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Wu Y, Chen K, Wang J, Chen M, Dai W, Liu R. Recent Advances and Future Developments in the Preparation of Polypeptides via N-Carboxyanhydride (NCA) Ring-Opening Polymerization. J Am Chem Soc 2024. [PMID: 39172171 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c05382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
Polypeptides have the same or similar backbone structures as proteins and peptides, rendering them as suitable and important biomaterials. Amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides (NCA) ring-opening polymerization has been the most efficient strategy for polypeptide preparation, with continuous advance in the design of initiators, catalysts and reaction conditions. This Perspective first summarizes the recent progress of NCA synthesis and purification. Subsequently, we focus on various initiators for NCA polymerization, catalysts for accelerating polymerization or enhancing the controllability of polymerization, and recent advances in the reaction approach of NCA polymerization. Finally, we discuss future research directions and open challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueming Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Specially Functional Polymeric Materials and Related Technology (Ministry of Education), Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Kang Chen
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Specially Functional Polymeric Materials and Related Technology (Ministry of Education), Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Jiangzhou Wang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Specially Functional Polymeric Materials and Related Technology (Ministry of Education), Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Minzhang Chen
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Specially Functional Polymeric Materials and Related Technology (Ministry of Education), Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Wenhui Dai
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Specially Functional Polymeric Materials and Related Technology (Ministry of Education), Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Runhui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Specially Functional Polymeric Materials and Related Technology (Ministry of Education), Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
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Sun X, Li A, Li N, Ji G, Song Z. Facile Preparation of Heteropolypeptides from Crude Mixtures of α-Amino Acid N-Carboxyanhydrides. Biomacromolecules 2024. [PMID: 39167691 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
Heteropolypeptides bearing two or more functional side chains are promising polymeric materials for various biomedical applications. However, conventional preparation of heteropolypeptides relies on the synthesis and purification of each N-carboxyanhydride (NCA) monomer in a separate manner, which substantially increases the time and cost. Herein, we report the facile preparation of heteropolypeptides with up to 86% yield within several hours, which are obtained from a mixture of crude NCA monomers. The combination of n-hexane precipitation and biphasic segregation effectively removed >90% impurities from crude NCA mixtures, allowing for the successful polymerization process. Various heteropolypeptides with monomodal distribution and narrow dispersity were efficiently prepared, whose compositions were predetermined by the feeding ratios of amino acids. We believe that this work significantly simplifies the preparation of various heteropolypeptides, boosting the downstream studies of these promising materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Sun
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Aoting Li
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Ning Li
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Guonan Ji
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Ziyuan Song
- 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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Zhao C, Sun W, Huang X, Liu Y, Wang HY. Alkaline Phosphatase Activated Near-Infrared Frequency Upconversion Photosensitizers for Tumor Photodynamic Therapy. J Med Chem 2024. [PMID: 39057921 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c01296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising anticancer method due to its noninvasive features, high efficiency, and superior accuracy. The activated near-infrared upconversion photosensitizer has a high tissue penetration depth and could be explicitly released with minimal side effects. Therefore, we designed and synthesized a series of Br-substituted compounds (NFh-Br) based on the near-infrared upconversion hemicyanine dye. The heavy atomic effect improves the generation of 1O2 and upconversion luminous efficiency. Especially, NFh-Br11 exhibited an excellent 1O2 generation rate under 808 nm excitation and effectively killed tumor cells in vitro, and the alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-activatable photosensitizer (NFh-ALP) was obtained by modifying the NFh-Br11. NFh-ALP could be activated by ALP and release NFh-Br11, which induces apoptosis of tumor cells and has outstanding anticancer effects in vitro and in vivo. This work could provide a strategy for designing activatable upconversion photosensitizers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zhao
- School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Wanlu Sun
- School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Xiaoyan Huang
- School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Yi Liu
- School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Hai-Yan Wang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
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Wu C, Yan J, Ge C, Xie L, He Y, Zhao Z, Deng Y, Dong Q, Yin L. Macrophage membrane-reversibly camouflaged nanotherapeutics accelerate fracture healing by fostering MSCs recruitment and osteogenic differentiation. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:411. [PMID: 38997706 PMCID: PMC11241938 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02679-y] [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: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The fracture healing outcome is largely dependent on the quantities as well as osteogenic differentiation capacities of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) at the lesion site. Herein, macrophage membrane (MM)-reversibly cloaked nanocomplexes (NCs) are engineered for the lesion-targeted and hierarchical co-delivery of short stromal derived factor-1α peptide (sSDF-1α) and Ckip-1 small interfering RNA (Ckip-1 siRNA, siCkip-1) to promote bone repair by concurrently fostering recruitment and osteogenic differentiation of endogenous MSCs. To construct the NCs, a membrane-penetrating α-helical polypeptide first assembles with siCkip-1, and the cationic NCs are sequentially coated with catalase and an outer shell of sSDF-1α-anchored MM. Due to MM-assisted inflammation homing, intravenously injected NCs could efficiently accumulate at the fractured femur, where catalase decomposes the local hydrogen peroxide to generate oxygen bubbles that drives the shedding of sSDF-1α-anchored MM in the extracellular compartment. The exposed, cationic inner core thus enables robust trans-membrane delivery into MSCs to induce Ckip-1 silencing. Consequently, sSDF-1α-guided MSCs recruitment cooperates with siCkip-1-mediated osteogenic differentiation to facilitate bone formation and accelerate bone fracture healing. This study provides an enlightened strategy for the hierarchical co-delivery of macromolecular drugs into different cellular compartments, and it also renders a promising modality for the management of fracture healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, China
- Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, China
| | - Jing Yan
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, China
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Chenglong Ge
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Lucheng Xie
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Yunjie He
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Ziyin Zhao
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Yekun Deng
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, China
| | - Qirong Dong
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, China.
| | - Lichen Yin
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, China.
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
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Ge C, He J, Gan M, Qian Y, Zhu J, Wu F, Song Z, Yin L. Conformation-Switchable Polypeptides as Molecular Gates for Controllable Drug Release. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:3373-3383. [PMID: 38713187 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
The control over secondary structure has been widely studied to regulate the properties of polypeptide materials, which is used to change their functions in situ for various biomedical applications. Herein, we designed and constructed enzyme-responsive polypeptides as gating materials for mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), which underwent a distorted structure-to-helix transition to promote the release of encapsulated drugs. The polypeptide conjugated on the MSN surface adopted a negatively charged, distorted, flexible conformation, covering the pores of MSN to prevent drug leakage. Upon triggering by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) overproduced by tumor cells, the polypeptide transformed into positively charged, α-helical, rigid conformation with potent membrane-penetrating capabilities, which protruded from the MSN surface to uncover the pores. Such a transition thus enabled cancer-selective drug release and cellular internalization to efficiently kill tumor cells. This study highlights the important role of chain flexibility in modulating the biological function of polypeptides and provides a new application paradigm for synthetic polypeptides with secondary-structure transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenglong Ge
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jianyin He
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Mudan Gan
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yu Qian
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Junliang Zhu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Fan Wu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Ziyuan Song
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Lichen Yin
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
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Zhi S, Huang M, Cheng K. Enzyme-responsive design combined with photodynamic therapy for cancer treatment. Drug Discov Today 2024; 29:103965. [PMID: 38552778 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2024.103965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a noninvasive cancer treatment that has garnered significant attention in recent years. However, its application is still hampered by certain limitations, such as the hydrophobicity and low targeting of photosensitizers (PSs) and the hypoxia of the tumor microenvironment. Nevertheless, the fusion of enzyme-responsive drugs with PDT offers novel solutions to overcome these challenges. Utilizing the attributes of enzyme-responsive drugs, PDT can deliver PSs to the target site and selectively release them, thereby enhancing therapeutic outcomes. In this review, we spotlight recent advances in enzyme-responsive materials for cancer treatment and primarily delineate their application in combination with PDT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siying Zhi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening and NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Meixin Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening and NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Kui Cheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening and NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
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Yin B, Wang R, Guo Y, Li L, Hu X. Injectable Thermo-Responsive Peptide Hydrogels and Its Enzyme Triggered Dynamic Self-Assembly. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1221. [PMID: 38732690 PMCID: PMC11085460 DOI: 10.3390/polym16091221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Endogenous stimuli-responsive injectable hydrogels hold significant promise for practical applications due to their spatio-temporal controllable drug delivery. Herein, we report a facile strategy to construct a series of in situ formation polypeptide hydrogels with thermal responsiveness and enzyme-triggered dynamic self-assembly. The thermo-responsive hydrogels are from the diblock random copolymer mPEG-b-P(Glu-co-Tyr). The L-glutamic acid (Glu) segments with different γ-alkyl groups, including methyl, ethyl, and n-butyl, offer specific secondary structure, facilitating the formation of hydrogel. The L-tyrosine (Tyr) residues not only provide hydrogen-bond interactions and thus adjust the sol-gel transition temperatures, but also endow polypeptide enzyme-responsive properties. The PTyr segments could be phosphorylated, and the phosphotyrosine copolymers were amphiphilies, which could readily self-assemble into spherical aggregates and transform into sheet-like structures upon dephosphorylation by alkaline phosphatase (ALP). P(MGlu-co-Tyr/P) and P(MGlu-co-Tyr) copolymers showed good compatibility with both MC3T3-E1 and Hela cells, with cell viability above 80% at concentrations up to 1000 μg/mL. The prepared injectable polypeptide hydrogel and its enzyme-triggered self-assemblies show particular potential for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Xiuli Hu
- Institute of Polymer Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China; (B.Y.); (R.W.); (Y.G.); (L.L.)
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Peng K, Sha J, Fang X, Li M, Yu J, Hao L, Xu F. Detection of Cadmium(II) in Aquatic Products Using a Rolling-Circle Amplification-Coupled Ratio Fluorescent Probe Based on an Aptamer-Peptide Conjugate. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:8167-8179. [PMID: 38509823 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c08636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
The existing aptamers for cadmium (Cd2+), the common toxic heavy metal contaminant in food, cannot meet the requirements for detecting Cd2+ in rapid detection methods. In previous work, we found that coupling aptamer-peptide conjugates (APCs) with peptides and aptamers can provide a less disruptive method with a significantly improved affinity. Moreover, we found that the spatial conformation of aptamers and peptides is crucial for obtaining proper affinity in APC. Therefore, we describe a simple design strategy to obtain a series of APCs with different affinities by designing peptide orientations (N-terminal, C-terminal). The best affinity was found for APC(C1-N) with a binding constant (Ka) of 2.23 × 106 M-1, indicating that the APC(C1-N) affinity was significantly increased by 829.17% over aptamer. Finally, a rolling-circle amplification (RCA)-coupled ratio fluorescence-based biosensor for Cd2+ detection was established with a detection limit of 0.0036 nM, which has great potential for practical aquatic product detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaimin Peng
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Food Rapid Detection, Shanghai 200093, China
| | - Jiahao Sha
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Food Rapid Detection, Shanghai 200093, China
| | - Xinyu Fang
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Food Rapid Detection, Shanghai 200093, China
| | - Mengqiu Li
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Food Rapid Detection, Shanghai 200093, China
| | - Jingsong Yu
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Food Rapid Detection, Shanghai 200093, China
| | - Liling Hao
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Food Rapid Detection, Shanghai 200093, China
| | - Fei Xu
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Food Rapid Detection, Shanghai 200093, China
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Zhang W, Shen J, Liang J, Ge C, Zhou Y, Yin L, Ji Y. Pulmonary RNA interference against acute lung injury mediated by mucus- and cell-penetrating nanocomplexes. Acta Biomater 2024; 177:332-346. [PMID: 38290689 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.01.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Trans-mucosal delivery of anti-inflammatory siRNA into alveolar macrophages represents a promising modality for the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI). However, its therapeutic efficacy is often hurdled by the lack of effective carriers that can simultaneously overcome the mucosal barrier and cell membrane barrier. Herein, we developed mucus/cell membrane dual-penetrating, macrophage-targeting polyplexes which enabled efficient intratracheal delivery of TNF-α siRNA (siTNF-α) to attenuate pulmonary inflammation against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI. P-G@Zn, a cationic helical polypeptide bearing both guanidine and zinc dipicolylamine (Zn-DPA) side charged groups, was designed to condense siTNF-α and promote macrophage internalization due to its helicity-dependent membrane activity. Coating of the polyplexes with charge-neutralizing carboxylated mannan (Man-COOH) greatly enhanced the mucus penetration potency due to shielding of the electrostatic adhesive interactions with the mucus, and it cooperatively enabled active targeting to alveolar macrophages to potentiate the intracellular delivery efficiency of siTNF-α. As such, intratracheally administered Man-COOH/P-G@Zn/siTNF-α polyplexes provoked notable TNF-α silencing by ∼75 % in inflamed lung tissues at 500 μg siRNA/kg, and demonstrated potent anti-inflammatory performance to treat ALI. This study provides an effective tool for the synchronized trans-mucosal delivery of siRNA into macrophages, and the unique properties of the polyplexes render remarkable potentials for anti-inflammatory therapy against ALI. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: siRNA-mediated anti-inflammatory management of acute lung injury (ALI) is greatly challenged by the insufficient delivery across the mucus layer and cell membrane. To address such critical issue, mucus/cell membrane dual-penetrating, macrophage-targeting polyplexes are herein developed, which are comprised of an outer shell of carboxylated mannan (Man-COOH) and an inner nanocore formed by TNF-α siRNA (siTNF-α) and a cationic helical polypeptide P-G@Zn. Man-COOH coating endowed the polyplexes with high mucus-penetrating capability and macrophage-targeting ability, while P-G@Zn bearing both guanidine and zinc dipicolylamine afforded potent siTNF-α condensation capacity and high intracellular delivery efficiency with reduced cytotoxicity. Intratracheally administered polyplexes solicit pronounced TNF-α silencing and anti-inflammatory efficiencies in ALI mice. This study renders an effective example for overcoming the multiple barriers against trans-mucosal delivery of siRNA into macrophages, and holds profound potentials for gene therapy against ALI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxin Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science & Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jingrui Shen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science & Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jialong Liang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214023, China
| | - Chenglong Ge
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science & Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science & Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
| | - Lichen Yin
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science & Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
| | - Yong Ji
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214023, China.
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Wang S, Ding P, Shen L, Fan D, Cheng H, Huo J, Wei X, He H, Zhang G. Inhalable hybrid nanovaccines with virus-biomimetic structure boost protective immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 variants. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:76. [PMID: 38414031 PMCID: PMC10898168 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02345-3] [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: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), with different antigenic variants, has posed a significant threat to public health. It is urgent to develop inhalable vaccines, instead of injectable vaccines, to elicit mucosal immunity against respiratory viral infections. METHODS We reported an inhalable hybrid nanovaccine (NVRBD-MLipo) to boost protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nanovesicles derived from genetically engineered 293T cells expressing RBD (NVRBD) were fused with pulmonary surfactant (PS)-biomimetic liposomes containing MPLA (MLipo) to yield NVRBD-MLipo, which possessed virus-biomimetic structure, inherited RBD expression and versatile properties. RESULTS In contrast to subcutaneous vaccination, NVRBD-MLipo, via inhalable vaccination, could efficiently enter the alveolar macrophages (AMs) to elicit AMs activation through MPLA-activated TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Moreover, NVRBD-MLipo induced T and B cells activation, and high level of RBD-specific IgG and secretory IgA (sIgA), thus elevating protective mucosal and systemic immune responses, while reducing side effects. NVRBD-MLipo also demonstrated broad-spectrum neutralization activity against SARS-CoV-2 (WT, Delta, Omicron) pseudovirus, and protected immunized mice against WT pseudovirus infection. CONCLUSIONS This inhalable NVRBD-MLipo, as an effective and safe nanovaccine, holds huge potential to provoke robust mucosal immunity, and might be a promising vaccine candidate to combat respiratory infectious diseases, including COVID-19 and influenza.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuqi Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, International Joint Research Center of National Animal Immunology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Peiyang Ding
- School of Life Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Lingli Shen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, International Joint Research Center of National Animal Immunology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Daopeng Fan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, International Joint Research Center of National Animal Immunology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Hanghang Cheng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, International Joint Research Center of National Animal Immunology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Jian Huo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, International Joint Research Center of National Animal Immunology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Xin Wei
- Joint National Laboratory for Antibody Drug Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Hua He
- College of Veterinary Medicine, International Joint Research Center of National Animal Immunology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.
| | - Gaiping Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, International Joint Research Center of National Animal Immunology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.
- Longhu Laboratory, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.
- School of Advanced Agriculture Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
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11
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Zhu J, Li X, Zhou Y, Ge C, Li X, Hou M, Wei Y, Chen Y, Leong KW, Yin L. Inhaled immunoantimicrobials for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eabd7904. [PMID: 38324682 PMCID: PMC10849584 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd7904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Effective therapeutic modalities and drug administration strategies for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations are lacking. Here, mucus and biofilm dual-penetrating immunoantimicrobials (IMAMs) are developed for bridging antibacterial therapy and pro-resolving immunotherapy of COPD. IMAMs are constructed from ceftazidime (CAZ)-encapsulated hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs) gated with a charge/conformation-transformable polypeptide. The polypeptide adopts a negatively charged, random-coiled conformation, masking the pores of HMSNs to prevent antibiotic leakage and allowing the nebulized IMAMs to efficiently penetrate the bronchial mucus and biofilm. Inside the acidic biofilm, the polypeptide transforms into a cationic and rigid α helix, enhancing biofilm retention and unmasking the pores to release CAZ. Meanwhile, the polypeptide is conditionally activated to disrupt bacterial membranes and scavenge bacterial DNA, functioning as an adjuvant of CAZ to eradicate lung-colonizing bacteria and inhibiting Toll-like receptor 9 activation to foster inflammation resolution. This immunoantibacterial strategy may shift the current paradigm of COPD management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junliang Zhu
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xiaohui Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215002, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Chenglong Ge
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xudong Li
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Mengying Hou
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yuansong Wei
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yongbing Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215002, China
| | - Kam W. Leong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lichen Yin
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215002, China
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Xu X, Ma J, Wang A, Zheng N. N-Sulfonyl amidine polypeptides: new polymeric biomaterials with conformation transition responsive to tumor acidity. Chem Sci 2024; 15:1769-1781. [PMID: 38303932 PMCID: PMC10829015 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc05504c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Manipulation of pH responsiveness is a frequently employed tactic in the formulation of trigger-responsive nanomaterials. It offers an avenue for "smart" designs capitalizing on distinctive pH gradients across diverse tissues and intracellular compartments. However, an overwhelming majority of documented functional groups (>80%) exhibit responsiveness solely to the heightened acidic milieu of intracellular pH (about 4.5-5.5). This scenario diverges markedly from the moderately acidic extracellular pH (∼6.8) characteristic of tumor microenvironments. Consequently, systems predicated upon intracellular pH responsiveness are unlikely to confer discernible advantages concerning targeted penetration and cellular uptake at tumor sites. In this study, we elucidated the extracellular pH responsiveness intrinsic to N-sulfonyl amidine (SAi), delineating a method to synthesize an array of SAi-bearing polypeptides (SAi-polypeptides). Notably, we demonstrated the pH-dependent modulation of SAi-polypeptide conformations, made possible by the protonation/deprotonation equilibrium of SAi in response to minute fluctuations in pH from physiological conditions to the extracellular milieu of tumors. This dynamic pH-triggered transition of SAi-polypeptides from negatively charged to neutrally charged side chains at the pH outside tumor cells (∼6.8) facilitated a transition from coil to helix conformations, concomitant with the induction of cellular internalization upon arrival at tumor sites. Furthermore, the progressive acidification of the intracellular environment expedited drug release, culminating in significantly enhanced site-specific chemotherapeutic efficacy compared with free-drug counterparts. The distinct pH-responsive attributes of SAi could aid the design of tumor acidity-responsive applications, thereby furnishing invaluable insights into the realm of smart material design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Xu
- School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology Dalian 116024 China
| | - Jinjuan Ma
- Department of Comparative Medicine Laboratory Animal Center, Dalian Medical University Dalian 116000 China
| | - Aiguo Wang
- Department of Comparative Medicine Laboratory Animal Center, Dalian Medical University Dalian 116000 China
| | - Nan Zheng
- School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology Dalian 116024 China
- Dalian University of Technology Corporation of Changshu Research Institution Suzhou 215500 China
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Xue Y, Chen K, Chen Y, Liu Y, Tang J, Zhang X, Liu J. Engineering Diselenide-IR780 Homodimeric Nanoassemblies with Enhanced Photodynamic and Immunotherapeutic Effects for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment. ACS NANO 2023; 17:22553-22570. [PMID: 37943026 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c06290] [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: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as an efficient approach for non-invasive cancer treatment. However, organic small-molecule photosensitizers are often associated with defects in hydrophobicity, poor photostability, and aggregation-caused quenching, which limit their application. Usually, the carrier-assisted drug delivery system is a common strategy to solve the above obstacles, but additional carrier material could increase the risk of potential biological toxicity. The carrier-free drug delivery system with easy preparation and high drug-loading capability is proposed subsequently as a potential strategy to develop the clinical use of hydrophobic drugs. Herein, we rationally designed three IR780-based carrier-free nanosystems formed by carbon/disulfide/diselenide bond conjugated IR780-based homodimers. The IR780-based homodimers could self-assemble to form nanoparticles (DC-NP, DS-NP, DSe-NP) and exhibited higher reactive oxygen species generation capability and photostability than free IR780, in which DSe-NP with 808 nm laser irradiation performed best and resulted in the strongest cytotoxicity to 4T1 cells. Meanwhile, the glutathione consumption ability of DSe-NP boosted its PDT effect and then induced excessive oxidative stress of 4T1 cells, increasing antitumor efficacy by enhancing immunogenic cell death further. In tumor-bearing mice, DSe-NP displayed obvious tumor site accumulation, which obviously inhibited tumor growth and metastasis, and enhanced the immunological effect by effectively inducing dendritic cells to mature and activating T lymphocytes and natural killer cells. In summary, our study presented an IR780-based carrier-free nanodelivery system for a combination of PDT and immunity therapy and established expanding the application of organic small-molecule photosensitizers by an approach of carrier-free drug delivery system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Xue
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Kaijin Chen
- PCFM Lab, GD HPPC Lab, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Centre for High-performance Organic and Polymer Photoelectric Functional Films, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - You Chen
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Yadong Liu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Junjie Tang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Xiaoge Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Advanced Drug Delivery Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jie Liu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
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