1
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Opsomer L, Jana S, Mertens I, Cui X, Hoogenboom R, Sanders NN. Efficient in vitro and in vivo transfection of self-amplifying mRNA with linear poly(propylenimine) and poly(ethylenimine-propylenimine) random copolymers as non-viral carriers. J Mater Chem B 2024; 12:3927-3946. [PMID: 38563779 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb03003b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) based vaccines have been introduced worldwide to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. These vaccines consist of non-amplifying mRNA formulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). Consequently, LNPs are considered benchmark non-viral carriers for nucleic acid delivery. However, the formulation and manufacturing of these mRNA-LNP nanoparticles are expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, we used self-amplifying mRNA (saRNA) and synthesized novel polymers as alternative non-viral carrier platform to LNPs, which enable a simple, rapid, one-pot formulation of saRNA-polyplexes. Our novel polymer-based carrier platform consists of randomly concatenated ethylenimine and propylenimine comonomers, resulting in linear, poly(ethylenimine-ran-propylenimine) (L-PEIx-ran-PPIy) copolymers with controllable degrees of polymerization. Here we demonstrate in multiple cell lines, that our saRNA-polyplexes show comparable to higher in vitro saRNA transfection efficiencies and higher cell viabilities compared to formulations with Lipofectamine MessengerMAX™ (LFMM), a commercial, lipid-based carrier considered to be the in vitro gold standard carrier. This is especially true for our in vitro best performing saRNA-polyplexes with N/P 5, which are characterised with a size below 100 nm, a positive zeta potential, a near 100% encapsulation efficiency, a high retention capacity and the ability to protect the saRNA from degradation mediated by RNase A. Furthermore, an ex vivo hemolysis assay with pig red blood cells demonstrated that the saRNA-polyplexes exhibit negligible hemolytic activity. Finally, a bioluminescence-based in vivo study was performed over a 35-day period, and showed that the polymers result in a higher and prolonged bioluminescent signal compared to naked saRNA and L-PEI based polyplexes. Moreover, the polymers show different expression profiles compared to those of LNPs, with one of our new polymers (L-PPI250) demonstrating a higher sustained expression for at least 35 days after injection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Opsomer
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
| | - Somdeb Jana
- Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC), Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Ine Mertens
- Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC), Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Xiaole Cui
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
| | - Richard Hoogenboom
- Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC), Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Niek N Sanders
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Cancer Research Institute (CRIG), Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
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2
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Palmer CR, Pastora LE, Kimmel BR, Pagendarm HM, Kwiatkowski AJ, Stone PT, Arora K, Francini N, Fedorova O, Pyle AM, Wilson JT. Covalent Polymer-RNA Conjugates for Potent Activation of the RIG-I Pathway. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2303815. [PMID: 38648653 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202303815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
RNA ligands of retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) are a promising class of oligonucleotide therapeutics with broad potential as antiviral agents, vaccine adjuvants, and cancer immunotherapies. However, their translation has been limited by major drug delivery barriers, including poor cellular uptake, nuclease degradation, and an inability to access the cytosol where RIG-I is localized. Here this challenge is addressed by engineering nanoparticles that harness covalent conjugation of 5'-triphospate RNA (3pRNA) to endosome-destabilizing polymers. Compared to 3pRNA loaded into analogous nanoparticles via electrostatic interactions, it is found that covalent conjugation of 3pRNA improves loading efficiency, enhances immunostimulatory activity, protects against nuclease degradation, and improves serum stability. Additionally, it is found that 3pRNA could be conjugated via either a disulfide or thioether linkage, but that the latter is only permissible if conjugated distal to the 5'-triphosphate group. Finally, administration of 3pRNA-polymer conjugates to mice significantly increases type-I interferon levels relative to analogous carriers that use electrostatic 3pRNA loading. Collectively, these studies have yielded a next-generation polymeric carrier for in vivo delivery of 3pRNA, while also elucidating new chemical design principles for covalent conjugation of 3pRNA with potential to inform the further development of therapeutics and delivery technologies for pharmacological activation of RIG-I.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian R Palmer
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Lucinda E Pastora
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Blaise R Kimmel
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Hayden M Pagendarm
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Alexander J Kwiatkowski
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Payton T Stone
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Karan Arora
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Nora Francini
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Olga Fedorova
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Anna M Pyle
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - John T Wilson
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
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3
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Mobasher M, Ansari R, Castejon AM, Barar J, Omidi Y. Advanced nanoscale delivery systems for mRNA-based vaccines. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2024; 1868:130558. [PMID: 38185238 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2024.130558] [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: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
The effectiveness of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, especially those designed for COVID-19, relies heavily on sophisticated delivery systems that ensure efficient delivery of mRNA to target cells. A variety of nanoscale vaccine delivery systems (VDSs) have been explored for this purpose, including lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), liposomes, and polymeric nanoparticles made from biocompatible polymers such as poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), as well as viral vectors and lipid-polymer hybrid complexes. Among these, LNPs are particularly notable for their efficiency in encapsulating and protecting mRNA. These nanoscale VDSs can be engineered to enhance stability and facilitate uptake by cells. The choice of delivery system depends on factors like the specific mRNA vaccine, target cell types, stability requirements, and desired immune response. In this review, we shed light on recent advances in delivery mechanisms for self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccines, emphasizing groundbreaking studies on nanoscale delivery systems aimed at improving the efficacy and safety of mRNA/saRNA vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Mobasher
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Rais Ansari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Ana M Castejon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Jaleh Barar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Yadollah Omidi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA.
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4
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Yum J, Aulia F, Kamiya K, Hori M, Qiao N, Kim BS, Naito M, Ogura S, Nagata T, Yokota T, Uchida S, Obika S, Kim HJ, Miyata K. Hydrophobicity Tuning of Cationic Polyaspartamide Derivatives for Enhanced Antisense Oligonucleotide Delivery. Bioconjug Chem 2024; 35:125-131. [PMID: 38290165 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Various cationic polymers are used to deliver polyplex-mediated antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs). However, few studies have investigated the structural determinants of polyplex functionalities in polymers. This study focused on the polymer hydrophobicity. A series of amphiphilic polyaspartamide derivatives possessing various hydrophobic (R) moieties together with cationic diethylenetriamine (DET) moieties in the side chain (PAsp(DET/R)s) were synthesized to optimize the R moieties (or hydrophobicity) for locked nucleic acid (LNA) gapmer ASO delivery. The gene knockdown efficiencies of PAsp(DET/R) polyplexes were plotted against a hydrophobicity parameter, logD7.3, of PAsp(DET/R), revealing that the gene knockdown efficiency was substantially improved by PAsp(DET/R) with logD7.3 higher than -2.4. This was explained by the increased polyplex stability and improved cellular uptake of ASO payloads. After intratracheal administration, the polyplex samples with a higher logD7.3 than -2.4 induced a significantly higher gene knockdown in the lung tissue compared with counterparts with lower hydrophobicity and naked ASO. These results demonstrate that the hydrophobicity of PAsp(DET/R) is crucial for efficient ASO delivery in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jongmin Yum
- Department of Materials Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
- Nucleotide and Peptide Drug Discovery Center (TIDE Center), Institute of Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0034, Japan
| | - Fadlina Aulia
- Department of Materials Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Keisuke Kamiya
- Department of Materials Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Mao Hori
- Department of Materials Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Nan Qiao
- Department of Materials Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Beob Soo Kim
- Department of Materials Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Naito
- Department of Materials Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Satomi Ogura
- Department of Materials Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Nagata
- Nucleotide and Peptide Drug Discovery Center (TIDE Center), Institute of Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0034, Japan
| | - Takanori Yokota
- Nucleotide and Peptide Drug Discovery Center (TIDE Center), Institute of Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0034, Japan
| | - Satoshi Uchida
- Department of Advanced Nanomedical Engineering, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Satoshi Obika
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hyun Jin Kim
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Inha University, 100 Inha-ro, Michuhol-gu, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Inha University, 100 Inha-ro, Michuhol-gu, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Kanjiro Miyata
- Department of Materials Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
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5
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Concilio M, Garcia Maset R, Lemonche LP, Kontrimas V, Song JI, Rajendrakumar SK, Harrison F, Becer CR, Perrier S. Mechanism of Action of Oxazoline-Based Antimicrobial Polymers Against Staphylococcus aureus: In Vivo Antimicrobial Activity Evaluation. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2301961. [PMID: 37522292 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202301961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial-resistant pathogens have reached alarming levels, becoming one of the most pressing global health issues. Hence, new treatments are necessary for the fight against antimicrobial resistance. Synthetic nanoengineered antimicrobial polymers (SNAPs) have emerged as a promising alternative to antimicrobial peptides, overcoming some of their limitations while keeping their key features. Herein, a library of amphiphilic oxazoline-based SNAPs using cationic ring-opening polymerization (CROP) is designed. Amphipathic compounds with 70% cationic content exhibit the highest activity against clinically relevant Staphylococcus aureus isolates, maintaining good biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo. The mechanism of action of the lead compounds against S. aureus is assessed using various microscopy techniques, indicating cell membrane disruption, while the cell wall remains unaffected. Furthermore, a potential interaction of the compounds with bacterial DNA is shown, with possible implications on bacterial division. Finally, one of the compounds exhibits high efficacy in vivo in an insect infection model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilde Concilio
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Ramón Garcia Maset
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | | | - Vito Kontrimas
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Ji-Inn Song
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | | | - Freya Harrison
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - C Remzi Becer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Sébastien Perrier
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
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6
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Qin Y, Walters AA, Rouatbi N, Wang JTW, Abdel-Bar HM, Al-Jamal KT. Evaluation of a DoE based approach for comprehensive modelling of the effect of lipid nanoparticle composition on nucleic acid delivery. Biomaterials 2023; 299:122158. [PMID: 37243988 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutic nucleic acids (TNAs) comprise an alternative to conventional drugs for cancer therapy. Recently, stable nucleic acid lipid particles (SNALPs) have been explored to deliver TNA efficiently and safely both in vitro and in vivo. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA) based drugs have been suggested for a wide range of pathologies, and their respective lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations have been optimised using a Design of Experiments (DoE) approach. However, it is uncertain as to whether data obtained from DoE using simple experimental outputs can be used to generate a general heuristic for delivery of diverse TNA both in vitro and in vivo. Using plasmid DNA (pDNA), for which limited DoE optimisation has been performed, and siRNA to represent the two extremities of the TNA spectrum in terms of size and biological requirements, we performed a comparative DoE for both molecules and assessed the predictive qualities of the model both in vitro and in vivo. By producing a minimum run of 24 SNALP formulations with different lipid compositions incorporating either pDNA or siRNA, DoE models were successfully established for predicting the effect of individual lipid composition on particle size, TNA encapsulation and transfection both in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that the particle size, and in vitro and in vivo transfection efficiency of both pDNA and siRNA SNALP formulations were affected by lipid compositions. The encapsulation efficiency of pDNA SNALPs but not siRNA SNALPs was affected by the lipid composition. Notably, the optimal lipid compositions of SNALPs for pDNA/siRNA delivery were not identical. Furthermore, in vitro transfection efficiency could not be used to predict promising LNP candidates in vivo. The DoE approach described in this study may provide a method for comprehensive optimisation of LNPs for various applications. The model and optimal formulation described in this study can serve as a foundation from which to develop other novel NA containing LNPs for multiple applications such as NA based vaccines, cancer immunotherapies and other TNA therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Qin
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Adam A Walters
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Nadia Rouatbi
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Julie Tzu-Wen Wang
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Hend Mohamed Abdel-Bar
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK; Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, 32958, Egypt
| | - Khuloud T Al-Jamal
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK.
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7
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Fortenberry A, Mohammad SA, Werfel TA, Smith AE. Comparative Investigation of the Hydrolysis of Charge-Shifting Polymers Derived from an Azlactone-Based Polymer. Macromol Rapid Commun 2022; 43:e2200420. [PMID: 35820157 PMCID: PMC9780167 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202200420] [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: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Poly 2-vinyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone (PVDMA) has received much attention as a "reactive platform" to prepare charge-shifting polycations via post-polymerization modification with tertiary amines that possess primary amine or hydroxyl reactive handles. Upon hydrolysis of the resulting amide or ester linkages, the polymers can undergo a gradual transition in net charge from cationic to anionic. Herein, a systematic investigation of the hydrolysis rate of PVDMA-derived charge-shifting polymers is described. PVDMA is modified with tertiary amines bearing either primary amine, hydroxyl, or thiol reactive handles. The resulting polymers possess tertiary amine side chains connected to the backbone via amide, ester, or thioester linkages. The hydrolysis rates of each PVDMA derivative are monitored at 25 and 50 °C at pH values of 5.5, 7.5, and 8.5, respectively. While the hydrolysis rate of the amide-functionalized PVDMA is negligible over the period investigated, the hydrolysis rates of the ester- and thioester-functionalized PVDMA increase with increasing temperature and pH. Interestingly, the hydrolysis rate of the thioester-functionalized PVDMA appears to be more rapid than the ester-functionalized PVDMA at all pH values and temperatures investigated. It is believed that these results can be utilized to inform the future preparation of PVDMA-based charge-shifting polymers for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Fortenberry
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Mississippi, MS, USA
| | - Sk Arif Mohammad
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Mississippi, MS, USA
| | - Thomas A. Werfel
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Mississippi, MS, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Mississippi, MS, USA
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
- Cancer Center and Research Institute, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Adam E. Smith
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Mississippi, MS, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Mississippi, MS, USA
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8
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Papukashvili D, Rcheulishvili N, Liu C, Ji Y, He Y, Wang PG. Self-Amplifying RNA Approach for Protein Replacement Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:12884. [PMID: 36361673 PMCID: PMC9655356 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232112884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology has already been successfully tested preclinically and there are ongoing clinical trials for protein replacement purposes; however, more effort has been put into the development of prevention strategies against infectious diseases. Apparently, mRNA vaccine approval against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a landmark for opening new opportunities for managing diverse health disorders based on this approach. Indeed, apart from infectious diseases, it has also been widely tested in numerous directions including cancer prevention and the treatment of inherited disorders. Interestingly, self-amplifying RNA (saRNA)-based technology is believed to display more developed RNA therapy compared with conventional mRNA technique in terms of its lower dosage requirements, relatively fewer side effects, and possessing long-lasting effects. Nevertheless, some challenges still exist that need to be overcome in order to achieve saRNA-based drug approval in clinics. Hence, the current review discusses the feasibility of saRNA utility for protein replacement therapy on various health disorders including rare hereditary diseases and also provides a detailed overview of saRNA advantages, its molecular structure, mechanism of action, and relevant delivery platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Yunjiao He
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Peng George Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518000, China
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9
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Kumar R, Le N, Oviedo F, Brown ME, Reineke TM. Combinatorial Polycation Synthesis and Causal Machine Learning Reveal Divergent Polymer Design Rules for Effective pDNA and Ribonucleoprotein Delivery. JACS AU 2022; 2:428-442. [PMID: 35252992 PMCID: PMC8889556 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.1c00467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The development of polymers that can replace engineered viral vectors in clinical gene therapy has proven elusive despite the vast portfolios of multifunctional polymers generated by advances in polymer synthesis. Functional delivery of payloads such as plasmids (pDNA) and ribonucleoproteins (RNP) to various cellular populations and tissue types requires design precision. Herein, we systematically screen a combinatorially designed library of 43 well-defined polymers, ultimately identifying a lead polycationic vehicle (P38) for efficient pDNA delivery. Further, we demonstrate the versatility of P38 in codelivering spCas9 RNP and pDNA payloads to mediate homology-directed repair as well as in facilitating efficient pDNA delivery in ARPE-19 cells. P38 achieves nuclear import of pDNA and eludes lysosomal processing far more effectively than a structural analogue that does not deliver pDNA as efficiently. To reveal the physicochemical drivers of P38's gene delivery performance, SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) are computed for nine polyplex features, and a causal model is applied to evaluate the average treatment effect of the most important features selected by SHAP. Our machine learning interpretability and causal inference approach derives structure-function relationships underlying delivery efficiency, polyplex uptake, and cellular viability and probes the overlap in polymer design criteria between RNP and pDNA payloads. Together, combinatorial polymer synthesis, parallelized biological screening, and machine learning establish that pDNA delivery demands careful tuning of polycation protonation equilibria while RNP payloads are delivered most efficaciously by polymers that deprotonate cooperatively via hydrophobic interactions. These payload-specific design guidelines will inform further design of bespoke polymers for specific therapeutic contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramya Kumar
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414, United States
| | - Ngoc Le
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414, United States
| | - Felipe Oviedo
- Nanite
Inc., 6 Liberty Square
#6128, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, United States
| | - Mary E. Brown
- University
Imaging Centers, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414, United States
| | - Theresa M. Reineke
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414, United States
- Nanite
Inc., 6 Liberty Square
#6128, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, United States
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10
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Yan Y, Liu XY, Lu A, Wang XY, Jiang LX, Wang JC. Non-viral vectors for RNA delivery. J Control Release 2022; 342:241-279. [PMID: 35016918 PMCID: PMC8743282 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
RNA-based therapy is a promising and potential strategy for disease treatment by introducing exogenous nucleic acids such as messenger RNA (mRNA), small interfering RNA (siRNA), microRNA (miRNA) or antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) to modulate gene expression in specific cells. It is exciting that mRNA encoding the spike protein of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) delivered by lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) exhibits the efficient protection of lungs infection against the virus. In this review, we introduce the biological barriers to RNA delivery in vivo and discuss recent advances in non-viral delivery systems, such as lipid-based nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc)-siRNA conjugate, and biomimetic nanovectors, which can protect RNAs against degradation by ribonucleases, accumulate in specific tissue, facilitate cell internalization, and allow for the controlled release of the encapsulated therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and New Drug Delivery Systems, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and New Drug Delivery Systems, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - An Lu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and New Drug Delivery Systems, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang-Yu Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and New Drug Delivery Systems, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lin-Xia Jiang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and New Drug Delivery Systems, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jian-Cheng Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and New Drug Delivery Systems, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China..
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11
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Street STG, He Y, Harniman RL, Garcia-Hernandez JD, Manners I. Precision polymer nanofibers with a responsive polyelectrolyte corona designed as a modular, functionalizable nanomedicine platform. Polym Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d2py00152g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We describe the development of a modular, functionalizable platform for biocompatible core-shell block copolymer nanofibers of controlled length (22 nm – 1.3 μm) and low dispersity produced via living crystallization-driven...
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12
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Tortajada L, Felip C, Vicent MJ. Polymer-based Non-viral Vectors for Gene Therapy in the Skin. Polym Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d1py01485d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Gene therapy has emerged as a versatile technique with the potential to treat a range of human diseases; however, examples of the topical application of gene therapy as a treatment...
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13
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Alazzo A, Gumus N, Gurnani P, Stolnik S, Rahman R, Spriggs K, Alexander C. Investigating histidinylated highly branched poly(lysine) for siRNA delivery. J Mater Chem B 2021; 10:236-246. [PMID: 34852030 DOI: 10.1039/d1tb01793d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The temporary silencing of disease-associated genes utilising short interfering RNA (siRNA) is a potent and selective route for addressing a wide range of life limiting disorders. However, the few clinically approved siRNA therapies rely on lipid based formulations, which although potent, provide limited chemical space to tune the stability, efficacy and tissue selectivity. In this study, we investigated the role of molar mass and histidinylation for poly(lysine) based non-viral vectors, synthesised through a fully aqueous thermal condensation polymerisation. Formulation and in vitro studies revealed that higher molar mass derivatives yielded smaller polyplexes attributed to a greater affinity for siRNA at lower N/P ratios yielding greater transfection efficiency, albeit with some cytotoxicity. Histidinylation had a negligible effect on formulation size, yet imparted a moderate improvement in biocompatibility, but did not provide any meaningful improvement over silencing efficiency compared to non-histidinylated derivatives. This was attributed to a greater degree of cellular internalisation for non-histidinylated analogues, which was enhanced with the higher molar mass material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Alazzo
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq.,Division of Molecular Therapeutics and Formulation, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Nurcan Gumus
- Division of Molecular Therapeutics and Formulation, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Pratik Gurnani
- Division of Molecular Therapeutics and Formulation, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Snjezana Stolnik
- Division of Molecular Therapeutics and Formulation, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Ruman Rahman
- BioDiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Keith Spriggs
- Division of Molecular Therapeutics and Formulation, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Cameron Alexander
- Division of Molecular Therapeutics and Formulation, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
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14
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Rinoldi C, Zargarian SS, Nakielski P, Li X, Liguori A, Petronella F, Presutti D, Wang Q, Costantini M, De Sio L, Gualandi C, Ding B, Pierini F. Nanotechnology-Assisted RNA Delivery: From Nucleic Acid Therapeutics to COVID-19 Vaccines. SMALL METHODS 2021; 5:e2100402. [PMID: 34514087 PMCID: PMC8420172 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202100402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the main quest of science has been the pioneering of the groundbreaking biomedical strategies needed for achieving a personalized medicine. Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) are outstanding bioactive macromolecules identified as pivotal actors in regulating a wide range of biochemical pathways. The ability to intimately control the cell fate and tissue activities makes RNA-based drugs the most fascinating family of bioactive agents. However, achieving a widespread application of RNA therapeutics in humans is still a challenging feat, due to both the instability of naked RNA and the presence of biological barriers aimed at hindering the entrance of RNA into cells. Recently, material scientists' enormous efforts have led to the development of various classes of nanostructured carriers customized to overcome these limitations. This work systematically reviews the current advances in developing the next generation of drugs based on nanotechnology-assisted RNA delivery. The features of the most used RNA molecules are presented, together with the development strategies and properties of nanostructured vehicles. Also provided is an in-depth overview of various therapeutic applications of the presented systems, including coronavirus disease vaccines and the newest trends in the field. Lastly, emerging challenges and future perspectives for nanotechnology-mediated RNA therapies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Rinoldi
- Department of Biosystems and Soft MatterInstitute of Fundamental Technological ResearchPolish Academy of Sciencesul. Pawińskiego 5BWarsaw02‐106Poland
| | - Seyed Shahrooz Zargarian
- Department of Biosystems and Soft MatterInstitute of Fundamental Technological ResearchPolish Academy of Sciencesul. Pawińskiego 5BWarsaw02‐106Poland
| | - Pawel Nakielski
- Department of Biosystems and Soft MatterInstitute of Fundamental Technological ResearchPolish Academy of Sciencesul. Pawińskiego 5BWarsaw02‐106Poland
| | - Xiaoran Li
- Innovation Center for Textile Science and TechnologyDonghua UniversityWest Yan'an Road 1882Shanghai200051China
| | - Anna Liguori
- Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician” and INSTM UdR of BolognaUniversity of BolognaVia Selmi 2Bologna40126Italy
| | - Francesca Petronella
- Institute of Crystallography CNR‐ICNational Research Council of ItalyVia Salaria Km 29.300Monterotondo – Rome00015Italy
| | - Dario Presutti
- Institute of Physical ChemistryPolish Academy of Sciencesul. M. Kasprzaka 44/52Warsaw01‐224Poland
| | - Qiusheng Wang
- Innovation Center for Textile Science and TechnologyDonghua UniversityWest Yan'an Road 1882Shanghai200051China
| | - Marco Costantini
- Institute of Physical ChemistryPolish Academy of Sciencesul. M. Kasprzaka 44/52Warsaw01‐224Poland
| | - Luciano De Sio
- Department of Medico‐Surgical Sciences and BiotechnologiesResearch Center for BiophotonicsSapienza University of RomeCorso della Repubblica 79Latina04100Italy
- CNR‐Lab. LicrylInstitute NANOTECArcavacata di Rende87036Italy
| | - Chiara Gualandi
- Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician” and INSTM UdR of BolognaUniversity of BolognaVia Selmi 2Bologna40126Italy
- Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research on Advanced Applications in Mechanical Engineering and Materials TechnologyCIRI‐MAMUniversity of BolognaViale Risorgimento 2Bologna40136Italy
| | - Bin Ding
- Innovation Center for Textile Science and TechnologyDonghua UniversityWest Yan'an Road 1882Shanghai200051China
| | - Filippo Pierini
- Department of Biosystems and Soft MatterInstitute of Fundamental Technological ResearchPolish Academy of Sciencesul. Pawińskiego 5BWarsaw02‐106Poland
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15
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Cationic polymer brush-coated bioglass nanoparticles for the design of bioresorbable RNA delivery vectors. Eur Polym J 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2021.110593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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16
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Blakney AK, McKay PF, Bouton CR, Hu K, Samnuan K, Shattock RJ. Innate Inhibiting Proteins Enhance Expression and Immunogenicity of Self-Amplifying RNA. Mol Ther 2021; 29:1174-1185. [PMID: 33352107 PMCID: PMC7935664 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2020.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) is a cutting-edge platform for both nucleic acid vaccines and therapeutics. saRNA is self-adjuvanting, as it activates types I and III interferon (IFN), which enhances the immunogenicity of RNA vaccines but can also lead to inhibition of translation. In this study, we screened a library of saRNA constructs with cis-encoded innate inhibiting proteins (IIPs) and determined the effect on protein expression and immunogenicity. We observed that the PIV-5 V and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) ORF4a proteins enhance protein expression 100- to 500-fold in vitro in IFN-competent HeLa and MRC5 cells. We found that the MERS-CoV ORF4a protein partially abates dose nonlinearity in vivo, and that ruxolitinib, a potent Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) inhibitor, but not the IIPs, enhances protein expression of saRNA in vivo. Both the PIV-5 V and MERS-CoV ORF4a proteins were found to enhance the percentage of resident cells in human skin explants expressing saRNA and completely rescued dose nonlinearity of saRNA. Finally, we observed that the MERS-CoV ORF4a increased the rabies virus (RABV)-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) titer and neutralization half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) by ∼10-fold in rabbits, but not in mice or rats. These experiments provide a proof of concept that IIPs can be directly encoded into saRNA vectors and effectively abate the nonlinear dose dependency and enhance immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K Blakney
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W21PG, UK.
| | - Paul F McKay
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W21PG, UK
| | - Clément R Bouton
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W21PG, UK
| | - Kai Hu
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W21PG, UK
| | - Karnyart Samnuan
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W21PG, UK
| | - Robin J Shattock
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W21PG, UK.
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17
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Blakney AK, Ip S, Geall AJ. An Update on Self-Amplifying mRNA Vaccine Development. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:97. [PMID: 33525396 PMCID: PMC7911542 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9020097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This review will explore the four major pillars required for design and development of an saRNA vaccine: Antigen design, vector design, non-viral delivery systems, and manufacturing (both saRNA and lipid nanoparticles (LNP)). We report on the major innovations, preclinical and clinical data reported in the last five years and will discuss future prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K. Blakney
- Michael Smith Laboratories, School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Shell Ip
- Precision NanoSystems Inc., Vancouver, BC V6P 6T7, Canada; (S.I.); (A.J.G.)
| | - Andrew J. Geall
- Precision NanoSystems Inc., Vancouver, BC V6P 6T7, Canada; (S.I.); (A.J.G.)
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18
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Gurnani P, Blakney AK, Yeow J, Bouton CR, Shattock RJ, Stevens MM, Alexander C. An improved synthesis of poly(amidoamine)s for complexation with self-amplifying RNA and effective transfection. Polym Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1039/d0py00912a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Aza-Michael addition to synthesise poly(amidoamines) was optimised to minimise appearance of bimodal molecular weight distributions caused by a radical-branching side-reaction. This significantly improved cellular delivery of a model self-amplifying RNA vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratik Gurnani
- Division of Molecular Therapeutics and Formulation
- School of Pharmacy
- University of Nottingham
- UK
| | - Anna K. Blakney
- Department of Infectious Disease
- Imperial College London
- School of Medicine
- St Mary's Hospital
- London W2 1NY
| | - Jonathan Yeow
- Department of Materials and the Department of Bioengineering at Imperial College London
- SW7 2AZ London
- UK
| | - Clément R. Bouton
- Department of Infectious Disease
- Imperial College London
- School of Medicine
- St Mary's Hospital
- London W2 1NY
| | - Robin J. Shattock
- Department of Infectious Disease
- Imperial College London
- School of Medicine
- St Mary's Hospital
- London W2 1NY
| | - Molly M. Stevens
- Department of Materials and the Department of Bioengineering at Imperial College London
- SW7 2AZ London
- UK
| | - Cameron Alexander
- Division of Molecular Therapeutics and Formulation
- School of Pharmacy
- University of Nottingham
- UK
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