1
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Yu L, Chen L, Satyabola D, Prasad A, Yan H. NucleoCraft: The Art of Stimuli-Responsive Precision in DNA and RNA Bioengineering. BME FRONTIERS 2024; 5:0050. [PMID: 39290204 PMCID: PMC11407293 DOI: 10.34133/bmef.0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent advancements in DNA and RNA bioengineering have paved the way for developing stimuli-responsive nanostructures with remarkable potential across various applications. These nanostructures, crafted through sophisticated bioengineering techniques, can dynamically and precisely respond to both physiological and physical stimuli, including nucleic acids (DNA/RNA), adenosine triphosphate, proteins, ions, small molecules, pH, light, and temperature. They offer high sensitivity and specificity, making them ideal for applications such as biomarker detection, gene therapy, and controlled targeted drug delivery. In this review, we summarize the bioengineering methods used to assemble versatile stimuli-responsive DNA/RNA nanostructures and discuss their emerging applications in structural biology and biomedicine, including biosensing, targeted drug delivery, and therapeutics. Finally, we highlight the challenges and opportunities in the rational design of these intelligent bioengineered nanostructures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Yu
- School of Molecular Sciences and Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Liangxiao Chen
- School of Molecular Sciences and Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Deeksha Satyabola
- School of Molecular Sciences and Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Abhay Prasad
- School of Molecular Sciences and Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Hao Yan
- School of Molecular Sciences and Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
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2
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Hasanzadeh A, Ebadati A, Saeedi S, Kamali B, Noori H, Jamei B, Hamblin MR, Liu Y, Karimi M. Nucleic acid-responsive smart systems for controlled cargo delivery. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 74:108393. [PMID: 38825215 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Stimulus-responsive delivery systems allow controlled, highly regulated, and efficient delivery of various cargos while minimizing side effects. Owing to the unique properties of nucleic acids, including the ability to adopt complex structures by base pairing, their easy synthesis, high specificity, shape memory, and configurability, they have been employed in autonomous molecular motors, logic circuits, reconfigurable nanoplatforms, and catalytic amplifiers. Moreover, the development of nucleic acid (NA)-responsive intelligent delivery vehicles is a rapidly growing field. These vehicles have attracted much attention in recent years due to their programmable, controllable, and reversible properties. In this work, we review several types of NA-responsive controlled delivery vehicles based on locks and keys, including DNA/RNA-responsive, aptamer-responsive, and CRISPR-responsive, and summarize their advantages and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akbar Hasanzadeh
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arefeh Ebadati
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Merced, Merced, USA
| | - Sara Saeedi
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Neuroscience Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Babak Kamali
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Noori
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behnam Jamei
- Neuroscience Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Michael R Hamblin
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa
| | - Yong Liu
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, China.
| | - Mahdi Karimi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran; Research Center for Science and Technology in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Applied Biotechnology Research Centre, Tehran Medical Science, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
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3
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Park J, Evangelopoulos M, Vasher MK, Kudruk S, Ramani N, Mayer V, Solivan AC, Lee A, Mirkin CA. Enhancing Endosomal Escape and Gene Regulation Activity for Spherical Nucleic Acids. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2306902. [PMID: 37932003 PMCID: PMC10947971 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202306902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
The therapeutic potential of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) is limited by their poor stability and low cellular uptake. When formulated as spherical nucleic acids (SNAs), siRNAs are resistant to nuclease degradation and enter cells without transfection agents with enhanced activity compared to their linear counterparts; however, the gene silencing activity of SNAs is limited by endosomal entrapment, a problem that impacts many siRNA-based nanoparticle constructs. To increase cytosolic delivery, SNAs are formulated using calcium chloride (CaCl2 ) instead of the conventionally used sodium chloride (NaCl). The divalent calcium (Ca2+ ) ions remain associated with the multivalent SNA and have a higher affinity for SNAs compared to their linear counterparts. Importantly, confocal microscopy studies show a 22% decrease in the accumulation of CaCl2 -salted SNAs within the late endosomes compared to NaCl-salted SNAs, indicating increased cytosolic delivery. Consistent with this finding, CaCl2 -salted SNAs comprised of siRNA and antisense DNA all exhibit enhanced gene silencing activity (up to 20-fold), compared to NaCl-salted SNAs regardless of sequence or cell line (U87-MG and SK-OV-3) studied. Moreover, CaCl2 -salted SNA-based forced intercalation probes show improved cytosolic mRNA detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jungsoo Park
- Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Graduate Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, United States
- International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, United States
| | - Michael Evangelopoulos
- International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, United States
| | - Matthew K. Vasher
- International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, United States
| | - Sergej Kudruk
- International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, United States
| | - Namrata Ramani
- International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, United States
- Department of Material Sciences and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, United States
| | - Vinzenz Mayer
- International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, United States
| | - Alexander C. Solivan
- International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, United States
| | - Andrew Lee
- International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208
| | - Chad A. Mirkin
- Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Graduate Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, United States
- International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, United States
- Department of Material Sciences and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208
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4
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Narum S, Deal B, Ogasawara H, Mancuso JN, Zhang J, Salaita K. An Endosomal Escape Trojan Horse Platform to Improve Cytosolic Delivery of Nucleic Acids. ACS NANO 2024; 18:6186-6201. [PMID: 38346399 PMCID: PMC10906071 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c09027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Endocytosis is a major bottleneck toward cytosolic delivery of nucleic acids, as the vast majority of nucleic acid drugs remain trapped within endosomes. Current trends to overcome endosomal entrapment and subsequent degradation provide varied success; however, active delivery agents such as cell-penetrating peptides have emerged as a prominent strategy to improve cytosolic delivery. Yet, these membrane-active agents have poor selectivity for endosomal membranes, leading to toxicity. A hallmark of endosomes is their acidic environment, which aids in degradation of foreign materials. Here, we develop a pH-triggered spherical nucleic acid that provides smart antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) release upon endosomal acidification and selective membrane disruption, termed DNA EndosomaL Escape Vehicle Response (DELVR). We anchor i-Motif DNA to a nanoparticle (AuNP), where the complement strand contains both an ASO sequence and a functionalized endosomal escape peptide (EEP). By orienting the EEP toward the AuNP core, the EEP is inactive until it is released through acidification-induced i-Motif folding. In this study, we characterize a small library of i-Motif duplexes to develop a structure-switching nucleic acid sequence triggered by endosomal acidification. We evaluate antisense efficacy using HIF1a, a hypoxic indicator upregulated in many cancers, and demonstrate dose-dependent activity through RT-qPCR. We show that DELVR significantly improves ASO efficacy in vitro. Finally, we use fluorescence lifetime imaging and activity measurement to show that DELVR benefits synergistically from nuclease- and pH-driven release strategies with increased ASO endosomal escape efficiency. Overall, this study develops a modular platform that improves the cytosolic delivery of nucleic acid therapeutics and offers key insights for overcoming intracellular barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Narum
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute
of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Brendan Deal
- Department
of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Hiroaki Ogasawara
- Department
of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | | | - Jiahui Zhang
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute
of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Khalid Salaita
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute
of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
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5
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Asohan J, Fakih HH, Das T, Sleiman HF. Control of the Assembly and Disassembly of Spherical Nucleic Acids Is Critical for Enhanced Gene Silencing. ACS NANO 2024; 18:3996-4007. [PMID: 38265027 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c05940] [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: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Spherical nucleic acids─nanospheres with nucleic acids on their corona─have emerged as a promising class of nanocarriers, aiming to address the shortcomings of traditional nucleic therapeutics, namely, their poor stability, biodistribution, and cellular entry. By conjugating hydrophobic monomers to a growing nucleic acid strand in a sequence-defined manner, our group has developed self-assembled spherical nucleic acids (SaSNAs), for unaided, enhanced gene silencing. By virtue of their self-assembled nature, SaSNAs can disassemble under certain conditions in contrast to covalent or gold nanoparticle SNAs. Gene silencing involves multiple steps including cellular uptake, endosomal escape, and therapeutic cargo release. Whether assembly vs disassembly is advantageous to any of these steps has not been previously studied. In this work, we modify the DNA and hydrophobic portions of SaSNAs and examine their effects on stability, cellular uptake, and gene silencing. When the linkages between the hydrophobic units are changed from phosphate to phosphorothioate, we find that the SaSNAs disassemble better in endosomal conditions and exhibit more efficacious silencing, despite having cellular uptake similar to that of their phosphate counterparts. Thus, disassembly in the endolysosomal compartments is advantageous, facilitating the release of the nucleic acid cargo and the interactions between the hydrophobic units and endosomal lipids. We also find that SaSNAs partially disassemble in serum to bind albumin; the disassembled, albumin-bound strands are less efficient at cellular uptake and gene silencing than their assembled counterparts, which can engage scavenger receptors for internalization. When the DNA portion is cross-linked by G-quadruplex formation, disassembly decreases and cellular uptake significantly increases. However, this does not translate to greater gene silencing, again illustrating the need for disassembly of the SaSNAs when they are in the endosome. This work showcases the advantages of the dual nature of SaSNAs for gene silencing, requiring extracellular assembly and disassembly inside the cell compartments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jathavan Asohan
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St West, Montreal, Québec Canada, H3A 0B8
| | - Hassan H Fakih
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St West, Montreal, Québec Canada, H3A 0B8
| | - Trishalina Das
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St West, Montreal, Québec Canada, H3A 0B8
| | - Hanadi F Sleiman
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St West, Montreal, Québec Canada, H3A 0B8
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6
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Faiad S, Laurent Q, Prinzen AL, Asohan J, Saliba D, Toader V, Sleiman HF. Impact of the Core Chemistry of Self-Assembled Spherical Nucleic Acids on their In Vitro Fate. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202315768. [PMID: 37905978 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202315768] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid therapeutics (NATs), such as mRNA, small interfering RNA or antisense oligonucleotides are extremely efficient tools to modulate gene expression and tackle otherwise undruggable diseases. Spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) can efficiently deliver small NATs to cells while protecting their payload from nucleases, and have improved biodistribution and muted immune activation. Self-assembled SNAs have emerged as nanostructures made from a single DNA-polymer conjugate with similar favorable properties as well as small molecule encapsulation. However, because they maintain their structure by non-covalent interactions, they might suffer from disassembly in biologically relevant conditions, especially with regard to their interaction with serum proteins. Here, we report a systematic study of the factors that govern the fate of self-assembled SNAs. Varying the core chemistry and using stimuli-responsive disulfide crosslinking, we show that extracellular stability upon binding with serum proteins is important for recognition by membrane receptors, triggering cellular uptake. At the same time, intracellular dissociation is required for efficient therapeutic release. Disulfide-crosslinked SNAs combine these two properties and result in efficient and non-toxic unaided gene silencing therapeutics. We anticipate these investigations will help the translation of promising self-assembled structures towards in vivo gene silencing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinan Faiad
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St West, H3A 0B8, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Quentin Laurent
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St West, H3A 0B8, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Alexander L Prinzen
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St West, H3A 0B8, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jathavan Asohan
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St West, H3A 0B8, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Daniel Saliba
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St West, H3A 0B8, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Violeta Toader
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St West, H3A 0B8, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Hanadi F Sleiman
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St West, H3A 0B8, Montreal, Québec, Canada
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7
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Yang GQ, Cai W, Zhang Z, Wang Y. Progress in Programmable DNA-Aided Self-Assembly of the Master Frame of a Drug Delivery System. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2023; 6:5125-5144. [PMID: 38011318 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c00636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Every year cancer causes approximately 10 million deaths globally. Researchers have developed numerous targeted drug delivery systems (DDSs) with nanoparticles, polymers, and liposomes, but these synthetic materials have poor degradability and low biocompatibility. Because DNA nanostructures have good degradability and high biocompatibility, extensive studies have been performed to construct DDSs with DNA nanostructures as the molecular-layer master frame (MF) assembled via programmable DNA-aided self-assembly for targeted drug release. To learn the progressing trend of self-assembly techniques and keep pace with their recent rapid advancements, it is crucial to provide an overview of their past and recent progress. In this review article, we first present the techniques to assemble the MF of a DDS with solely DNA strands; to assemble MFs with one or more additional type of construction materials, e.g., polymers (including RNA and protein), inorganic nanoparticle, or metal ions, in addition to DNA strands; and to assemble the more complex DNA nanocomplexes. It is observed that both the techniques used and the MFs constructed have become increasingly complex and that the DDS constructed has an increasing number of advanced functions. From our focused review, we anticipate that DDSs with the MF of multiple building materials and DNA nanocomplexes will attract an increasing number of researchers' interests. On the basis of knowledge about materials and functional components (e.g., targeting aptamers/peptides/antibodies and stimuli for drug release) obtained from previously performed studies, researchers can combine more materials with DNA strands to assemble more powerful MFs and incorporate more components to endow DDSs with improved or additional properties/functions, thereby subsequently contributing to cancer prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary Q Yang
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, P. R. China
| | - Weibin Cai
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing 100083, P. R. China
| | - Zhiwen Zhang
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, P. R. China
| | - Yujun Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
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8
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Lee H, Noh H. Advancements in Nanogels for Enhanced Ocular Drug Delivery: Cutting-Edge Strategies to Overcome Eye Barriers. Gels 2023; 9:718. [PMID: 37754399 PMCID: PMC10529109 DOI: 10.3390/gels9090718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Nanomedicine in gel or particle formation holds considerable potential for enhancing passive and active targeting within ocular drug delivery systems. The complex barriers of the eye, exemplified by the intricate network of closely connected tissue structures, pose significant challenges for drug administration. Leveraging the capability of engineered nanomedicine offers a promising approach to enhance drug penetration, particularly through active targeting agents such as protein peptides and aptamers, which facilitate targeted release and heightened bioavailability. Simultaneously, DNA carriers have emerged as a cutting-edge class of active-targeting structures, connecting active targeting agents and illustrating their potential in ocular drug delivery applications. This review aims to consolidate recent findings regarding the optimization of various nanoparticles, i.e., hydrogel-based systems, incorporating both passive and active targeting agents for ocular drug delivery, thereby identifying novel mechanisms and strategies. Furthermore, the review delves into the potential application of DNA nanostructures, exploring their role in the development of targeted drug delivery approaches within the field of ocular therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hyeran Noh
- Department of Optometry, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Gongnung-ro 232, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01811, Republic of Korea;
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9
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Kaviani S, Fakih HH, Asohan J, Katolik A, Damha MJ, Sleiman HF. Sequence-Controlled Spherical Nucleic Acids: Gene Silencing, Encapsulation, and Cellular Uptake. Nucleic Acid Ther 2023; 33:265-276. [PMID: 37196168 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2022.0062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) can predictably alter RNA processing and control protein expression; however, challenges in the delivery of these therapeutics to specific tissues, poor cellular uptake, and endosomal escape have impeded progress in translating these agents into the clinic. Spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) are nanoparticles with a DNA external shell and a hydrophobic core that arise from the self-assembly of ASO strands conjugated to hydrophobic polymers. SNAs have recently shown significant promise as vehicles for improving the efficacy of ASO cellular uptake and gene silencing. However, to date, no studies have investigated the effect of the hydrophobic polymer sequence on the biological properties of SNAs. In this study, we created a library of ASO conjugates by covalently attaching polymers with linear or branched [dodecanediol phosphate] units and systematically varying polymer sequence and composition. We show that these parameters can significantly impact encapsulation efficiency, gene silencing activity, SNA stability, and cellular uptake, thus outlining optimized polymer architectures for gene silencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sepideh Kaviani
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Hassan H Fakih
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Jathavan Asohan
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Adam Katolik
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Masad J Damha
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
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10
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Rafique MG, Remington JM, Clark F, Bai H, Toader V, Perepichka DF, Li J, Sleiman HF. Two-Dimensional Supramolecular Polymerization of DNA Amphiphiles is Driven by Sequence-Dependent DNA-Chromophore Interactions. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202217814. [PMID: 36939824 PMCID: PMC10239398 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202217814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) assemblies of water-soluble block copolymers have been limited by a dearth of systematic studies that relate polymer structure to pathway mechanism and supramolecular morphology. Here, we employ sequence-defined triblock DNA amphiphiles for the supramolecular polymerization of free-standing DNA nanosheets in water. Our systematic modulation of amphiphile sequence shows the alkyl chain core forming a cell membrane-like structure and the distal π-stacking chromophore block folding back to interact with the hydrophilic DNA block on the nanosheet surface. This interaction is crucial to sheet formation, marked by a chiral "signature", and sensitive to DNA sequence, where nanosheets form with a mixed sequence, but not with a homogeneous poly(thymine) sequence. This work opens the possibility of forming well-ordered, bilayer-like assemblies using a single DNA amphiphile for applications in cell sensing, nucleic acid therapeutic delivery and enzyme arrays.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jacob M. Remington
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Finley Clark
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Haochen Bai
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St W, Montréal, QC H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Violeta Toader
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St W, Montréal, QC H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Dmytro F. Perepichka
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St W, Montréal, QC H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Jianing Li
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Hanadi F. Sleiman
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St W, Montréal, QC H3A 0B8, Canada
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11
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Zhao J, Zhang C, Lu B, Sha R, Noinaj N, Mao C. Divergence and Convergence: Complexity Emerges in Crystal Engineering from an 8-mer DNA. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:10475-10479. [PMID: 37134185 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c01941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Biology provides plenty of examples on achieving complicated structures out of minimal numbers of building blocks. In contrast, structural complexity of designed molecular systems is achieved by increasing the numbers of component molecules. In this study, the component DNA strand assembles into a highly complex crystal structure via an unusual path of divergence and convergence. This assembly path suggests a route to minimalists for increasing structural complexity. The original purpose of this study is to engineer DNA crystals with high resolution, which is the primary motivation and a key objective for structural DNA nanotechnology. Despite great efforts in the last 40 years, engineered DNA crystals have not yet consistently reached resolution better than 2.5 Å, limiting their potential uses. Our research has shown that small, symmetrical building blocks generally lead to high resolution crystals. Herein, by following this principle, we report an engineered DNA crystal with unprecedented high resolution (2.17 Å) assembled from one single DNA component: an 8-base-long DNA strand. This system has three unique characteristics: (1) It has a very complex architecture, (2) the same DNA strand forms two different structural motifs, both of which are incorporated into the final crystal, and (3) the component DNA molecule is only an 8-base-long DNA strand, which is, arguably, the smallest DNA motif for DNA nanostructures to date. This high resolution opens the possibility of using these DNA crystals to precisely organize guest molecules at the Å level, which could stimulate a range of new investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiemin Zhao
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Cuizheng Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Brandon Lu
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
| | - Ruojie Sha
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
| | - Nicholas Noinaj
- Department of Biological Sciences, Markey Center for Structural Biology, and the Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Chengde Mao
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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12
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Das R, Kanjilal P, Medeiros J, Thayumanavan S. What's Next after Lipid Nanoparticles? A Perspective on Enablers of Nucleic Acid Therapeutics. Bioconjug Chem 2022; 33:1996-2007. [PMID: 35377622 PMCID: PMC9530067 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.2c00058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Recent success of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines have bolstered the strength of nucleic acids as a therapeutic platform. The number of new clinical trial candidates is skyrocketing with the potential to address many unmet clinical needs. Despite advancements in other aspects, the systemic delivery of nucleic acids to target sites remains a major challenge. Thus, nucleic acid based therapy has yet to reach its full potential. In this review, we shed light on a select few prospective technologies that exhibit substantial potential over traditional nanocarrier designs for nucleic acid delivery. We critically analyze these systems with specific attention to the possibilities for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritam Das
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
- The Center for Bioactive Delivery-Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Pintu Kanjilal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
- The Center for Bioactive Delivery-Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Jewel Medeiros
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
- The Center for Bioactive Delivery-Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - S Thayumanavan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
- The Center for Bioactive Delivery-Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
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13
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Duan C, Cheng W, Yao Y, Li D, Wang Z, Xiang Y. Universal and Flexible Signal Transduction Module Based on Overload Triggering Probe Escape for Sensitive Detection of Tau Protein. Anal Chem 2022; 94:12919-12926. [PMID: 36069206 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c03129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Aptamer-based methods have attracted increasing interest due to flexible engineering, but their generality is limited by the heterogeneity of signal transduction mechanisms. Given the fact that nonlinear and large molecules are more likely to make the nanosurface overloaded, we investigated a novel signal transduction process to extend the application of aptasensors. In this work, an aptamer complementary element (ACE) is designed with a primer region to serve as the signal probe, which can fully hybridize with an aptamer and be separated by magnetic beads (MBs). Upon target binding, the formed aptamer/target complex is much larger than the linear aptamer/ACE-primer dimer, causing overload of MBs on account of steric hindrance. An extra aptamer/ACE-primer can escape from the surface to the supernatant, which can be amplified by a catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) circle. The size-dependent signal transduction and the modular design endow the method with high generality and flexibility for protein analysis. The proposed aptasensor was successfully applied to the detection of tau proteins ranging from 0.5 to 1000 ng mL-1 with a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 0.254 ng mL-1. The recovery tests in both human serum and cerebra spinal fluid confirmed the high accuracy and stability. Furthermore, a successful distinction was made between AD patients and healthy controls by the method, suggesting the possible applicability for practical analysis of tau proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengjie Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Wenting Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Yanheng Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Dayong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Zhongyun Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, P. R. China
| | - Yang Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100191, P. R. China
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14
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Zamoskovtseva AA, Golyshev VM, Kizilova VA, Shevelev GY, Pyshnyi DV, Lomzov AA. Pairing nanoarchitectonics of oligodeoxyribonucleotides with complex diversity: concatemers and self-limited complexes. RSC Adv 2022; 12:6416-6431. [PMID: 35424594 PMCID: PMC8981972 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra00155a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of approaches to the design of two- and three-dimensional self-assembled DNA-based nanostructures with a controlled shape and size is an essential task for applied nanotechnology, therapy, biosensing, and bioimaging. We conducted a comprehensive study on the formation of various complexes from a pair of oligonucleotides with two transposed complementary blocks that can be linked through a nucleotide or non-nucleotide linker. A methodology is proposed to prove the formation of a self-limited complex and to determine its molecularity. It is based on the "opening" of a self-limited complex with an oligonucleotide that effectively binds to a duplex-forming block. The complexes assembled from a pair of oligonucleotides with different block length and different linker sizes and types were investigated by theoretical analysis, several experimental methods (a gel shift assay, atomic force microscopy, and ultraviolet melting analysis), and molecular dynamics simulations. The results showed a variety of complexes formed by only a pair of oligonucleotides. Self-limited associates, concatemer complexes, or mixtures thereof can arise if we change the length of a duplex and loop-forming blocks in oligonucleotides or via introduction of overhangs and chemical modifications. We postulated basic principles of rational design of native self-limited DNA complexes of desired structure, shape, and molecularity. Our foundation makes self-limited complexes useful tools for nanotechnology, biological studies, and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia A Zamoskovtseva
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS 8 Lavrentiev Avenue Novosibirsk 630090 Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology 9 Institutskiy per., Dolgoprudny 141701 Russia
| | - Victor M Golyshev
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS 8 Lavrentiev Avenue Novosibirsk 630090 Russia
| | - Valeria A Kizilova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS 8 Lavrentiev Avenue Novosibirsk 630090 Russia
| | - Georgiy Yu Shevelev
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS 8 Lavrentiev Avenue Novosibirsk 630090 Russia
| | - Dmitrii V Pyshnyi
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS 8 Lavrentiev Avenue Novosibirsk 630090 Russia
| | - Alexander A Lomzov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS 8 Lavrentiev Avenue Novosibirsk 630090 Russia
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15
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Halloy F, Biscans A, Bujold KE, Debacker A, Hill AC, Lacroix A, Luige O, Strömberg R, Sundstrom L, Vogel J, Ghidini A. Innovative developments and emerging technologies in RNA therapeutics. RNA Biol 2022; 19:313-332. [PMID: 35188077 PMCID: PMC8865321 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2022.2027150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA-based therapeutics are emerging as a powerful platform for the treatment of multiple diseases. Currently, the two main categories of nucleic acid therapeutics, antisense oligonucleotides and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), achieve their therapeutic effect through either gene silencing, splicing modulation or microRNA binding, giving rise to versatile options to target pathogenic gene expression patterns. Moreover, ongoing research seeks to expand the scope of RNA-based drugs to include more complex nucleic acid templates, such as messenger RNA, as exemplified by the first approved mRNA-based vaccine in 2020. The increasing number of approved sequences and ongoing clinical trials has attracted considerable interest in the chemical development of oligonucleotides and nucleic acids as drugs, especially since the FDA approval of the first siRNA drug in 2018. As a result, a variety of innovative approaches is emerging, highlighting the potential of RNA as one of the most prominent therapeutic tools in the drug design and development pipeline. This review seeks to provide a comprehensive summary of current efforts in academia and industry aimed at fully realizing the potential of RNA-based therapeutics. Towards this, we introduce established and emerging RNA-based technologies, with a focus on their potential as biosensors and therapeutics. We then describe their mechanisms of action and their application in different disease contexts, along with the strengths and limitations of each strategy. Since the nucleic acid toolbox is rapidly expanding, we also introduce RNA minimal architectures, RNA/protein cleavers and viral RNA as promising modalities for new therapeutics and discuss future directions for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Halloy
- Department of Paediatrics, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Annabelle Biscans
- Oligonucleotide Chemistry, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&d, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Katherine E. Bujold
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, McMaster University, (Ontario), Canada
| | | | - Alyssa C. Hill
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Eth Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Aurélie Lacroix
- Sixfold Bioscience, Translation & Innovation Hub, London, UK
| | - Olivia Luige
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
| | - Roger Strömberg
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
| | - Linda Sundstrom
- Mechanistic and Structural Biology, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&d, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (Hiri), Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (Hzi), Würzburg, Germany
- RNA Biology Group, Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alice Ghidini
- Mechanistic and Structural Biology, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&d, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
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16
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Song Y, Song W, Lan X, Cai W, Jiang D. Spherical nucleic acids: Organized nucleotide aggregates as versatile nanomedicine. AGGREGATE (HOBOKEN, N.J.) 2022; 3:e120. [PMID: 35386748 PMCID: PMC8982904 DOI: 10.1002/agt2.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) are composed of a nanoparticle core and a layer of densely arranged oligonucleotide shells. After the first report of SNA by Mirkin and coworkers in 1996, it has created a significant interest by offering new possibilities in the field of gene and drug delivery. The controlled aggregation of oligonucleotides on the surface of organic/inorganic nanoparticles improves the delivery of genes and nucleic acid-based drugs and alters and regulates the biological profiles of the nanoparticle core within living organisms. Here in this review, we present an overview of the recent progress of SNAs that has speeded up their biomedical application and their potential transition to clinical use. We start with introducing the concept and characteristics of SNAs as drug/gene delivery systems and highlight recent efforts of bioengineering SNA by imaging and treatmenting various diseases. Finally, we discuss potential challenges and opportunities of SNAs, their ongoing clinical trials, and future translation, and how they may affect the current landscape of clinical practices. We hope that this review will update our current understanding of SNA, organized oligonucleotide aggregates, for disease diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangmeihui Song
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenyu Song
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoli Lan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Weibo Cai
- Departments of Radiology and Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Dawei Jiang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
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17
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Whitfield C, Zhang M, Winterwerber P, Wu Y, Ng DYW, Weil T. Functional DNA-Polymer Conjugates. Chem Rev 2021; 121:11030-11084. [PMID: 33739829 PMCID: PMC8461608 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
DNA nanotechnology has seen large developments over the last 30 years through the combination of solid phase synthesis and the discovery of DNA nanostructures. Solid phase synthesis has facilitated the availability of short DNA sequences and the expansion of the DNA toolbox to increase the chemical functionalities afforded on DNA, which in turn enabled the conception and synthesis of sophisticated and complex 2D and 3D nanostructures. In parallel, polymer science has developed several polymerization approaches to build di- and triblock copolymers bearing hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and amphiphilic properties. By bringing together these two emerging technologies, complementary properties of both materials have been explored; for example, the synthesis of amphiphilic DNA-polymer conjugates has enabled the production of several nanostructures, such as spherical and rod-like micelles. Through both the DNA and polymer parts, stimuli-responsiveness can be instilled. Nanostructures have consequently been developed with responsive structural changes to physical properties, such as pH and temperature, as well as short DNA through competitive complementary binding. These responsive changes have enabled the application of DNA-polymer conjugates in biomedical applications including drug delivery. This review discusses the progress of DNA-polymer conjugates, exploring the synthetic routes and state-of-the-art applications afforded through the combination of nucleic acids and synthetic polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colette
J. Whitfield
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Meizhou Zhang
- Hubei
Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry and Materia Medica, School
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong
University of Science and Technology, Luoyu Road 1037, Hongshan, Wuhan 430074, People’s Republic of China
| | - Pia Winterwerber
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Yuzhou Wu
- Hubei
Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry and Materia Medica, School
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong
University of Science and Technology, Luoyu Road 1037, Hongshan, Wuhan 430074, People’s Republic of China
| | - David Y. W. Ng
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Tanja Weil
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
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18
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Zhu M, Wang S. Functional Nucleic‐Acid‐Decorated Spherical Nanoparticles: Preparation Strategies and Current Applications in Cancer Therapy. SMALL SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/smsc.202000056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Central South University No. 932 South Lushan Rd Changsha Hunan 410083 P. R. China
| | - Shan Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Central South University No. 932 South Lushan Rd Changsha Hunan 410083 P. R. China
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19
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Fakih HH, Katolik A, Malek-Adamian E, Fakhoury JJ, Kaviani S, Damha MJ, Sleiman HF. Design and enhanced gene silencing activity of spherical 2'-fluoroarabinose nucleic acids (FANA-SNAs). Chem Sci 2021; 12:2993-3003. [PMID: 34164068 PMCID: PMC8179377 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc06645a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug delivery vectors for nucleic acid therapeutics (NATs) face significant barriers for translation into the clinic. Spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) – nanoparticles with an exterior shell made up of DNA strands and a hydrophobic interior – have recently shown great potential as vehicles to improve the biodistribution and efficacy of NATs. To date, SNA design has not taken advantage of the powerful chemical modifications available to NATs. Here, we modify SNAs with 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-d-arabinonucleic acid (FANA-SNA), and show increased stability, enhanced gene silencing potency and unaided uptake (gymnosis) as compared to free FANA. By varying the spacer region between the nucleic acid strand and the attached hydrophobic polymer, we show that a cleavable DNA based spacer is essential for maximum activity. This design feature will be important when implementing functionalized nucleic acids into nanostructures for gene silencing. The modularity of the FANA-SNA was demonstrated by silencing two different targets. Transfection-free delivery was superior for the modified SNA compared to the free FANA oligonucleotide. Optimizing FANA modified spherical nucleic acids (FANA-SNAs) for highly efficient delivery of nucleic acid therapeutics.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan H Fakih
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University Montreal Quebec H3A 0B8 Canada
| | - Adam Katolik
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University Montreal Quebec H3A 0B8 Canada
| | | | - Johans J Fakhoury
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University Montreal Quebec H3A 0B8 Canada
| | - Sepideh Kaviani
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University Montreal Quebec H3A 0B8 Canada
| | - Masad J Damha
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University Montreal Quebec H3A 0B8 Canada
| | - Hanadi F Sleiman
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University Montreal Quebec H3A 0B8 Canada
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20
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Nicolson F, Ali A, Kircher MF, Pal S. DNA Nanostructures and DNA-Functionalized Nanoparticles for Cancer Theranostics. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2020; 7:2001669. [PMID: 33304747 PMCID: PMC7709992 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202001669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
In the last two decades, DNA has attracted significant attention toward the development of materials at the nanoscale for emerging applications due to the unparalleled versatility and programmability of DNA building blocks. DNA-based artificial nanomaterials can be broadly classified into two categories: DNA nanostructures (DNA-NSs) and DNA-functionalized nanoparticles (DNA-NPs). More importantly, their use in nanotheranostics, a field that combines diagnostics with therapy via drug or gene delivery in an all-in-one platform, has been applied extensively in recent years to provide personalized cancer treatments. Conveniently, the ease of attachment of both imaging and therapeutic moieties to DNA-NSs or DNA-NPs enables high biostability, biocompatibility, and drug loading capabilities, and as a consequence, has markedly catalyzed the rapid growth of this field. This review aims to provide an overview of the recent progress of DNA-NSs and DNA-NPs as theranostic agents, the use of DNA-NSs and DNA-NPs as gene and drug delivery platforms, and a perspective on their clinical translation in the realm of oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fay Nicolson
- Department of ImagingDana‐Farber Cancer Institute & Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMA02215USA
- Center for Molecular Imaging and NanotechnologyMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNew YorkNY10065USA
| | - Akbar Ali
- Department of ChemistryIndian Institute of Technology‐ BhilaiRaipurChhattisgarh492015India
| | - Moritz F. Kircher
- Department of ImagingDana‐Farber Cancer Institute & Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMA02215USA
- Center for Molecular Imaging and NanotechnologyMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNew YorkNY10065USA
- Department of RadiologyBrigham and Women's Hospital & Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMA02215USA
| | - Suchetan Pal
- Department of ChemistryIndian Institute of Technology‐ BhilaiRaipurChhattisgarh492015India
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21
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Jiang K, Chen Y, Zhao D, Cheng J, Mo F, Ji B, Gao C, Zhang C, Song J. A facile and efficient approach for hypertrophic scar therapy via DNA-based transdermal drug delivery. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:18682-18691. [PMID: 32970085 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr04751a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The transdermal drug delivery approach has been considered a potential therapy for human hypertrophic scars (HSs) instead of current uncomfortable surgical excision, local injection and laser therapy. However, a facile and efficient drug delivery method is urgently needed to overcome the skin barrier of transdermal administration. Herein, we employed a DNA-Fe nanoparticle delivery system via Fe ion driven self-assembly to satisfy the requirement of transdermal administration for HS therapy. Doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) as one of the widely used anticancer drugs was employed to treat the hyperplasia of abnormal skin fibrous tissue. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments of the DOX loaded DNA-Fe nanoparticles (DOX@DNA-Fe NPs) were performed to demonstrate the penetration ability, rapid drug release, and scar-inhibiting effects. This facile and efficient approach for HS therapy via a DNA-based transdermal drug delivery system may provide more possibilities for the development of transdermal administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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.
| | - Yunsheng Chen
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Di Zhao
- 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.
| | - 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.
| | - Fangli Mo
- 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.
| | - Bin Ji
- 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.
| | - 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.
| | - Chuan Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, 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. and 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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22
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Xiao F, Chen Z, Wei Z, Tian L. Hydrophobic Interaction: A Promising Driving Force for the Biomedical Applications of Nucleic Acids. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2020; 7:2001048. [PMID: 32832360 PMCID: PMC7435255 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202001048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The comprehensive understanding and proper use of supramolecular interactions have become critical for the development of functional materials, and so is the biomedical application of nucleic acids (NAs). Relatively rare attention has been paid to hydrophobic interaction compared with hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction of NAs. However, hydrophobic interaction shows some unique properties, such as high tunability for application interest, minimal effect on NA functionality, and sensitivity to external stimuli. Therefore, the widespread use of hydrophobic interaction has promoted the evolution of NA-based biomaterials in higher-order self-assembly, drug/gene-delivery systems, and stimuli-responsive systems. Herein, the recent progress of NA-based biomaterials whose fabrications or properties are highly determined by hydrophobic interactions is summarized. 1) The hydrophobic interaction of NA itself comes from the accumulation of base-stacking forces, by which the NAs with certain base compositions and chain lengths show properties similar to thermal-responsive polymers. 2) In conjugation with hydrophobic molecules, NA amphiphiles show interesting self-assembly structures with unique properties in many new biosensing and therapeutic strategies. 3) The working-mechanisms of some NA-based complex materials are also dependent on hydrophobic interactions. Moreover, in recent attempts, NA amphiphiles have been applied in organizing macroscopic self-assembly of DNA origami and controlling the cell-cell interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Xiao
- Department of Materials Science and EngineeringSouthern University of Science and Technology1088 Xueyuan Blvd.Nanshan DistrictShenzhenGuangdong518055P. R. China
- School of Materials Science and EngineeringHarbin Institute of TechnologyNangang DistrictHarbin150001P. R. China
| | - Zhe Chen
- Department of Materials Science and EngineeringSouthern University of Science and Technology1088 Xueyuan Blvd.Nanshan DistrictShenzhenGuangdong518055P. R. China
- Cancer Centre and Centre of ReproductionDevelopment and AgingFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of MacauTaipaMacau999078P. R. China
| | - Zixiang Wei
- Department of Materials Science and EngineeringSouthern University of Science and Technology1088 Xueyuan Blvd.Nanshan DistrictShenzhenGuangdong518055P. R. China
- Cancer Centre and Centre of ReproductionDevelopment and AgingFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of MacauTaipaMacau999078P. R. China
| | - Leilei Tian
- Department of Materials Science and EngineeringSouthern University of Science and Technology1088 Xueyuan Blvd.Nanshan DistrictShenzhenGuangdong518055P. R. China
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23
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Prinzen AL, Saliba D, Hennecker C, Trinh T, Mittermaier A, Sleiman HF. Amplified Self‐Immolative Release of Small Molecules by Spatial Isolation of Reactive Groups on DNA‐Minimal Architectures. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202001123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander L. Prinzen
- Department of Chemistry McGill University 801 rue Sherbrooke West Montreal QC, H3A 0B8 Canada
| | - Daniel Saliba
- Department of Chemistry McGill University 801 rue Sherbrooke West Montreal QC, H3A 0B8 Canada
| | - Christopher Hennecker
- Department of Chemistry McGill University 801 rue Sherbrooke West Montreal QC, H3A 0B8 Canada
| | - Tuan Trinh
- Department of Chemistry McGill University 801 rue Sherbrooke West Montreal QC, H3A 0B8 Canada
| | - Anthony Mittermaier
- Department of Chemistry McGill University 801 rue Sherbrooke West Montreal QC, H3A 0B8 Canada
| | - Hanadi F. Sleiman
- Department of Chemistry McGill University 801 rue Sherbrooke West Montreal QC, H3A 0B8 Canada
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24
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Prinzen AL, Saliba D, Hennecker C, Trinh T, Mittermaier A, Sleiman HF. Amplified Self‐Immolative Release of Small Molecules by Spatial Isolation of Reactive Groups on DNA‐Minimal Architectures. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:12900-12908. [PMID: 32277788 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202001123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander L. Prinzen
- Department of Chemistry McGill University 801 rue Sherbrooke West Montreal QC, H3A 0B8 Canada
| | - Daniel Saliba
- Department of Chemistry McGill University 801 rue Sherbrooke West Montreal QC, H3A 0B8 Canada
| | - Christopher Hennecker
- Department of Chemistry McGill University 801 rue Sherbrooke West Montreal QC, H3A 0B8 Canada
| | - Tuan Trinh
- Department of Chemistry McGill University 801 rue Sherbrooke West Montreal QC, H3A 0B8 Canada
| | - Anthony Mittermaier
- Department of Chemistry McGill University 801 rue Sherbrooke West Montreal QC, H3A 0B8 Canada
| | - Hanadi F. Sleiman
- Department of Chemistry McGill University 801 rue Sherbrooke West Montreal QC, H3A 0B8 Canada
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Method and its Composition for encapsulation, stabilization, and delivery of siRNA in Anionic polymeric nanoplex: An In vitro- In vivo Assessment. Sci Rep 2019; 9:16047. [PMID: 31690769 PMCID: PMC6831632 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52390-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Small interfering RNA (siRNA) are synthetic RNA duplex designed to specifically knockdown the abnormal gene to treat a disease at cellular and molecular levels. In spite of their high potency, specificity, and therapeutic potential, the full-fledged utility of siRNA is predominantly limited to in vitro set-up. Till date, Onpattro is the only USFDA approved siRNA therapeutics available in the clinic. The lack of a reliable in vivo siRNA delivery carrier remains a foremost obstacle towards the clinical translation of siRNA therapeutics. To address the obstacles associated with siRNA delivery, we tested a dendrimer-templated polymeric approach involving a USFDA approved carrier (albumin) for in vitro as well as in vivo delivery of siRNA. The developed approach is simple in application, enhances the serum stability, avoids in vivo RNase-degradation and mediates cytosolic delivery of siRNA following the endosomal escape process. The successful in vitro and in vivo delivery of siRNA, as well as targeted gene knockdown potential, was demonstrated by HDAC4 inhibition in vitro diabetic nephropathy (DN) podocyte model as well as in vivo DN C57BL/6 mice model. The developed approach has been tested using HDAC4 siRNA as a model therapeutics, while the application can also be extended to other gene therapeutics including micro RNA (miRNA), plasmids oligonucleotides, etc.
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