolabeled aptamer for imaging of tumors and metastases using positron emission tomography- computed tomography. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2021; 26:1159-1172. [PMID: 34853715 PMCID: PMC8601970 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Identification of primary tumors and metastasis sites is an essential step in cancer diagnostics and the following treatment. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) is one of the most reliable methods for scanning the whole organism for malignancies. In this work, we synthesized an 11C-labeled oligonucleotide primer and hybridized it to an anti-cancer DNA aptamer. The 11C-aptamer was applied for in vivo imaging of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and its metastases in mice using PET/CT. The imaging experiments with the 11C-aptamer determined very small primary and secondary tumors of 3 mm2 and less. We also compared 11C imaging with the standard radiotracer, 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-D-glucose (18F-FDG), and found better selectivity of the 11C-aptamer to metastatic lesions in the metabolically active organs than 18F-FDG. 11C radionuclide with an ultra-short (20.38 min) half-life is considered safest for PET/CT imaging and does not cause false-positive results in heart imaging. Its combination with aptamers gives us high-specificity and high-contrast imaging of cancer cells and can be applied for PET/CT-guided drug delivery in cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia V. Ozerskaya
- Federal Siberian Research Clinical Centre Under the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Tatiana N. Zamay
- Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Federal Research Center Krasnoyarsk Science- Center SB RAS, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Olga S. Kolovskaya
- Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Federal Research Center Krasnoyarsk Science- Center SB RAS, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Nikolay A. Tokarev
- Federal Siberian Research Clinical Centre Under the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Kirill V. Belugin
- Federal Siberian Research Clinical Centre Under the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Natalia G. Chanchikova
- Federal Siberian Research Clinical Centre Under the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Oleg N. Badmaev
- Federal Siberian Research Clinical Centre Under the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Galina S. Zamay
- Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Federal Research Center Krasnoyarsk Science- Center SB RAS, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | | | - Roman V. Moryachkov
- Federal Research Center Krasnoyarsk Science- Center SB RAS, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Kirensky Institute of Physics, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | | | - Vladimir A. Khorzhevskii
- Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Krasnoyarsk Regional Pathology-Anatomic Bureau, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Nikolay Shepelevich
- Federal Siberian Research Clinical Centre Under the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Stanislav V. Gappoev
- Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Krasnoyarsk Regional Pathology-Anatomic Bureau, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Elena A. Karlova
- Federal Siberian Research Clinical Centre Under the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Anastasia S. Saveleva
- Federal Siberian Research Clinical Centre Under the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Alexander A. Volzhentsev
- Federal Siberian Research Clinical Centre Under the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Anna N. Blagodatova
- Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Kirill A. Lukyanenko
- Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Federal Research Center Krasnoyarsk Science- Center SB RAS, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | | | - Tatyana E. Smolyarova
- Federal Research Center Krasnoyarsk Science- Center SB RAS, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Kirensky Institute of Physics, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | | | - Sergey S. Zamay
- Federal Research Center Krasnoyarsk Science- Center SB RAS, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Vladimir N. Silnikov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Maxim V. Berezovski
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Anna S. Kichkailo
- Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Federal Research Center Krasnoyarsk Science- Center SB RAS, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
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Chitosan-based nanodelivery systems for cancer therapy: Recent advances. Carbohydr Polym 2021; 272:118464. [PMID: 34420724 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, cancer is one of the most prominent issues related to human health since it causes more than one-tenth of death cases throughout the world. On the other hand, routine therapeutic approaches in cancer suppression such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgery, etc. due to their undesirable therapeutic outputs, including low efficiency in cancer inhibition, non-targeted drug delivery, nonselective distribution, and enormous side effects, have been indicated inefficient potency in cancer therapy or at least its growth inhibition. As a result, the development of novel and practical therapeutic methods such as nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems can be outstandingly beneficial in cancer suppression. Among various nanoparticles used in the delivery of bioactive to the tumor site, chitosan (CS) nanoparticles have received high attention. CS, poly [β-(1-4)-linked-2-amino-2-deoxy-d-glucose], is a natural linear amino polysaccharide derived from chitin which is made of irregularly distributed d-glucosamine and N-acetyl-d-glucosamine units. CS nanoparticles owing to their appropriate aspects, including nanometric size, great drug loading efficacy, ease of manipulation, non-toxicity, excellent availability and biocompatibility, good serum stability, long-term circulation time, suitable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics, non-immunogenicity, and enhanced drug solubility in the human body, have been designated as an efficient candidate for drug delivery systems. They can be involved in both passive (based on the enhanced permeability and retention effect cancer targeting) and active (receptor-mediated or stimuli-responsive cancer targeting) drug delivery systems for potential cancer therapy. This review presents the properties, preparation, modification, and numerous pharmaceutical applications of CS-based drug nanodelivery systems in the diagnosis and therapy of cancer.
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Vandghanooni S, Sanaat Z, Farahzadi R, Eskandani M, Omidian H, Omidi Y. Recent progress in the development of aptasensors for cancer diagnosis: Focusing on aptamers against cancer biomarkers. Microchem J 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2021.106640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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19
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Ruan L, Li X. Applications of Aptamers in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ovarian Cancer: Progress From 2016 to 2020. Front Genet 2021; 12:683542. [PMID: 34589111 PMCID: PMC8473910 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.683542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acid aptamers are short single-stranded DNA or RNA oligonucleotides selected from a random single-stranded nucleic acid library using systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment technology. To allow them to bind to molecular targets with the same specificity and precision as that of antibodies, aptamers are folded into secondary or tertiary structures. However, compared to antibodies, aptamers are not immunogenic and are easier to synthesize. Furthermore, they are chemically modified, which protects them from degradation by nucleases. Hence, due to their stability and favorable targeting ability, aptamers are promising for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Ovarian cancer has the worst prognosis among all gynecological diseases and is usually diagnosed at the medium and advanced stages due to its nonspecific symptoms. Relapse is common, even if patients receive a standard therapeutic regimen including surgery and chemotherapy; simultaneously, drug resistance and adverse effects are reported in a several patients. Therefore, the safer and more efficient diagnostic and treatment method for ovarian cancer is imperative. Scientists have been trying to utilize aptamer technology for the early diagnosis and accurate treatment of ovarian cancer and some progress has been made in this field. This review discusses the screening of nucleic acid aptamers by targeting ovarian cancer cells and the application of aptamers in the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luoshan Ruan
- Department of Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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Varty K, O’Brien C, Ignaszak A. Breast Cancer Aptamers: Current Sensing Targets, Available Aptamers, and Their Evaluation for Clinical Use in Diagnostics. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13163984. [PMID: 34439139 PMCID: PMC8391819 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13163984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in women worldwide, and the rate of diagnosis continues to increase. Early detection and targeted treatment towards histological type is crucial to improving outcomes, but current screening methods leave some patients at risk of late diagnosis. The risk of late diagnosis and progressed disease is of particular concern for young women as current screening methods are not recommended early in life. Aptamers are oligonucleotides that can bind with high specificity to target molecules such as proteins, peptides, and other small molecules. They are relatively cheap to produce and are invariable from batch to batch, making them ideal for use in large-scale clinical or screening programs. The use of aptamers for breast cancer screening, diagnosis, and therapeutics is promising, but comparison of these aptamers and their corresponding biomarkers for use in breast cancer is significantly lacking. Here, we compare the currently available aptamers for breast cancer biomarkers and their respective biomarkers, as well as highlight the electrochemical sensors that are in development.
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Vi C, Mandarano G, Shigdar S. Diagnostics and Therapeutics in Targeting HER2 Breast Cancer: A Novel Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:6163. [PMID: 34200484 PMCID: PMC8201268 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22116163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the most commonly occurring cancers in women globally and is the primary cause of cancer mortality in females. BC is highly heterogeneous with various phenotypic expressions. The overexpression of HER2 is responsible for 15-30% of all invasive BC and is strongly associated with malignant behaviours, poor prognosis and decline in overall survival. Molecular imaging offers advantages over conventional imaging modalities, as it provides more sensitive and specific detection of tumours, as these techniques measure the biological and physiological processes at the cellular level to visualise the disease. Early detection and diagnosis of BC is crucial to improving clinical outcomes and prognosis. While HER2-specific antibodies and nanobodies may improve the sensitivity and specificity of molecular imaging, the radioisotope conjugation process may interfere with and may compromise their binding functionalities. Aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotides capable of targeting biomarkers with remarkable binding specificity and affinity. Aptamers can be functionalised with radioisotopes without compromising target specificity. The attachment of different radioisotopes can determine the aptamer's functionality in the treatment of HER2(+) BC. Several HER2 aptamers and investigations of them have been described and evaluated in this paper. We also provide recommendations for future studies with HER2 aptamers to target HER2(+) BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Vi
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (C.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Giovanni Mandarano
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (C.V.); (G.M.)
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Sarah Shigdar
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia; (C.V.); (G.M.)
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
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22
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Improving Breast Cancer Treatment Specificity Using Aptamers Obtained by 3D Cell-SELEX. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14040349. [PMID: 33918832 PMCID: PMC8068899 DOI: 10.3390/ph14040349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional spheroids of non-malignant MCF10A and malignant SKBR3 breast cells were used for subsequent 3D Cell-SELEX to generate aptamers for specific binding and treatment of breast cancer cells. Using 3D Cell-SELEX combined with Next-Generation Sequencing and bioinformatics, ten abundant aptamer families with specific structures were identified that selectively bind to SKBR3, and not to MCF10A cells. Multivalent aptamer polymers were synthesized by co-polymerization and analyzed for binding performance as well as therapeutic efficacy. Binding performance was determined by confocal fluorescence imaging and revealed specific binding and efficient internalization of aptamer polymers into SKBR3 spheroids. For therapeutic purposes, DNA sequences that intercalate the cytotoxic drug doxorubicin were co-polymerized into the aptamer polymers. Viability tests show that the drug-loaded polymers are specific and effective in killing SKBR3 breast cancer cells. Thus, the 3D-selected aptamers enhanced the specificity of doxorubicin against malignant over non-malignant breast cells. The innovative modular DNA aptamer platform based on 3D Cell SELEX and polymer multivalency holds great promise for diagnostics and treatment of breast cancer.
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Rinne SS, Orlova A, Tolmachev V. PET and SPECT Imaging of the EGFR Family (RTK Class I) in Oncology. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073663. [PMID: 33915894 PMCID: PMC8036874 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The human epidermal growth factor receptor family (EGFR-family, other designations: HER family, RTK Class I) is strongly linked to oncogenic transformation. Its members are frequently overexpressed in cancer and have become attractive targets for cancer therapy. To ensure effective patient care, potential responders to HER-targeted therapy need to be identified. Radionuclide molecular imaging can be a key asset for the detection of overexpression of EGFR-family members. It meets the need for repeatable whole-body assessment of the molecular disease profile, solving problems of heterogeneity and expression alterations over time. Tracer development is a multifactorial process. The optimal tracer design depends on the application and the particular challenges of the molecular target (target expression in tumors, endogenous expression in healthy tissue, accessibility). We have herein summarized the recent preclinical and clinical data on agents for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Tomography (SPECT) imaging of EGFR-family receptors in oncology. Antibody-based tracers are still extensively investigated. However, their dominance starts to be challenged by a number of tracers based on different classes of targeting proteins. Among these, engineered scaffold proteins (ESP) and single domain antibodies (sdAb) show highly encouraging results in clinical studies marking a noticeable trend towards the use of smaller sized agents for HER imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara S. Rinne
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden; (S.S.R.); (A.O.)
| | - Anna Orlova
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden; (S.S.R.); (A.O.)
- Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
| | - Vladimir Tolmachev
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +46-704-250-782
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Ștefan G, Hosu O, De Wael K, Lobo-Castañón MJ, Cristea C. Aptamers in biomedicine: Selection strategies and recent advances. Electrochim Acta 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2021.137994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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25
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Wu L, Wang Y, Xu X, Liu Y, Lin B, Zhang M, Zhang J, Wan S, Yang C, Tan W. Aptamer-Based Detection of Circulating Targets for Precision Medicine. Chem Rev 2021; 121:12035-12105. [PMID: 33667075 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 232] [Impact Index Per Article: 77.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The past decade has witnessed ongoing progress in precision medicine to improve human health. As an emerging diagnostic technique, liquid biopsy can provide real-time, comprehensive, dynamic physiological and pathological information in a noninvasive manner, opening a new window for precision medicine. Liquid biopsy depends on the sensitive and reliable detection of circulating targets (e.g., cells, extracellular vesicles, proteins, microRNAs) from body fluids, the performance of which is largely governed by recognition ligands. Aptamers are single-stranded functional oligonucleotides, capable of folding into unique tertiary structures to bind to their targets with superior specificity and affinity. Their mature evolution procedure, facile modification, and affinity regulation, as well as versatile structural design and engineering, make aptamers ideal recognition ligands for liquid biopsy. In this review, we present a broad overview of aptamer-based liquid biopsy techniques for precision medicine. We begin with recent advances in aptamer selection, followed by a summary of state-of-the-art strategies for multivalent aptamer assembly and aptamer interface modification. We will further describe aptamer-based micro-/nanoisolation platforms, aptamer-enabled release methods, and aptamer-assisted signal amplification and detection strategies. Finally, we present our perspectives regarding the opportunities and challenges of aptamer-based liquid biopsy for precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Wu
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Yidi Wang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Xing Xu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Yilong Liu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Bingqian Lin
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Mingxia Zhang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Jialu Zhang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Shuang Wan
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Chaoyong Yang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Weihong Tan
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.,Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China.,The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
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Tolmachev V, Orlova A, Sörensen J. The emerging role of radionuclide molecular imaging of HER2 expression in breast cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 72:185-197. [PMID: 33465471 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Targeting of human epidermal growth factor type 2 (HER2) using monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates and tyrosine kinase inhibitors extends survival of patients with HER2-expressing metastatic breast cancer. High expression of HER2 is a predictive biomarker for such specific treatment. Accurate determination of HER2 expression level is necessary for stratification of patients to targeted therapy. Non-invasive in vivo radionuclide molecular imaging of HER2 has a potential of repetitive measurements, addressing issues of heterogeneous expression and conversion of HER2 status during disease progression or in response to therapy. Imaging probes based of several classes of targeting proteins are currently in preclinical and early clinical development. Both preclinical and clinical data suggest that the most promising are imaging agents based on small proteins, such as single domain antibodies or engineered scaffold proteins. These agents permit a very specific high-contrast imaging at the day of injection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Tolmachev
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk, Russia.
| | - Anna Orlova
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk, Russia; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jens Sörensen
- Division of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Marshall ML, Wagstaff KM. Internalized Functional DNA Aptamers as Alternative Cancer Therapies. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:1115. [PMID: 32848740 PMCID: PMC7396948 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.01115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite major advances, cancer remains one of the largest burdens of disease worldwide. One reason behind this is that killing tumor cells without affecting healthy surrounding tissue remains a largely elusive prospect, despite the widespread availability of cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents. To meet these modern healthcare requirements, it is essential to develop precision therapeutics that minimise off-target side-effects for various cancer types. To this end, highly specific molecular targeting agents against cancer are of great interest. These agents may work by targeting intracellular signalling pathways following receptor binding, or via internalization and targeting to specific subcellular compartments. DNA aptamers represent a promising molecular tool in this arena that can be used for both specific cell surface targeting and subsequent internalization and can also elicit a functional effect upon internalization. This review examines various cancer targeting cell-internalizing aptamers, with a particular focus towards functional aptamers that do not require additional conjugation to nanoparticles or small molecules to elicit a biological response. With a deeper understanding and precise exploitation of cancer specific molecular pathways, functional intracellular DNA aptamers may be a powerful step towards more widespread development of precision therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan L Marshall
- Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Kylie M Wagstaff
- Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
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Duangrat R, Udomprasert A, Kangsamaksin T. Tetrahedral DNA nanostructures as drug delivery and bioimaging platforms in cancer therapy. Cancer Sci 2020; 111:3164-3173. [PMID: 32589345 PMCID: PMC7469859 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural DNA nanotechnology enables DNA to be used as nanomaterials for novel nanostructure construction with unprecedented functionalities. Artificial DNA nanostructures can be designed and generated with precisely controlled features, resulting in its utility in bionanotechnological and biomedical applications. A tetrahedral DNA nanostructure (TDN), the most popular DNA nanostructure, with high stability and simple synthesis procedure, is a promising candidate as nanocarriers in drug delivery and bioimaging platforms, particularly in precision medicine as well as diagnosis for cancer therapy. Recent evidence collectively indicated that TDN successfully enhanced cancer therapeutic efficiency both in vitro and in vivo. Here, we summarize the development of TDN and highlight various aspects of TDN applications in cancer therapy based on previous reports, including anticancer drug loading, photodynamic therapy, therapeutic oligonucleotides, bioimaging platforms, and other molecules and discuss a perspective in opportunities and challenges for future TDN‐based nanomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ratchanee Duangrat
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Anuttara Udomprasert
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand
| | - Thaned Kangsamaksin
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Tran PHL, Xiang D, Nguyen TNG, Tran TTD, Chen Q, Yin W, Zhang Y, Kong L, Duan A, Chen K, Sun M, Li Y, Hou Y, Zhu Y, Ma Y, Jiang G, Duan W. Aptamer-guided extracellular vesicle theranostics in oncology. Theranostics 2020; 10:3849-3866. [PMID: 32226524 PMCID: PMC7086349 DOI: 10.7150/thno.39706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In the past decade, the study of exosomes, nanosized vesicles (50-150 nm) released into the extracellular space via the fusion of multivesicular bodies with the plasma membrane, has burgeoned with impressive achievements in theranostics applications. These nanosized vesicles have emerged as key players in homeostasis and in the pathogenesis of diseases owing to the variety of the cargos they can carry, the nature of the molecules packaged inside the vesicles, and the robust interactions between exosomes and target cells or tissues. Accordingly, the development of exosome-based liquid biopsy techniques for early disease detection and for monitoring disease progression marks a new era of precision medicine in the 21st century. Moreover, exosomes possess intrinsic properties - a nanosized structure and unique "homing effects" - that make them outstanding drug delivery vehicles. In addition, targeted exosome-based drug delivery systems can be further optimized using active targeting ligands such as nucleic acid aptamers. Indeed, the aptamers themselves can function as therapeutic and/or diagnostic tools based on their attributes of unique target-binding and non-immunogenicity. This review aims to provide readers with a current picture of the research on exosomes and aptamers and their applications in cancer theranostics, highlighting recent advances in their transition from the bench to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phuong H-L Tran
- School of Medicine and Centre for Molecular and Medical Research, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Dongxi Xiang
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louise Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Tuong N-G Nguyen
- School of Medicine and Centre for Molecular and Medical Research, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Thao T-D Tran
- Department for Management of Science and Technology Development, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Qian Chen
- Translational Medical Center, The Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, 28 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China, 100853
| | - Wang Yin
- School of Medicine and Centre for Molecular and Medical Research, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Yumei Zhang
- School of Medicine and Centre for Molecular and Medical Research, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lingxue Kong
- Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, 3216, Australia
| | - Andrew Duan
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, 27 Rainforest Walk, Clayton VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Kuisheng Chen
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, He'nan Key Laboratory of Tumor Pathology, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Miomio Sun
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, He'nan Key Laboratory of Tumor Pathology, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Yong Li
- Cancer Care Centre, St George Hospital, Kogarah, and St George and Sutherland Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Yingchun Hou
- Laboratory of Tumor Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, 620 West Chang'an Avenue, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China
| | - Yimin Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yongchao Ma
- Clinical School, Luohe Medical College, 148, Daxue Road, Luohe City, Henan Province, 462000, China
| | - Guoqin Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 1055 Sanxiang Road, Suzhou, P.R. China, 215004
| | - Wei Duan
- School of Medicine and Centre for Molecular and Medical Research, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
- GenePharma-Deakin Joint Laboratory of Aptamer Medicine, Suzhou 215123, China and Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia
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Guan B, Zhang X. Aptamers as Versatile Ligands for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Applications. Int J Nanomedicine 2020; 15:1059-1071. [PMID: 32110008 PMCID: PMC7035142 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s237544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Aptamers are a class of targeting ligands that bind exclusively to biomarkers of interest. Aptamers have been identified as candidates for the construction of various smart systems for therapy, diagnosis, bioimaging, and drug delivery due to their high target affinity and specificity. Aptamers are accounted as chemical antibodies that can be readily linked to drugs, sensors, signal enhancers, or nanocarriers for functionalization. Use of aptamer-guided medications, especially nanomedicines, has resulted in encouraging outcomes compared to those use of aptamer-free counterparts. This article reviews recent advances in the use of aptamers as targeting ligands for various biomedical and pharmaceutical purposes. Special interests focus on aptamer-based theranostics, biosensing, bioimaging, drug potentiation, and targeted drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baozhang Guan
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingwang Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, People's Republic of China
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32
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Wu L, Wang Y, Zhu L, Liu Y, Wang T, Liu D, Song Y, Yang C. Aptamer-Based Liquid Biopsy. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2020; 3:2743-2764. [DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.9b01194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Wu
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Yidi Wang
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Lin Zhu
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Yilong Liu
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Teng Wang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Dan Liu
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Yanling Song
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Chaoyong Yang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
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Jeevanandam J, Tan KX, Danquah MK, Guo H, Turgeson A. Advancing Aptamers as Molecular Probes for Cancer Theranostic Applications-The Role of Molecular Dynamics Simulation. Biotechnol J 2020; 15:e1900368. [PMID: 31840436 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201900368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Theranostics cover emerging technologies for cell biomarking for disease diagnosis and targeted introduction of drug ingredients to specific malignant sites. Theranostics development has become a significant biomedical research endeavor for effective diagnosis and treatment of diseases, especially cancer. An efficient biomarking and targeted delivery strategy for theranostic applications requires effective molecular coupling of binding ligands with high affinities to specific receptors on the cancer cell surface. Bioaffinity offers a unique mechanism to bind specific target and receptor molecules from a range of non-targets. The binding efficacy depends on the specificity of the affinity ligand toward the target molecule even at low concentrations. Aptamers are fragments of genetic materials, peptides, or oligonucleotides which possess enhanced specificity in targeting desired cell surface receptor molecules. Aptamer-target binding results from several inter-molecular interactions including hydrogen bond formation, aromatic stacking of flat moieties, hydrophobic interaction, electrostatic, and van der Waals interactions. Advancements in Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX) assay has created the opportunity to artificially generate aptamers that specifically bind to desired cancer and tumor surface receptors with high affinities. This article discusses the potential application of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to advance aptamer-mediated receptor targeting in targeted cancer therapy. MD simulation offers real-time analysis of the molecular drivers of the aptamer-receptor binding and generate optimal receptor binding conditions for theranostic applications. The article also provides an overview of different cancer types with focus on receptor biomarking and targeted treatment approaches, conventional molecular probes, and aptamers that have been explored for cancer cells targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaison Jeevanandam
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University, Miri, Sarawak, 98009, Malaysia
| | - Kei Xian Tan
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798
| | | | - Haobo Guo
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, TN, 37403, USA.,SimCenter, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, TN, 37403, USA
| | - Andrew Turgeson
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, TN, 37403, USA
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34
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Li Y, Lee JS. Recent developments in affinity-based selection of aptamers for binding disease-related protein targets. CHEMICAL PAPERS 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s11696-019-00842-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Fechter P, Cruz Da Silva E, Mercier MC, Noulet F, Etienne-Seloum N, Guenot D, Lehmann M, Vauchelles R, Martin S, Lelong-Rebel I, Ray AM, Seguin C, Dontenwill M, Choulier L. RNA Aptamers Targeting Integrin α5β1 as Probes for Cyto- and Histofluorescence in Glioblastoma. MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 2019; 17:63-77. [PMID: 31226519 PMCID: PMC6586995 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2019.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid aptamers are often referred to as chemical antibodies. Because they possess several advantages, like their smaller size, temperature stability, ease of chemical modification, lack of immunogenicity and toxicity, and lower cost of production, aptamers are promising tools for clinical applications. Aptamers against cell surface protein biomarkers are of particular interest for cancer diagnosis and targeted therapy. In this study, we identified and characterized RNA aptamers targeting cells expressing integrin α5β1. This αβ heterodimeric cell surface receptor is implicated in tumor angiogenesis and solid tumor aggressiveness. In glioblastoma, integrin α5β1 expression is associated with an aggressive phenotype and a decrease in patient survival. We used a complex and original hybrid SELEX (selective evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment) strategy combining protein-SELEX cycles on the recombinant α5β1 protein, surrounded by cell-SELEX cycles using two different cell lines. We identified aptamer H02, able to differentiate, in cyto- and histofluorescence assays, glioblastoma cell lines, and tissues from patient-derived tumor xenografts according to their α5 expression levels. Aptamer H02 is therefore an interesting tool for glioblastoma tumor characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Fechter
- CNRS, UMR 7242, Biotechnologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, Institut de Recherche de l'Ecole de Biotechnologie de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, 67400 Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Elisabete Cruz Da Silva
- CNRS, UMR 7021, Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, Tumoral Signaling and Therapeutic Targets, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 67401 Illkirch, France
| | - Marie-Cécile Mercier
- CNRS, UMR 7021, Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, Tumoral Signaling and Therapeutic Targets, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 67401 Illkirch, France
| | - Fanny Noulet
- CNRS, UMR 7021, Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, Tumoral Signaling and Therapeutic Targets, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 67401 Illkirch, France
| | - Nelly Etienne-Seloum
- CNRS, UMR 7021, Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, Tumoral Signaling and Therapeutic Targets, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 67401 Illkirch, France; Département de Pharmacie, Centre de Lutte Contre le Cancer Paul Strauss, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Dominique Guenot
- EA 3430, Progression Tumorale et Micro-environnement, Approches Translationnelles et Épidémiologie, Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Maxime Lehmann
- CNRS, UMR 7021, Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, Tumoral Signaling and Therapeutic Targets, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 67401 Illkirch, France
| | - Romain Vauchelles
- CNRS, UMR 7021, Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, Tumoral Signaling and Therapeutic Targets, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 67401 Illkirch, France
| | - Sophie Martin
- CNRS, UMR 7021, Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, Tumoral Signaling and Therapeutic Targets, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 67401 Illkirch, France
| | - Isabelle Lelong-Rebel
- CNRS, UMR 7021, Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, Tumoral Signaling and Therapeutic Targets, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 67401 Illkirch, France
| | - Anne-Marie Ray
- CNRS, UMR 7021, Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, Tumoral Signaling and Therapeutic Targets, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 67401 Illkirch, France
| | - Cendrine Seguin
- CNRS, UMR 7199, Laboratoire de Conception et Application de Molécules Bioactives, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 67401 Illkirch, France
| | - Monique Dontenwill
- CNRS, UMR 7021, Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, Tumoral Signaling and Therapeutic Targets, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 67401 Illkirch, France
| | - Laurence Choulier
- CNRS, UMR 7021, Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, Tumoral Signaling and Therapeutic Targets, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 67401 Illkirch, France.
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Liu Y, Zhao Y, Chen X. Bioengineering of Metal-organic Frameworks for Nanomedicine. Theranostics 2019; 9:3122-3133. [PMID: 31244945 PMCID: PMC6567971 DOI: 10.7150/thno.31918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Controlled structure, tunable porosity, and readily chemical functionalizability make metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) a powerful biomedical tool. Nanoscale MOF particles have been increasingly studied as drug carriers, bioimaging agents, and therapeutic agents due to their excellent physiochemical properties. In this review, we start with MOF as a nanocarrier for drug delivery, covering therapeutic MOF agents followed by a comprehensive discussion of surface bioengineering of MOF for improved biostability, biocompatibility, and targeted delivery. Finally, we detail the challenges and prospects of the future of MOF research for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Nanomedicine, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Yanli Zhao
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637371, Singapore
| | - Xiaoyuan Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Nanomedicine, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
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Khalid U, Vi C, Henri J, Macdonald J, Eu P, Mandarano G, Shigdar S. Radiolabelled Aptamers for Theranostic Treatment of Cancer. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2018; 12:ph12010002. [PMID: 30586898 PMCID: PMC6469178 DOI: 10.3390/ph12010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer has a high incidence and mortality rate worldwide, which continues to grow as millions of people are diagnosed annually. Metastatic disease caused by cancer is largely responsible for the mortality rates, thus early detection of metastatic tumours can improve prognosis. However, a large number of patients will also present with micrometastasis tumours which are often missed, as conventional medical imaging modalities are unable to detect micrometastases due to the lack of specificity and sensitivity. Recent advances in radiochemistry and the development of nucleic acid based targeting molecules, have led to the development of novel agents for use in cancer diagnostics. Monoclonal antibodies may also be used, however, they have inherent issues, such as toxicity, cost, unspecified binding and their clinical use can be controversial. Aptamers are a class of single-stranded RNA or DNA ligands with high specificity, binding affinity and selectivity for a target, which makes them promising for molecular biomarker imaging. Aptamers are presented as being a superior choice over antibodies because of high binding affinity and pH stability, amongst other factors. A number of aptamers directed to cancer cell markers (breast, lung, colon, glioblastoma, melanoma) have been radiolabelled and characterised to date. Further work is ongoing to develop these for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umair Khalid
- School of Medicine Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 3128, Australia.
| | - Chris Vi
- School of Medicine Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 3128, Australia.
| | - Justin Henri
- School of Medicine Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 3128, Australia.
| | - Joanna Macdonald
- School of Medicine Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 3128, Australia.
| | - Peter Eu
- School of Medicine Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 3128, Australia.
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia.
| | - Giovanni Mandarano
- School of Medicine Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 3128, Australia.
| | - Sarah Shigdar
- School of Medicine Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 3128, Australia.
- Centre for Molecular and Medical Research, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 3128, Australia.
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Hassanzadeh L, Chen S, Veedu RN. Radiolabeling of Nucleic Acid Aptamers for Highly Sensitive Disease-Specific Molecular Imaging. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2018; 11:E106. [PMID: 30326601 PMCID: PMC6315947 DOI: 10.3390/ph11040106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Revised: 10/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Aptamers are short single-stranded DNA or RNA oligonucleotide ligand molecules with a unique three-dimensional shape, capable of binding to a defined molecular target with high affinity and specificity. Since their discovery, aptamers have been developed for various applications, including molecular imaging, particularly nuclear imaging that holds the highest potential for the clinical translation of aptamer-based molecular imaging probes. Their easy laboratory production without any batch-to-batch variations, their high stability, their small size with no immunogenicity and toxicity, and their flexibility to incorporate various functionalities without compromising the target binding affinity and specificity make aptamers an attractive class of targeted-imaging agents. Aptamer technology has been utilized in nuclear medicine imaging techniques, such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET), as highly sensitive and accurate biomedical imaging modalities towards clinical diagnostic applications. However, for aptamer-targeted PET and SPECT imaging, conjugation of appropriate radionuclides to aptamers is crucial. This review summarizes various strategies to link the radionuclides to chemically modified aptamers to accomplish aptamer-targeted PET and SPECT imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Hassanzadeh
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Rajaie Cardiovascular, Medical and Research Center & Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy-International Campus, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran.
- Centre for Comparative Genomics, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia.
| | - Suxiang Chen
- Centre for Comparative Genomics, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia.
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth 6009, Australia.
| | - Rakesh N Veedu
- Centre for Comparative Genomics, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia.
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth 6009, Australia.
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Zhang N, Liang X, Gao C, Chen M, Zhou Y, Krueger CJ, Bao G, Gong Z, Dai Z. Loading Lovastatin into Camptothecin-Floxuridine Conjugate Nanocapsules for Enhancing Anti-metastatic Efficacy of Cocktail Chemotherapy on Triple-negative Breast Cancer. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2018; 10:29385-29397. [PMID: 30096224 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b11723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a malignant and refractory disease with high morbidity and mortality. The TNBC shows no response to hormonal therapy nor targeted therapy due to the lack of known targetable biomarkers. Furthermore, the TNBC also exhibits a high degree of heterogeneity that leads to cancer evolution, drug resistance, metastatic progression, and recurrence, arising from the tumor-initiating properties of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Thus, the development of radical therapeutic regimens with high efficacy and limited side effects is crucial. In this study, we designed an innovative ternary cocktail chemotherapy by using Lovastatin (L)-loaded Janus camptothecin-floxuridine conjugate (CF) nanocapsules (NCs) with ultrahigh drug loading capacity. The obtained LCF NCs were shown to be able to suppress growth of TNBC, including inhibition of growth and metastasis of CSCs, both in vitro and in tumor-bearing mice. Moreover, in animal experiments, the LCF NCs showed sustained and synchronous drug release (half-life > 300 min), 85.2% reduction in pulmonary metastases, and no cancer recurrence during one-month observation post-treatment. Thus, this innovative LCF NC design provides a simple and synergistic strategy for the development of simultaneous triple chemotherapy and could be an efficacious, safe, and amenable choice with higher therapeutic relevance and fewer toxic complications than conventional multidrug delivery systems for TNBC treatment in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisi Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering , Peking University , Beijing 100871 , China
| | - Xiaolong Liang
- Department of Ultrasound , Peking University Third Hospital , Beijing 100191 , China
| | - Chuang Gao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering , Peking University , Beijing 100871 , China
| | - Min Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering , Peking University , Beijing 100871 , China
| | - Yiming Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering , Peking University , Beijing 100871 , China
| | - Christopher J Krueger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering , Peking University , Beijing 100871 , China
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering , Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta , Georgia 30332 , United States
| | - Gang Bao
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering , Rice University , Houston , Texas 77005 , United States
| | - Zhuoran Gong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering , Peking University , Beijing 100871 , China
| | - Zhifei Dai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering , Peking University , Beijing 100871 , China
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Zhu G, Chen X. Aptamer-based targeted therapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2018; 134:65-78. [PMID: 30125604 PMCID: PMC6239901 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2018.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 262] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Precision medicine holds great promise to harness genetic and epigenetic cues for targeted treatment of a variety of diseases, ranging from many types of cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, to cardiovascular diseases. The proteomic profiles resulting from the unique genetic and epigenetic signatures represent a class of relatively well accessible molecular targets for both interrogation (e.g., diagnosis, prognosis) and intervention (e.g., targeted therapy) of these diseases. Aptamers are promising for such applications by specific binding with cognate disease biomarkers. Nucleic acid aptamers are a class of DNA or RNA with unique three-dimensional conformations that allow them to specifically bind with target molecules. Aptamers can be relatively easily screened, reproducibly manufactured, programmably designed, and chemically modified for various biomedical applications, including targeted therapy. Aptamers can be chemically modified to resist enzymatic degradation or optimize their pharmacological behaviors, which ensured their chemical integrity and bioavailability under physiological conditions. In this review, we will focus on recent progress and discuss the challenges and opportunities in the research areas of aptamer-based targeted therapy in the forms of aptamer therapeutics and aptamer-drug conjugates (ApDCs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Guizhi Zhu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Xiaoyuan Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Nanomedicine, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Röthlisberger P, Hollenstein M. Aptamer chemistry. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2018; 134:3-21. [PMID: 29626546 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2018.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 215] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules capable of tightly binding to specific targets. These functional nucleic acids are obtained by an in vitro Darwinian evolution method coined SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment). Compared to their proteinaceous counterparts, aptamers offer a number of advantages including a low immunogenicity, a relative ease of large-scale synthesis at affordable costs with little or no batch-to-batch variation, physical stability, and facile chemical modification. These alluring properties have propelled aptamers into the forefront of numerous practical applications such as the development of therapeutic and diagnostic agents as well as the construction of biosensing platforms. However, commercial success of aptamers still proceeds at a weak pace. The main factors responsible for this delay are the susceptibility of aptamers to degradation by nucleases, their rapid renal filtration, suboptimal thermal stability, and the lack of functional group diversity. Here, we describe the different chemical methods available to mitigate these shortcomings. Particularly, we describe the chemical post-SELEX processing of aptamers to include functional groups as well as the inclusion of modified nucleoside triphosphates into the SELEX protocol. These methods will be illustrated with successful examples of chemically modified aptamers used as drug delivery systems, in therapeutic applications, and as biosensing devices.
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Cheng S, Jacobson O, Zhu G, Chen Z, Liang SH, Tian R, Yang Z, Niu G, Zhu X, Chen X. PET imaging of EGFR expression using an 18F-labeled RNA aptamer. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2018; 46:948-956. [PMID: 30069577 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-018-4105-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a theranostic biomarker for a variety of cancer types. The aim of the present study was to develop an 18F radiolabeled EGFR targeting RNA aptamer, and to investigate its ability to visualize and quantify EGFR in xenograft models. METHODS Biolayer interferometry binding assay was used to detect the binding affinity of the alkyne-modified EGFR aptamer MinE07 (denoted as ME07) with recombinant human wild-type EGFR protein and the mutant EGFRvIII protein. Cy5-conjugated ME07 was used for flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining, and an Alexa Fluor 488-labeled EGFR antibody (ab193244) was used as a control. 18F-Fluorobenzoyl (FB) azide was employed as a synthon to produce 18F-FB-ME07 via click chemistry, and the cellular uptake and internalization characteristics of 18F-FB-ME07 were investigated. Static PET scans, 60-min dynamic scans, and biodistribution study of 18F-FB-ME07 were performed in three types of tumor models. RESULTS The Kd values of ME07 to wtEGFR and EGFRvIII proteins were 0.3 nM and 271 nM respectively. The A431, U87MG, and HCT-116 cells showed strong, weak, and negative binding with Cy5-ME07, which is consistent with EGFR expression level in these cells. Peak cell uptake values of 18F-FB-ME07 in A431, U87MG and HCT-116 cells were 2.86%, 2.19% and 0.88% of the added dose respectively. The mean internalization of 18F-FB-ME07 in these cells were 60.02%, 53.1%, and 52.8% of the total accumulated radioactivity. In static PET imaging, despite high uptake in the liver and kidneys, 18F-FB-ME07 showed reasonable accumulation in A431 tumors (1.02 ± 0.13 %ID/g at 30 min after injection). Of note, the uptake of 18F-FB-ME07 in A431 xenografts was significantly higher than that in U87MG and HCT-116 xenografts. In A431 xenografted mice, the tumor/blood ratio was 3.89 and the tumor/muscle ratio reached 8.65. CONCLUSIONS We for the first time generated an aptamer-derived EGFR targeting PET tracer 18F-FB-ME07, which showed highly selective targeting ability in mouse tumor models expressing different levels of EGFR. Our results suggest that 18F-FB-ME07 is a potential EGFR targeting molecular imaging probe for future clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Cheng
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan, 430000, Hubei, People's Republic of China
- Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Nanomedicine, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health (NIH), 35A Convent Drive Rm GD959, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Orit Jacobson
- Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Nanomedicine, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health (NIH), 35A Convent Drive Rm GD959, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Guizhi Zhu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, 410 North 12th Street Rm 454D, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.
| | - Zhen Chen
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital & Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Steve H Liang
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital & Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rui Tian
- Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Nanomedicine, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health (NIH), 35A Convent Drive Rm GD959, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Zhen Yang
- Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Nanomedicine, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health (NIH), 35A Convent Drive Rm GD959, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Gang Niu
- Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Nanomedicine, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health (NIH), 35A Convent Drive Rm GD959, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Xiaohua Zhu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan, 430000, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiaoyuan Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Nanomedicine, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health (NIH), 35A Convent Drive Rm GD959, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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Imaging of human epidermal growth factor receptors for patient selection and response monitoring – From PET imaging and beyond. Cancer Lett 2018; 419:139-151. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.01.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2017] [Revised: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Oligonucleotide aptamers against tyrosine kinase receptors: Prospect for anticancer applications. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2018; 1869:263-277. [PMID: 29574128 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2018.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) play crucial roles in cancer cell proliferation, survival, migration and differentiation. Area of intense research is searching for effective anticancer therapies targeting these receptors and, to date, several monoclonal antibodies and small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors have entered the clinic. However, some of these drugs show limited efficacy and give rise to acquired resistance. Emerging highly selective compounds for anticancer therapy are oligonucleotide aptamers that interact with their targets by recognizing a specific three-dimensional structure. Because of their nucleic acid nature, the rational design of advanced strategies to manipulate aptamers for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications is greatly simplified over antibodies. In this manuscript, we will provide a comprehensive overview of oligonucleotide aptamers as next generation strategies to efficiently target RTKs in human cancers.
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Pruszynski M, D'Huyvetter M, Bruchertseifer F, Morgenstern A, Lahoutte T. Evaluation of an Anti-HER2 Nanobody Labeled with 225Ac for Targeted α-Particle Therapy of Cancer. Mol Pharm 2018; 15:1457-1466. [PMID: 29502411 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.7b00985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) is overexpressed in numerous carcinomas. Nanobodies (Nbs) are the smallest antibody-derived fragments with beneficial characteristics for molecular imaging and radionuclide therapy. Therefore, HER2-targeting nanobodies could offer a valuable platform for radioimmunotherapy, especially when labeled with α-particle emitters, which provide highly lethal and localized radiation to targeted cells with minimal exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. In this study, the anti-HER2 2Rs15d-nanobody was conjugated with 2-(4-isothiocyanatobenzyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid ( p-SCN-Bn-DOTA) and radiolabeled with an α-emitter 225Ac with a high yield (>90%) and a radiochemical purity above 95%. The 225Ac-DOTA-Nb binding affinity was 4.12 ± 0.47 nM with an immunoreactive fraction above 80%. Binding to low HER2-expressing MDA-MB-231 cells was negligible, whereas HER2-overexpressing SKOV-3 cells could be blocked with an excess of unlabeled nanobody, confirming the specificity of binding. Noncompeting binding to HER2 was observed in the presence of an excess of trastuzumab. The cell-associated fraction of 225Ac-DOTA-Nb was 34.72 ± 16.66% over 24 h. In vitro, the radioconjugate was toxic in an HER2-mediated and dose-dependent manner, resulting in IC50 values of 10.2 and 322.1 kBq/mL for 225Ac-DOTA-Nb and the 225Ac-DOTA control, respectively, on SKOV-3 cells, and 282.2 kBq/mL for 225Ac-DOTA-Nb on MDA-MB-231 cells. Ex vivo biodistribution studies, performed in mice bearing subcutaneous HER2-overexpressing and low HER2-expressing tumors, showed a fast uptake in SKOV-3 tumors compared to MDA-MB-231 (4.01 ± 1.58% ID/g vs 0.49 ± 0.20% ID/g after 2 h), resulting also in high tumor-to-normal tissue ratios. In addition, coinjection of 225Ac-DOTA-Nb with Gelofusine reduced kidney retention by 70%. This study shows that 225Ac-DOTA-Nb is a promising new radioconjugate for targeted α-particle therapy and supports its further development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matthias D'Huyvetter
- In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging Laboratory , Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Brussels , Belgium
| | - Frank Bruchertseifer
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre , Department for Nuclear Safety and Security , Karlsruhe , Germany
| | - Alfred Morgenstern
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre , Department for Nuclear Safety and Security , Karlsruhe , Germany
| | - Tony Lahoutte
- In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging Laboratory , Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Brussels , Belgium.,Nuclear Medicine Department , UZ Brussel , Brussels , Belgium
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46
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Guo F, Li Q, Zhou C. Synthesis and biological applications of fluoro-modified nucleic acids. Org Biomol Chem 2018; 15:9552-9565. [PMID: 29086791 DOI: 10.1039/c7ob02094e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Owing to the unique physical properties of a fluorine atom, incorporating fluoro-modifications into nucleic acids offers striking biophysical and biochemical features, and thus significantly extends the breadth and depth of biological applications of nucleic acids. In this review, fluoro-modified nucleic acids that have been synthesized through either solid phase synthesis or the enzymatic approach are briefly summarised, followed by a section describing their biomedical applications in nucleic acid-based therapeutics, 18F PET imaging and mechanistic studies of DNA modifying enzymes. In the last part, the utility of 19F NMR and MRI for probing the structure, dynamics and molecular interactions of fluorinated nucleic acids is reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengmin Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry and Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
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Röthlisberger P, Gasse C, Hollenstein M. Nucleic Acid Aptamers: Emerging Applications in Medical Imaging, Nanotechnology, Neurosciences, and Drug Delivery. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:E2430. [PMID: 29144411 PMCID: PMC5713398 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18112430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Revised: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent progresses in organic chemistry and molecular biology have allowed the emergence of numerous new applications of nucleic acids that markedly deviate from their natural functions. Particularly, DNA and RNA molecules-coined aptamers-can be brought to bind to specific targets with high affinity and selectivity. While aptamers are mainly applied as biosensors, diagnostic agents, tools in proteomics and biotechnology, and as targeted therapeutics, these chemical antibodies slowly begin to be used in other fields. Herein, we review recent progress on the use of aptamers in the construction of smart DNA origami objects and MRI and PET imaging agents. We also describe advances in the use of aptamers in the field of neurosciences (with a particular emphasis on the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases) and as drug delivery systems. Lastly, the use of chemical modifications, modified nucleoside triphosphate particularly, to enhance the binding and stability of aptamers is highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Röthlisberger
- Institut Pasteur, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Laboratory for Bioorganic Chemistry of Nucleic Acids, CNRS UMR3523, 28, rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris CEDEX 15, France.
| | - Cécile Gasse
- Institute of Systems & Synthetic Biology, Xenome Team, 5 rue Henri Desbruères Genopole Campus 1, University of Evry, F-91030 Evry, France.
| | - Marcel Hollenstein
- Institut Pasteur, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Laboratory for Bioorganic Chemistry of Nucleic Acids, CNRS UMR3523, 28, rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris CEDEX 15, France.
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Wu X, Shaikh AB, Yu Y, Li Y, Ni S, Lu A, Zhang G. Potential Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications of Oligonucleotide Aptamers in Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18091851. [PMID: 28841163 PMCID: PMC5618500 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18091851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer related deaths in women. Currently, with the development of early detection, increased social awareness and kinds of treatment options, survival rate has improved in nearly every type of breast cancer patients. However, about one third patients still have increased chances of recurrence within five years and the five-year relative survival rate in patients with metastasis is less than 30%. Breast cancer contains multiple subtypes. Each subtype could cause distinct clinical outcomes and systemic interventions. Thereby, new targeted therapies are of particular importance to solve this major clinical problem. Aptamers, often termed “chemical antibodies”, are functionally similar to antibodies and have demonstrated their superiority of recognizing target with high selectivity, affinity and stability. With these intrinsic properties, aptamers have been widely studied in cancer biology and some are in clinical trials. In this review, we will firstly discuss about the global impacts and mechanisms of breast cancer, then briefly highlight applications of aptamers that have been developed for breast cancer and finally summarize various challenges in clinical translation of aptamers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Atik Badshah Shaikh
- Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone & Joint Diseases, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), Hong Kong 999077, China.
| | - Yuanyuan Yu
- Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone & Joint Diseases, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), Hong Kong 999077, China.
| | - Yongshu Li
- Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone & Joint Diseases, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), Hong Kong 999077, China.
| | - Shuaijian Ni
- Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone & Joint Diseases, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), Hong Kong 999077, China.
| | - Aiping Lu
- Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone & Joint Diseases, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), Hong Kong 999077, China.
| | - Ge Zhang
- Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone & Joint Diseases, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), Hong Kong 999077, China.
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Catuogno S, Esposito CL. Aptamer Cell-Based Selection: Overview and Advances. Biomedicines 2017; 5:biomedicines5030049. [PMID: 28805744 PMCID: PMC5618307 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines5030049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Revised: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aptamers are high affinity single-stranded DNA/RNA molecules, produced by a combinatorial procedure named SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential enrichment), that are emerging as promising diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Among selection strategies, procedures using living cells as complex targets (referred as "cell-SELEX") have been developed as an effective mean to generate aptamers for heavily modified cell surface proteins, assuring the binding of the target in its native conformation. Here we give an up-to-date overview on cell-SELEX technology, discussing the most recent advances with a particular focus on cancer cell targeting. Examples of the different protocol applications and post-SELEX strategies will be briefly outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Catuogno
- Istituto di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale "G. Salvatore", CNR, Naples 80100, Italy.
| | - Carla Lucia Esposito
- Istituto di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale "G. Salvatore", CNR, Naples 80100, Italy.
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50
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Abstract
Aptamers are nucleic acids referred to as chemical antibodies as they bind to their specific targets with high affinity and selectivity. They are selected via an iterative process known as ‘selective evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment’ (SELEX). Aptamers have been developed against numerous cancer targets and among them, many tumor cell-membrane protein biomarkers. The identification of aptamers targeting cell-surface proteins has mainly been performed by two different strategies: protein- and cell-based SELEX, when the targets used for selection were proteins and cells, respectively. This review aims to update the literature on aptamers targeting tumor cell surface protein biomarkers, highlighting potentials, pitfalls of protein- and cell-based selection processes and applications of such selected molecules. Aptamers as promising agents for diagnosis and therapeutic approaches in oncology are documented, as well as aptamers in clinical development.
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