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Moitra P, Skrodzki D, Molinaro M, Gunaseelan N, Sar D, Aditya T, Dahal D, Ray P, Pan D. Context-Responsive Nanoparticle Derived from Synthetic Zwitterionic Ionizable Phospholipids in Targeted CRISPR/Cas9 Therapy for Basal-like Breast Cancer. ACS NANO 2024; 18:9199-9220. [PMID: 38466962 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c01400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
The majority of triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are basal-like breast cancers (BLBCs), which tend to be more aggressive, proliferate rapidly, and have poor clinical outcomes. A key prognostic biomarker and regulator of BLBC is the Forkhead box C1 (FOXC1) transcription factor. However, because of its functional placement inside the cell nucleus and its structural similarity with other related proteins, targeting FOXC1 for therapeutic benefit, particularly for BLBC, continues to be difficult. We envision targeted nonviral delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 plasmid toward the efficacious knockdown of FOXC1. Keeping in mind the challenges associated with the use of CRISPR/Cas9 in vivo, including off-targeting modifications, and effective release of the cargo, a nanoparticle with context responsive properties can be designed for efficient targeted delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 plasmid. Consequently, we have designed, synthesized, and characterized a zwitterionic amino phospholipid-derived transfecting nanoparticle for delivery of CRISPR/Cas9. The construct becomes positively charged only at low pH, which encourages membrane instability and makes it easier for nanoparticles to exit endosomes. This has enabled effective in vitro and in vivo downregulation of protein expression and genome editing. Following this, we have used EpCAM aptamer to make the system targeted toward BLBC cell lines and to reduce its off-target toxicity. The in vivo efficacy, biodistribution, preliminary pharmacokinetics, and biosafety of the optimized targeted CRISPR nanoplatform is then validated in a rodent xenograft model. Overall, we have attempted to knockout the proto-oncogenic FOXC1 expression in BLBC cases by efficient delivery of CRISPR effectors via a context-responsive nanoparticle delivery system derived from a designer lipid derivative. We believe that the nonviral approach for in vitro and in vivo delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 targeted toward FOXC1, studied herein, will greatly emphasize the therapeutic regimen for BLBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parikshit Moitra
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Centre of Blood Oxygen Transport & Hemostasis, University of Maryland-Baltimore School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - David Skrodzki
- Department of Pediatrics, Centre of Blood Oxygen Transport & Hemostasis, University of Maryland-Baltimore School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Matthew Molinaro
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Nivetha Gunaseelan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Dinabandhu Sar
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Teresa Aditya
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Dipendra Dahal
- Department of Pediatrics, Centre of Blood Oxygen Transport & Hemostasis, University of Maryland-Baltimore School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Priyanka Ray
- Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, Baltimore County, Maryland 21250, United States
| | - Dipanjan Pan
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Centre of Blood Oxygen Transport & Hemostasis, University of Maryland-Baltimore School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, Baltimore County, Maryland 21250, United States
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, 101 Huck Life Sciences Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
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Moitra P, Misra SK, Kumar K, Kondaiah P, Tran P, Duan W, Bhattacharya S. Cancer Stem Cell-Targeted Gene Delivery Mediated by Aptamer-Decorated pH-Sensitive Nanoliposomes. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021; 7:2508-2519. [PMID: 33871960 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c00110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
A new pH-responsive cationic co-liposomal formulation was prepared in this study using the twin version of the amphiphile palmitoyl homocysteine, TPHC; natural zwitterionic lipid, DOPE; and cholesterol-based twin cationic lipid, C5C, at specified molar ratios. This co-liposome was further decorated with a newly designed fluorescently tagged, cholesterol-tethered EpCAM-targeting RNA aptamer for targeted gene delivery. This aptamer-guided nanoliposomal formulation, C5C/DOPE/TPHC at 8:24:1 molar ratio, could efficiently transport the genes in response to low pH of cellular endosomes selectively to the EpCAM overexpressing cancer stem cells. This particular observation was extended using siRNA against GFP to validate their transfection capabilities in response to EpCAM expression. Overall, the aptamer-guided nanoliposomal formulation was found to be an excellent transfectant for in vitro siRNA gene delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parikshit Moitra
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Blood Oxygen Transport and Hemostasis, School of Medicine, Health Sciences Facility III, University of Maryland Baltimore, 670 W Baltimore Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States.,Technical Research Centre, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Santosh K Misra
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Krishan Kumar
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Paturu Kondaiah
- Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Phuong Tran
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - Wei Duan
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - Santanu Bhattacharya
- Technical Research Centre, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata 700032, India.,Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.,School of Applied and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata 700032, India
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