1
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Zadory M, Lopez E, Babity S, Gravel SP, Brambilla D. Current knowledge on the tissue distribution of mRNA nanocarriers for therapeutic protein expression. Biomater Sci 2022; 10:6077-6115. [PMID: 36097955 DOI: 10.1039/d2bm00859a] [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
Exogenously delivered mRNA-based drugs are emerging as a new class of therapeutics with the potential to treat several diseases. Over the last decade, advancements in the design of non-viral delivery tools have enabled mRNA to be evaluated for several therapeutic purposes including protein replacement therapies, gene editing, and vaccines. However, in vivo delivery of mRNA to targeted organs and cells remains a critical challenge. Evaluation of the biodistribution of mRNA vehicles is of utmost importance for the development of effective pharmaceutical candidates. In this review, we discuss the recent advances in the design of nanoparticles loaded with mRNA and extrapolate the key factors influencing their biodistribution following administration. Finally, we highlight the latest developments in the preclinical and clinical translation of mRNA therapeutics for protein supplementation therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Zadory
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Montréal, 2940 Chemin de Polytechnique, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H3T 1J4.
| | - Elliot Lopez
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Montréal, 2940 Chemin de Polytechnique, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H3T 1J4.
| | - Samuel Babity
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Montréal, 2940 Chemin de Polytechnique, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H3T 1J4.
| | - Simon-Pierre Gravel
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Montréal, 2940 Chemin de Polytechnique, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H3T 1J4.
| | - Davide Brambilla
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Montréal, 2940 Chemin de Polytechnique, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H3T 1J4.
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2
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Hango CR, Davis HC, Uddin EA, Minter LM, Tew GN. Increased block copolymer length improves intracellular availability of protein cargo. Polym Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d2py00017b] [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
Amphiphilic protein transduction domain mimics (PTDMs) of various lengths were used for protein delivery in Jurkat T cells. Although longer PTDMs facilitated greater cargo internalization, shorter PTDMs yielded greater cargo activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R. Hango
- Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
| | - Hazel C. Davis
- Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
| | - Esha A. Uddin
- Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
| | - Lisa M. Minter
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
- Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
| | - Gregory N. Tew
- Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
- Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
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3
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4
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Wang J, Lu C, Shi Y, Feng X, Wu B, Zhou G, Quan G, Pan X, Cai J, Wu C. Structural Superiority of Guanidinium-Rich, Four-Armed Copolypeptides: Role of Multiple Peptide-Membrane Interactions in Enhancing Bacterial Membrane Perturbation and Permeability. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:18363-18374. [PMID: 32242658 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c02752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The development of novel antimicrobials is a top priority to address the growing epidemic of multidrug-resistant pathogens. Since cationic nonamphiphilic star-shaped antimicrobials are promising molecular scaffolds that provide a high charge density in binding anionic bacterial bilayers, this research aimed to further increase their membrane perturbation capability by introducing guanidinium groups to the antimicrobials via enhancing membrane insertion. In particular, computational simulation and experimental investigations revealed that our designed guanidinium-rich alternating copolypeptide, four-armed poly(arginine-alt-glycine), can interact with both the headgroups and unsaturated tails of phospholipids in bacterial membranes through multiple interactions, including electrostatic, cation-π, and T-shaped π-π interactions, allowing it to penetrate deeper inside the biologically inaccessible high-energy barrier of the hydrophobic lipid bilayer interior to cause membrane permeabilization and precipitation of the bacterial cytoplasm. Furthermore, glycine was observed to have a unique effect in enhancing the performance of arginine-based copolypeptide. Four-armed poly(arginine-alt-glycine) exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, high bactericidal efficiency, and negligible hemolysis. The in vivo antibacterial performance of the copolypeptide was superior to that of doxycycline in a mouse model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa skin infection, accompanied by negligible local and systemic toxicity. Our results demonstrate that this guanidinium-rich, nonamphiphilic, star-shaped structure may promote the development of next-generation antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Chao Lu
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Yin Shi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiaoqian Feng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Biyuan Wu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guilin Zhou
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guilan Quan
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Xin Pan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jianfeng Cai
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Chuanbin Wu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
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5
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Backlund CM, Hango CR, Minter LM, Tew GN. Protein and Antibody Delivery into Difficult-to-Transfect Cells by Polymeric Peptide Mimics. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2019; 3:180-185. [DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.9b00876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Coralie M. Backlund
- Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Christopher R. Hango
- Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Lisa M. Minter
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
- Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, Untied States
| | - Gregory N. Tew
- Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
- Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, Untied States
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6
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Benner NL, McClellan RL, Turlington CR, Haabeth OAW, Waymouth RM, Wender PA. Oligo(serine ester) Charge-Altering Releasable Transporters: Organocatalytic Ring-Opening Polymerization and their Use for in Vitro and in Vivo mRNA Delivery. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:8416-8421. [PMID: 31083999 PMCID: PMC7209379 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b03154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
RNA technology is transforming life science research and medicine, but many applications are limited by the accessibility, cost, efficacy, and tolerability of delivery systems. Here we report the first members of a new class of dynamic RNA delivery vectors, oligo(serine ester)-based charge-altering releasable transporters (Ser-CARTs). Composed of lipid-containing oligocarbonates and cationic oligo(serine esters), Ser-CARTs are readily prepared (one flask) by a mild ring-opening polymerization using thiourea anions and, upon simple mixing with mRNA, readily form complexes that degrade to neutral serine-based products, efficiently releasing their mRNA cargo. mRNA/Ser-CART transfection efficiencies of >95% are achieved in vitro. Intramuscular or intravenous (iv) injections of mRNA/Ser-CARTs into living mice result in in vivo expression of a luciferase reporter protein, with spleen localization observed after iv injection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy L. Benner
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Rebecca L. McClellan
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | | | - Ole A. W. Haabeth
- Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Robert M. Waymouth
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Paul A. Wender
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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7
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Backlund CM, Parhamifar L, Minter L, Tew GN, Andresen TL. Protein Transduction Domain Mimics Facilitate Rapid Antigen Delivery into Monocytes. Mol Pharm 2019; 16:2462-2469. [PMID: 31095395 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.9b00070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Delivering peptides and proteins with intracellular function represents a promising avenue for therapeutics, but remains a challenge due to the selective permeability of the plasma membrane. The successful delivery of cytosolically active proteins would enable many opportunities, including improved vaccine development through major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen display. Extended research using cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) has aimed to facilitate intracellular delivery of exogenous proteins with some success. A new class of polymer-based mimics termed protein transduction domain mimics (PTDMs), which maintain the positive charge and amphiphilic nature displayed by many CPPs, was developed using a poly-norbornene-based backbone. Herein, we use a previously characterized PTDM to investigate delivery of the model antigen SIINFEKL into leukocytes. Peptide delivery into over 90% of CD14+ monocytes was detected in less than 15 min with nominal inflammatory cytokine response and high cell viability. The co-delivery of a TLR9 agonist and antigen using the PTDM into antigen-presenting cells in vitro showed presentation of SIINFEKL in association with MHC class I molecules, in addition to upregulation of classical differentiation markers revealing the ability of the PTDM to successfully deliver cargo intracellularly and show application in the field of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ladan Parhamifar
- Department of Health Technology , Technical University of Denmark , 2800 Lyngby , Denmark
| | | | | | - Thomas L Andresen
- Department of Health Technology , Technical University of Denmark , 2800 Lyngby , Denmark
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8
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Hong E, Halman JR, Shah A, Cedrone E, Truong N, Afonin KA, Dobrovolskaia MA. Toll-Like Receptor-Mediated Recognition of Nucleic Acid Nanoparticles (NANPs) in Human Primary Blood Cells. Molecules 2019; 24:E1094. [PMID: 30897721 PMCID: PMC6470694 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24061094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Infusion reactions (IRs) create a translational hurdle for many novel therapeutics, including those utilizing nanotechnology. Nucleic acid nanoparticles (NANPs) are a novel class of therapeutics prepared by rational design of relatively short oligonucleotides to self-assemble into various programmable geometric shapes. While cytokine storm, a common type of IR, has halted clinical development of several therapeutic oligonucleotides, NANP technologies hold tremendous potential to bring these reactions under control by tuning the particle's physicochemical properties to the desired type and magnitude of the immune response. Recently, we reported the very first comprehensive study of the structure⁻activity relationship between NANPs' shape, size, composition, and their immunorecognition in human cells, and identified the phagolysosomal pathway as the major route for the NANPs' uptake and subsequent immunostimulation. Here, we explore the molecular mechanism of NANPs' recognition by primary immune cells, and particularly the contributing role of the Toll-like receptors. Our current study expands the understanding of the immune recognition of engineered nucleic acid-based therapeutics and contributes to the improvement of the nanomedicine safety profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enping Hong
- Nanotechnology Characterization Lab, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research Sponsored by The National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Justin R Halman
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA.
| | - Ankit Shah
- Nanotechnology Characterization Lab, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research Sponsored by The National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Edward Cedrone
- Nanotechnology Characterization Lab, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research Sponsored by The National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Nguyen Truong
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA.
| | - Kirill A Afonin
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA.
| | - Marina A Dobrovolskaia
- Nanotechnology Characterization Lab, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research Sponsored by The National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
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9
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Protein Transduction Domain Mimic (PTDM) Self-Assembly? Polymers (Basel) 2018; 10:polym10091039. [PMID: 30960964 PMCID: PMC6403535 DOI: 10.3390/polym10091039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular protein delivery is an invaluable tool for biomedical research, as it enables fundamental studies of cellular processes and creates opportunities for novel therapeutic development. Protein delivery reagents such as cell penetration peptides (CPPs) and protein transduction domains (PTDs) are frequently used to facilitate protein delivery. Herein, synthetic polymer mimics of PTDs, called PTDMs, were studied for their ability to self-assemble in aqueous media as it was not known whether self-assembly plays a role in the protein binding and delivery process. The results obtained from interfacial tensiometry (IFT), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), transmittance assays (%T), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) indicated that PTDMs do not readily aggregate or self-assemble at application-relevant time scales and concentrations. However, additional DLS experiments were used to confirm that the presence of protein is required to induce the formation of PTDM-protein complexes and that PTDMs likely bind as single chains.
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10
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McKinlay CJ, Benner NL, Haabeth OA, Waymouth RM, Wender PA. Enhanced mRNA delivery into lymphocytes enabled by lipid-varied libraries of charge-altering releasable transporters. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E5859-E5866. [PMID: 29891683 PMCID: PMC6042134 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1805358115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We report a strategy for generating a combinatorial library of oligonucleotide transporters with varied lipid domains and their use in the efficient transfection of lymphocytes with mRNA in vitro and in vivo. This library is based on amphiphilic charge-altering releasable transporters (CARTs) that contain a lipophilic block functionalized with various side-chain lipids and a polycationic α-amino ester mRNA-binding block that undergoes rearrangement to neutral small molecules, resulting in mRNA release. We show that certain binary mixtures of these lipid-varied CARTs provide up to a ninefold enhancement in mRNA translation in lymphocytes in vitro relative to either a single-lipid CART component alone or the commercial reagent Lipofectamine 2000, corresponding to a striking increase in percent transfection from 9-12% to 80%. Informed by the results with binary mixtures, we further show that CARTs consisting of optimized ratios of the two lead lipids incorporated into a single hybrid-lipid transporter molecule maintain the same delivery efficacy as the noncovalent mixture of two CARTs. The lead lipid CART mixtures and hybrid-lipid CARTs show enhanced lymphocyte transfection in primary T cells and in vivo in mice. This combinatorial approach for rapidly screening mRNA delivery vectors has provided lipid-varied CART mixtures and hybrid-lipid CARTs that exhibit significant improvement in mRNA delivery to lymphocytes, a finding of potentially broad value in research and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin J McKinlay
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Nancy L Benner
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Ole A Haabeth
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | | | - Paul A Wender
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305;
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
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11
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Parsons KH, Mondal MH, McCormick CL, Flynt AS. Guanidinium-Functionalized Interpolyelectrolyte Complexes Enabling RNAi in Resistant Insect Pests. Biomacromolecules 2018; 19:1111-1117. [PMID: 29446934 PMCID: PMC5894059 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.7b01717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
RNAi-based technologies are ideal for pest control as they can provide species specificity and spare nontarget organisms. However, in some pests biological barriers prevent use of RNAi, and therefore broad application. In this study we tested the ability of a synthetic cationic polymer, poly-[ N-(3-guanidinopropyl)methacrylamide] (pGPMA), that mimics arginine-rich cell penetrating peptides to trigger RNAi in an insensitive animal- Spodoptera frugiperda. Polymer-dsRNA interpolyelectrolyte complexes (IPECs) were found to be efficiently taken up by cells, and to drive highly efficient gene knockdown. These IPECs could also trigger target gene knockdown and moderate larval mortality when fed to S. frugiperda larvae. This effect was sequence specific, which is consistent with the low toxicity we found to be associated with this polymer. A method for oral delivery of dsRNA is critical to development of RNAi-based insecticides. Thus, this technology has the potential to make RNAi-based pest control useful for targeting numerous species and facilitate use of RNAi in pest management practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith H Parsons
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering , The University of Southern Mississippi , Hattiesburg , Mississippi 39406 , United States
| | - Mosharrof H Mondal
- Department of Biological Sciences , The University of Southern Mississippi , Hattiesburg , Mississippi 39406 , United States
| | - Charles L McCormick
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering , The University of Southern Mississippi , Hattiesburg , Mississippi 39406 , United States.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , The University of Southern Mississippi , Hattiesburg , Mississippi 39406 , United States
| | - Alex S Flynt
- Department of Biological Sciences , The University of Southern Mississippi , Hattiesburg , Mississippi 39406 , United States
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12
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Mallick A, Xu Y, Lin Y, He J, Chan-Park MB, Liu XW. Oxadiazabicyclooctenone as a versatile monomer for the construction of pH sensitive functional polymers via ROMP. Polym Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1039/c7py01413a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Herein, oxadiazabicyclooctenone is successfully developed as a versatile monomer for the construction of new pH-sensitive polymers by ROMP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asadulla Mallick
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry
- School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
- Nanyang Technological University
- Singapore 637371
| | - Yuan Xu
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry
- School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
- Nanyang Technological University
- Singapore 637371
| | - Yichao Lin
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry
- School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
- Nanyang Technological University
- Singapore 637371
| | - Jingxi He
- Centre of Antimicrobial Bioengineering
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
- NTU
- Singapore 637459
| | - Mary B. Chan-Park
- Centre of Antimicrobial Bioengineering
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
- NTU
- Singapore 637459
| | - Xue-Wei Liu
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry
- School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
- Nanyang Technological University
- Singapore 637371
- Centre of Antimicrobial Bioengineering
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13
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Sarapas JM, Backlund CM, deRonde BM, Minter LM, Tew GN. ROMP- and RAFT-Based Guanidinium-Containing Polymers as Scaffolds for Protein Mimic Synthesis. Chemistry 2017; 23:6858-6863. [PMID: 28370636 PMCID: PMC5551038 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201700423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides are an important class of molecules with promising applications in bioactive cargo delivery. A diverse series of guanidinium-containing polymeric cell-penetrating peptide mimics (CPPMs) with varying backbone chemistries was synthesized and assessed for delivery of both GFP and fluorescently tagged siRNA. Specifically, we examined CPPMs based on norbornene, methacrylate, and styrene backbones to determine how backbone structure impacted internalization of these two cargoes. Either charge content or degree of polymerization was held constant at 20, with diguanidinium norbornene molecules being polymerized to both 10 and 20 repeat units. Generally, homopolymer CPPMs delivered low amounts of siRNA into Jurkat T cells, with no apparent backbone dependence; however, by adding a short hydrophobic methyl methacrylate block to the guanidinium-rich methacrylate polymer, siRNA delivery to nearly the entire cell population was achieved. Protein internalization yielded similar results for most of the CPPMs, though the block polymer was unable to deliver proteins. In contrast, the styrene-based CPPM yielded the highest internalization for GFP (≈40 % of cells affected), showing that indeed backbone chemistry impacts protein delivery, specifically through the incorporation of an aromatic group. These results demonstrate that an understanding of how polymer structure affects cargo-dependent internalization is critical to designing new, more effective CPPMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel M Sarapas
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Coralie M Backlund
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Brittany M deRonde
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Lisa M Minter
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Gregory N Tew
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
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14
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Greco CT, Muir VG, Epps TH, Sullivan MO. Efficient tuning of siRNA dose response by combining mixed polymer nanocarriers with simple kinetic modeling. Acta Biomater 2017; 50:407-416. [PMID: 28063990 PMCID: PMC5317101 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2017.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2016] [Revised: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Two of the most prominent challenges that limit the clinical success of siRNA therapies are a lack of control over cargo release from the delivery vehicle and an incomplete understanding of the link between gene silencing dynamics and siRNA dosing. Herein, we address these challenges through the formulation of siRNA polyplexes containing light-responsive polymer mixtures, whose varied compositions and triggered release behavior provide enhanced gene silencing and controlled dose responses that can be predicted by simple kinetic models. Through the straightforward mixing of two block copolymers, the level of gene knockdown was easily optimized to achieve the maximum level of GAPDH protein silencing in NIH/3T3 cells (~70%) using a single siRNA dose. The kinetic model was used to describe the dynamic changes in mRNA and protein concentrations in response to siRNA treatment. These predictions enabled the application of a second dose of siRNA to maximally suppress gene expression over multiple days, leading to a further 50% reduction in protein levels relative to those measured following a single dose. Furthermore, polyplexes remained dormant in cells until exposed to the photo-stimulus, demonstrating the complete control over siRNA activity as well as the stability of the nanocarriers. Thus, this work demonstrates that pairing advances in biomaterials design with simple kinetic modeling provides new insight into gene silencing dynamics and presents a powerful strategy to control gene expression through siRNA delivery. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Our manuscript describes two noteworthy impacts: (1) we designed mixed polymer formulations to enhance gene silencing, and (2) we simultaneously developed a simple kinetic model for determining optimal siRNA dose responses to maintain silencing over several days. These advances address critical challenges in siRNA delivery and provide new opportunities in therapeutics development. The structure-function relationships prevalent in these formulations were established to enable tuning and forecasting of nanocarrier efficiency a priori, leading to siRNA dosing regimens able to maximally suppress gene expression. Our advances are significant because the mixed polymer formulations provide a straightforward and scalable approach to tailor siRNA delivery regimens. Moreover, the implementation of accurate dosing frameworks addresses a major knowledge gap that has hindered clinical implementation of siRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad T Greco
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Victoria G Muir
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Thomas H Epps
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
| | - Millicent O Sullivan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
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15
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Jiang B, He H, Yao L, Zhang T, Huo J, Sun W, Yin L. Harmonizing the Intracellular Kinetics toward Effective Gene Delivery Using Cancer Cell-Targeted and Light-Degradable Polyplexes. Biomacromolecules 2017; 18:877-885. [PMID: 28165729 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.6b01774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Benchun Jiang
- Department
of General Surgery, Affiliated Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China
| | - Hua He
- Jiangsu
Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices,
Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Li Yao
- Department
of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Department
of General Surgery, Affiliated Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China
| | - Jianping Huo
- Department
of General Surgery, Affiliated Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China
| | - Wei Sun
- Department
of General Surgery, Affiliated Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China
| | - Lichen Yin
- Jiangsu
Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices,
Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
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16
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Posey ND, Caffrey LM, Minter LM, Tew GN. Protein Mimic Hydrophobicity Affects Intracellular Delivery but not Cargo Binding. ChemistrySelect 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.201601652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas D. Posey
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering; University of Massachusetts Amherst; Amherst MA 01003
| | - Leah M. Caffrey
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering; University of Massachusetts Amherst; Amherst MA 01003
| | - Lisa M. Minter
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences; University of Massachusetts Amherst; Amherst MA 01003
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program; University of Massachusetts Amherst; Amherst MA 01003
| | - Gregory N. Tew
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering; University of Massachusetts Amherst; Amherst MA 01003
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences; University of Massachusetts Amherst; Amherst MA 01003
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program; University of Massachusetts Amherst; Amherst MA 01003
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17
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Cole JP, Hanlon AM, Rodriguez KJ, Berda EB. Protein‐like structure and activity in synthetic polymers. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/pola.28378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Justin P. Cole
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of New Hampshire23 Academic WayDurham New Hampshire03824
| | - Ashley M. Hanlon
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of New Hampshire23 Academic WayDurham New Hampshire03824
| | - Kyle J. Rodriguez
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of New Hampshire23 Academic WayDurham New Hampshire03824
| | - Erik B. Berda
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of New Hampshire23 Academic WayDurham New Hampshire03824
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18
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Caffrey LM, deRonde BM, Minter LM, Tew GN. Mapping Optimal Charge Density and Length of ROMP-Based PTDMs for siRNA Internalization. Biomacromolecules 2016; 17:3205-3212. [PMID: 27599388 PMCID: PMC5094354 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.6b00900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
A fundamental understanding of how polymer structure impacts internalization and delivery of biologically relevant cargoes, particularly small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA), is of critical importance to the successful design of improved delivery reagents. Herein we report the use of ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) methods to synthesize two series of guanidinium-rich protein transduction domain mimics (PTDMs): one based on an imide scaffold that contains one guanidinium moiety per repeat unit, and another based on a diester scaffold that contains two guanidinium moieties per repeat unit. By varying both the degree of polymerization and, in effect, the relative number of cationic charges in each PTDM, the performances of the two ROMP backbones for siRNA internalization were evaluated and compared. Internalization of fluorescently labeled siRNA into Jurkat T cells demonstrated that fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-siRNA internalization had a charge content dependence, with PTDMs containing approximately 40 to 60 cationic charges facilitating the most internalization. Despite this charge content dependence, the imide scaffold yielded much lower viabilities in Jurkat T cells than the corresponding diester PTDMs with similar numbers of cationic charges, suggesting that the diester scaffold is preferred for siRNA internalization and delivery applications. These developments will not only improve our understanding of the structural factors necessary for optimal siRNA internalization, but will also guide the future development of optimized PTDMs for siRNA internalization and delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah M Caffrey
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, ‡Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, and §Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst , Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Brittany M deRonde
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, ‡Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, and §Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst , Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Lisa M Minter
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, ‡Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, and §Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst , Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Gregory N Tew
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, ‡Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, and §Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst , Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
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19
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Carlini A, Adamiak L, Gianneschi NC. Biosynthetic Polymers as Functional Materials. Macromolecules 2016; 49:4379-4394. [PMID: 27375299 PMCID: PMC4928144 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.6b00439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Revised: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The synthesis of functional polymers encoded with biomolecules has been an extensive area of research for decades. As such, a diverse toolbox of polymerization techniques and bioconjugation methods has been developed. The greatest impact of this work has been in biomedicine and biotechnology, where fully synthetic and naturally derived biomolecules are used cooperatively. Despite significant improvements in biocompatible and functionally diverse polymers, our success in the field is constrained by recognized limitations in polymer architecture control, structural dynamics, and biostabilization. This Perspective discusses the current status of functional biosynthetic polymers and highlights innovative strategies reported within the past five years that have made great strides in overcoming the aforementioned barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea
S. Carlini
- Department of Chemistry and
Biochemistry, University of California,
San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Lisa Adamiak
- Department of Chemistry and
Biochemistry, University of California,
San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Nathan C. Gianneschi
- Department of Chemistry and
Biochemistry, University of California,
San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
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deRonde BM, Posey ND, Otter R, Minter LM, Tew GN. Optimal Hydrophobicity in Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization-Based Protein Mimics Required for siRNA Internalization. Biomacromolecules 2016; 17:1969-77. [PMID: 27103189 PMCID: PMC4964964 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.6b00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Exploring the role of polymer structure for the internalization of biologically relevant cargo, specifically siRNA, is of critical importance to the development of improved delivery reagents. Herein, we report guanidinium-rich protein transduction domain mimics (PTDMs) based on a ring-opening metathesis polymerization scaffold containing tunable hydrophobic moieties that promote siRNA internalization. Structure-activity relationships using Jurkat T cells and HeLa cells were explored to determine how the length of the hydrophobic block and the hydrophobic side chain compositions of these PTDMs impacted siRNA internalization. To explore the hydrophobic block length, two different series of diblock copolymers were synthesized: one series with symmetric block lengths and one with asymmetric block lengths. At similar cationic block lengths, asymmetric and symmetric PTDMs promoted siRNA internalization in the same percentages of the cell population regardless of the hydrophobic block length; however, with 20 repeat units of cationic charge, the asymmetric block length had greater siRNA internalization, highlighting the nontrivial relationships between hydrophobicity and overall cationic charge. To further probe how the hydrophobic side chains impacted siRNA internalization, an additional series of asymmetric PTDMs was synthesized that featured a fixed hydrophobic block length of five repeat units that contained either dimethyl (dMe), methyl phenyl (MePh), or diphenyl (dPh) side chains and varied cationic block lengths. This series was further expanded to incorporate hydrophobic blocks consisting of diethyl (dEt), diisobutyl (diBu), and dicyclohexyl (dCy) based repeat units to better define the hydrophobic window for which our PTDMs had optimal activity. High-performance liquid chromatography retention times quantified the relative hydrophobicities of the noncationic building blocks. PTDMs containing the MePh, diBu, and dPh hydrophobic blocks were shown to have superior siRNA internalization capabilities compared to their more and less hydrophobic counterparts, demonstrating a critical window of relative hydrophobicity for optimal internalization. This better understanding of how hydrophobicity impacts PTDM-induced internalization efficiencies will help guide the development of future delivery reagents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany M. deRonde
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003
| | - Nicholas D. Posey
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003
| | - Ronja Otter
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003
| | - Lisa M. Minter
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003
| | - Gregory N. Tew
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003
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