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Moccia M, Pascucci B, Saviano M, Cerasa MT, Terzidis MA, Chatgilialoglu C, Masi A. Advances in Nucleic Acid Research: Exploring the Potential of Oligonucleotides for Therapeutic Applications and Biological Studies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:146. [PMID: 38203317 PMCID: PMC10778772 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010146] [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: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, nucleic acids have emerged as powerful biomaterials, revolutionizing the field of biomedicine. This review explores the multifaceted applications of nucleic acids, focusing on their pivotal role in various biomedical applications. Nucleic acids, including deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), possess unique properties such as molecular recognition ability, programmability, and ease of synthesis, making them versatile tools in biosensing and for gene regulation, drug delivery, and targeted therapy. Their compatibility with chemical modifications enhances their binding affinity and resistance to degradation, elevating their effectiveness in targeted applications. Additionally, nucleic acids have found utility as self-assembling building blocks, leading to the creation of nanostructures whose high order underpins their enhanced biological stability and affects the cellular uptake efficiency. Furthermore, this review delves into the significant role of oligonucleotides (ODNs) as indispensable tools for biological studies and biomarker discovery. ODNs, short sequences of nucleic acids, have been instrumental in unraveling complex biological mechanisms. They serve as probes for studying gene expression, protein interactions, and cellular pathways, providing invaluable insights into fundamental biological processes. By examining the synergistic interplay between nucleic acids as powerful biomaterials and ODNs as indispensable tools for biological studies and biomarkers, this review highlights the transformative impact of these molecules on biomedical research. Their versatile applications not only deepen our understanding of biological systems but also are the driving force for innovation in diagnostics and therapeutics, ultimately advancing the field of biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Moccia
- Istituto di Cristallografia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Strada Provinciale 35d, n. 9, 00010 Montelibretti, Italy; (M.M.); (B.P.)
| | - Barbara Pascucci
- Istituto di Cristallografia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Strada Provinciale 35d, n. 9, 00010 Montelibretti, Italy; (M.M.); (B.P.)
| | - Michele Saviano
- Istituto di Cristallografia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, URT Caserta, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy;
| | - Maria Teresa Cerasa
- Istituto di Cristallografia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Giovanni Amendola 122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy;
| | - Michael A. Terzidis
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Sindos Campus, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Chryssostomos Chatgilialoglu
- Istituto per la Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 40129 Bologna, Italy;
- Center of Advanced Technologies, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-712 Poznań, Poland
| | - Annalisa Masi
- Istituto di Cristallografia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Strada Provinciale 35d, n. 9, 00010 Montelibretti, Italy; (M.M.); (B.P.)
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El-Aziz SMA, Faraag AHI, Ibrahim AM, Albrakati A, Bakkar MR. Tyrosinase enzyme purification and immobilization from Pseudomonas sp. EG22 using cellulose coated magnetic nanoparticles: characterization and application in melanin production. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 40:10. [PMID: 37947912 PMCID: PMC10638195 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-023-03796-w] [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: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Melanin is a brown-black pigment with significant roles in various biological processes. The tyrosinase enzyme catalyzes the conversion of tyrosine to melanin and has promising uses in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. This research aims to purify and immobilize the tyrosinase enzyme from Pseudomonas sp. EG22 using cellulose-coated magnetic nanoparticles. Various techniques were utilized to examine the synthesized nanoparticles, which exhibited a spherical shape with an average diameter of 12 nm and a negative surface potential of - 55.7 mV with a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.260. Comparing the immobilized magnetic tyrosinase enzyme with the free enzyme, the study's findings showed that the immobilized tyrosinase enzyme had optimal activity at a pH of 6 and a temperature of 35 °C, and its activity increased as the concentration of tyrosine increased. The study investigated the antibacterial and anticancer bioactivity of the enzyme's melanin product and found that it exhibited potential antibacterial activity against a multi-drug resistant strain including S. aureus and E. coli. The produced melanin also demonstrated the potential to decrease cell survival and induce apoptosis in initiation cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ahmed Hassan Ibrahim Faraag
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.
- School of Biotechnology, Badr University in Cairo, Badr City, Cairo, 11829, Egypt.
| | | | - Ashraf Albrakati
- Department of Human Anatomy, College of Medicine, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Marwa Reda Bakkar
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt
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3
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Franck CO, Bistrovic Popov A, Ahmed I, Hewitt RE, Franslau L, Tyagi P, Fruk L. A catch-and-release nano-based gene delivery system. NANOSCALE HORIZONS 2023; 8:1588-1594. [PMID: 37691551 DOI: 10.1039/d3nh00269a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
The design of nanomaterial-based nucleic acid formulations is one of the biggest endeavours in the search for clinically applicable gene delivery systems. Biopolymers represent a promising subclass of gene carriers due to their physicochemical properties, biodegradability and biocompatibility. By modifying melanin-like polydopamine nanoparticles with poly-L-arginine and poly-L-histidine blends, we obtained a novel catch-and-release gene delivery system for efficient trafficking of pDNA to human cells. A synergistic interplay of nanoparticle-bound poly-L-arginine and poly-L-histidine was observed and evaluated for pDNA binding affinity, cell viability, gene release and transfection. Although the functionalisation with poly-L-arginine was crucial for pDNA binding, the resulting nanocarriers failed to release pDNA intracellularly, resulting in limited protein expression. However, optimal pDNA release was achieved through the co-formulation with poly-L-histidine, essential for pDNA release. This effect enabled the design of gene delivery systems, which were comparable to Lipofectamine in terms of transfection efficacy and the catch-and-release surface modification strategy can be translated to other nanocarriers and surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph O Franck
- BioNano Engineering Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge CB3 0AS, UK.
| | - Andrea Bistrovic Popov
- BioNano Engineering Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge CB3 0AS, UK.
| | - Ishtiaq Ahmed
- BioNano Engineering Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge CB3 0AS, UK.
| | - Rachel E Hewitt
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Rd, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Luise Franslau
- Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Tammanstraße 6, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Puneet Tyagi
- AstraZeneca, One MedImmune Way, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA
| | - Ljiljana Fruk
- BioNano Engineering Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge CB3 0AS, UK.
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Dhuri K, Duran T, Chaudhuri B, Slack FJ, Vikram A, Glazer PM, Bahal R. Head-to-head comparison of in vitro and in vivo efficacy of pHLIP-conjugated anti-seed gamma peptide nucleic acids. CELL REPORTS. PHYSICAL SCIENCE 2023; 4:101584. [PMID: 38144419 PMCID: PMC10745205 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2023.101584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Gamma peptide nucleic acids (γPNAs) have recently garnered attention in diverse therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Serine and diethylene-glycol-containing γPNAs have been tested for numerous RNA-targeting purposes. Here, we comprehensively evaluated the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of pH-low insertion peptide (pHLIP)-conjugated serine and diethylene-based γPNAs. pHLIP targets only the acidic tumor microenvironment and not the normal cells. We synthesized and parallelly tested pHLIP-serine γPNAs and pHLIP-diethylene glycol γPNAs that target the seed region of microRNA-155, a microRNA that is upregulated in various cancers. We performed an all-atom molecular dynamics simulation-based computational study to elucidate the interaction of pHLIP-γPNA constructs with the lipid bilayer. We also determined the biodistribution and efficacy of the pHLIP constructs in the U2932-derived xenograft model. Overall, we established that the pHLIP-serine γPNAs show superior results in vivo compared with the pHLIP-diethylene glycol-based γPNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karishma Dhuri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Tibo Duran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Bodhisattwa Chaudhuri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Frank J. Slack
- HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Department of Pathology, BIDMC Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Ajit Vikram
- Department of Internal Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Peter M. Glazer
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Raman Bahal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
- Lead contact
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5
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Kasina V, Wahane A, Liu CH, Yang L, Nieh MP, Slack FJ, Bahal R. Next-generation poly-L-histidine formulations for miRNA mimic delivery. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 29:271-283. [PMID: 37123088 PMCID: PMC10133875 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Many diseases, especially cancer, are caused by the abnormal expression of non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs), which regulate gene expression, leading to the development of miRNA-based therapeutics. Synthetic miRNA inhibitors have shown promising efficacy in blocking the activity of aberrant miRNAs that are upregulated in disease-specific pathologies. On the other hand, miRNAs that aid in preventing certain diseases and are reduced in expression in the disease state need different strategies. To tackle this, miRNA mimics, which mimic the activity of endogenous miRNAs, can be delivered for those miRNAs downregulated in different disease states. However, the delivery of miRNA mimics remains a challenge. Here, we report a cationic polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)-poly-L-histidine delivery system to deliver miRNA mimics. We chose miR-34a mimics as a proof of concept for miRNA delivery. miR-34a-loaded PLGA-poly-L-histidine nanoparticles (NPs) were formulated and biophysically characterized to analyze the structural properties of miRNA mimic-loaded NPs. In vitro efficacy was determined by investigating miR-34a and downstream target levels and performing cell viability and apoptosis assays. We confirmed in vivo efficacy through prolonged survival of miR-34a NP-treated A549-derived xenograft mice treated intratumorally. The results of these studies establish PLGA-poly-L-histidine NPs as an effective delivery system for miRNA mimics for treating diseases characterized by downregulated miRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishal Kasina
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Aniket Wahane
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Chung-Hao Liu
- Polymer Program, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Lin Yang
- National Synchrotron Light Source II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA
| | - Mu-Ping Nieh
- Polymer Program, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Frank J. Slack
- Department of Pathology, HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, BIDMC Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Raman Bahal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
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Kumar V, Wahane A, Gupta A, Manautou JE, Bahal R. Multivalent Lactobionic Acid and N-Acetylgalactosamine-Conjugated Peptide Nucleic Acids for Efficient In Vivo Targeting of Hepatocytes. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2202859. [PMID: 36636995 PMCID: PMC10175146 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202202859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are used/applied in various studies to target genomic DNA and RNA to modulate gene expression. Non-specific targeting and rapid elimination always remain a challenge for PNA-based applications. Here, the synthesis, characterization, in vitro and in vivo study of di lactobionic acid (diLBA) and tris N-acetyl galactosamine (tGalNAc) conjugated PNAs for liver-targeted delivery are reported. For proof of concept, diLBA, and tGalNAc conjugated PNAs (anti-miR-122 PNAs) were synthesized to target microRNA-122 (miR-122) which is over-expressed in the hepatic tissue. Different lengths of anti-miR-122 PNAs conjugated with diLBA and tGalNAc are tested. Cell culture and in vivo analyses to determine biodistribution, efficacy, and toxicity profile are performed. This work indicates that diLBA conjugates show significant retention in hepatocytes in addition to tGalNAc conjugates after in vivo delivery. Full-length PNA conjugates show significant downregulation of miR-122 levels and subsequent de-repression of its downstream targets with no evidence of toxicity. The results provide a robust framework for ligand-conjugated delivery systems for PNAs that can be explored for broader biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
| | - Aniket Wahane
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
| | - Anisha Gupta
- School of Pharmacy, University of Saint Joseph, West Hartford, CT, 06117, USA
| | - José E Manautou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
| | - Raman Bahal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
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7
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Pradeep SP, Malik S, Slack FJ, Bahal R. Unlocking the potential of chemically modified peptide nucleic acids for RNA-based therapeutics. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 29:434-445. [PMID: 36653113 PMCID: PMC10019372 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079498.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
RNA therapeutics have emerged as next-generation therapy for the treatment of many diseases. Unlike small molecules, RNA targeted drugs are not limited by the availability of binding pockets on the protein, but rather utilize Watson-Crick (WC) base-pairing rules to recognize the target RNA and modulate gene expression. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) present a powerful therapeutic approach to treat disorders triggered by genetic alterations. ASOs recognize the cognate site on the target RNA to alter gene expression. Nine single-stranded ASOs have been approved for clinical use and several candidates are in late-stage clinical trials for both rare and common diseases. Several chemical modifications, including phosphorothioates, locked nucleic acid, phosphorodiamidate, morpholino, and peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), have been investigated for efficient RNA targeting. PNAs are synthetic DNA mimics where the deoxyribose phosphate backbone is replaced by N-(2-aminoethyl)-glycine units. The neutral pseudopeptide backbone of PNAs contributes to enhanced binding affinity and high biological stability. PNAs hybridize with the complementary site in the target RNA and act by a steric hindrance--based mechanism. In the last three decades, various PNA designs, chemical modifications, and delivery strategies have been explored to demonstrate their potential as an effective and safe RNA-targeting platform. This review covers the advances in PNA-mediated targeting of coding and noncoding RNAs for a myriad of therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Pallavi Pradeep
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA
| | - Shipra Malik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA
| | - Frank J Slack
- HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Raman Bahal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA
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Rojas-Pirela M, Kemmerling U, Quiñones W, Michels PAM, Rojas V. Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs): Potential Therapeutic Strategy against Trypanosomiases? Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13040599. [PMID: 37189347 DOI: 10.3390/biom13040599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomiases are a group of tropical diseases that have devastating health and socio-economic effects worldwide. In humans, these diseases are caused by the pathogenic kinetoplastids Trypanosoma brucei, causing African trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness, and Trypanosoma cruzi, causing American trypanosomiasis or Chagas disease. Currently, these diseases lack effective treatment. This is attributed to the high toxicity and limited trypanocidal activity of registered drugs, as well as resistance development and difficulties in their administration. All this has prompted the search for new compounds that can serve as the basis for the development of treatment of these diseases. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small peptides synthesized by both prokaryotes and (unicellular and multicellular) eukaryotes, where they fulfill functions related to competition strategy with other organisms and immune defense. These AMPs can bind and induce perturbation in cell membranes, leading to permeation of molecules, alteration of morphology, disruption of cellular homeostasis, and activation of cell death. These peptides have activity against various pathogenic microorganisms, including parasitic protists. Therefore, they are being considered for new therapeutic strategies to treat some parasitic diseases. In this review, we analyze AMPs as therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of trypanosomiases, emphasizing their possible application as possible candidates for the development of future natural anti-trypanosome drugs.
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9
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Imtiyaz Z, He J, Leng Q, Agrawal AK, Mixson AJ. pH-Sensitive Targeting of Tumors with Chemotherapy-Laden Nanoparticles: Progress and Challenges. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14112427. [PMID: 36365245 PMCID: PMC9692785 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14112427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating chemotherapeutic drugs such as doxorubicin within a tumor while limiting the drug dose to normal tissues is a central goal of drug delivery with nanoparticles. Liposomal products such as Doxil® represent one of the marked successes of nanoparticle-based strategies. To replicate this success for cancer treatment, many approaches with nanoparticles are being explored in order to direct and release chemotherapeutic agents to achieve higher accumulation in tumors. A promising approach has been stimulus-based therapy, such as the release of chemotherapeutic agents from the nanoparticles in the acidic environments of the tumor matrix or the tumor endosomes. Upon reaching the acidic environments of the tumor, the particles, which are made up of pH-dependent polymers, become charged and release the entrapped chemotherapy agents. This review discusses recent advances in and prospects for pH-dependent histidine-based nanoparticles that deliver chemotherapeutic agents to tumors. The strategies used by investigators include an array of histidine-containing peptides and polymers which form micelles, mixed micelles, nanovesicles, polyplexes, and coat particles. To date, several promising histidine-based nanoparticles have been demonstrated to produce marked inhibition of tumor growth, but challenges remain for successful outcomes in clinical trials. The lessons learned from these histidine-containing particles will provide insight in the development of improved pH-dependent polymeric delivery systems for chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuha Imtiyaz
- Department of Pathology, University Maryland School of Medicine, 10 S. Pine St., University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Jiaxi He
- 20511 Seneca Meadows Pkwy, Suite 260, RNAimmune, Germantown, MD 20876, USA
| | - Qixin Leng
- Department of Pathology, University Maryland School of Medicine, 10 S. Pine St., University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Atul K. Agrawal
- Department of Pathology, University Maryland School of Medicine, 10 S. Pine St., University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - A. James Mixson
- Department of Pathology, University Maryland School of Medicine, 10 S. Pine St., University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-410-706-3223; Fax: +1-410-706-8414
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Faizullin B, Gubaidullin A, Gerasimova T, Kashnik I, Brylev K, Kholin K, Nizameev I, Voloshina A, Sibgatullina G, Samigullin D, Petrov K, Musina E, Karasik A, Mustafina A. “Proton sponge” effect and apoptotic cell death mechanism of Ag -Re6 nanocrystallites derived from the assembly of [{Re6S8}(OH)6–(H2O) ]4 with Ag+ ions. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.129312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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11
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Zhang Y, Kim I, Lu Y, Xu Y, Yu DG, Song W. Intelligent poly(l-histidine)-based nanovehicles for controlled drug delivery. J Control Release 2022; 349:963-982. [PMID: 35944751 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems based on polymeric nanovehicles are among the most promising treatment regimens for malignant cancers. Such intelligent systems that release payloads in response to the physiological characteristics of tumor sites have several advantages over conventional drug carriers, offering, in particular, enhanced therapeutic effects and decreased toxicity. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is acidic, suggesting the potential of pH-responsive nanovehicles for enhancing treatment specificity and efficacy. The synthetic polypeptide poly(l-histidine) (PLH) is an appropriate candidate for the preparation of pH-responsive nanovehicles because the pKa of PLH (approximately 6.0) is close to the pH of the acidic TME. In addition, the pendent imidazole rings of PLH yield pH-dependent hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic phase transitions in the acidic TME, triggering the destabilization of nanovehicles and the subsequent release of encapsulated chemotherapeutic agents. Herein, we highlight the state-of-the-art design and construction of pH-responsive nanovehicles based on PLH and discuss the future challenges and perspectives of this fascinating biomaterial for targeted cancer treatment and "benchtop-to-clinic" translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai 201318, PR China.
| | - Il Kim
- School of Chemical Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yiming Lu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai 201318, PR China
| | - Yixin Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai 201318, PR China
| | - Deng-Guang Yu
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, PR China.
| | - Wenliang Song
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, PR China.
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12
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The Challenges and Opportunities in the Development of MicroRNA Therapeutics: A Multidisciplinary Viewpoint. Cells 2021; 10:cells10113097. [PMID: 34831320 PMCID: PMC8619171 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
microRNAs (miRs) are emerging as attractive therapeutic targets because of their small size, specific targetability, and critical role in disease pathogenesis. However, <20 miR targeting molecules have entered clinical trials, and none progressed to phase III. The difficulties in miR target identification, the moderate efficacy of miR inhibitors, cell type-specific delivery, and adverse outcomes have impeded the development of miR therapeutics. These hurdles are rooted in the functional complexity of miR's role in disease and sequence complementarity-dependent/-independent effects in nontarget tissues. The advances in understanding miR's role in disease, the development of efficient miR inhibitors, and innovative delivery approaches have helped resolve some of these hurdles. In this review, we provide a multidisciplinary viewpoint on the challenges and opportunities in the development of miR therapeutics.
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