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Sun Y, Jiang L, Zhang Z, Xu N, Jiang Y, Tan C. Conjugated Polyelectrolyte/Single Strand DNA Hybrid Polyplexes for Efficient Nucleic Acid Delivery and Targeted Protein Degradation. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023. [PMID: 38108633 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c14640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid-based therapeutics have gained increasing attention due to their ability to regulate various genetic disorders. However, the safe and effective delivery of nucleic acids to their intended cellular sites remains a challenge, primarily due to poor cell membrane permeation and low in vivo stability. Limitations associated with the commonly used nucleic acid delivering agent viral vectors such as carcinogenesis and immunogenicity have driven scientists to develop various nonviral vectors. In this study, we present a highly efficient nucleic acid delivery system based on cationic conjugated polyelectrolytes and single-strand DNA polyplexes with further application in efficient ubiquitin-regulated targeting protein degradation. These polyplexes, formed by 9TC, an aptamer sequence for estrogen receptor (ERα), and cationic PPET3N2 through electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, demonstrate improved cellular uptake efficiency as well as enhanced stability against nuclease degradation. Furthermore, by incorporation of 9TC into a proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) molecule (P9TC), PPET3N2/P9TC polyplexes significantly enhance the target protein ERα degradation efficiency. Collectively, our findings suggest that PPET3N2 provides a versatile, low cytotoxicity platform for safe, efficient, and simplified delivery of nucleic acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanjie Sun
- The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Jiang
- State Assets Management Office, Shenzhen Polytechnic University, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhilin Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Naihan Xu
- The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
- School of Food and Drug, Shenzhen Polytechnic University, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuyang Jiang
- The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunyan Tan
- The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
- Open FIESTA, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
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Casper J, Schenk SH, Parhizkar E, Detampel P, Dehshahri A, Huwyler J. Polyethylenimine (PEI) in gene therapy: Current status and clinical applications. J Control Release 2023; 362:667-691. [PMID: 37666302 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Polyethlyenimine (PEI) was introduced 1995 as a cationic polymer for nucleic acid delivery. PEI and its derivatives are extensively used in basic research and as reference formulations in the field of polymer-based gene delivery. Despite its widespread use, the number of clinical applications to date is limited. Thus, this review aims to consolidate the past applications of PEI in DNA delivery, elucidate the obstacles that hinder its transition to clinical use, and highlight potential prospects for novel iterations of PEI derivatives. The present review article is divided into three sections. The first section examines the mechanism of action employed by PEI, examining fundamental aspects of cellular delivery including uptake mechanisms, release from endosomes, and transport into the cell nucleus, along with potential strategies for enhancing these delivery phases. Moreover, an in-depth analysis is conducted concerning the mechanism underlying cellular toxicity, accompanied with approaches to overcome this major challenge. The second part is devoted to the in vivo performance of PEI and its application in various therapeutic indications. While systemic administration has proven to be challenging, alternative localized delivery routes hold promise, such as treatment of solid tumors, application as a vaccine, or serving as a therapeutic agent for pulmonary delivery. In the last section, the outcome of completed and ongoing clinical trials is summarized. Finally, an expert opinion is provided on the potential of PEI and its future applications. PEI-based formulations for nucleic acid delivery have a promising potential, it will be an important task for the years to come to introduce innovations that address PEI-associated shortcomings by introducing well-designed PEI formulations in combination with an appropriate route of administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Casper
- Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Susanne H Schenk
- Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Elahehnaz Parhizkar
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Pascal Detampel
- Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ali Dehshahri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Jörg Huwyler
- Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
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Song G, Lv F, Huang Y, Bai H, Wang S. Conjugated Polymers for Gene Delivery and Photothermal Gene Expression. Chempluschem 2022; 87:e202200073. [DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202200073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gang Song
- Institute of Chemistry CAS: Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Organic Solids CHINA
| | - Fengting Lv
- Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Zhongguancun North First Street 2 CHINA
| | - Yiming Huang
- Institute of Chemistry CAS: Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Organic Solids CHINA
| | - Haotian Bai
- Institute of Chemistry CAS: Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Organic Solids CHINA
| | - Shu Wang
- Institute of Chemistry CAS: Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Organic Solids CHINA
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Gao C, Li Z, Zou J, Cheng J, Jiang K, Liu C, Gu G, Tao W, Song J. Mechanical Effect on Gene Transfection Based on Dielectric Elastomer Actuator. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2020; 3:2617-2625. [PMID: 35025395 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.9b01199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Gene transfection has been widely applied in genome function and gene therapy. Although many efforts have been focused on designing carrier materials and transfection methods, the influence of mechanical stimulation on gene transfection efficiency has rarely been studied. Herein, dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA)-based stimulation bioreactors are designed to generate tensile and contractile stress on cells simultaneously. With the example of the EGFP transfection, cells with high membrane tension in the stretching stimulation regions had lower transfection efficiency, while the transfection efficiency of cells in the compressing regions tended to increase. Besides, the duty cycle and loading frequency of the applied stress on cells were also important factors that affect gene transfection efficiency. Furthermore, the pathways of cell endocytosis with the effect of mechanical stimulation were explored on the mechanism for the change of EGFP transfection efficiency. This design of the DEA-based bioreactor, as a strategy to study gene transfection efficiency, could be helpful for developing efficient transfection methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Gao
- Institute of Nano Biomedicine and Engineering, Department of Instrument Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhichao Li
- Institute of Nano Biomedicine and Engineering, Department of Instrument Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiang Zou
- Robotics Institute, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin Cheng
- Institute of Nano Biomedicine and Engineering, Department of Instrument Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Kai Jiang
- Institute of Nano Biomedicine and Engineering, Department of Instrument Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Changrun Liu
- Institute of Nano Biomedicine and Engineering, Department of Instrument Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoying Gu
- Robotics Institute, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Tao
- Institute of Nano Biomedicine and Engineering, Department of Instrument Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Song
- Institute of Nano Biomedicine and Engineering, Department of Instrument Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China.,Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine (ICBM), Chinese Academy of Sciences; The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, People's Republic of China
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Zhu S, Wang X, Li S, Liu L, Li L. Near-Infrared-Light-Assisted in Situ Reduction of Antimicrobial Peptide-Protected Gold Nanoclusters for Stepwise Killing of Bacteria and Cancer Cells. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:11063-11071. [PMID: 32027113 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c00310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Biomolecule-protected gold nanostructures show good performance in biomedical applications. However, precise control over gold nanocluster (AuNC) preparation with biomolecules remains challenging. Here, we develop a simple near-infrared (NIR)-light-assisted method for in situ reduction of antimicrobial peptide (AMP)-protected AuNCs. Take advantage of the high photothermal conversion efficiency of the conjugated polymer (CP) upon NIR light irradiation, we promote the rapid reduction of AuNCs by the AMP on the surface of the CP. The fluorescent properties of the AuNCs were improved owing to the formation of a unique Au(0)NC@Au(I)AMP core-shell nanostructure. This nanostructure is attributed to the rapid reduction of Au(0) and collision and fusion of Au(0) at high temperatures. Integrating antibacterial AMPs, fluorescent AuNCs, and photothermal CPs, the composites facilitated different killing mechanisms for both bacteria and cancer cells. This material system provides an all-in-one strategy for the stepwise killing of cancer cells and bacterial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuxian Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, P. R. China
| | - Shengliang Li
- Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films, Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, P. R. China
| | - Lu Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, P. R. China
| | - Lidong Li
- State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, P. R. China
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Wang QB, Zhang CJ, Yu H, Zhang X, Lu Q, Yao JS, Zhao H. The sensitive “Turn-on” fluorescence platform of ascorbic acid based on conjugated polymer nanoparticles. Anal Chim Acta 2020; 1097:153-160. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2019.10.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2019] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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7
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Peng R, Luo Y, Cui Q, Wang J, Li L. Near-Infrared Conjugated Oligomer for Effective Killing of Bacterial through Combination of Photodynamic and Photothermal Treatment. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2020; 3:1305-1311. [DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.9b01242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rui Peng
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yufeng Luo
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Qianling Cui
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Jun Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Lidong Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
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Kamra M, Moitra P, Ponnalagu D, Karande AA, Bhattacharya S. New Water-Soluble Oxyamino Chitosans as Biocompatible Vectors for Efficacious Anticancer Therapy via Co-Delivery of Gene and Drug. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:37442-37460. [PMID: 31434476 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b09485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Among the many nonviral gene delivery vectors, chitosan, being a polysaccharide of natural origin, has gained special importance. In this report, chitosan (CS) has been solubilized in water by preparing its O-carboxymethyl derivative, CS(CH2COOH), with an optimum degree of carboxymethylation. This has been further derivatized to get the pyridine-substituted product (py)CS(CH2COOH), where the degree of pyridine substitution (47%) was optimized based on zeta potential measurements. The optimized formulation showed a high gene binding ability, forming nanosized positively charged polyelectrolyte complexes with DNA. These polyplexes were stable to DNase and physiological polyanions such as heparin. They also exhibited minimal toxicity in vitro and showed transfection levels comparable to the commercial standard Lipofectamine 2000 and much higher than polyethylenimine (MW, 25 kDa). Additionally, in this study, a hitherto unknown oxyamine derivative of chitosan has been prepared by phthaloyl protection, tosylation, and Gabriel's phthalimide synthesis. Nearly 40% of the primary alcohols were successfully converted to oxyamino functionality, which was used for forming oxime with the anticancer drug doxorubicin. The pH sensitivity of the oxime ether linkage and stability under biologically relevant conditions were then used to establish the compound as a versatile drug delivery vector. Co-delivery of functional gene (p53) and drug (doxorubicin) was accomplished in vitro and in vivo with the chitosan-pyridine imine vector (py)CS(CH2COOH) and the newly synthesized doxorubicin oxime ether CS(Dox). Complete tumor regression with no tumor recurrence and appreciable survivability point to the in vivo effectiveness and biocompatibility of the designed composite formulation. Overall, the pH sensitivity of the oxime linkage aiding slow and steady drug release, together with the sustained gene expression by pyridine-tethered carboxymethyl chitosan, allows us to generate a nanobiocomposite with significantly high anticancer therapeutic potential.
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Ji J, Wu T, Zhang Y, Feng F. Light-Controlled in Vitro Gene Delivery Using Polymer-Tethered Spiropyran as a Photoswitchable Photosensitizer. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:15222-15232. [PMID: 30950602 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b22505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A gene delivery system using spiropyran as a photoswitchable photosensitizer for the controlled photochemical internalization effect was developed by engineering the outer coating of a polyethylenimine/DNA complex with a small amount of spiropyran-containing cationic copolymers. The successful binding of cationic polymers by the polyethylenimine coating was detected by the distance-sensitive fluorescence resonance energy-transfer technique that evidenced the occurrence of energy transfer between fluorescein-labeled cationic copolymers and polyethylenimine-condensed rhodamine-labeled DNA. The ternary polyplexes feature reversible controllability of singlet oxygen generation based on the dual effect of spiropyrans in photochromism and aggregation-induced enhanced photosensitization, allowing significant light-induced amplification of bPEI-mediated in vitro transgene efficiency (from original 15% to final 91%) at a low DNA dose, with the integrity of supercoiled DNA structure unaffected. The use of spiropyran without the need of other photosensitizers circumvents the issue of uncontrolled long-lasting photocytotoxicity in gene delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinkai Ji
- Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210023 , P. R. China
| | - Tiantian Wu
- Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210023 , P. R. China
| | - Yajie Zhang
- College of Life Science and Chemistry, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biological Functional Molecules , Jiangsu Second Normal University , Nanjing 210013 , P. R. China
| | - Fude Feng
- Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210023 , P. R. China
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Yang Y, Wang X, Hu X, Kawazoe N, Yang Y, Chen G. Influence of Cell Morphology on Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transfection. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:1932-1941. [PMID: 30571082 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b20490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Gene transfection has broad applications in bioengineering and biomedical fields. Although many gene carrier materials and transfection methods have been developed, it remains unclear how cell morphology including cell spreading and elongation affects gene transfection. In this study, human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were cultured on micropatterns and transfected with cationic pAcGFP1-N1 plasmid complexes. The relationship between the cell morphology of hMSCs and gene transfection was investigated using micropatterning techniques. Spreading and elongation of hMSCs were precisely controlled by micropatterned surfaces. The results showed that well-spread and elongated hMSCs had high transfection efficiency. Analysis of the uptake of exogenous genes and DNA synthesis activity indicated that the well-spread and elongated cell morphology promoted gene transfection through enhanced uptake of the cationic complexes and accelerated DNA synthesis. The results should provide useful information for understanding of cell morphology on gene transfection and development of efficient gene transfection methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjun Yang
- Research Center for Functional Materials , National Institute for Materials Science , 1-1 Namiki , Tsukuba , Ibaraki 305-0044 , Japan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences , University of Tsukuba , 1-1-1 Tennodai , Tsukuba , Ibaraki 305-8577 , Japan
| | - Xinlong Wang
- Research Center for Functional Materials , National Institute for Materials Science , 1-1 Namiki , Tsukuba , Ibaraki 305-0044 , Japan
| | - Xiaohong Hu
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Science , University of Tsukuba , 1-1-1 Tennodai , Tsukuba , Ibaraki 305-8571 , Japan
| | - Naoki Kawazoe
- Research Center for Functional Materials , National Institute for Materials Science , 1-1 Namiki , Tsukuba , Ibaraki 305-0044 , Japan
| | - Yingnan Yang
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Science , University of Tsukuba , 1-1-1 Tennodai , Tsukuba , Ibaraki 305-8571 , Japan
| | - Guoping Chen
- Research Center for Functional Materials , National Institute for Materials Science , 1-1 Namiki , Tsukuba , Ibaraki 305-0044 , Japan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences , University of Tsukuba , 1-1-1 Tennodai , Tsukuba , Ibaraki 305-8577 , Japan
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