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Borum RM, Moore C, Chan SK, Steinmetz NF, Jokerst JV. A Photoacoustic Contrast Agent for miR-21 via NIR Fluorescent Hybridization Chain Reaction. Bioconjug Chem 2021; 33:1080-1092. [PMID: 34406744 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Nucleic acids are well-established biomarkers of cancer with immense value in diagnostics and basic research. However, strategies to monitor these species in tissue can be challenging due to the need for amplification of imaging signal from low analyte concentrations with high specificity. Photoacoustic (PA) imaging is gaining traction for molecular imaging of proteins, small biomolecules, and nucleic acids by coupling pulsed near-infrared (NIR) excitation with broadband acoustic detection. This work introduces a PA nucleic acid contrast agent that harnesses NIR fluorophore and quencher-tagged hybridization chain reaction (HCR) for signal amplification. This HCR probe was designed to enable contact quenching between NIR dye-quencher pairs by coercing their direct alignment when miR-21, a microRNA cancer biomarker, is detected. The probe demonstrated a ratiometric PA limit of detection of 148 pM miR-21, sequence specificity against one- and two-base mutations, and selectivity over other microRNAs. It was further tested in live human ovarian cancer (SKOV3) and noncancerous (HEK 293T) cells to exemplify in situ PA activation based on differences in endogenous miR-21 regulation (p = 0.0002). The probe was lastly tested in tissue mimicking phantoms to exemplify sustained contrast in centimeter-range depths and 85.3% photostability after 15 min of laser irradiation. The probe's miR-21-specific activation and its ability to maintain contrast in biologically relevant absorbing and scattering media support its consideration for live-cell PA microscopy and potential cancer diagnostics. Results from this probe also underscore the combined detection power between ratiometric PA signaling and strand amplification for more sensitive DNA-based PA sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raina M Borum
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093. United States
| | - Colman Moore
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093. United States
| | - Soo Khim Chan
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093. United States
| | - Nicole F Steinmetz
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093. United States.,Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093. United States.,Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093. United States.,Center for Nano-ImmunoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093. United States.,Institute for Materials Discovery and Design, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093. United States.,Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037. United States
| | - Jesse V Jokerst
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093. United States.,Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093. United States.,Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093. United States
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2
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Chowdhury SM, Lee T, Bachawal SV, Devulapally R, Abou-Elkacem L, Yeung TA, Wischhusen J, Tian L, Dahl J, Paulmurugan R, Willmann JK. Longitudinal assessment of ultrasound-guided complementary microRNA therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. J Control Release 2018; 281:19-28. [PMID: 29758233 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2018.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Revised: 05/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second-leading cause of cancer related deaths worldwide and new strategies to efficiently treat HCC are critically needed. The aim of this study was to assess the longitudinal treatment effects of two complementary miRNAs (miRNA-122 and antimiR-21) encapsulated in biodegradable poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) - poly ethylene glycol (PEG) nanoparticles (PLGA-PEG-NPs), administered by an ultrasound-guided and microbubble-mediated delivery approach in doxorubicin-resistant and non-resistant human HCC xenografts. Using in vitro assays, we show that repeated miRNA treatments resulted in gradual reduction of HCC cell proliferation and reversal of doxorubicin resistance. Optimized US parameters resulted in a 9-16 fold increase (p = 0.03) in miRNA delivery in vivo in HCC tumors after two US treatments compared to tumors without US treatment. Furthermore, when combined with doxorubicin (10 mg/kg), longitudinal miRNA delivery showed a significant inhibition of tumor growth in both resistant and non-resistant tumors compared to non-treated, and doxorubicin treated controls. We also found that ultrasound-guided miRNA therapy was not only effective in inhibiting HCC tumor growth but also allowed lowering the dose of doxorubicin needed to induce apoptosis. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that ultrasound-guided and MB-mediated delivery of miRNA-122 and antimiR-21, when combined with doxorubicin, is a highly effective approach to treat resistant HCC while reducing doxorubicin doses needed for treating non-resistant HCC in longitudinal treatment experiments. Further refinement of this strategy could potentially lead to better treatment outcomes for patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Taehwa Lee
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sunitha V Bachawal
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Rammohan Devulapally
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Lotfi Abou-Elkacem
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Tristan Alan Yeung
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer Wischhusen
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Lu Tian
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jeremy Dahl
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ramasamy Paulmurugan
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Juergen Karl Willmann
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Yao M, Wang L, Yao Y, Gu HB, Yao DF. Biomarker-based MicroRNA Therapeutic Strategies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2014. [PMID: 26355266 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2014.0002026355266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as key factors involved in a series of biological processes, ranging from embryogenesis to programmed cell death. Its link to aberrant expression profiles has rendered it a potentially attractive tool for the diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment of various diseases. Accumulating evidence has indicated that miRNAs act as tumor suppressors in hepatocyte malignant transformation by regulating development, differentiation, proliferation, and tumorigenesis. Here, we summarize recent progress in the development of novel biomarker-based miRNA therapeutic strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Yao
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China ; Department of Immunology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Medical Informatics, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yao Yao
- The Hospital of Nantong Maternal and Child Care Service, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hong-Bing Gu
- The Hospital of Nantong Maternal and Child Care Service, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Deng-Fu Yao
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
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4
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Yao M, Wang L, Yao Y, Gu HB, Yao DF. Biomarker-based MicroRNA Therapeutic Strategies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2014; 2:253-8. [PMID: 26355266 PMCID: PMC4521238 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2014.00020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2014] [Revised: 09/15/2014] [Accepted: 09/16/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as key factors involved in a series of biological processes, ranging from embryogenesis to programmed cell death. Its link to aberrant expression profiles has rendered it a potentially attractive tool for the diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment of various diseases. Accumulating evidence has indicated that miRNAs act as tumor suppressors in hepatocyte malignant transformation by regulating development, differentiation, proliferation, and tumorigenesis. Here, we summarize recent progress in the development of novel biomarker-based miRNA therapeutic strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Yao
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Immunology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Medical Informatics, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yao Yao
- The Hospital of Nantong Maternal and Child Care Service, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hong-Bing Gu
- The Hospital of Nantong Maternal and Child Care Service, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Deng-Fu Yao
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
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Zhang ZQ, Meng H, Wang N, Liang LN, Liu LN, Lu SM, Luan Y. Serum microRNA 143 and microRNA 215 as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Diagn Pathol 2014; 9:135. [PMID: 24993656 PMCID: PMC4226970 DOI: 10.1186/1746-1596-9-135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 06/02/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is regarded as one of the most common malignancies and among the leading causes of cancer death among the whole world. The most urgent needs are to find sensitive markers for early diagnosis or monitor postoperative recurrence and to give adequate treatment for HCC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are reported as a group of small non-coding RNAs that can function as endogenous RNA interference to regulate expression of the targeted genes. This study was conducted to detect the application of miR-143 and miR-215 in the diagnosis of HCC. Methods A total of 340 serum samples (127 samples from controls, 118 samples from hepatitis and 95 samples from HCC patients) were collected. The levels of the two mature miRNAs (miR-143 and miR-215) were detected by probe-based stem-loop quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-qPCR) in controls, hepatitis and HCC patients. Besides, the relationship between miR-143 and miR-215 levels and clinical and pathological factors was explored. Results We found that the expression of serum miR-215 was distinctly increased in chronic hepatitis compared with controls (mean ± SD: 6.79 ± 0.72 vs. 3.46 ± 0.37, P < 0.001 and mean ± SD: 8.38 ± 0.87 vs. 3.46 ± 0.37, P < 0.001). In addition, we conduct ROC analyses to detect the potential application of miR-143 and miR-215 in the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis and HCC. Our results showed that miR-143 and miR-215 might be a potential biomarker for the hepatitis and HCC. Conclusions In conclusion, the expression of miR-143 and miR-215 in serum were significantly up-regulated in patients with chronic hepatitis and HCC. Due to its reasonable sensitivity and specificity for both diseases, miR-143 and miR-215 could be as potential circulating biomarkers. Virtual Slides The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1048932281272754
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Shu-ming Lu
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116011, China.
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