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Adams F, Zimmermann CM, Baldassi D, Pehl TM, Weingarten P, Kachel I, Kränzlein M, Jürgens DC, Braubach P, Alexopoulos I, Wygrecka M, Merkel OM. Pulmonary siRNA Delivery with Sophisticated Amphiphilic Poly(Spermine Acrylamides) for the Treatment of Lung Fibrosis. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2308775. [PMID: 38126895 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202308775] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is an efficient strategy to post-transcriptionally silence gene expression. While all siRNA drugs on the market target the liver, the lung offers a variety of currently undruggable targets, which can potentially be treated with RNA therapeutics. To achieve this goal, the synthesis of poly(spermine acrylamides) (P(SpAA) is reported herein. Polymers are prepared via polymerization of N-acryloxysuccinimide (NAS) and afterward this active ester is converted into spermine-based pendant groups. Copolymerizations with decylacrylamide are employed to increase the hydrophobicity of the polymers. After deprotection, polymers show excellent siRNA encapsulation to obtain perfectly sized polyplexes at very low polymer/RNA ratios. In vitro 2D and 3D cell culture, ex vivo and in vivo experiments reveal superior properties of amphiphilic spermine-copolymers with respect to delivery of siRNA to lung cells in comparison to commonly used lipid-based transfection agents. In line with the in vitro results, siRNA delivery to human lung explants confirm more efficient gene silencing of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2), a G protein-coupled receptor involved in fibrosis. This study reveals the importance of the balance between efficient polyplex formation, cellular uptake, gene knockdown, and toxicity for efficient siRNA delivery in vitro, in vivo, and in fibrotic human lung tissue ex vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friederike Adams
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Polymer Chemistry, Chair of Macromolecular Materials and Fiber Chemistry, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Center for Ophthalmology, University Eye Hospital Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Straße 7, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christoph M Zimmermann
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Domizia Baldassi
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas M Pehl
- WACKER-Chair of Macromolecular Chemistry, Catalysis Research Center, Department of Chemistry, Technical University Munich, Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85748, Garching bei München, Germany
| | - Philipp Weingarten
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Iris Kachel
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Moritz Kränzlein
- WACKER-Chair of Macromolecular Chemistry, Catalysis Research Center, Department of Chemistry, Technical University Munich, Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85748, Garching bei München, Germany
| | - David C Jürgens
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Braubach
- Institute for Pathology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hanover, Germany
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH) Research Network, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hanover, Germany
| | - Ioannis Alexopoulos
- Center for Infections and Genomics of the Lung (CIGL), Justus Liebig University Giessen, German Center for Lung Research, Aulweg 132, 35392, Gießen, Germany
- Multiscale Imaging Platform, Institute for Lung Health, German Center for Lung Research, Aulweg 132, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Malgorzata Wygrecka
- Center for Infections and Genomics of the Lung (CIGL), Justus Liebig University Giessen, German Center for Lung Research, Aulweg 132, 35392, Gießen, Germany
| | - Olivia M Merkel
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
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Jin Y, Adams F, Nguyen A, Sturm S, Carnerio S, Müller-Caspary K, Merkel OM. Synthesis and application of spermine-based amphiphilic poly(β-amino ester)s for siRNA delivery. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2023; 5:5256-5262. [PMID: 37767040 PMCID: PMC10521211 DOI: 10.1039/d3na00272a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Small interfering RNA (siRNA) can trigger RNA interference (RNAi) to therapeutically silence disease-related genes in human cells. The approval of siRNA therapeutics by the FDA in recent years generated a new hope in novel and efficient siRNA therapeutics. However, their therapeutic application is still limited by the lack of safe and efficient transfection vehicles. In this study, we successfully synthesized a novel amphiphilic poly(β-amino ester) based on the polyamine spermine, hydrophobic decylamine and 1,4-butanediol diacrylate, which was characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography (SEC, Mn = 6000 Da). The polymer encapsulated siRNA quantitatively from N/P 5 on as assessed by fluorescence intercalation while maintaining optimal polyplex sizes and zeta potentials. Biocompatibility and cellular delivery efficacy were also higher than those of the commonly used cationic, hyperbranched polymer polyethylenimine (PEI, 25 kDa). Optimized formulations mediated around 90% gene silencing in enhanced green fluorescence protein expressing H1299 cells (H1299-eGFP) as determined by flow cytometry. These results suggest that spermine-based, amphiphilic poly(β-amino ester)s are very promising candidates for efficient siRNA delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Jin
- Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics Butenandtstr. 5-13 81377 Munich Germany
| | - Friederike Adams
- Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics Butenandtstr. 5-13 81377 Munich Germany
| | - Anny Nguyen
- Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics Butenandtstr. 5-13 81377 Munich Germany
| | - Sebastian Sturm
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich Butenandtstr. 11 81377 Munich Germany
| | - Simone Carnerio
- Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics Butenandtstr. 5-13 81377 Munich Germany
| | - Knut Müller-Caspary
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich Butenandtstr. 11 81377 Munich Germany
| | - Olivia M Merkel
- Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics Butenandtstr. 5-13 81377 Munich Germany
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Jin Y, Adams F, Isert L, Baldassi D, Merkel OM. Spermine-Based Poly(β-amino ester)s for siRNA Delivery against Mutated KRAS in Lung Cancer. Mol Pharm 2023; 20:4505-4516. [PMID: 37578116 PMCID: PMC7615020 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Polyethylenimine (PEI) is a highly efficient cationic polymer for nucleic acid delivery, and although it is commonly used in preclinical studies, its clinical application is limited because of concerns regarding its cytotoxicity. Poly(β-amino ester)s are a new group of biodegradable and biocompatible cationic polymers that can be used for siRNA delivery. In this study, we synthesized Boc-protected and deprotected poly(β-amino ester)s, P(BSpBAE) and P(SpBAE), respectively, based on spermine and 1,4-butanediol diacrylate to deliver siRNA. The polymers were synthesized by Michael addition in a step-growth polymerization and characterized via 1H NMR spectroscopy and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). The polymers can encapsulate siRNA as determined by SYBR gold assays. Both polymers and polyplexes were biocompatible in vitro. Furthermore, the cellular uptake of P(BSpBAE) and P(SpBAE) polyplexes was more efficient than for branched PEI (25 kDa) polyplexes at the same N/P ratios. P(BSpBAE) polyplexes achieved 60% eGFP knockdown in vitro, which indicates that the Boc-protection can improve the siRNA delivery and gene silencing efficiency of PBAEs. P(BSpBAE) polyplexes and P(SpBAE) polyplexes showed different cellular uptake mechanisms, and P(BSpBAE) polyplexes demonstrated decreased endosomal entrapment, which could explain why P(BSpBAE) polyplexes more efficiently mediated gene silencing than P(SpBAE) polyplexes. Furthermore, transfection of an siRNA against mutated KRAS in KRAS-mutated lung cancer cells led to around 35% (P(BspBAE)) to 45% (P(SpBAE)) inhibition of KRAS expression and around 33% (P(SpBAE)) to 55% (P(BspBAE)) decreased motility in a migration assay. These results suggest that the newly developed spermine-based poly(β-amino ester)s are promising materials for therapeutic siRNA delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Jin
- Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical technology and Biopharmaceutics, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Friederike Adams
- Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical technology and Biopharmaceutics, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Lorenz Isert
- Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical technology and Biopharmaceutics, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Domizia Baldassi
- Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical technology and Biopharmaceutics, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Olivia M. Merkel
- Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical technology and Biopharmaceutics, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany
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Kwok A, McCarthy D, Hart SL, Tagalakis AD. Systematic Comparisons of Formulations of Linear Oligolysine Peptides with siRNA and Plasmid DNA. Chem Biol Drug Des 2016; 87:747-63. [PMID: 26684657 PMCID: PMC4991294 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.12709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Revised: 11/26/2015] [Accepted: 11/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The effects of lysine peptide lengths on DNA and siRNA packaging and delivery were studied using four linear oligolysine peptides with 8 (K8), 16 (K16), 24 (K24) and 32 (K32) lysines. Oligolysine peptides with 16 lysines or longer were effective for stable monodisperse particle formation and optimal transfection efficiency with plasmid DNA (pDNA), but K8 formulations were less stable under anionic heparin challenge and consequently displayed poor transfection efficiency. However, here we show that the oligolysines were not able to package siRNA to form stable complexes, and consequently, siRNA transfection was unsuccessful. These results indicate that the physical structure and length of cationic peptides and their charge ratios are critical parameters for stable particle formation with pDNA and siRNA and that without packaging, delivery and transfection cannot be achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Kwok
- Experimental and Personalised Medicine SectionUCL Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London30 Guilford StreetLondonWC1N 1EHUK
- Present address: Department of Clinical Biochemistry University of CambridgeBox 289, Addenbrooke's HospitalCambridgeCB2 0QQUK
| | - David McCarthy
- UCL School of Pharmacy29‐39 Brunswick SquareLondonWC1N 1AXUK
| | - Stephen L. Hart
- Experimental and Personalised Medicine SectionUCL Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London30 Guilford StreetLondonWC1N 1EHUK
| | - Aristides D. Tagalakis
- Experimental and Personalised Medicine SectionUCL Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London30 Guilford StreetLondonWC1N 1EHUK
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