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Ji Z, Ren X, Jin J, Ye X, Yu H, Fang W, Li H, Zhao Y, Tao S, Kong X, Cheng J, Shan Z, Chen J, Yao Q, Zhao F, Liu J. Injectable hydrogel encapsulating siMMP13 with anti-ROS and anti-apoptotic functions for osteoarthritis treatment. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:466. [PMID: 39095867 PMCID: PMC11297633 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02740-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by the progressive degeneration of articular cartilage, leading to pain, stiffness, and loss of joint function. The pathogenesis of OA involves multiple factors, including increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), enhanced chondrocyte apoptosis, and disturbances in cartilage matrix metabolism. These processes contribute to the breakdown of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the loss of cartilage integrity, ultimately resulting in joint damage and dysfunction. RNA interference (RNAi) therapy has emerged as a promising approach for the treatment of various diseases, including hATTR and acute hepatic porphyria. By harnessing the natural cellular machinery for gene silencing, RNAi allows for the specific inhibition of target genes involved in disease pathogenesis. In the context of OA, targeting key molecules such as matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP13), which plays a critical role in cartilage degradation, holds great therapeutic potential. RESULTS In this study, we developed an innovative therapeutic approach for OA using a combination of liposome-encapsulated siMMP13 and NG-Monomethyl-L-arginine Acetate (L-NMMA) to form an injectable hydrogel. The hydrogel served as a delivery vehicle for the siMMP13, allowing for sustained release and targeted delivery to the affected joint. Experiments conducted on destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) model mice demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of this composite hydrogel. Treatment with the hydrogel significantly inhibited the degradation of cartilage matrix, as evidenced by histological analysis showing preserved cartilage structure and reduced loss of proteoglycans. Moreover, the hydrogel effectively suppressed intracellular ROS accumulation in chondrocytes, indicating its anti-oxidative properties. Furthermore, it attenuated chondrocyte apoptosis, as demonstrated by decreased levels of apoptotic markers. CONCLUSION In summary, the injectable hydrogel containing siMMP13, endowed with anti-ROS and anti-apoptotic properties, may represent an effective therapeutic strategy for osteoarthritis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongyin Ji
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal System Degeneration and Regeneration Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China
- Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, P.R. China
| | - Xiaobin Ren
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuan Xi Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Jiayan Jin
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal System Degeneration and Regeneration Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China
| | - Xin Ye
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal System Degeneration and Regeneration Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China
| | - Hao Yu
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuan Xi Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Wenhan Fang
- College of Laboratory Medicine and Life sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal System Degeneration and Regeneration Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China
| | - Yihao Zhao
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal System Degeneration and Regeneration Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China
| | - Siyue Tao
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal System Degeneration and Regeneration Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China
| | - Xiangxi Kong
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal System Degeneration and Regeneration Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China
| | - Jiao Cheng
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal System Degeneration and Regeneration Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China
| | - Zhi Shan
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal System Degeneration and Regeneration Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China
| | - Jian Chen
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal System Degeneration and Regeneration Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China
| | - Qingqing Yao
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuan Xi Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, P.R. China.
| | - Fengdong Zhao
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal System Degeneration and Regeneration Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China.
| | - Junhui Liu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal System Degeneration and Regeneration Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, No. 3, Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China.
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2
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Berger AG, DeLorenzo C, Vo C, Kaskow JA, Nabar N, Hammond PT. Poly(β-aminoester) Physicochemical Properties Govern the Delivery of siRNA from Electrostatically Assembled Coatings. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:2934-2952. [PMID: 38687965 PMCID: PMC11117021 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Localized short interfering RNA (siRNA) therapy has the potential to drive high-specificity molecular-level treatment of a variety of disease states. Unfortunately, effective siRNA therapy suffers from several barriers to its intracellular delivery. Thus, drug delivery systems that package and control the release of therapeutic siRNAs are necessary to overcome these obstacles to clinical translation. Layer-by-layer (LbL) electrostatic assembly of thin film coatings containing siRNA and protonatable, hydrolyzable poly(β-aminoester) (PBAE) polymers is one such drug delivery strategy. However, the impact of PBAE physicochemical properties on the transfection efficacy of siRNA released from LbL thin film coatings has not been systematically characterized. In this study, we investigate the siRNA transfection efficacy of four structurally similar PBAEs in vitro. We demonstrate that small changes in structure yield large changes in physicochemical properties, such as hydrophobicity, pKa, and amine chemical structure, driving differences in the interactions between PBAEs and siRNA in polyplexes and in LbL thin film coatings for wound dressings. In our polymer set, Poly3 forms the most stable interactions with siRNA (Keff,w/w = 0.298) to slow release kinetics and enhance transfection of reporter cells in both colloidal and thin film coating approaches. This is due to its unique physiochemical properties: high hydrophobicity (clog P = 7.86), effective pKa closest to endosomal pH (pKa = 6.21), and high cooperativity in buffering (nhill = 7.2). These properties bestow Poly3 with enhanced endosomal buffering and escape properties. Taken together, this work elucidates the connections between small changes in polymer structure, emergent properties, and polyelectrolyte theory to better understand PBAE transfection efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam G. Berger
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Charles DeLorenzo
- Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Chau Vo
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Justin A. Kaskow
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Namita Nabar
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Paula T. Hammond
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
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3
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Rong G, Zhou X, Hong J, Cheng Y. Reversible Assembly of Proteins and Phenolic Polymers for Intracellular Protein Delivery with Serum Stability. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:5593-5602. [PMID: 38619365 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c00937] [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: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
The design of intracellular delivery systems for protein drugs remains a challenge due to limited delivery efficacy and serum stability. Herein, we propose a reversible assembly strategy to assemble cargo proteins and phenolic polymers into stable nanoparticles for this purpose using a heterobifunctional adaptor (2-formylbenzeneboronic acid). The adaptor is easily decorated on cargo proteins via iminoboronate chemistry and further conjugates with catechol-bearing polymers to form nanoparticles via boronate diester linkages. The nanoparticles exhibit excellent serum stability in culture media but rapidly release the cargo proteins triggered by lysosomal acidity and GSH after endocytosis. In a proof-of-concept animal model, the strategy successfully transports superoxide dismutase to retina via intravitreal injection and efficiently ameliorates the oxidative stress and cellular damage in the retina induced by ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) with minimal adverse effects. The reversible assembly strategy represents a robust and efficient method to develop serum-stable systems for the intracellular delivery of biomacromolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyu Rong
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shanghai Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Xujiao Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shanghai Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Jiaxu Hong
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shanghai Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Yiyun Cheng
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shanghai Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200030, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
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4
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Omo-Lamai S, Wang Y, Patel MN, Essien EO, Shen M, Majumdar A, Espy C, Wu J, Channer B, Tobin M, Murali S, Papp TE, Maheshwari R, Wang L, Chase LS, Zamora ME, Arral ML, Marcos-Contreras OA, Myerson JW, Hunter CA, Tsourkas A, Muzykantov V, Brodsky I, Shin S, Whitehead KA, Gaskill P, Discher D, Parhiz H, Brenner JS. Lipid Nanoparticle-Associated Inflammation is Triggered by Sensing of Endosomal Damage: Engineering Endosomal Escape Without Side Effects. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.16.589801. [PMID: 38659905 PMCID: PMC11042321 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.16.589801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged as the dominant platform for RNA delivery, based on their success in the COVID-19 vaccines and late-stage clinical studies in other indications. However, we and others have shown that LNPs induce severe inflammation, and massively aggravate pre-existing inflammation. Here, using structure-function screening of lipids and analyses of signaling pathways, we elucidate the mechanisms of LNP-associated inflammation and demonstrate solutions. We show that LNPs' hallmark feature, endosomal escape, which is necessary for RNA expression, also directly triggers inflammation by causing endosomal membrane damage. Large, irreparable, endosomal holes are recognized by cytosolic proteins called galectins, which bind to sugars on the inner endosomal membrane and then regulate downstream inflammation. We find that inhibition of galectins abrogates LNP-associated inflammation, both in vitro and in vivo . We show that rapidly biodegradable ionizable lipids can preferentially create endosomal holes that are smaller in size and reparable by the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) pathway. Ionizable lipids producing such ESCRT-recruiting endosomal holes can produce high expression from cargo mRNA with minimal inflammation. Finally, we show that both routes to non-inflammatory LNPs, either galectin inhibition or ESCRT-recruiting ionizable lipids, are compatible with therapeutic mRNAs that ameliorate inflammation in disease models. LNPs without galectin inhibition or biodegradable ionizable lipids lead to severe exacerbation of inflammation in these models. In summary, endosomal escape induces endosomal membrane damage that can lead to inflammation. However, the inflammation can be controlled by inhibiting galectins (large hole detectors) or by using biodegradable lipids, which create smaller holes that are reparable by the ESCRT pathway. These strategies should lead to generally safer LNPs that can be used to treat inflammatory diseases.
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5
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Müller JA, Schäffler N, Kellerer T, Schwake G, Ligon TS, Rädler JO. Kinetics of RNA-LNP delivery and protein expression. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2024; 197:114222. [PMID: 38387850 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2024.114222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) employing ionizable lipids are the most advanced technology for delivery of RNA, most notably mRNA, to cells. LNPs represent well-defined core-shell particles with efficient nucleic acid encapsulation, low immunogenicity and enhanced efficacy. While much is known about the structure and activity of LNPs, less attention is given to the timing of LNP uptake, cytosolic transfer and protein expression. However, LNP kinetics is a key factor determining delivery efficiency. Hence quantitative insight into the multi-cascaded pathway of LNPs is of interest to elucidate the mechanism of delivery. Here, we review experiments as well as theoretical modeling of the timing of LNP uptake, mRNA-release and protein expression. We describe LNP delivery as a sequence of stochastic transfer processes and review a mathematical model of subsequent protein translation from mRNA. We compile probabilities and numbers obtained from time resolved microscopy. Specifically, live-cell imaging on single cell arrays (LISCA) allows for high-throughput acquisition of thousands of individual GFP reporter expression time courses. The traces yield the distribution of mRNA life-times, expression rates and expression onset. Correlation analysis reveals an inverse dependence of gene expression efficiency and transfection onset-times. Finally, we discuss why timing of mRNA release is critical in the context of codelivery of multiple nucleic acid species as in the case of mRNA co-expression or CRISPR/Cas gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith A Müller
- Faculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Nathalie Schäffler
- Faculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Kellerer
- Multiphoton Imaging Lab, Munich University of Applied Sciences, Munich, Germany
| | - Gerlinde Schwake
- Faculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Joachim O Rädler
- Faculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
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6
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Hu Y, Eder BA, Lin J, Li S, Zhu Y, Wang TH, Guo T, Mao HQ. Liter-scale manufacturing of shelf-stable plasmid DNA/PEI transfection particles for viral vector production. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2024; 32:101194. [PMID: 38352269 PMCID: PMC10863326 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2024.101194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The transfection efficiency and stability of the delivery vehicles of plasmid DNA (pDNA) are critical metrics to ensure high-quality and high-yield production of viral vectors. We previously identified that the optimal size of pDNA/poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) transfection particles is 400-500 nm and developed a bottom-up assembly method to construct stable 400-nm pDNA/PEI particles and benchmarked their transfection efficiency in producing lentiviral vectors (LVVs). Here, we report scale-up production protocols for such transfection particles. Using a two-inlet confined impinging jet (CIJ) mixer with a dual syringe pump set-up, we produced a 1-L batch at a flow rate of 100 mL/min, and further scaled up this process with a larger CIJ mixer and a dual peristaltic pump array, allowing for continuous production at a flow rate of 1 L/min without a lot size limit. We demonstrated the scalability of this process with a 5-L lot and validated the quality of these 400-nm transfection particles against the target product profile, including physical properties, shelf and on-bench stability, transfection efficiency, and LVV production yield in both 15-mL bench culture and 2-L bioreactor runs. These results confirm the potential of this particle assembly process as a scalable manufacturing platform for viral vector production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizong Hu
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | | | - Jinghan Lin
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Sixuan Li
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Yining Zhu
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Tza-Huei Wang
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Ting Guo
- 2seventy bio, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Hai-Quan Mao
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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7
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Baljon J, Kwiatkowski AJ, Pagendarm HM, Stone PT, Kumar A, Bharti V, Schulman JA, Becker KW, Roth EW, Christov PP, Joyce S, Wilson JT. A Cancer Nanovaccine for Co-Delivery of Peptide Neoantigens and Optimized Combinations of STING and TLR4 Agonists. ACS NANO 2024; 18:6845-6862. [PMID: 38386282 PMCID: PMC10919087 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c04471] [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: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has revolutionized cancer treatment and led to complete and durable responses, but only for a minority of patients. Resistance to ICB can largely be attributed to insufficient number and/or function of antitumor CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment. Neoantigen targeted cancer vaccines can activate and expand the antitumor T cell repertoire, but historically, clinical responses have been poor because immunity against peptide antigens is typically weak, resulting in insufficient activation of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells. Herein, we describe a nanoparticle vaccine platform that can overcome these barriers in several ways. First, the vaccine can be reproducibly formulated using a scalable confined impingement jet mixing method to coload a variety of physicochemically diverse peptide antigens and multiple vaccine adjuvants into pH-responsive, vesicular nanoparticles that are monodisperse and less than 100 nm in diameter. Using this approach, we encapsulated synergistically acting adjuvants, cGAMP and monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA), into the nanocarrier to induce a robust and tailored innate immune response that increased peptide antigen immunogenicity. We found that incorporating both adjuvants into the nanovaccine synergistically enhanced expression of dendritic cell costimulatory markers, pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, and peptide antigen cross-presentation. Additionally, the nanoparticle delivery increased lymph node accumulation and uptake of peptide antigen by dendritic cells in the draining lymph node. Consequently, nanoparticle codelivery of peptide antigen, cGAMP, and MPLA enhanced the antigen-specific CD8+ T cell response and delayed tumor growth in several mouse models. Finally, the nanoparticle platform improved the efficacy of ICB immunotherapy in a murine colon carcinoma model. This work establishes a versatile nanoparticle vaccine platform for codelivery of peptide neoantigens and synergistic adjuvants to enhance responses to cancer vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessalyn
J. Baljon
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Alexander J. Kwiatkowski
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Hayden M. Pagendarm
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Payton T. Stone
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Amrendra Kumar
- Department
of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Vijaya Bharti
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Jacob A. Schulman
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Kyle W. Becker
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Eric W. Roth
- Northwestern
University Atomic and Nanoscale Characterization Experimental (NUANCE)
Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Plamen P. Christov
- Vanderbilt
Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt
University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Sebastian Joyce
- Department
of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Department
of Veteran Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee 37212, United States
- Vanderbilt
Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt
Center for Immunobiology, Vanderbilt University
Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - John T. Wilson
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
- Vanderbilt
Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt
University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Department
of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt
Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt
Center for Immunobiology, Vanderbilt University
Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt-Ingram
Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical
Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
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8
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Hoogenboezem EN, Patel SS, Lo JH, Cavnar AB, Babb LM, Francini N, Gbur EF, Patil P, Colazo JM, Michell DL, Sanchez VM, McCune JT, Ma J, DeJulius CR, Lee LH, Rosch JC, Allen RM, Stokes LD, Hill JL, Vickers KC, Cook RS, Duvall CL. Structural optimization of siRNA conjugates for albumin binding achieves effective MCL1-directed cancer therapy. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1581. [PMID: 38383524 PMCID: PMC10881965 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45609-0] [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: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The high potential of siRNAs to silence oncogenic drivers remains largely untapped due to the challenges of tumor cell delivery. Here, divalent lipid-conjugated siRNAs are optimized for in situ binding to albumin to improve pharmacokinetics and tumor delivery. Systematic variation of the siRNA conjugate structure reveals that the location of the linker branching site dictates tendency toward albumin association versus self-assembly, while the lipid hydrophobicity and reversibility of albumin binding also contribute to siRNA intracellular delivery. The lead structure increases tumor siRNA accumulation 12-fold in orthotopic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) tumors over the parent siRNA. This structure achieves approximately 80% silencing of the anti-apoptotic oncogene MCL1 and yields better survival outcomes in three TNBC models than an MCL-1 small molecule inhibitor. These studies provide new structure-function insights on siRNA-lipid conjugate structures that are intravenously injected, associate in situ with serum albumin, and improve pharmacokinetics and tumor treatment efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ella N Hoogenboezem
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Shrusti S Patel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Justin H Lo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ashley B Cavnar
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Lauren M Babb
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Nora Francini
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Eva F Gbur
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Prarthana Patil
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Juan M Colazo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Danielle L Michell
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Violeta M Sanchez
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Joshua T McCune
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jinqi Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Carlisle R DeJulius
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Linus H Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jonah C Rosch
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ryan M Allen
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Larry D Stokes
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jordan L Hill
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Kasey C Vickers
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Rebecca S Cook
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Craig L Duvall
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
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9
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Niu L, Miao Y, Cao Z, Wei T, Zhu J, Li M, Bai B, Chen L, Liu N, Pan F, Zhu J, Wang C, Yang Y, Chen Q. Minimalist Nanovaccine with Optimized Amphiphilic Copolymers for Cancer Immunotherapy. ACS NANO 2024; 18:3349-3361. [PMID: 38230639 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c10174] [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: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Cancer vaccines with the ability to elicit tumor-specific immune responses have attracted significant interest in cancer immunotherapy. A key challenge for effective cancer vaccines is the spatiotemporal codelivery of antigens and adjuvants. Herein, we synthesized a copolymer library containing nine poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate-co-butyl methacrylate-co-2-(azepan-1-yl)ethyl methacrylate (PEGMA-co-BMA-co-C7AMA) graft copolymers with designed proportions of different components to regulate their properties. Among these polymers, C-25, with a C7AMA:BMA ratio at 1.5:1 and PEG wt % of 25%, was screened as the most effective nanovaccine carrier with enhanced ability to induce mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cell (BMDC) maturation. Additionally, RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis revealed that C-25 could activate dendritic cells (DCs) through multisignaling pathways to trigger potent immune effects. Then, the screened C-25 was used to encapsulate the model peptide antigen, OVA257-280, to form nanovaccine C-25/OVA257-280. It was found that the C-25/OVA257-280 nanovaccine could effectively facilitate DC maturation and antigen cross-presentation without any other additional adjuvant and exhibited excellent prophylactic efficacy in the B16F10-OVA tumor model. Moreover, in combination with antiprogrammed cell death protein-ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1), the C-25/OVA257-280 nanovaccine could significantly delay the growth of pre-existing tumors. Therefore, this work developed a minimalist nanovaccine with a simple formulation and high efficiency in activating tumor-specific immune responses, showing great potential for further application in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Niu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yu Miao
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Zhiqin Cao
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Ting Wei
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jiafei Zhu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Maoyi Li
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Boxiong Bai
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Linfu Chen
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Nanhui Liu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Feng Pan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Junjie Zhu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200433, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China
| | - Qian Chen
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
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10
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Lyu M, Yazdi M, Lin Y, Höhn M, Lächelt U, Wagner E. Receptor-Targeted Dual pH-Triggered Intracellular Protein Transfer. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024; 10:99-114. [PMID: 35802884 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Protein therapeutics are of widespread interest due to their successful performance in the current pharmaceutical and medical fields, even though their broad applications have been hindered by the lack of an efficient intracellular delivery approach. Herein, we fabricated an active-targeted dual pH-responsive delivery system with favorable tumor cell entry augmented by extracellular pH-triggered charge reversal and tumor receptor targeting and pH-controlled endosomal release in a traceless fashion. As a traceable model protein, the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) bearing a nuclear localization signal was covalently coupled with a pH-labile traceless azidomethyl-methylmaleic anhydride (AzMMMan) linker followed by functionalization with different molar equivalents of two dibenzocyclooctyne-octa-arginine-cysteine (DBCO-R8C)-modified moieties: polyethylene glycol (PEG)-GE11 peptide for epidermal growth factor receptor-mediated targeting and melittin for endosomal escape. The cationic melittin domain was masked with tetrahydrophthalic anhydride revertible at mild acidic pH 6.5. At the optimally balanced ratio of functional units, the on-demand charge conversion at tumoral extracellular pH 6.5 in combination with GE11-mediated targeting triggered enhanced electrostatic cellular attraction by the R8C cell-penetrating peptides and melittin, as demonstrated by strongly enhanced cellular uptake. Successful endosomal release followed by nuclear localization of the eGFP cargo was obtained by taking advantage of melittin-mediated endosomal escape and rapid traceless release from the AzMMMan linker. The effectiveness of this multifunctional bioresponsive system suggests a promising strategy for delivery of protein drugs toward intracellular targets. A possible therapeutic relevance was indicated by an example of cytosolic delivery of cytochrome c initiating the apoptosis pathway to kill cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Lyu
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Mina Yazdi
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Yi Lin
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Miriam Höhn
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Ulrich Lächelt
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ernst Wagner
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
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11
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Wang X, Li Y, Wang X, Sandoval DM, He Z, A S, Sáez IL, Wang W. Guanidyl-Rich Poly(β Amino Ester)s for Universal Functional Cytosolic Protein Delivery and Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) Cas9 Ribonucleoprotein Based Gene Editing. ACS NANO 2023; 17:17799-17810. [PMID: 37669145 PMCID: PMC10540258 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c03269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
Protein therapeutics are highly promising for complex disease treatment. However, the lack of ideal delivery vectors impedes their clinical use, especially the carriers for in vivo delivery of functional cytosolic protein. In this study, we modified poly(β amino ester)s (PAEs) with a phenyl guanidine (PG) group to enhance their suitability for cytosolic protein delivery. The effects of the PG group on protein binding, cell internalization, protein function protection, and endo/lysosomal escape were systematically evaluated. Compared to the unmodified PAEs (L3), guanidyl rich PAEs (L3PG) presented superior efficiency of protein binding and protein internalization, mainly via clathrin-mediated endocytosis. In addition, both PAEs showed robust capabilities to deliver cytosolic proteins with different molecular weight (ranging from 30 to 464 kDa) and isoelectric points (ranging from 4.3 to 9), which were significantly improved in comparison with the commercial reagents of PULsin and Pierce Protein Transection Reagent. Moreover, L3PG successfully delivered Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) Cas9 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) into HeLa cells expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) and achieved more than 80% GFP expression knockout. These results demonstrated that guanidyl modification on PAEs can enhance its capabilities for intracellular delivery of cytosolic functional proteins and CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein. The guanidyl-rich PAEs are promising nonviral vectors for functional protein delivery and potential use in protein and nuclease-based gene editing therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianqing Wang
- Charles
Institute of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
- Research
and Clinical Translation Center of Gene Medicine and Tissue Engineering,
School of Public Health, Anhui University
of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, China
| | - Yinghao Li
- Charles
Institute of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Xi Wang
- Research
and Clinical Translation Center of Gene Medicine and Tissue Engineering,
School of Public Health, Anhui University
of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, China
| | - Dario M. Sandoval
- Charles
Institute of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Zhonglei He
- Charles
Institute of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
- Research
and Clinical Translation Center of Gene Medicine and Tissue Engineering,
School of Public Health, Anhui University
of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, China
| | - Sigen A
- Charles
Institute of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
- Research
and Clinical Translation Center of Gene Medicine and Tissue Engineering,
School of Public Health, Anhui University
of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, China
| | - Irene Lara Sáez
- Charles
Institute of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Wenxin Wang
- Charles
Institute of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
- Research
and Clinical Translation Center of Gene Medicine and Tissue Engineering,
School of Public Health, Anhui University
of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, China
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12
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Fletcher RB, Stokes LD, Kelly IB, Henderson KM, Vallecillo-Viejo IC, Colazo JM, Wong BV, Yu F, d'Arcy R, Struthers MN, Evans BC, Ayers J, Castanon M, Weirich MJ, Reilly SK, Patel SS, Ivanova YI, Silvera Batista CA, Weiss SM, Gersbach CA, Brunger JM, Duvall CL. Nonviral In Vivo Delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 Using Protein-Agnostic, High-Loading Porous Silicon and Polymer Nanoparticles. ACS NANO 2023; 17:16412-16431. [PMID: 37582231 PMCID: PMC11129837 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c12261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
The complexity of CRISPR machinery is a challenge to its application for nonviral in vivo therapeutic gene editing. Here, we demonstrate that proteins, regardless of size or charge, efficiently load into porous silicon nanoparticles (PSiNPs). Optimizing the loading strategy yields formulations that are ultrahigh loading─>40% cargo by volume─and highly active. Further tuning of a polymeric coating on the loaded PSiNPs yields nanocomposites that achieve colloidal stability under cryopreservation, endosome escape, and gene editing efficiencies twice that of the commercial standard Lipofectamine CRISPRMAX. In a mouse model of arthritis, PSiNPs edit cells in both the cartilage and synovium of knee joints, and achieve 60% reduction in expression of the therapeutically relevant MMP13 gene. Administered intramuscularly, they are active over a broad dose range, with the highest tested dose yielding nearly 100% muscle fiber editing at the injection site. The nanocomposite PSiNPs are also amenable to systemic delivery. Administered intravenously in a model that mimics muscular dystrophy, they edit sites of inflamed muscle. Collectively, the results demonstrate that the PSiNP nanocomposites are a versatile system that can achieve high loading of diverse cargoes and can be applied for gene editing in both local and systemic delivery applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Brock Fletcher
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1631, United States
| | - Larry D Stokes
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1631, United States
| | - Isom B Kelly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1631, United States
| | - Katelyn M Henderson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1631, United States
| | - Isabel C Vallecillo-Viejo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1631, United States
| | - Juan M Colazo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1631, United States
| | - Benjamin V Wong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1631, United States
| | - Fang Yu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1631, United States
| | - Richard d'Arcy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1631, United States
| | - Morgan N Struthers
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1631, United States
| | - Brian C Evans
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1631, United States
| | - Jacob Ayers
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1631, United States
| | - Matthew Castanon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1631, United States
| | - Michael J Weirich
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1631, United States
| | - Sarah K Reilly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1631, United States
| | - Shrusti S Patel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1631, United States
| | - Yoanna I Ivanova
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1631, United States
| | - Carlos A Silvera Batista
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1631, United States
| | - Sharon M Weiss
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1631, United States
| | - Charles A Gersbach
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Jonathan M Brunger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1631, United States
| | - Craig L Duvall
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1631, United States
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13
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Öztürk Ö, Lessl AL, Höhn M, Wuttke S, Nielsen PE, Wagner E, Lächelt U. Peptide nucleic acid-zirconium coordination nanoparticles. Sci Rep 2023; 13:14222. [PMID: 37648689 PMCID: PMC10469198 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40916-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Ideal drug carriers feature a high loading capacity to minimize the exposure of patients with excessive, inactive carrier materials. The highest imaginable loading capacity could be achieved by nanocarriers, which are assembled from the therapeutic cargo molecules themselves. Here, we describe peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-based zirconium (Zr) coordination nanoparticles which exhibit very high PNA loading of [Formula: see text] w/w. This metal-organic hybrid nanomaterial class extends the enormous compound space of coordination polymers towards bioactive oligonucleotide linkers. The architecture of single- or double-stranded PNAs was systematically varied to identify design criteria for the coordination driven self-assembly with Zr(IV) nodes at room temperature. Aromatic carboxylic acid functions, serving as Lewis bases, and a two-step synthesis process with preformation of [Formula: see text] turned out to be decisive for successful nanoparticle assembly. Confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed that the PNA-Zr nanoparticles are readily internalized by cells. PNA-Zr nanoparticles, coated with a cationic lipopeptide, successfully delivered an antisense PNA sequence for splicing correction of the [Formula: see text]-globin intron mutation IVS2-705 into a functional reporter cell line and mediated splice-switching via interaction with the endogenous mRNA splicing machinery. The presented PNA-Zr nanoparticles represent a bioactive platform with high design flexibility and extraordinary PNA loading capacity, where the nucleic acid constitutes an integral part of the material, instead of being loaded into passive delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Özgür Öztürk
- Department of Pharmacy and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), LMU Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Department of Genetic and Bio Engineering, Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Antalya, Türkiye
| | - Anna-Lina Lessl
- Department of Pharmacy and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), LMU Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Miriam Höhn
- Department of Pharmacy and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), LMU Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Wuttke
- Basque Center for Materials (BCMaterials), Leioa, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Peter E Nielsen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ernst Wagner
- Department of Pharmacy and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), LMU Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Ulrich Lächelt
- Department of Pharmacy and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), LMU Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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14
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Weng IC, Chen HL, Lin WH, Liu FT. Sialylation of cell surface glycoconjugates modulates cytosolic galectin-mediated responses upon organelle damage : Minireview. Glycoconj J 2023; 40:295-303. [PMID: 37052731 DOI: 10.1007/s10719-023-10112-z] [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: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Sialylation is an important terminal modification of glycoconjugates that mediate diverse functions in physiology and disease. In this review we focus on how altered cell surface sialylation status is sensed by cytosolic galectins when the integrity of intracellular vesicles or organelles is compromised to expose luminal glycans to the cytosolic milieu, and how this impacts galectin-mediated cellular responses. In addition, we discuss the roles of mammalian sialidases on the cell surface, in the organelle lumen and cytosol, and raise the possibility that intracellular glycan processing may be critical in controlling various galectin-mediated responses when cells encounter stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- I-Chun Weng
- Biomedical Translation Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Lin Chen
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Han Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Fu-Tong Liu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
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15
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Lee A, Gosnell N, Milinkovic D, Taladriz-Blanco P, Rothen-Rutishauser B, Petri-Fink A. Layer-by-Layer siRNA Particle Assemblies for Localized Delivery of siRNA to Epithelial Cells through Surface-Mediated Particle Uptake. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2023; 6:83-92. [PMID: 36598879 PMCID: PMC9847476 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Localized delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a promising approach for spatial control of cell responses at biomaterial interfaces. Layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of siRNA with cationic polyelectrolytes has been used in film and nanoparticle vectors for transfection. Herein, we combine the ability of particles to efficiently deliver siRNA with the ability of film polyelectrolyte multilayers to act locally. LbL particles were prepared with alternating layers of poly(l-arginine) and siRNA and capped with hyaluronic acid. Negatively charged LbL particles were subsequently assembled on the poly(l-lysine)-functionalized substrate to form a LbL particle-decorated surface. Cells grown in contact with the particle-decorated surface were able to survive, internalize particles, and undergo gene silencing. This work shows that particle-decorated surfaces can be engineered by using electrostatic interactions and used to deliver therapeutic payloads for cell-instructive biointerfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Lee
- Adolphe
Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Natalia Gosnell
- Adolphe
Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Daela Milinkovic
- Adolphe
Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Patricia Taladriz-Blanco
- International
Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Water
Quality Group, Avenue
Mestre Jose Veiga s/n, 4715-330 Braga, Portugal
| | | | - Alke Petri-Fink
- Adolphe
Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musee 9, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
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16
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Sadeqi Nezhad M. Poly (beta-amino ester) as an in vivo nanocarrier for therapeutic nucleic acids. Biotechnol Bioeng 2023; 120:95-113. [PMID: 36266918 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Therapeutic nucleic acids are an emerging class of therapy for treating various diseases through immunomodulation, protein replacement, gene editing, and genetic engineering. However, they need a vector to effectively and safely reach the target cells. Most gene and cell therapies rely on ex vivo gene delivery, which is laborious, time-consuming, and costly; therefore, devising a systematic vector for effective and safe in vivo delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids is required to target the cells of interest in an efficient manner. Synthetic nanoparticle vector poly beta amino ester (PBAE), a class of degradable polymer, is a promising candidate for in vivo gene delivery. PBAE is considered the most potent in vivo vector due to its excellent transfection performance and biodegradability. PBAE nanoparticles showed tunable charge density, diverse structural characteristics, excellent encapsulation capacity, high stability, stimuli-responsive release, site-specific delivery, potent binding to nucleic acids, flexible binding ability to various conjugates, and effective endosomal escape. These unique properties of PBAE are an essential contribution to in vivo gene delivery. The current review discusses each of the components used for PBAE synthesis and the impact of various environmental and physicochemical factors of the body on PBAE nanocarrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Sadeqi Nezhad
- Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Translational Biomedical Science Department, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.,Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.,Department of Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
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17
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Rong G, Chen L, Zhu F, Tan E, Cheng Y. Polycatechols with Robust Efficiency in Cytosolic Peptide Delivery via Catechol-Boronate Chemistry. NANO LETTERS 2022; 22:6245-6253. [PMID: 35900805 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c01810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cytosolic delivery of peptides remains a challenging task because of the limited binding sites on peptides and the existence of multiple intracellular barriers. Here, we proposed the use of polycatechols with a high cell permeability to deliver peptides of different physicochemical properties using the catechol-boronate chemistry. Peptides were decorated with boronate moieties via three strategies, and the introduced boronate groups greatly increased the binding affinity of cargo peptides with polycatechols. The loading peptides could be released under the endolysosomal acidity. When the cargo peptide was modified with boronate moiety via a p-hydroxybenzylcarbamate self-immolative spacer, it could be loaded by polycatechols and released in a traceless manner triggered by reactive oxygen species. The proposed strategies greatly promote the cytosolic delivery efficiency of different peptides into various cell lines and restored their biofunctions after intracellular delivery and release. This study provides a general and robust platform for the intracellular delivery of membrane-impermeable peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyu Rong
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, School of Emergent Soft Matter, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, PR China
| | - Lijie Chen
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Fang Zhu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Echuan Tan
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, School of Emergent Soft Matter, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, PR China
| | - Yiyun Cheng
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, School of Emergent Soft Matter, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, PR China
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18
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Kumar R. Materiomically Designed Polymeric Vehicles for Nucleic Acids: Quo Vadis? ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2022; 5:2507-2535. [PMID: 35642794 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Despite rapid advances in molecular biology, particularly in site-specific genome editing technologies, such as CRISPR/Cas9 and base editing, financial and logistical challenges hinder a broad population from accessing and benefiting from gene therapy. To improve the affordability and scalability of gene therapy, we need to deploy chemically defined, economical, and scalable materials, such as synthetic polymers. For polymers to deliver nucleic acids efficaciously to targeted cells, they must optimally combine design attributes, such as architecture, length, composition, spatial distribution of monomers, basicity, hydrophilic-hydrophobic phase balance, or protonation degree. Designing polymeric vectors for specific nucleic acid payloads is a multivariate optimization problem wherein even minuscule deviations from the optimum are poorly tolerated. To explore the multivariate polymer design space rapidly, efficiently, and fruitfully, we must integrate parallelized polymer synthesis, high-throughput biological screening, and statistical modeling. Although materiomics approaches promise to streamline polymeric vector development, several methodological ambiguities must be resolved. For instance, establishing a flexible polymer ontology that accommodates recent synthetic advances, enforcing uniform polymer characterization and data reporting standards, and implementing multiplexed in vitro and in vivo screening studies require considerable planning, coordination, and effort. This contribution will acquaint readers with the challenges associated with materiomics approaches to polymeric gene delivery and offers guidelines for overcoming these challenges. Here, we summarize recent developments in combinatorial polymer synthesis, high-throughput screening of polymeric vectors, omics-based approaches to polymer design, barcoding schemes for pooled in vitro and in vivo screening, and identify materiomics-inspired research directions that will realize the long-unfulfilled clinical potential of polymeric carriers in gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramya Kumar
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1613 Illinois St, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
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19
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Glass EB, Hoover AA, Bullock KK, Madden MZ, Reinfeld BI, Harris W, Parker D, Hufnagel DH, Crispens MA, Khabele D, Rathmell WK, Rathmell JC, Wilson AJ, Giorgio TD, Yull FE. Stimulating TAM-mediated anti-tumor immunity with mannose-decorated nanoparticles in ovarian cancer. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:497. [PMID: 35513776 PMCID: PMC9074180 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-09612-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current cancer immunotherapies have made tremendous impacts but generally lack high response rates, especially in ovarian cancer. New therapies are needed to provide increased benefits. One understudied approach is to target the large population of immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Using inducible transgenic mice, we recently reported that upregulating nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) signaling in TAMs promotes the M1, anti-tumor phenotype and limits ovarian cancer progression. We also developed a mannose-decorated polymeric nanoparticle system (MnNPs) to preferentially deliver siRNA payloads to M2, pro-tumor macrophages in vitro. In this study, we tested a translational strategy to repolarize ovarian TAMs via MnNPs loaded with siRNA targeting the inhibitor of NF-κB alpha (IκBα) using mouse models of ovarian cancer. METHODS We evaluated treatment with MnNPs loaded with IκBα siRNA (IκBα-MnNPs) or scrambled siRNA in syngeneic ovarian cancer models. ID8 tumors in C57Bl/6 mice were used to evaluate consecutive-day treatment of late-stage disease while TBR5 tumors in FVB mice were used to evaluate repetitive treatments in a faster-developing disease model. MnNPs were evaluated for biodistribution and therapeutic efficacy in both models. RESULTS Stimulation of NF-κB activity and repolarization to an M1 phenotype via IκBα-MnNP treatment was confirmed using cultured luciferase-reporter macrophages. Delivery of MnNPs with fluorescent payloads (Cy5-MnNPs) to macrophages in the solid tumors and ascites was confirmed in both tumor models. A three consecutive-day treatment of IκBα-MnNPs in the ID8 model validated a shift towards M1 macrophage polarization in vivo. A clear therapeutic effect was observed with biweekly treatments over 2-3 weeks in the TBR5 model where significantly reduced tumor burden was accompanied by changes in immune cell composition, indicative of reduced immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. No evidence of toxicity associated with MnNP treatment was observed in either model. CONCLUSIONS In mouse models of ovarian cancer, MnNPs were preferentially associated with macrophages in ascites fluid and solid tumors. Evidence of macrophage repolarization, increased inflammatory cues, and reduced tumor burden in IκBα-MnNP-treated mice indicate beneficial outcomes in models of established disease. We have provided evidence of a targeted, TAM-directed approach to increase anti-tumor immunity in ovarian cancer with strong translational potential for future clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan B Glass
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Alyssa A Hoover
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Kennady K Bullock
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Matthew Z Madden
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Bradley I Reinfeld
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Whitney Harris
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Dominique Parker
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | | | - Marta A Crispens
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Immunobiology and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Dineo Khabele
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - W Kimryn Rathmell
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Immunobiology and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jeffrey C Rathmell
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Immunobiology and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Andrew J Wilson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Immunobiology and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Todd D Giorgio
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Immunobiology and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Fiona E Yull
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Vanderbilt Center for Immunobiology and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
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20
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Novel endosomolytic compounds enable highly potent delivery of antisense oligonucleotides. Commun Biol 2022; 5:185. [PMID: 35233031 PMCID: PMC8888659 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03132-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic and research potentials of oligonucleotides (ONs) have been hampered in part by their inability to effectively escape endosomal compartments to reach their cytosolic and nuclear targets. Splice-switching ONs (SSOs) can be used with endosomolytic small molecule compounds to increase functional delivery. So far, development of these compounds has been hindered by a lack of high-resolution methods that can correlate SSO trafficking with SSO activity. Here we present in-depth characterization of two novel endosomolytic compounds by using a combination of microscopic and functional assays with high spatiotemporal resolution. This system allows the visualization of SSO trafficking, evaluation of endosomal membrane rupture, and quantitates SSO functional activity on a protein level in the presence of endosomolytic compounds. We confirm that the leakage of SSO into the cytosol occurs in parallel with the physical engorgement of LAMP1-positive late endosomes and lysosomes. We conclude that the new compounds interfere with SSO trafficking to the LAMP1-positive endosomal compartments while inducing endosomal membrane rupture and concurrent ON escape into the cytosol. The efficacy of these compounds advocates their use as novel, potent, and quick-acting transfection reagents for antisense ONs. Two new endosomolytic small compounds increase delivery of splice-switching oligonucleotides by interfering with their trafficking to the LAMP1-positive endosomal compartments, inducing endosomal membrane rupture and concurrent oligonucleotide escape into the cytosol.
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21
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Calcium Enabled Remote Loading of a Weak Acid Into pH-sensitive Liposomes and Augmented Cytosolic Delivery to Cancer Cells via the Proton Sponge Effect. Pharm Res 2022; 39:1181-1195. [PMID: 35229237 PMCID: PMC9197910 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-022-03206-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
While delivery of chemotherapeutics to cancer cells by nanomedicines can improve therapeutic outcomes, many fail due to the low drug loading (DL), poor cellular uptake and endosomal entrapment. This study investigated the potential to overcome these limitations using pH-sensitive liposomes (PSL) empowered by the use of calcium acetate. An acidic dinitrobenzamide mustard prodrug SN25860 was used as a model drug, with non pH-sensitive liposomes (NPSL) as a reference. Calcium acetate as a remote loading agent allowed to engineer PSL- and NPSL-SN25860 with DL of > 31.1% (w/w). The IC50 of PSL-SN25860 was 21- and 141-fold lower than NPSL and free drug, respectively. At 48 h following injection of PSL-SN25860, NPSL-SN25860 and the free drug, drug concentrations in EMT6-nfsB murine breast tumors were 56.3 µg/g, 6.76 µg/g and undetectable (< 0.015 µg/g), respectively (n = 3). Meanwhile, the ex vivo tumor clonogenic assay showed 9.1%, 19.4% and 42.7% cell survival in the respective tumors. Live-cell imaging and co-localization analysis suggested endosomal escape was accomplished by destabilization of PSL followed by release of Ca2+ in endosomes allowing induction of a proton sponge effect. Subsequent endosomal rupture was observed approximately 30 min following endocytosis of PSL containing Ca2+. Additionally, calcium in liposomes promoted internalization of both PSL and NPSL. Taken together, this study demonstrated multifaceted functions of calcium acetate in promoting drug loading into liposomes, cellular uptake, and endosomal escape of PSL for efficient cytoplasmic drug delivery. The results shed light on designing nano-platforms for cytoplasmic delivery of various therapeutics.
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22
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Lieser RM, Li Q, Chen W, Sullivan MO. Incorporation of Endosomolytic Peptides with Varying Disruption Mechanisms into EGFR-Targeted Protein Conjugates: The Effect on Intracellular Protein Delivery and EGFR Specificity in Breast Cancer Cells. Mol Pharm 2022; 19:661-673. [PMID: 35040326 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.1c00788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Intracellular delivery of protein therapeutics remains a significant challenge limiting the majority of clinically available protein drugs to extracellular targets. Strategies to deliver proteins to subcellular compartments have traditionally relied on cell-penetrating peptides, which can drive enhanced internalization but exhibit unreliable activity and are rarely able to target specific cells, leading to off-target effects. Moreover, few design rules exist regarding the relative efficacy of various endosomal escape strategies in proteins. Accordingly, we developed a simple fusion modification approach to incorporate endosomolytic peptides onto epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted protein conjugates and performed a systematic comparison of the endosomal escape efficacy, mechanism of action, and capacity to maintain EGFR-targeting specificity of conjugates modified with four different endosomolytic sequences of varying modes of action (Aurein 1.2, GALA, HA2, and L17E). Use of the recently developed Gal8-YFP assay indicated that the fusion of each endosomolytic peptide led to enhanced endosomal disruption. Additionally, the incorporation of each endosomolytic peptide increased the half-life of the internalized protein and lowered lysosomal colocalization, further supporting the membrane-disruptive capacity. Despite this, only EGFR-targeted conjugates modified with Aurein 1.2 or GALA maintained EGFR specificity. These results thus demonstrated that the choice of endosomal escape moiety can substantially affect targeting capability, cytotoxicity, and bioactivity and provided important new insights into endosomolytic peptide selection for the design of targeted protein delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M Lieser
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Qirun Li
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Wilfred Chen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Millicent O Sullivan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
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23
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Rui Y, Wilson DR, Tzeng SY, Yamagata HM, Sudhakar D, Conge M, Berlinicke CA, Zack DJ, Tuesca A, Green JJ. High-throughput and high-content bioassay enables tuning of polyester nanoparticles for cellular uptake, endosomal escape, and systemic in vivo delivery of mRNA. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabk2855. [PMID: 34985952 PMCID: PMC8730632 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abk2855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Nanoparticle-based mRNA therapeutics hold great promise, but cellular internalization and endosomal escape remain key barriers for cytosolic delivery. We developed a dual nanoparticle uptake and endosomal disruption assay using high-throughput and high-content image-based screening. Using a genetically encoded Galectin 8 fluorescent fusion protein sensor, endosomal disruption could be detected via sensor clustering on damaged endosomal membranes. Simultaneously, nucleic acid endocytosis was quantified using fluorescently tagged mRNA. We used an array of biodegradable poly(beta-amino ester)s as well as Lipofectamine and PEI to demonstrate that this assay has higher predictive capacity for mRNA delivery compared to conventional polymer and nanoparticle physiochemical characteristics. Top nanoparticle formulations enabled safe and efficacious mRNA expression in multiple tissues following intravenous injection, demonstrating that the in vitro screening method is also predictive of in vivo performance. Efficacious nonviral systemic delivery of mRNA with biodegradable particles opens up new avenues for genetic medicine and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Rui
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and the Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David R. Wilson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and the Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stephany Y. Tzeng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and the Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hannah M. Yamagata
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and the Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Deepti Sudhakar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and the Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Marranne Conge
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and the Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Biology, Berea College, Berea, KY, USA
| | - Cynthia A. Berlinicke
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Donald J. Zack
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Departments of Neuroscience, Molecular Biology and Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Anthony Tuesca
- AstraZeneca, Dosage Form and Design Development, BioPharmaceutical Development, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Jordan J. Green
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and the Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery and Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Departments of Materials Science and Engineering, and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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24
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Coiled coil exposure and histidine tags drive function of an intracellular protein drug carrier. J Control Release 2021; 339:248-258. [PMID: 34563592 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, protein engineering efforts have yielded a diverse set of binding proteins that hold promise for various therapeutic applications. Despite this, their inability to reach intracellular targets limits their applications to cell surface or soluble targets. To address this challenge, we previously reported a protein carrier that binds antibodies and delivers them to therapeutic targets inside cancer cells. This carrier, known as the Hex carrier, is comprised of a self-assembling coiled coil hexamer at the core, with each alpha helix fused to a linker, an antibody binding domain, and a six Histidine-tag (His-tag). In this work, we designed different versions of the carrier to determine the role of each building block in cytosolic protein delivery. We found that increasing exposure of the Hex coiled coil on the carriers, through molecular design or removing antibodies, increased internalization, pointing to a role of the coiled coil in promoting endocytosis. We observed a clear increase in endosomal disruption events when His-tags were present on the carrier relative to when they were removed, due to an endosomal buffering effect. Finally, we found that the antibody binding domains of the Hex carrier could be replaced with monomeric ultra-stable GFP for intracellular delivery and endosomal escape. Our results demonstrate that the Hex coiled coil, in conjunction with His-tags, could be a generalizable vehicle for delivering small and large proteins to intracellular targets. This work also highlights new biological applications for oligomeric coiled coils and shows the direct and quantifiable impact of histidine residues on endosomal disruption. These findings could inform the design of future drug delivery vehicles in applications beyond intracellular protein delivery.
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25
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Iqbal S, Luo B, Melamed JR, Day ES. Critical Evaluation of Different Lysosomal Labeling Methods Used to Analyze RNA Nanocarrier Trafficking in Cells. Bioconjug Chem 2021; 32:2245-2256. [PMID: 34543006 PMCID: PMC9014481 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The use of nucleic acids to regulate gene expression is a rapidly developing field with immense clinical potential. Nanomaterials are frequently used to deliver nucleic acids into cells as they can overcome the poor cellular uptake and endo/lysosomal degradation of bare nucleic acids. For these nanocarriers to be effective, they must escape endo/lysosomal compartments to deliver their nucleic acid cargo into the cytosol (for ribonucleic acid (RNA)) or nucleus (for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)). This process is poorly understood and remains an area of active research toward the goal of developing effective delivery strategies. Fluorescent endo/lysosomal markers are among the most widely employed tools used to evaluate the endosomal escape of nucleic acid nanocarriers. However, the endo/lysosomal labeling method may alter the extent of and route of nanocarrier uptake by cells. The impact of these markers on cellular function and cell-nanocarrier interactions has not been probed in a systematic manner. To investigate this, we compared the effects of several common lysosomal labeling methods, namely, LysoTracker Red (LT Red), transient lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1-mutant green fluorescent protein (LAMP1-mGFP) transfection (Transient GFP), and stable lentiviral LAMP1-mGFP transfection (Stable GFP), on cellular metabolic activity, nanocarrier uptake, nanocarrier/lysosomal label colocalization, and gene silencing potency in U87 glioblastoma and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells using polyethyleneimine (PEI)/ribonucleic acid (RNA) polyplexes as a model nanocarrier. In both U87s and MDA-MB-231s, Transient GFP and LT Red labeling reduced metabolic activity relative to untransfected (Parental) cells, while Stable GFP labeling increased metabolic activity. Congruently, flow cytometry indicates Stable GFP cells have greater polyplex uptake than LT Red-labeled cells in both cell lines. Despite these similar trends in uptake, polyplex intracellular trafficking differs in the two cell lines, as confocal imaging revealed greater polyplex/lysosome colocalization in Stable GFP U87 cells than LT Red-labeled U87 cells, while the trend was reversed in MBA-MB-231s. The level of RNA-mediated gene silencing achieved in Parental versus Stable GFP U87 and MDA-MB-231 cells agreed with the observed levels of polyplex/lysosome colocalization, supporting the established concept that endosomal escape is the rate-limiting step for RNA interference. These findings indicate that lysosomal labels can profoundly alter cellular function and cell-nanocarrier interactions, presenting critical new considerations for researchers investigating nanoparticle trafficking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoaib Iqbal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Benjamin Luo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Jilian R Melamed
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Emily S Day
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Delaware, 201 DuPont Hall, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
- Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute, 4701 Ogletown Stanton Road, Newark, Delaware 19713, United States
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26
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Tierney JW, Evans BC, Cheung-Flynn J, Wang B, Colazo JM, Polcz ME, Cook RS, Brophy CM, Duvall CL. Therapeutic MK2 inhibition blocks pathological vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype switch. JCI Insight 2021; 6:142339. [PMID: 34622803 PMCID: PMC8525639 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.142339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular procedures, such as stenting, angioplasty, and bypass grafting, often fail due to intimal hyperplasia (IH), wherein contractile vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) dedifferentiate to synthetic VSMCs, which are highly proliferative, migratory, and fibrotic. Previous studies suggest MAPK-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2) inhibition may limit VSMC proliferation and IH, although the molecular mechanism underlying the observation remains unclear. We demonstrated here that MK2 inhibition blocked the molecular program of contractile to synthetic dedifferentiation and mitigated IH development. Molecular markers of the VSMC contractile phenotype were sustained over time in culture in rat primary VSMCs treated with potent, long-lasting MK2 inhibitory peptide nanopolyplexes (MK2i-NPs), a result supported in human saphenous vein specimens cultured ex vivo. RNA-Seq of MK2i-NP-treated primary human VSMCs revealed programmatic switching toward a contractile VSMC gene expression profile, increasing expression of antiinflammatory and contractile-associated genes while lowering expression of proinflammatory, promigratory, and synthetic phenotype-associated genes. Finally, these results were confirmed using an in vivo rabbit vein graft model where brief, intraoperative treatment with MK2i-NPs decreased IH and synthetic phenotype markers while preserving contractile proteins. These results support further development of MK2i-NPs as a therapy for blocking VSMC phenotype switch and IH associated with cardiovascular procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- J William Tierney
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Brian C Evans
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Joyce Cheung-Flynn
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Juan M Colazo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Monica E Polcz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Department of General Surgery and
| | - Rebecca S Cook
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Colleen M Brophy
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Craig L Duvall
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Bedingfield SK, Colazo JM, Di Francesco M, Yu F, Liu DD, Di Francesco V, Himmel LE, Gupta MK, Cho H, Hasty KA, Decuzzi P, Duvall CL. Top-Down Fabricated microPlates for Prolonged, Intra-articular Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 siRNA Nanocarrier Delivery to Reduce Post-traumatic Osteoarthritis. ACS NANO 2021; 15:14475-14491. [PMID: 34409835 PMCID: PMC9074946 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c04005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) associated with joint injury triggers a degenerative cycle of matrix destruction and inflammatory signaling, leading to pain and loss of function. Here, prolonged RNA interference (RNAi) of matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13) is tested as a PTOA disease modifying therapy. MMP13 is upregulated in PTOA and degrades the key cartilage structural protein type II collagen. Short interfering RNA (siRNA) loaded nanoparticles (siNPs) were encapsulated in shape-defined poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) based microPlates (μPLs) to formulate siNP-μPLs that maintained siNPs in the joint significantly longer than delivery of free siNPs. Treatment with siNP-μPLs against MMP13 (siMMP13-μPLs) in a mechanical load-induced mouse model of PTOA maintained potent (65-75%) MMP13 gene expression knockdown and reduced MMP13 protein production in joint tissues throughout a 28-day study. MMP13 silencing reduced PTOA articular cartilage degradation/fibrillation, meniscal deterioration, synovial hyperplasia, osteophytes, and pro-inflammatory gene expression, supporting the therapeutic potential of long-lasting siMMP13-μPL therapy for PTOA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Fang Yu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Danielle D. Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States; Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States; Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Valentina Di Francesco
- Laboratory of Nanotechnology for Precision Medicine, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa 16163, Italy
| | - Lauren E. Himmel
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Mukesh K. Gupta
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Hongsik Cho
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee Health Science Center-Campbell Clinic, Memphis, Tennessee 38104, United States; Research 151, VA Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38104, United States
| | - Karen A. Hasty
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee Health Science Center-Campbell Clinic, Memphis, Tennessee 38104, United States; Research 151, VA Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38104, United States
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28
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Bost JP, Barriga H, Holme MN, Gallud A, Maugeri M, Gupta D, Lehto T, Valadi H, Esbjörner EK, Stevens MM, El-Andaloussi S. Delivery of Oligonucleotide Therapeutics: Chemical Modifications, Lipid Nanoparticles, and Extracellular Vesicles. ACS NANO 2021; 15:13993-14021. [PMID: 34505766 PMCID: PMC8482762 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c05099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Oligonucleotides (ONs) comprise a rapidly growing class of therapeutics. In recent years, the list of FDA-approved ON therapies has rapidly expanded. ONs are small (15-30 bp) nucleotide-based therapeutics which are capable of targeting DNA and RNA as well as other biomolecules. ONs can be subdivided into several classes based on their chemical modifications and on the mechanisms of their target interactions. Historically, the largest hindrance to the widespread usage of ON therapeutics has been their inability to effectively internalize into cells and escape from endosomes to reach their molecular targets in the cytosol or nucleus. While cell uptake has been improved, "endosomal escape" remains a significant problem. There are a range of approaches to overcome this, and in this review, we focus on three: altering the chemical structure of the ONs, formulating synthetic, lipid-based nanoparticles to encapsulate the ONs, or biologically loading the ONs into extracellular vesicles. This review provides a background to the design and mode of action of existing FDA-approved ONs. It presents the most common ON classifications and chemical modifications from a fundamental scientific perspective and provides a roadmap of the cellular uptake pathways by which ONs are trafficked. Finally, this review delves into each of the above-mentioned approaches to ON delivery, highlighting the scientific principles behind each and covering recent advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy P. Bost
- Department
of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge 14152, Sweden
| | - Hanna Barriga
- Department
of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17177, Sweden
| | - Margaret N. Holme
- Department
of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17177, Sweden
| | - Audrey Gallud
- Department
of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers
University of Technology, Gothenburg 41296, Sweden
- Advanced
Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg 43150, Sweden
| | - Marco Maugeri
- Department
of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine,
Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 41390, Sweden
| | - Dhanu Gupta
- Department
of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge 14152, Sweden
| | - Taavi Lehto
- Department
of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge 14152, Sweden
- Institute
of Technology, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, Tartu 50411, Estonia
| | - Hadi Valadi
- Department
of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine,
Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 41390, Sweden
| | - Elin K. Esbjörner
- Department
of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers
University of Technology, Gothenburg 41296, Sweden
| | - Molly M. Stevens
- Department
of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17177, Sweden
- Department
of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, Institute of Biomedical
Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BU, United Kingdom
| | - Samir El-Andaloussi
- Department
of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge 14152, Sweden
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29
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Lv S, Sylvestre M, Prossnitz AN, Yang LF, Pun SH. Design of Polymeric Carriers for Intracellular Peptide Delivery in Oncology Applications. Chem Rev 2021; 121:11653-11698. [PMID: 33566580 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, peptides, which can possess high potency, excellent selectivity, and low toxicity, have emerged as promising therapeutics for cancer applications. Combined with an improved understanding of tumor biology and immuno-oncology, peptides have demonstrated robust antitumor efficacy in preclinical tumor models. However, the translation of peptides with intracellular targets into clinical therapies has been severely hindered by limitations in their intrinsic structure, such as low systemic stability, rapid clearance, and poor membrane permeability, that impede intracellular delivery. In this Review, we summarize recent advances in polymer-mediated intracellular delivery of peptides for cancer therapy, including both therapeutic peptides and peptide antigens. We highlight strategies to engineer polymeric materials to increase peptide delivery efficiency, especially cytosolic delivery, which plays a crucial role in potentiating peptide-based therapies. Finally, we discuss future opportunities for peptides in cancer treatment, with an emphasis on the design of polymer nanocarriers for optimized peptide delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alexander N Prossnitz
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
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30
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Zhang S, Lv J, Gao P, Feng Q, Wang H, Cheng Y. A pH-Responsive Phase-Transition Polymer with High Serum Stability in Cytosolic Protein Delivery. NANO LETTERS 2021; 21:7855-7861. [PMID: 34478313 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c03031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Polymer-mediated intracellular protein delivery systems are important for the development of protein-based biotechnologies and therapeutics. However, intracellular delivery of cargo proteins in the presence of serum remains challenging due to competitive binding of serum proteins with the polymers. Here, we reported a dendrimer engineered with a high density of 4-diethylaminophenyl groups on the surface to address this issue. The dendrimer showed a pH-responsive phase-transition behavior and could assemble with cargo proteins into stable nanoparticles in serum solutions. It efficiently delivered cargo proteins into living cells, and exhibited a pH-responsive disassembly behavior after cell internalization. As a result, various cargo proteins were delivered into the cytosol of living cells with maintained bioactivity. This study provided a convenient and efficient strategy to design polymers with high serum-tolerance in cytosolic protein delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Zhang
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, P.R. China
| | - Jia Lv
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, P.R. China
| | - Peng Gao
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, P.R. China
| | - Qiuyu Feng
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, P.R. China
| | - Hui Wang
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, P.R. China
| | - Yiyun Cheng
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, P.R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, P.R. China
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31
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Lv S, Sylvestre M, Song K, Pun SH. Development of D-melittin polymeric nanoparticles for anti-cancer treatment. Biomaterials 2021; 277:121076. [PMID: 34461456 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Melittin, the primary peptide component of bee venom, is a potent cytolytic anti-cancer peptide with established anti-tumor activity. However, practical application of melittin in oncology is hampered by its strong, nonspecific hemolytic activity and intrinsic instability. To address these shortcomings, delivery systems are used to overcome the drawbacks of melittin and facilitate its safe delivery. Yet, a recent study revealed that encapsulated melittin remains immunogenic and can act as an adjuvant to elicit a fatal antibody immune response against the delivery carrier. We discovered that substitution of l-amino acids with d-amino acids mitigates this problem: D-melittin nanoformulations induce significantly decreased immune response, resulting in excellent safety without compromising cytolytic potential. We now report the first application of D-melittin and its micellar formulations for cancer treatment. D-melittin was delivered by a pH-sensitive polymer carrier that (i) forms micellar nanoparticles at normal physiological conditions, encapsulating melittin, and (ii) dissociates at endosomal pH, restoring melittin activity. D-melittin micelles (DMM) exhibits significant cytotoxicity and induces hemolysis in a pH-dependent manner. In addition, DMM induce immunogenic cell death, revealing its potential for cancer immunotherapy. Indeed, in vivo studies demonstrated the superior safety profile of DMM over free peptide and improved efficacy at prohibiting tumor growth. Overall, we present the first application of micellar D-melittin for cancer therapy. These findings establish a new strategy for safe, systemic delivery of melittin, unlocking a potential pathway toward clinical translation for cytotoxic peptides as anti-cancer agents. which can revolutionize in vivo delivery of therapeutic peptides and peptide antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shixian Lv
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States.
| | - Meilyn Sylvestre
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States.
| | - Kefan Song
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States.
| | - Suzie H Pun
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States.
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32
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Hu Y, Zhu Y, Sutherland ND, Wilson DR, Pang M, Liu E, Staub JR, Berlinicke CA, Zack DJ, Green JJ, Reddy SK, Mao HQ. Size-Controlled and Shelf-Stable DNA Particles for Production of Lentiviral Vectors. NANO LETTERS 2021; 21:5697-5705. [PMID: 34228937 PMCID: PMC8283758 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c01421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Polyelectrolyte complex particles assembled from plasmid DNA (pDNA) and poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) have been widely used to produce lentiviral vectors (LVVs) for gene therapy. The current batch-mode preparation for pDNA/PEI particles presents limited reproducibility in large-scale LVV manufacturing processes, leading to challenges in tightly controlling particle stability, transfection outcomes, and LVV production yield. Here we identified the size of pDNA/PEI particles as a key determinant for a high transfection efficiency with an optimal size of 400-500 nm, due to a cellular-uptake-related mechanism. We developed a kinetics-based approach to assemble size-controlled and shelf-stable particles using preassembled nanoparticles as building blocks and demonstrated production scalability on a scale of at least 100 mL. The preservation of colloidal stability and transfection efficiency was benchmarked against particles generated using an industry standard protocol. This particle manufacturing method effectively streamlines the viral manufacturing process and improves the production quality and consistency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizong Hu
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Translational
Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Institute
for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
| | - Yining Zhu
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Translational
Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Institute
for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
| | | | - David R. Wilson
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Translational
Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Institute
for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
| | - Marion Pang
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Institute
for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
| | - Ester Liu
- Institute
for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
| | - Jacob R. Staub
- Institute
for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
| | - Cynthia A. Berlinicke
- Department
of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Donald J. Zack
- Department
of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Jordan J. Green
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Translational
Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Institute
for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
- Department
of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns
Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
| | - Sashank K. Reddy
- Department
of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns
Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Hai-Quan Mao
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Translational
Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Institute
for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns
Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
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33
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Herrera M, Kim J, Eygeris Y, Jozic A, Sahay G. Illuminating endosomal escape of polymorphic lipid nanoparticles that boost mRNA delivery. Biomater Sci 2021; 9:4289-4300. [PMID: 33586742 PMCID: PMC8769212 DOI: 10.1039/d0bm01947j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) for the delivery of mRNA have jumped to the forefront of non-viral gene delivery. Despite this exciting development, poor endosomal escape after LNP cell entry remains an unsolved, rate-limiting bottleneck. Here we report the use of a galectin 8-GFP (Gal8-GFP) cell reporter system to visualize the endosomal escape capabilities of LNP-encapsulated mRNA. LNPs substituted with phytosterols in place of cholesterol exhibited various levels of Gal8 recruitment in the Gal8-GFP reporter system. In live-cell imaging, LNPs containing β-sitosterol (LNP-Sito) showed a 10-fold increase in detectable endosomal perturbation events when compared to the standard cholesterol LNPs (LNP-Chol), suggesting the superior capability of LNP-Sito to escape from endosomal entrapment. Trafficking studies of these LNPs showed strong localization with late endosomes. This highly sensitive and robust Gal8-GFP reporter system can be a valuable tool to elucidate intricacies of LNP trafficking and ephemeral endosomal escape events, enabling advancements in gene delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Herrera
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Robertson Life Sciences Building, Oregon State University, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA
| | - Jeonghwan Kim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Robertson Life Sciences Building, Oregon State University, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA
| | - Yulia Eygeris
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Robertson Life Sciences Building, Oregon State University, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA
| | - Antony Jozic
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Robertson Life Sciences Building, Oregon State University, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA
| | - Gaurav Sahay
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Robertson Life Sciences Building, Oregon State University, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Robertson Life Sciences Building, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA. and Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA
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34
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Schlich M, Palomba R, Costabile G, Mizrahy S, Pannuzzo M, Peer D, Decuzzi P. Cytosolic delivery of nucleic acids: The case of ionizable lipid nanoparticles. Bioeng Transl Med 2021; 6:e10213. [PMID: 33786376 PMCID: PMC7995196 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ionizable lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are the most clinically advanced nano-delivery system for therapeutic nucleic acids. The great effort put in the development of ionizable lipids with increased in vivo potency brought LNPs from the laboratory benches to the FDA approval of patisiran in 2018 and the ongoing clinical trials for mRNA-based vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. Despite these success stories, several challenges remain in RNA delivery, including what is known as "endosomal escape." Reaching the cytosol is mandatory for unleashing the therapeutic activity of RNA molecules, as their accumulation in other intracellular compartments would simply result in efficacy loss. In LNPs, the ability of ionizable lipids to form destabilizing non-bilayer structures at acidic pH is recognized as the key for endosomal escape and RNA cytosolic delivery. This is motivating a surge in studies aiming at designing novel ionizable lipids with improved biodegradation and safety profiles. In this work, we describe the journey of RNA-loaded LNPs across multiple intracellular barriers, from the extracellular space to the cytosol. In silico molecular dynamics modeling, in vitro high-resolution microscopy analyses, and in vivo imaging data are systematically reviewed to distill out the regulating mechanisms underlying the endosomal escape of RNA. Finally, a comparison with strategies employed by enveloped viruses to deliver their genetic material into cells is also presented. The combination of a multidisciplinary analytical toolkit for endosomal escape quantification and a nature-inspired design could foster the development of future LNPs with improved cytosolic delivery of nucleic acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Schlich
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaLaboratory of Nanotechnology for Precision MedicineGenoaItaly
- Department of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CagliariCagliariItaly
| | - Roberto Palomba
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaLaboratory of Nanotechnology for Precision MedicineGenoaItaly
| | - Gabriella Costabile
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaLaboratory of Nanotechnology for Precision MedicineGenoaItaly
| | - Shoshy Mizrahy
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaLaboratory of Nanotechnology for Precision MedicineGenoaItaly
- Laboratory of Precision NanoMedicine, Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life SciencesTel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
- Department of Materials Sciences and Engineering, Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of EngineeringTel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
- Center for Nanoscience and NanotechnologyTel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
- Cancer Biology Research CenterTel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
| | - Martina Pannuzzo
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaLaboratory of Nanotechnology for Precision MedicineGenoaItaly
| | - Dan Peer
- Laboratory of Precision NanoMedicine, Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life SciencesTel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
- Department of Materials Sciences and Engineering, Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of EngineeringTel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
- Center for Nanoscience and NanotechnologyTel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
- Cancer Biology Research CenterTel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
| | - Paolo Decuzzi
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaLaboratory of Nanotechnology for Precision MedicineGenoaItaly
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35
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Karlsson J, Tzeng SY, Hemmati S, Luly KM, Choi O, Rui Y, Wilson DR, Kozielski KL, Quiñones-Hinojosa A, Green JJ. Photocrosslinked Bioreducible Polymeric Nanoparticles for Enhanced Systemic siRNA Delivery as Cancer Therapy. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2021; 31:2009768. [PMID: 34650390 PMCID: PMC8513781 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202009768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Clinical translation of polymer-based nanocarriers for systemic delivery of RNA has been limited due to poor colloidal stability in the blood stream and intracellular delivery of the RNA to the cytosol. To address these limitations, this study reports a new strategy incorporating photocrosslinking of bioreducible nanoparticles for improved stability extracellularly and rapid release of RNA intracellularly. In this design, the polymeric nanocarriers contain ester bonds for hydrolytic degradation and disulfide bonds for environmentally triggered small interfering RNA (siRNA) release in the cytosol. These photocrosslinked bioreducible nanoparticles (XbNPs) have a shielded surface charge, reduced adsorption of serum proteins, and enable superior siRNA-mediated knockdown in both glioma and melanoma cells in high-serum conditions compared to non-crosslinked formulations. Mechanistically, XbNPs promote cellular uptake and the presence of secondary and tertiary amines enables efficient endosomal escape. Following systemic administration, XbNPs facilitate targeting of cancer cells and tissue-mediated siRNA delivery beyond the liver, unlike conventional nanoparticle-based delivery. These attributes of XbNPs facilitate robust siRNA-mediated knockdown in vivo in melanoma tumors colonized in the lungs following systemic administration. Thus, biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles, via photocrosslinking, demonstrate extended colloidal stability and efficient delivery of RNA therapeutics under physiological conditions, and thereby potentially advance systemic delivery technologies for nucleic acid-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Karlsson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Nanobiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Department of Chemistry-Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-75121, Sweden
| | - Stephany Y Tzeng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Nanobiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Shayan Hemmati
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Nanobiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Kathryn M Luly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Nanobiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Olivia Choi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Nanobiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Yuan Rui
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Nanobiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - David R Wilson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Nanobiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Kristen L Kozielski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Nanobiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Institute for Functional Interfaces, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen 76344, Germany
| | | | - Jordan J Green
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Nanobiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Departments of Materials Science and Engineering, Neurosurgery, Oncology, Ophthalmology, and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
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36
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Hong MH, Weng IC, Li FY, Lin WH, Liu FT. Intracellular galectins sense cytosolically exposed glycans as danger and mediate cellular responses. J Biomed Sci 2021; 28:16. [PMID: 33663512 PMCID: PMC7931364 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-021-00713-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Galectins are animal lectins that recognize carbohydrates and play important roles in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Recent studies have indicated that under a variety of challenges, intracellular galectins bind to host glycans displayed on damaged endocytic vesicles and accumulate around these damaged organelles. Accumulated galectins then engage cellular proteins and subsequently control cellular responses, such as autophagy. In this review, we have summarized the stimuli that lead to the accumulation of galectins, the molecular mechanisms of galectin accumulation, and galectin-mediated cellular responses, and elaborate on the differential regulatory effects among galectins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Hsiang Hong
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - I-Chun Weng
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Yen Li
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Han Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Fu-Tong Liu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
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37
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Munson MJ, O'Driscoll G, Silva AM, Lázaro-Ibáñez E, Gallud A, Wilson JT, Collén A, Esbjörner EK, Sabirsh A. A high-throughput Galectin-9 imaging assay for quantifying nanoparticle uptake, endosomal escape and functional RNA delivery. Commun Biol 2021; 4:211. [PMID: 33594247 PMCID: PMC7887203 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01728-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA-based therapies have great potential to treat many undruggable human diseases. However, their efficacy, in particular for mRNA, remains hampered by poor cellular delivery and limited endosomal escape. Development and optimisation of delivery vectors, such as lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), are impeded by limited screening methods to probe the intracellular processing of LNPs in sufficient detail. We have developed a high-throughput imaging-based endosomal escape assay utilising a Galectin-9 reporter and fluorescently labelled mRNA to probe correlations between nanoparticle-mediated uptake, endosomal escape frequency, and mRNA translation. Furthermore, this assay has been integrated within a screening platform for optimisation of lipid nanoparticle formulations. We show that Galectin-9 recruitment is a robust, quantitative reporter of endosomal escape events induced by different mRNA delivery nanoparticles and small molecules. We identify nanoparticles with superior escape properties and demonstrate cell line variances in endosomal escape response, highlighting the need for fine-tuning of delivery formulations for specific applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Munson
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Gwen O'Driscoll
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Andreia M Silva
- Discovery Biology, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Elisa Lázaro-Ibáñez
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Audrey Gallud
- Division of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - John T Wilson
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Anna Collén
- Projects, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, Biopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Elin K Esbjörner
- Division of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Alan Sabirsh
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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38
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Self-assembled miRNA-switch nanoparticles target denuded regions and prevent restenosis. Mol Ther 2021; 29:1744-1757. [PMID: 33545360 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.01.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Effective delivery of cell-selective therapies that target atherosclerotic plaques and neointimal growth while sparing the endothelium remains the Achilles heel of percutaneous interventions. The current study utilizes synthetic microRNA switch therapy that self-assembles to form a compacted, nuclease-resistant nanoparticle <200 nM in size when mixed with cationic amphipathic cell-penetrating peptide (p5RHH). These nanoparticles possess intrinsic endosomolytic activity that requires endosomal acidification. When administered in a femoral artery wire injury mouse model in vivo, the mRNA-p5RHH nanoparticles deliver their payload specifically to the regions of endothelial denudation and not to the lungs, liver, kidney, or spleen. Moreover, repeated administration of nanoparticles containing a microRNA switch, consisting of synthetically modified mRNA encoding for the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1 that contains one complementary target sequence of the endothelial cell-specific miR-126 at its 5' UTR, drastically reduced neointima formation after wire injury and allowed for vessel reendothelialization. This cell-selective nanotherapy is a valuable tool that has the potential to advance the fight against neointimal hyperplasia and atherosclerosis.
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39
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Buschmann MD, Carrasco MJ, Alishetty S, Paige M, Alameh MG, Weissman D. Nanomaterial Delivery Systems for mRNA Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:65. [PMID: 33478109 PMCID: PMC7836001 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9010065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 258] [Impact Index Per Article: 86.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent success of mRNA vaccines in SARS-CoV-2 clinical trials is in part due to the development of lipid nanoparticle delivery systems that not only efficiently express the mRNA-encoded immunogen after intramuscular injection, but also play roles as adjuvants and in vaccine reactogenicity. We present an overview of mRNA delivery systems and then focus on the lipid nanoparticles used in the current SARS-CoV-2 vaccine clinical trials. The review concludes with an analysis of the determinants of the performance of lipid nanoparticles in mRNA vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D. Buschmann
- Department of Bioengineering, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MS 1J7, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA; (M.J.C.); (S.A.)
| | - Manuel J. Carrasco
- Department of Bioengineering, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MS 1J7, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA; (M.J.C.); (S.A.)
| | - Suman Alishetty
- Department of Bioengineering, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MS 1J7, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA; (M.J.C.); (S.A.)
| | - Mikell Paige
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA;
| | - Mohamad Gabriel Alameh
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 130 Stemmler Hall, 3450 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
| | - Drew Weissman
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 410B Hill Pavilion, 380 S. University Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
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40
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Replacement of L-amino acid peptides with D-amino acid peptides mitigates anti-PEG antibody generation against polymer-peptide conjugates in mice. J Control Release 2021; 331:142-153. [PMID: 33444669 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The generation of anti-PEG antibodies in response to PEGylated proteins, peptides, and carriers significantly limits their clinical applicability. IgM antibodies mediate the clearance of these therapeutics upon repeat injection, resulting in toxicity and hindered therapeutic efficacy. We observed this phenomenon in our polymer platform, virus-inspired polymer for endosomal release (VIPER), which employs pH-sensitive triggered display of a lytic peptide, melittin, to facilitate endosomal escape. While the polymer-peptide conjugate was well tolerated after a single injection, we observed unexpected mortality upon repeat injection. Thus, the goal of this work was to enhance the safety and tolerability of VIPER for frequent dosing. Based on previous reports on anti-PEG antibodies and the adjuvant activity of melittin, we characterized the antibody response to polymer, peptide, and polymer-peptide conjugates after repeat-dosing and measured high IgM titers that bound PEG. By substituting the L-amino acid peptide for its D-amino acid enantiomer, we significantly attenuated the anti-PEG antibody generation and toxicity, permitting repeat-injections. We attempted to rescue mice from L-melittin induced toxicity by prophylactic injection of platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonist CV-6209, but observed minimal effect, suggesting that PAF is not the primary mediator of the observed hypersensitivity response. Overall, we demonstrated that the D-amino acid polymer-peptide conjugates, unlike L-amino acid polymer-peptide conjugates, exhibit good tolerability in vivo, even upon repeat administration, and do not elicit the generation of anti-PEG antibodies.
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Jackson MA, Patel SS, Yu F, Cottam MA, Glass EB, Hoogenboezem EN, Fletcher RB, Dollinger BR, Patil P, Liu DD, Kelly IB, Bedingfield SK, King AR, Miles RE, Hasty AM, Giorgio TD, Duvall CL. Kupffer cell release of platelet activating factor drives dose limiting toxicities of nucleic acid nanocarriers. Biomaterials 2021; 268:120528. [PMID: 33285438 PMCID: PMC7856291 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2020.120528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
This work establishes that Kupffer cell release of platelet activating factor (PAF), a lipidic molecule with pro-inflammatory and vasoactive signaling properties, dictates dose-limiting siRNA nanocarrier-associated toxicities. High-dose intravenous injection of siRNA-polymer nano-polyplexes (si-NPs) elicited acute, shock-like symptoms in mice, associated with increased plasma PAF and consequently reduced PAF acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) activity. These symptoms were completely prevented by prophylactic PAF receptor inhibition or Kupffer cell depletion. Assessment of varied si-NP chemistries confirmed that toxicity level correlated to relative uptake of the carrier by liver Kupffer cells and that this toxicity mechanism is dependent on carrier endosome disruptive function. 4T1 tumor-bearing mice, which exhibit increased circulating leukocytes, displayed greater sensitivity to these toxicities. PAF-mediated toxicities were generalizable to commercial delivery reagent in vivo-jetPEI® and an MC3 lipid formulation matched to an FDA-approved nanomedicine. These collective results establish Kupffer cell release of PAF as a key mediator of siRNA nanocarrier toxicity and identify PAFR inhibition as an effective strategy to increase siRNA nanocarrier tolerated dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith A Jackson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Shrusti S Patel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Fang Yu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Matthew A Cottam
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Evan B Glass
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Ella N Hoogenboezem
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - R Brock Fletcher
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Bryan R Dollinger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Prarthana Patil
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Danielle D Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Isom B Kelly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Sean K Bedingfield
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Allyson R King
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Rachel E Miles
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Alyssa M Hasty
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA; Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - Todd D Giorgio
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Craig L Duvall
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
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42
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Nguyen DC, Shae D, Pagendarm HM, Becker KW, Wehbe M, Kilchrist KV, Pastora LE, Palmer CR, Seber P, Christov PP, Duvall CL, Wilson JT. Amphiphilic Polyelectrolyte Graft Copolymers Enhance the Activity of Cyclic Dinucleotide STING Agonists. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2001056. [PMID: 33225632 PMCID: PMC7856189 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202001056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Cyclic dinucleotide (CDN) agonists of stimulator of interferon genes (STING) hold great therapeutic potential, but their activity is hindered by poor drug-like properties that restrict cytosolic bioavailability. Here, this challenge is addressed through the synthesis and evaluation of a novel series of PEGMA-co-DEAEMA-co-BMA copolymers with pH-responsive, membrane-destabilizing activity to enhance intracellular delivery of the CDN, cGAMP. Copolymers are synthesized with PEGMA of two different molecular weights (300 and 950 Da) and over a range of PEG mass fraction and polymer molecular weight, and relationships between copolymer structure, self-assembly, endosomal escape, and cGAMP activity are elucidated. A subset of polymers that self-assembled into 50-800 nm nanoparticles is identified, which can be loaded with cGAMP via a simple mixing strategy, resulting in significantly enhanced immunostimulatory activity. Increased cGAMP activity is found to be highly correlated with the capacity of carriers to enhance intracellular CDN uptake and to promote endosomal destabilization, findings that establish efficient cytosolic delivery as a criterion for CDN carriers. Additionally, it is demonstrated that a lead CDN carrier formulation can enhance STING activation in vivo in a model of intratumoral immunotherapy. Collectively, these investigations demonstrate the utility of PEGMA-co-DEAEMA-co-BMA copolymers as carriers for CDNs and potentially other cytosolically-acting drug cargo.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. Chuong Nguyen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- The SyBBURE Searle Undergraduate Research Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Daniel Shae
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Hayden M. Pagendarm
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Kyle W. Becker
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Mohamed Wehbe
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Kameron V. Kilchrist
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Lucinda E. Pastora
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Christian R. Palmer
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Pedro Seber
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Plamen P. Christov
- Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232
| | - Craig L. Duvall
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - John T. Wilson
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Immunobiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232
- Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
- Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
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43
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Jacobson ME, Becker KW, Palmer CR, Pastora LE, Fletcher RB, Collins KA, Fedorova O, Duvall CL, Pyle AM, Wilson JT. Structural Optimization of Polymeric Carriers to Enhance the Immunostimulatory Activity of Molecularly Defined RIG-I Agonists. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2020; 6:2008-2022. [PMID: 33274278 PMCID: PMC7706089 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.0c00568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
RNA ligands of retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) hold significant promise as antiviral agents, vaccine adjuvants, and cancer immunotherapeutics, but their efficacy is hindered by inefficient intracellular delivery to the cytosol where RIG-I is localized. Here, we address this challenge through the synthesis and evaluation of a library of polymeric carriers rationally designed to promote the endosomal escape of 5'-triphosphate RNA (3pRNA) RIG-I agonists. We synthesized a series of PEG-block-(DMAEMA-co-A n MA) polymers, where A n MA is an alkyl methacrylate monomer ranging from n = 2-12 carbons, of variable composition, and examined effects of polymer structure on the intracellular delivery of 3pRNA. Through in vitro screening of 30 polymers, we identified four lead carriers (4-50, 6-40, 8-40, and 10-40, where the first number refers to the alkyl chain length and the second number refers to the percentage of hydrophobic monomer) that packaged 3pRNA into ∼100-nm-diameter particles and significantly enhanced its immunostimulatory activity in multiple cell types. In doing so, these studies also revealed an interplay between alkyl chain length and monomer composition in balancing RNA loading, pH-responsive properties, and endosomal escape, studies that establish new structure-activity relationships for polymeric delivery of 3pRNA and other nucleic acid therapeutics. Importantly, lead carriers enabled intravenous administration of 3pRNA in mice, resulting in increased RIG-I activation as measured by increased levels of IFN-α in serum and elevated expression of Ifnb1 and Cxcl10 in major clearance organs, effects that were dependent on polymer composition. Collectively, these studies have yielded novel polymeric carriers designed and optimized specifically to enhance the delivery and activity of 3pRNA with potential to advance the clinical development of RIG-I agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max E. Jacobson
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Kyle W. Becker
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Christian R. Palmer
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Lucinda E. Pastora
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - R. Brock Fletcher
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Kathryn A. Collins
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Olga Fedorova
- Department
of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Craig L. Duvall
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Anna M. Pyle
- Department
of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - John. T. Wilson
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
- Vanderbilt
Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt
Center for Immunobiology, Vanderbilt University
Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt
Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt
University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt
Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt-Ingram
Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical
Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
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44
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Barrios D, Segatori L. Open questions: how do engineered nanomaterials affect our cells? BMC Biol 2020; 18:176. [PMID: 33234159 PMCID: PMC7687697 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00922-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Our cells have evolutionarily conserved mechanisms that battle foreign and toxic materials to maintain cellular homeostasis and viability. How do these cellular machineries respond to engineered nanomaterials?
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Barrios
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Laura Segatori
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA. .,Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA. .,Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
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45
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Dailing EA, Kilchrist KV, Tierney JW, Fletcher RB, Evans BC, Duvall CL. Modifying Cell Membranes with Anionic Polymer Amphiphiles Potentiates Intracellular Delivery of Cationic Peptides. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:50222-50235. [PMID: 33124813 PMCID: PMC9082340 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c13304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Rapid, facile, and noncovalent cell membrane modification with alkyl-grafted anionic polymers was sought as an approach to enhance intracellular delivery and bioactivity of cationic peptides. We synthesized a library of acrylic acid-based copolymers containing varying amounts of an amine-reactive pentafluorophenyl acrylate monomer followed by postpolymerization modification with a series of alkyl amines to afford precise control over the length and density of aliphatic alkyl side chains. This synthetic strategy enabled systematic investigation of the effect of the polymer structure on membrane binding, potentiation of peptide cell uptake, pH-dependent disruption of lipid bilayers for endosome escape, and intracellular bioavailability. A subset of these polymers exhibited pKa of ∼6.8, which facilitated stable membrane association at physiological pH and rapid, pH-dependent endosomal disruption upon endocytosis as quantified in Galectin-8-YFP reporter cells. Cationic cell penetrating peptide (CPP) uptake was enhanced up to 15-fold in vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro when peptide treatment was preceded by a 30-min pretreatment with lead candidate polymers. We also designed and implemented a new and highly sensitive assay for measuring the intracellular bioavailability of CPPs based on the NanoLuciferase (NanoLuc) technology previously developed for measuring intracellular protein-protein interactions. Using this split luciferase class of assay, polymer pretreatment enhanced intracellular delivery of the CPP-modified HiBiT peptide up to 30-fold relative to CPP-HiBiT without polymer pretreatment (p < 0.05). The overall structural analyses show that polymers containing 50:50 or 70:30 molar ratios of carboxyl groups to alkyl side chains of 6-8 carbons maximized peptide uptake, pH-dependent membrane disruption, and intracellular bioavailability and that this potentiation effect was maximized by pairing with CPPs with high cationic charge density. These results demonstrate a rapid, mild method for polymer modification of cell surfaces to potentiate intracellular delivery, endosome escape, and bioactivity of cationic peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric A Dailing
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, PMB 351634, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Kameron V Kilchrist
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, PMB 351634, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - J William Tierney
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, PMB 351634, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - R Brock Fletcher
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, PMB 351634, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Brian C Evans
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, PMB 351634, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Craig L Duvall
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, PMB 351634, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
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46
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Lv W, Champion JA. Demonstration of intracellular trafficking, cytosolic bioavailability, and target manipulation of an antibody delivery platform. NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2020; 32:102315. [PMID: 33065253 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2020.102315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Intracellular antibody delivery into live cells has significant implications for research and therapeutic applications. However, many delivery systems lack potency due to low uptake and/or endosomal entrapment and understanding of intracellular delivery processes is lacking. Herein, we studied the cellular uptake, intracellular trafficking and targeting of antibodies using our previously developed Hex antibody nanocarrier. We demonstrated Hex-antibodies were internalized through multiple endocytic routes into lysosomes and provide evidence of endo/lysosomal disruption and Hex-antibody release to the cytosol. Cytosolic antibodies retained their bioactivity for at least 24 h. Functional effect of Hex delivered anti-STAT3 antibodies was evidenced by inhibition of nuclear translocation of cytosolic transcription factor STAT3. This study has generated understanding of key steps in the Hex intracellular antibody delivery system and will facilitate the development of effective cytosolic antibody delivery and applications in both the therapeutic and research domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Lv
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States.
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47
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Karlsson J, Rhodes KR, Green JJ, Tzeng SY. Poly(beta-amino ester)s as gene delivery vehicles: challenges and opportunities. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2020; 17:1395-1410. [PMID: 32700581 PMCID: PMC7658038 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2020.1796628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Gene delivery technologies are being developed for an increasing number of biomedical applications, with delivery vehicles including viruses and non-viral materials. Among biomaterials used for non-viral gene delivery, poly(beta-amino ester)s (PBAEs), a class of synthetic, biodegradable polymers, have risen as a leading gene delivery vehicle that has been used for multiple applications in vitro and in vivo. AREAS COVERED This review summarizes the key properties of PBAEs and their development, including a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of PBAEs for gene delivery applications. The use of PBAEs to improve the properties of other drug delivery vehicles is also summarized. EXPERT OPINION PBAEs are designed to have multiple characteristics that are ideal for gene delivery, including their reversible positive charge, which promotes binding to nucleic acids as well as imparting high buffering capacity, and their rapid degradability under mild conditions. Simultaneously, some of their properties also lead to nanoparticle instability and low transfection efficiency in physiological environments. The ease with which PBAEs can be chemically modified as well as non-covalently blended with other materials, however, allows them to be customized specifically to overcome delivery barriers for varied applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Karlsson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Kelly R. Rhodes
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Jordan J. Green
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Institute for Nanobiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Departments of Materials Science and Engineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Departments of Oncology, Ophthalmology, and Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Stephany Y. Tzeng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
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48
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Kondow-McConaghy HM, Muthukrishnan N, Erazo-Oliveras A, Najjar K, Juliano RL, Pellois JP. Impact of the Endosomal Escape Activity of Cell-Penetrating Peptides on the Endocytic Pathway. ACS Chem Biol 2020; 15:2355-2363. [PMID: 32786263 PMCID: PMC7502533 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.0c00319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are routinely used for the delivery of macromolecules into live human cells. To enter the cytosolic space of cells, CPPs typically permeabilize the membrane of endosomes. In turn, several approaches have been developed to increase the endosomal membrane permeation activity of CPPs so as to improve delivery efficiencies. The endocytic pathway is, however, important in maintaining cellular homeostasis, and understanding how endosomal permeation impacts cells is now critical to define the general utility of CPPs. Herein, we investigate how CPP-based delivery protocols affect the endocytic network. We detect that, in some cases, cell penetration induces the activation of Chmp1b, Galectin-3, and TFEB, which are components of endosomal repair, organelle clearance, and biogenesis pathways, respectively. We also detect that cellular delivery modulates endocytosis and endocytic proteolysis. Remarkably, a multimeric analogue of the prototypical CPP TAT permeabilizes endosomes efficiently without inducing membrane damage responses. These results challenge the notion that reagents that make endosomes leaky are generally toxic. Instead, our data indicates that it is possible to enter cells with minimal deleterious effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena M. Kondow-McConaghy
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Nandhini Muthukrishnan
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Alfredo Erazo-Oliveras
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Kristina Najjar
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Rudolph L. Juliano
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jean-Philippe Pellois
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
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49
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Kelly IB, Fletcher RB, McBride JR, Weiss SM, Duvall CL. Tuning Composition of Polymer and Porous Silicon Composite Nanoparticles for Early Endosome Escape of Anti-microRNA Peptide Nucleic Acids. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:39602-39611. [PMID: 32805967 PMCID: PMC8356247 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c05827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Porous silicon nanoparticles (PSNPs) offer tunable pore structure and easily modified surface chemistry, enabling high loading capacity for drugs with diverse chemicophysical properties. While PSNPs are also cytocompatible and degradable, PSNP integration into composite structures can be a useful approach to enhance carrier colloidal stability, drug-cargo loading stability, and endosome escape. Here, we explored PSNP polymer composites formed by coating of oxidized PSNPs with a series of poly[ethylene glycol-block-(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate-co-butyl methacrylate)] (PEG-DB) diblock copolymers with varied molar ratios of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (D) and butyl methacrylate (B) in the random copolymer block. We screened and developed PSNP composites specifically toward intracellular delivery of microRNA inhibitory peptide nucleic acids (PNA). While a copolymer with 50 mol % B (50B) is optimal for early endosome escape in free polymer form, its pH switch was suppressed when it was formed into 50B polymer-coated PSNP composites (50BCs). We demonstrate that a lower mol % B (30BC) is the ideal PEG-DB composition for PSNP/PEG-DB nanocomposites based on having both the highest endosome disruption potential and miR-122 inhibitory activity. At a 1 mM PNA dose, 30BCs facilitated more potent inhibition of miR-122 in comparison to 40BC (p = 0.0095), 50BC (p < 0.0001), or an anti-miR-122 oligonucleotide delivered with the commercial transfection reagent Fugene 6. Using a live cell galectin 8-based endosome disruption reporter, 30BCs had greater endosomal escape than 40BCs and 50BCs within 2 h after treatment, suggesting that rapid endosome escape correlates with higher intracellular bioactivity. This study provides new insight on the polymer structure-dependent effects on stability, endosome escape, and cargo intracellular bioavailability for endosomolytic polymer-coated PSNPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isom B Kelly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - R Brock Fletcher
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - James R McBride
- Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Sharon M Weiss
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Craig L Duvall
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
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Dave KM, Han L, Jackson MA, Kadlecik L, Duvall CL, S Manickam D. DNA Polyplexes of a Phosphorylcholine-Based Zwitterionic Polymer for Gene Delivery. Pharm Res 2020; 37:176. [PMID: 32860072 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-020-02899-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We tested polyplexes of a diblock polymer containing a pH-responsive, endosomolytic core (dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate and butyl methacrylate; DB) and a zwitterionic Poly (methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) corona for the delivery of plasmid DNA (pDNA) to glioblastoma cells. METHODS We studied the physicochemical characteristics of the DNA polyplexes such as particle hydrodynamic diameter and surface potential. Cytocompatibility of free PMPC-DB polymer and pDNA polyplexes with U-87MG and U-138MG glioma cell lines were evaluated using the ATP assay. The transfection activity of luciferase pDNA polyplexes was measured using a standard luciferase assay. Anti-proliferative, apoptotic, and cell migration inhibitory activities of PMPC-DB/Interferon-beta (IFN-β1) pDNA polyplexes were examined using ATP assay, flow cytometry, and wound closure assay, respectively. RESULTS PMPC-DB copolymer condensed pDNA into nanosized polyplexes. DNA polyplexes showed particle diameters ranging from ca. 100-150 nm with narrow polydispersity indices and near electroneutral zeta potential values. PMPC-DB/Luciferase pDNA polyplexes were safe and showed an 18-fold increase in luciferase expression compared to the gold standard PEI polyplexes in U-87MG cells. PMPC-DB/IFN-β1 polyplexes induced apoptosis, demonstrated anti-proliferative effects, and retarded cell migration in glioblastoma cells. CONCLUSION The results described herein should guide the future optimization of PMPC-DB/DNA delivery systems for in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kandarp M Dave
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15282, USA
| | - Linjiang Han
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15282, USA
| | - Meredith A Jackson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Lindsay Kadlecik
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15282, USA
| | - Craig L Duvall
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Devika S Manickam
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15282, USA.
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