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Kumari S, Kamiya A, Karnik SS, Rohilla S, Dubey SK, Taliyan R. Novel Gene Therapy Approaches for Targeting Neurodegenerative Disorders: Focusing on Delivering Neurotrophic Genes. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04260-y. [PMID: 38856793 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04260-y] [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: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative illnesses (NDDs) like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, and Huntington's disease have demonstrated considerable potential for gene therapy as a viable therapeutic intervention. NDDs are marked by the decline of neurons, resulting in changes in both behavior and pathology within the body. Strikingly, only symptomatic management is available without a cure for the NDDs. There is an unmet need for a permanent therapeutic approach. Many studies have been going on to target the newer therapeutic molecular targets for NDDs including gene-based therapy. Gene therapy has the potential to provide therapeutic benefits to a large number of patients with NDDs by offering mechanisms including neuroprotection, neuro-restoration, and rectification of pathogenic pathways. Gene therapy is a medical approach that aims to modify the biological characteristics of living cells by controlling the expression of specific genes in certain neurological disorders. Despite being the most complex and well-protected organ in the human body, there is clinical evidence to show that it is possible to specifically target the central nervous system (CNS). This provides hope for the prospective application of gene therapy in treating NDDs in the future. There are several advanced techniques available for using viral or non-viral vectors to deliver the therapeutic gene to the afflicted region. Neurotrophic factors (NTF) in the brain are crucial for the development, differentiation, and survival of neurons in the CNS, making them important in the context of various neurological illnesses. Gene delivery of NTF has the potential to be used as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of neurological problems in the brain. This review primarily focuses on the methodologies employed for delivering the genes of different NTFs to treat neurological disorders. These techniques are currently being explored as a viable therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative diseases. The article exclusively addresses gene delivery approaches and does not cover additional therapy strategies for NDDs. Gene therapy offers a promising alternative treatment for NDDs by stimulating neuronal growth instead of solely relying on symptom relief from drugs and their associated adverse effects. It can serve as a long-lasting and advantageous treatment choice for the management of NDDs. The likelihood of developing NDDs increases with age as a result of neuronal degradation in the brain. Gene therapy is an optimal approach for promoting neuronal growth through the introduction of nerve growth factor genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shobha Kumari
- Indian Council of Medical Research-Senior Research Fellow (ICMR-SRF), Neuropsychopharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani Campus, Pilani, 333031, Rajasthan, India
| | - Aayush Kamiya
- Indian Council of Medical Research-Senior Research Fellow (ICMR-SRF), Neuropsychopharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani Campus, Pilani, 333031, Rajasthan, India
| | - Sanika Sanjay Karnik
- Indian Council of Medical Research-Senior Research Fellow (ICMR-SRF), Neuropsychopharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani Campus, Pilani, 333031, Rajasthan, India
| | - Sumedha Rohilla
- Indian Council of Medical Research-Senior Research Fellow (ICMR-SRF), Neuropsychopharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani Campus, Pilani, 333031, Rajasthan, India
| | | | - Rajeev Taliyan
- Indian Council of Medical Research-Senior Research Fellow (ICMR-SRF), Neuropsychopharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani Campus, Pilani, 333031, Rajasthan, India.
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Sp S, Mitra RN, Zheng M, Chrispell JD, Wang K, Kwon YS, Weiss ER, Han Z. Gene augmentation for autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa using rhodopsin genomic loci nanoparticles in the P23H +/- knock-in murine model. Gene Ther 2023; 30:628-640. [PMID: 36935427 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-023-00394-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy for autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP) is challenged by the dominant inheritance of the mutant genes, which would seemingly require a combination of mutant suppression and wild-type replacement of the appropriate gene. We explore the possibility that delivery of a nanoparticle (NP)-mediated full-length mouse genomic rhodopsin (gRho) or human genomic rhodopsin (gRHO) locus can overcome the dominant negative effects of the mutant rhodopsin in the clinically relevant P23H+/--knock-in heterozygous mouse model. Our results demonstrate that mice in both gRho and gRHO NP-treated groups exhibit significant structural and functional recovery of the rod photoreceptors, which lasted for 3 months post-injection, indicating a promising reduction in photoreceptor degeneration. We performed miRNA transcriptome analysis using next generation sequencing and detected differentially expressed miRNAs as a first step towards identifying miRNAs that could potentially be used as rhodopsin gene expression enhancers or suppressors for sustained photoreceptor rescue. Our results indicate that delivering an intact genomic locus as a transgene has a greater chance of success compared to the use of the cDNA for treatment of this model of adRP, emphasizing the importance of gene augmentation using a gDNA that includes regulatory elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simna Sp
- Department of Ophthalmology, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Rajendra N Mitra
- Department of Ophthalmology, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Min Zheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Jared D Chrispell
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Yong-Su Kwon
- Department of Ophthalmology, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Ellen R Weiss
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Zongchao Han
- Department of Ophthalmology, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Carolina Institute for NanoMedicine, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Division of Pharmacoengineering & Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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Khan SU, Khan MU, Khan MI, Kalsoom F, Zahra A. Current Landscape and Emerging Opportunities of Gene Therapy with Non-viral Episomal Vectors. Curr Gene Ther 2023; 23:135-147. [PMID: 36200188 DOI: 10.2174/1566523222666221004100858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Gene therapy has proven to be extremely beneficial in the management of a wide range of genetic disorders for which there are currently no or few effective treatments. Gene transfer vectors are very significant in the field of gene therapy. It is possible to attach a non-viral attachment vector to the donor cell chromosome instead of integrating it, eliminating the negative consequences of both viral and integrated vectors. It is a safe and optimal express vector for gene therapy because it does not cause any adverse effects. However, the modest cloning rate, low expression, and low clone number make it unsuitable for use in gene therapy. Since the first generation of non-viral attachment episomal vectors was constructed, various steps have been taken to regulate their expression and stability, such as truncating the MAR element, lowering the amount of CpG motifs, choosing appropriate promoters and utilizing regulatory elements. This increases the transfection effectiveness of the non-viral attachment vector while also causing it to express at a high level and maintain a high level of stability. A vector is a genetic construct commonly employed in gene therapy to treat various systemic disorders. This article examines the progress made in the development of various optimization tactics for nonviral attachment vectors and the future applications of these vectors in gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safir Ullah Khan
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, People's Republic of China
| | - Munir Ullah Khan
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, International Research Center for X Polymers, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027 China
| | - Muhammad Imran Khan
- School of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China,Hefei 230027,People's Republic of China
- Department of Pathology, District Headquarters Hospital Jhang 35200, Punjab Province, Islamic Republic of Pakistan
| | - Fadia Kalsoom
- Department of Pathology, District Headquarters Hospital Jhang 35200, Punjab Province, Islamic Republic of Pakistan
| | - Aqeela Zahra
- Department of Family and Community Medicine. College of Medicine, University of Ha'il, Ha'il 81451, Saudi Arabia
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Tasset A, Bellamkonda A, Wang W, Pyatnitskiy I, Ward D, Peppas N, Wang H. Overcoming barriers in non-viral gene delivery for neurological applications. NANOSCALE 2022; 14:3698-3719. [PMID: 35195645 PMCID: PMC9036591 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr06939j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy for neurological disorders has attracted significant interest as a way to reverse or stop various disease pathologies. Typical gene therapies involving the central and peripheral nervous system make use of adeno-associated viral vectors whose questionable safety and limitations in manufacturing has given rise to extensive research into non-viral vectors. While early research studies have demonstrated limited efficacy with these non-viral vectors, investigation into various vector materials and functionalization methods has provided insight into ways to optimize these non-viral vectors to improve desired characteristics such as improved blood-brain barrier transcytosis, improved perfusion in brain region, enhanced cellular uptake and endosomal escape in neural cells, and nuclear transport of genetic material post- intracellular delivery. Using a combination of various strategies to enhance non-viral vectors, research groups have designed multi-functional vectors that have been successfully used in a variety of pre-clinical applications for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, brain cancers, and cellular reprogramming for neuron replacement. While more work is needed in the design of these multi-functional non-viral vectors for neural applications, much of the groundwork has been done and is reviewed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Tasset
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Arjun Bellamkonda
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Wenliang Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Ilya Pyatnitskiy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Deidra Ward
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Nicholas Peppas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Institute for Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, and Regenerative Medicine, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Huiliang Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
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Simna SP, Han Z. Prospects Of Non-Coding Elements In Genomic Dna Based Gene Therapy. Curr Gene Ther 2021; 22:89-103. [PMID: 33874871 DOI: 10.2174/1566523221666210419090357] [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: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Gene therapy has made significant development since the commencement of the first clinical trials a few decades ago and has remained a dynamic area of research regardless of obstacles such as immune response and insertional mutagenesis. Progression in various technologies like next-generation sequencing (NGS) and nanotechnology has established the importance of non-coding segments of a genome, thereby taking gene therapy to the next level. In this review, we have summarized the importance of non-coding elements, highlighting the advantages of using full-length genomic DNA loci (gDNA) compared to complementary DNA (cDNA) or minigene, currently used in gene therapy. The focus of this review is to provide an overview of the advances and the future of potential use of gDNA loci in gene therapy, expanding the therapeutic repertoire in molecular medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- S P Simna
- Department of Ophthalmology, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599. United States
| | - Zongchao Han
- Department of Ophthalmology, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599. United States
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Zheng M, Mitra RN, Weiss ER, Han Z. Rhodopsin Genomic Loci DNA Nanoparticles Improve Expression and Rescue of Retinal Degeneration in a Model for Retinitis Pigmentosa. Mol Ther 2019; 28:523-535. [PMID: 31879189 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2019.11.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of gene therapy may allow replacement of the defective gene. Minigenes, such as cDNAs, are often used. However, these may not express normal physiological genetic profiles due to lack of crucial endogenous regulatory elements. We constructed DNA nanoparticles (NPs) that contain either the mouse or human full-length rhodopsin genomic locus, including endogenous promoters, all introns, and flanking regulatory sequences of the 15-16 kb genomic rhodopsin DNA inserts. We transduced the NPs into primary retinal cell cultures from the rhodopsin knockout (RKO) mouse in vitro and into the RKO mouse in vivo and compared the effects on different functions to plasmid cDNA NP counterparts that were driven by ubiquitous promoters. Our results demonstrate that genomic DNA vectors resulted in long-term high levels of physiological transgene expression over a period of 5 months. In contrast, the cDNA counterparts exhibited low levels of expression with sensitivity to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress mechanism using the same transgene copy number both in vitro and in vivo. This study demonstrates for the first time the transducing of the rhodopsin genomic locus using compacted DNA NPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Rajendra N Mitra
- Department of Ophthalmology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Ellen R Weiss
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Zongchao Han
- Department of Ophthalmology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Division of Pharmacoengineering & Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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Lafuente JV, Requejo C, Ugedo L. Nanodelivery of therapeutic agents in Parkinson's disease. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2019; 245:263-279. [PMID: 30961870 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) as a motor disorder is pathologically featured by the loss of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra compacta (SNc) and the consequent depletion of dopamine in the striatum. However, motor signs are detectable when the loss of dopaminergic striatal terminals exceeds to the dopaminergic neuronal degeneration in SN. Hence, recent evidences about the topological organization of the nigrostriatal system could provide novel insights about the progression of the neurodegenerative process as well as the correct application of the novel therapeutic strategies. Though dopaminergic drugs and different routes of administration have been proposed to treat PD, most of the effects are symptomatic with temporary effects resorting to invasive procedures to ameliorate the side effects. Since the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the main obstacle for most of molecules to access to the brain, ongoing research is focused on halting the progression of PD through the use of those technologies that allow the effective delivery and diffusion of therapeutic molecules to the central nervous system for bypassing BBB and avoiding the side effects. In this context, nanotechnology is emerging as a promising tool for drug delivery. In fact, nanodelivery of restorative treatments in PD, such as gene therapy increased the effectiveness of neurotrophic factors for restoring the dopamine deficit and improving motor deficit in rodent models. Therefore, the present review is focused on the description and identification of the available nanotherapies developed in experimental models of PD which could suppose an important advance for controlled delivery of nanobioactive components into the brain and one more step for the clinical projection.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Vicente Lafuente
- LaNCE, Department of Neuroscience, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain.
| | - Catalina Requejo
- Department of Neurology, The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Luisa Ugedo
- Neuropharmacology Group, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), Leioa, Spain
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Bailey RA, Gutierrez A, Kyser TL, Hemmerle AM, Hufgard JR, Seroogy KB, Vorhees CV, Williams MT. Effects of Preweaning Manganese in Combination with Adult Striatal Dopamine Lesions on Monoamines, BDNF, TrkB, and Cognitive Function in Sprague-Dawley Rats. Neurotox Res 2019; 35:606-620. [PMID: 30612279 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-018-9992-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Manganese (Mn) is an essential nutrient especially during development, but Mn overexposure (MnOE) produces long-term cognitive deficits. Evidence of long-term changes in dopamine in the neostriatum was found in rats from developmental MnOE previously. To examine the relationship between MnOE and dopamine, we tested whether the effects of developmental MnOE would be exaggerated by dopamine reductions induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) neostriatal infusion when the rats were adults. The experiment consisted of four groups of females and males: Vehicle/Sham, MnOE/Sham, Vehicle/6-OHDA, and MnOE/6-OHDA. Both MnOE/Sham and Vehicle/6-OHDA groups displayed egocentric and allocentric memory deficits, whereas MnOE+6-OHDA had additive effects on spatial memory in the Morris water maze and egocentric learning in the Cincinnati water maze. 6-OHDA reduced dopamine in the neostriatum and nucleus accumbens, reduced norepinephrine in the hippocampus, reduced TH+ cells and TrkB and TH expression in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), but increased TrkB in the neostriatum. MnOE alone had no effect on monoamines or TrkB in the neostriatum or hippocampus but reduced BDNF in the hippocampus. A number of sex differences were noted; however, only a few significant interactions were found for MnOE and/or 6-OHDA exposure. These data further implicate dopamine and BDNF in the cognitive deficits arising from developmental MnOE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Bailey
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Arnold Gutierrez
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Tara L Kyser
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Ann M Hemmerle
- Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Jillian R Hufgard
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Kim B Seroogy
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Charles V Vorhees
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Michael T Williams
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA.
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Aly AEE, Harmon B, Padegimas L, Sesenoglu-Laird O, Cooper MJ, Yurek DM, Waszczak BL. Intranasal delivery of hGDNF plasmid DNA nanoparticles results in long-term and widespread transfection of perivascular cells in rat brain. NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2018; 16:20-33. [PMID: 30472323 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2018.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The intranasal route of administration allows large therapeutics to circumvent the blood-brain barrier and be delivered directly to the CNS. Here we examined the distribution and pattern of cellular transfection, and the time course of transgene expression, in the rat brain after intranasal delivery of plasmid DNA nanoparticles (NPs) encoding hGDNF fused with eGFP. Intranasal administration of these NPs resulted in transfection and transgene expression throughout the rat brain, as indicated by eGFP ELISA and eGFP-positive cell counts. Most of the transfected cells were abluminal and immediately adjacent to capillaries and are likely pericytes, consistent with their distribution by perivascular transport. Intranasal administration of these plasmid DNA NPs resulted in significant, long-term transgene expression in rat brain, with highest levels at 1 week and continued expression for 6 months. These results provide evidence in support of intranasal DNA NPs as a non-invasive, long-term gene therapy approach for various CNS disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirah E-E Aly
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brendan Harmon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - David M Yurek
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Kentucky and University of Kentucky Nanobiotechnology Center, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Barbara L Waszczak
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
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Intranasal Delivery of pGDNF DNA Nanoparticles Provides Neuroprotection in the Rat 6-Hydroxydopamine Model of Parkinson’s Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 56:688-701. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1109-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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Zulliger R, Watson JN, Al-Ubaidi MR, Padegimas L, Sesenoglu-Laird O, Cooper MJ, Naash MI. Optimizing Non-viral Gene Therapy Vectors for Delivery to Photoreceptors and Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1074:109-115. [PMID: 29721934 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-75402-4_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Considerable progress has been made in the design and delivery of non-viral gene therapy vectors, but, like their viral counterparts, therapeutic levels of transgenes have not met the requirements for successful clinical applications so far. The biggest advantage of polymer-based nanoparticle vectors is the ease with which they can be modified to increase their ability to penetrate the cell membrane and target specific cells by simply changing the formulation of the nanoparticle compaction. We took advantage of this characteristic to improve transfection rates of our particles to meet the transgene levels which will be needed for future treatment of patients. For this study, we successfully investigated the possibility of our established pegylated polylysine particles to be administered via intravitreal rather than subretinal route to ease the damage during injection. We also demonstrated that our particles are flexible enough to sustain changes in the formulation to accommodate additional targeting sequences without losing their efficiency in transfecting neuronal cells in the retina. Together, these results give us the opportunity to even further improve our particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahel Zulliger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jamie N Watson
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Muayyad R Al-Ubaidi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | | | - Muna I Naash
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
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Hagedorn C, Schnödt-Fuchs M, Boehme P, Abdelrazik H, Lipps HJ, Büning H. S/MAR Element Facilitates Episomal Long-Term Persistence of Adeno-Associated Virus Vector Genomes in Proliferating Cells. Hum Gene Ther 2017; 28:1169-1179. [PMID: 28665147 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2017.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors are one of the most frequently applied gene transfer systems in research and human clinical trials. Since AAV vectors do not possess an integrase activity, application is restricted to terminally differentiated tissues if transgene expression is required long term. To overcome this limitation and to generate AAV vectors that persist episomally in dividing cells, AAV vector genomes were equipped with a scaffold/matrix attachment region (S/MAR). After a mild antibiotic selection, cells transduced with AAV-S/MAR established colonies that maintained long-term transgene expression (>50 population doublings) from replicating AAV vector episomes in the absence of further selection. Unexpectedly, with a lesser but still significant efficiency, the control vector (AAV-ΔS/MAR), a standard single-stranded AAV vector, also established stable transgene-expressing colonies, most of which were maintained as replicating episomes rather than integrated vector genomes. Thus, based on the result in HeLa cells, it is concluded that AAV vector genomes per se possess the ability to establish episomal maintenance in proliferating cells, a feature that can be enhanced by incorporation of a foreign genomic element such as an S/MAR element.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Hagedorn
- 1 Institute of Cell Biology, ZBAF, University of Witten/Herdecke , Witten, Germany
| | - Maria Schnödt-Fuchs
- 2 Laboratory for AAV Vector Development, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne , Cologne, Germany .,3 Department I of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Cologne , Cologne, Germany .,4 German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) , partner sites Bonn-Cologne and Hannover-Braunschweig
| | - Philip Boehme
- 1 Institute of Cell Biology, ZBAF, University of Witten/Herdecke , Witten, Germany .,5 Institute of Virology and Microbiology, ZBAF, University of Witten/Herdecke , Witten, Germany
| | - Heba Abdelrazik
- 2 Laboratory for AAV Vector Development, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne , Cologne, Germany .,6 Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University , Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hans J Lipps
- 1 Institute of Cell Biology, ZBAF, University of Witten/Herdecke , Witten, Germany
| | - Hildegard Büning
- 2 Laboratory for AAV Vector Development, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne , Cologne, Germany .,3 Department I of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Cologne , Cologne, Germany .,4 German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) , partner sites Bonn-Cologne and Hannover-Braunschweig.,7 Laboratory for Infection Biology and Gene Transfer, Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School , Hannover, Germany
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Yurek D, Hasselrot U, Sesenoglu-Laird O, Padegimas L, Cooper M. Intracerebral injections of DNA nanoparticles encoding for a therapeutic gene provide partial neuroprotection in an animal model of neurodegeneration. NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2017; 13:2209-2217. [PMID: 28666950 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2017.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Revised: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
This study reports proof of concept for administering compacted DNA nanoparticles (DNPs) intracerebrally as a means to protect against neurotoxin-induced neurodegeneration of dopamine (DA) neurons. In this study we used DNPs that encoded for human glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (hGDNF); GDNF is a potent neurotrophic factor for DA neurons. Intracerebral injections of DNPs into the striatum and/or substantia nigra were performed 1 week before treatment with a neurotoxin. We observed that the number of surviving DA cells, the density of DA fiber terminals and recovery of motor function were greater in animals injected with GDNF-encoding DNPs than in control animals receiving DNPs encoding for an inert reporter gene. The results of these studies are one of the first to demonstrate that a non-viral, synthetic nanoparticle can be used to deliver therapeutic genes to cells in the brain as a means to protect cells against neurotoxin-induced neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Yurek
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY; University of Kentucky Nanobiotechnology Center, Lexington, KY.
| | - Ulla Hasselrot
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY
| | | | | | - Mark Cooper
- Copernicus Therapeutics, Inc., Cleveland, OH
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Mead BP, Kim N, Miller GW, Hodges D, Mastorakos P, Klibanov AL, Mandell JW, Hirsh J, Suk JS, Hanes J, Price RJ. Novel Focused Ultrasound Gene Therapy Approach Noninvasively Restores Dopaminergic Neuron Function in a Rat Parkinson's Disease Model. NANO LETTERS 2017; 17:3533-3542. [PMID: 28511006 PMCID: PMC5539956 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b00616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Therapies capable of decelerating, or perhaps even halting, neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD) remain elusive. Clinical trials of PD gene therapy testing the delivery of neurotrophic factors, such as the glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), have been largely ineffective due to poor vector distribution throughout the diseased regions in the brain. In addition, current delivery strategies involve invasive procedures that obviate the inclusion of early stage patients who are most likely to benefit from GDNF-based gene therapy. Here, we introduce a two-pronged treatment strategy, composed of MR image-guided focused ultrasound (FUS) and brain-penetrating nanoparticles (BPN), that provides widespread but targeted GDNF transgene expression in the brain following systemic administration. MR image-guided FUS allows circulating gene vectors to partition into the brain tissue by noninvasive and transient opening of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) within the areas where FUS is applied. Once beyond the BBB, BPN provide widespread and uniform GDNF expression throughout the targeted brain tissue. After only a single treatment, our strategy led to therapeutically relevant levels of GDNF protein content in the FUS-targeted regions in the striatum of the 6-OHDA-induced rat model of PD, which lasted at least up to 10 weeks. Importantly, our strategy restored both dopamine levels and dopaminergic neuron density and reversed behavioral indicators of PD-associated motor dysfunction with no evidence of local or systemic toxicity. Our combinatorial approach overcomes limitations of current delivery strategies, thereby potentially providing a novel means to treat PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian P. Mead
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, United States
| | - Namho Kim
- Center for Nanomedicine at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, United States
| | - G. Wilson Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, United States
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, United States
| | - David Hodges
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, United States
| | - Panagiotis Mastorakos
- Center for Nanomedicine at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, United States
| | - Alexander L. Klibanov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, United States
- Cardiovascular Division, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, United States
| | - James W. Mandell
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, United States
| | - Jay Hirsh
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, United States
| | - Jung Soo Suk
- Center for Nanomedicine at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, United States
| | - Justin Hanes
- Center for Nanomedicine at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, United States
| | - Richard J. Price
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, United States
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15
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Aklakur M, Asharf Rather M, Kumar N. Nanodelivery: An Emerging Avenue for Nutraceuticals and Drug Delivery. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2017; 56:2352-61. [PMID: 25830230 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2013.839543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Aquaculture has been globally recognized as the fastest growing food production sector which plays a major role in meeting the increasing demand for animal protein requirement. A consensus is growing that a dramatic increase in aquaculture is needed to supply future aquatic food needs. However, there are sustained problems with the aquaculture like disease outbreaks, chemical pollution, the environmental destruction, and inefficient feed utilization. These altogether raise question mark on sustainability of aquaculture. In spite of the several strategy adopted on national and international level, as improved laboratory facilities, diagnostic expertise, and control and therapeutic strategies in order to handle disease outbreaks more effectively. Aquaculture industry is under uncertainty and the progress has not matched that of the rapidly developing aquaculture sector. In order to control disease prevalence and ensure better health of system and sustainable production, the sector demand more technical innovation for the drug use, disease treatment, water quality management, production of tailored fish for suiting better health, productivity drive by epigenetic and nutrigenomic interaction, better breeding success by efficient delivery of maturation and spawning inducing agent, nutraceutical delivery for rapid growth promotion and culture time reduction, successful use of autotransgenic, and effective vaccine. Nanotechnology has a tremendous potential to revolutionize agriculture and allied fields including aquaculture and fisheries. For these multiple purposes effort, importance of nanotechnology and nanodelivery of drugs, vaccine, nutraceutical, inducing hormones, and growth-promoting anabolics open tremendous opportunity. The paper has been targeted to delineate the possible future application of nanodelivery for the aquaculture development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Aklakur
- a Division of Fish Physiology and Biochemistry , Central Institute of Fisheries Education , Mumbai , India
| | - Mohd Asharf Rather
- b Division of Fish Genetics and Biotechnology , Central Institute of Fisheries Education , Mumbai , India
| | - Neeraj Kumar
- b Division of Fish Genetics and Biotechnology , Central Institute of Fisheries Education , Mumbai , India
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16
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Destination Brain: the Past, Present, and Future of Therapeutic Gene Delivery. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2017; 12:51-83. [PMID: 28160121 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-016-9724-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Neurological diseases and disorders (NDDs) present a significant societal burden and currently available drug- and biological-based therapeutic strategies have proven inadequate to alleviate it. Gene therapy is a suitable alternative to treat NDDs compared to conventional systems since it can be tailored to specifically alter select gene expression, reverse disease phenotype and restore normal function. The scope of gene therapy has broadened over the years with the advent of RNA interference and genome editing technologies. Consequently, encouraging results from central nervous system (CNS)-targeted gene delivery studies have led to their transition from preclinical to clinical trials. As we shift to an exciting gene therapy era, a retrospective of available literature on CNS-associated gene delivery is in order. This review is timely in this regard, since it analyzes key challenges and major findings from the last two decades and evaluates future prospects of brain gene delivery. We emphasize major areas consisting of physiological and pharmacological challenges in gene therapy, function-based selection of a ideal cellular target(s), available therapy modalities, and diversity of viral vectors and nanoparticles as vehicle systems. Further, we present plausible answers to key questions such as strategies to circumvent low blood-brain barrier permeability and most suitable CNS cell types for targeting. We compare and contrast pros and cons of the tested viral vectors in the context of delivery systems used in past and current clinical trials. Gene vector design challenges are also evaluated in the context of cell-specific promoters. Key challenges and findings reported for recent gene therapy clinical trials, assessing viral vectors and nanoparticles are discussed from the perspective of bench to bedside gene therapy translation. We conclude this review by tying together gene delivery challenges, available vehicle systems and comprehensive analyses of neuropathogenesis to outline future prospects of CNS-targeted gene therapies.
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Berry S, Mastorakos P, Zhang C, Song E, Patel H, Suk JS, Hanes J. Enhancing Intracranial Delivery of Clinically Relevant Non-viral Gene Vectors. RSC Adv 2016; 48:41665-41674. [PMID: 27642512 DOI: 10.1039/c6ra01546h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy is a promising strategy for the management of various neurological disorders that do not respond adequately to conventional therapeutics. The development of gene vectors with favorable safety profiles that can achieve uniform distribution and high-level transgene expression in the brain remains challenging. The rod-shaped, non-viral gene delivery platform based on poly-L-lysine (PLL) conjugated to a single segment of polyethylene glycol (PEG) has shown safe transfection in human nares and mouse brains in vivo. However, we have previously demonstrated that a denser PEG coating is required for rapid diffusion of nanoparticles in the brain extracellular space. Here, we engineered a densely PEGylated version of this platform based on PLL polymers conjugated to branched PEG via alkyne-azide cycloaddition. We found that the newly developed gene vectors rapidly diffused in the brain parenchyma, providing significantly improved vector distribution and overall transgene expression in vivo compared to the previously developed platform. These brain-penetrating DNA nanoparticles exhibited enhanced cellular uptake presumably due to their ellipsoidal morphology. By simultaneously improving delivery to target cells and subsequent transfection, our densely PEGylated PLL DNA nanoparticles can provide widespread, high levels of transgene expression, essential for effective targeting of highly disseminated brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sneha Berry
- The Center for Nanomedicine at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Center for Biotechnology Education, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Panagiotis Mastorakos
- The Center for Nanomedicine at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Clark Zhang
- The Center for Nanomedicine at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Eric Song
- The Center for Nanomedicine at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Center for Biotechnology Education, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Himat Patel
- The Center for Nanomedicine at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jung Soo Suk
- The Center for Nanomedicine at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Justin Hanes
- The Center for Nanomedicine at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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18
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Angell C, Xie S, Zhang L, Chen Y. DNA Nanotechnology for Precise Control over Drug Delivery and Gene Therapy. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2016; 12:1117-32. [PMID: 26725041 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201502167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Revised: 09/03/2015] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Nanomedicine has been growing exponentially due to its enhanced drug targeting and reduced drug toxicity. It uses the interactions where nanotechnological components and biological systems communicate with each other to facilitate the delivery performance. At this scale, the physiochemical properties of delivery systems strongly affect their capacities. Among current delivery systems, DNA nanotechnology shows many advantages because of its unprecedented engineering abilities. Through molecular recognition, DNA nanotechnology can be used to construct a variety of nanostructures with precisely controllable size, shape, and surface chemistry, which can be appreciated in the delivery process. In this review, different approaches that are currently used for the construction of DNA nanostructures are reported. Further, the utilization of these DNA nanostructures with the well-defined parameters for the precise control in drug delivery and gene therapy is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chava Angell
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Sibai Xie
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Liangfang Zhang
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Yi Chen
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
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19
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Current Neurogenic and Neuroprotective Strategies to Prevent and Treat Neurodegenerative and Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Neuromolecular Med 2015; 17:404-22. [PMID: 26374113 DOI: 10.1007/s12017-015-8369-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2015] [Accepted: 08/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The adult central nervous system is commonly known to have a very limited regenerative capacity. The presence of functional stem cells in the brain can therefore be seen as a paradox, since in other organs these are known to counterbalance cell loss derived from pathological conditions. This fact has therefore raised the possibility to stimulate neural stem cell differentiation and proliferation or survival by either stem cell replacement therapy or direct administration of neurotrophic factors or other proneurogenic molecules, which in turn has also originated regenerative medicine for the treatment of otherwise incurable neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders that take a huge toll on society. This may be facilitated by the fact that many of these disorders converge on similar pathophysiological pathways: excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial failure, excessive intracellular calcium and apoptosis. This review will therefore focus on the most promising achievements in promoting neuroprotection and neuroregeneration reported to date.
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20
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Aly AEE, Waszczak BL. Intranasal gene delivery for treating Parkinson's disease: overcoming the blood-brain barrier. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2015; 12:1923-41. [PMID: 26289676 DOI: 10.1517/17425247.2015.1069815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Developing a disease-modifying gene therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD) has been a high priority for over a decade. However, due to the inability of large biomolecules to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), the only means of delivery to the brain has been intracerebral infusion. Intranasal administration offers a non-surgical means of bypassing the BBB to deliver neurotrophic factors, and the genes encoding them, directly to the brain. AREAS COVERED This review summarizes: i) evidence demonstrating intranasal delivery to the brain of a number of biomolecules having therapeutic potential for various CNS disorders; and ii) evidence demonstrating neuroprotective efficacy of a subset of biomolecules specifically for PD. The intersection of these two spheres represents the area of opportunity for development of new intranasal gene therapies for PD. To that end, our laboratory showed that intranasal administration of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), or plasmid DNA nanoparticles encoding GDNF, provides neuroprotection in a rat model of PD, and that the cells transfected by the nanoparticle vector are likely to be pericytes. EXPERT OPINION A number of genes encoding neurotrophic factors have therapeutic potential for PD, but few have been tested by the intranasal route and shown to be neuroprotective in a model of PD. Intranasal delivery provides a largely unexplored, promising approach for development of a non-invasive gene therapy for PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirah E-E Aly
- a 1 Northeastern University, School of Pharmacy, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Barbara L Waszczak
- b 2 Northeastern University, School of Pharmacy, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Boston, MA 02115, USA +1 617 373 3312 ; +1 617 373 8886 ;
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21
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22
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Mastorakos P, Zhang C, Berry S, Oh Y, Lee S, Eberhart CG, Woodworth GF, Suk JS, Hanes J. Highly PEGylated DNA Nanoparticles Provide Uniform and Widespread Gene Transfer in the Brain. Adv Healthc Mater 2015; 4:1023-33. [PMID: 25761435 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201400800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2014] [Revised: 02/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Gene delivery to the central nervous system (CNS) has potential as a means for treating numerous debilitating neurological diseases. Nonviral gene vector platforms are tailorable and can overcome key limitations intrinsic to virus-mediated delivery; however, lack of clinical efficacy with nonviral systems to date may be attributed to limited gene vector dispersion and transfection in vivo. It is shown that the brain extracellular matrix (ECM) strongly limits penetration of polymer-based gene vector nanoparticles (NP) through the brain parenchyma, even when they are very small (<60 nm) and coated with a polyethylene glycol (PEG) corona of typical density. Following convection enhanced delivery (CED), conventional gene vectors are confined to the injection site, presumably by adhesive interactions with the brain ECM and do not provide gene expression beyond the point of administration. In contrast, it is found that incorporating highly PEGylated polymers allows the production of compacted (≈43 nm) and colloidally stable DNA NP that avoid adhesive trapping within the brain parenchyma. When administered by CED into the rat striatum, highly PEGylated DNA NP distribute throughout and provide broad transgene expression without vector-induced toxicity. The use of these brain-penetrating gene vectors, in conjunction with CED, offers an avenue to improve gene therapy for CNS diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Mastorakos
- Center for Nanomedicine; The Wilmer Eye Institute; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; 400 N. Broadway Baltimore MD 21231 USA
- Department of Ophthalmology; The Wilmer Eye Institute; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; 600 N. Wolfe Street Baltimore MD 21297 USA
| | - Clark Zhang
- Center for Nanomedicine; The Wilmer Eye Institute; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; 400 N. Broadway Baltimore MD 21231 USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; 720 Rutland Avenue Baltimore MD 21205 USA
| | - Sneha Berry
- Center for Nanomedicine; The Wilmer Eye Institute; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; 400 N. Broadway Baltimore MD 21231 USA
- Center for Biotechnology Education; Krieger School of Arts and Sciences; Johns Hopkins University; 3400 N. Charles Street Baltimore MD 21218 USA
| | - Yumin Oh
- Center for Nanomedicine; The Wilmer Eye Institute; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; 400 N. Broadway Baltimore MD 21231 USA
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science; Johns Hopkins University; 601 N. Caroline Street Baltimore MD 21287 USA
| | - Seulki Lee
- Center for Nanomedicine; The Wilmer Eye Institute; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; 400 N. Broadway Baltimore MD 21231 USA
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science; Johns Hopkins University; 601 N. Caroline Street Baltimore MD 21287 USA
| | - Charles G. Eberhart
- Department of Pathology; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; 600 N. Wolfe Street Baltimore MD 21287 USA
| | - Graeme F. Woodworth
- Departments of Neurological Surgery Anatomy and Neurobiology; University of Maryland School of Medicine; 22 S. Greene Street Baltimore MD 21201 USA
| | - Jung Soo Suk
- Center for Nanomedicine; The Wilmer Eye Institute; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; 400 N. Broadway Baltimore MD 21231 USA
- Department of Ophthalmology; The Wilmer Eye Institute; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; 600 N. Wolfe Street Baltimore MD 21297 USA
| | - Justin Hanes
- Center for Nanomedicine; The Wilmer Eye Institute; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; 400 N. Broadway Baltimore MD 21231 USA
- Department of Ophthalmology; The Wilmer Eye Institute; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; 600 N. Wolfe Street Baltimore MD 21297 USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; 720 Rutland Avenue Baltimore MD 21205 USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; Johns Hopkins University; 3400 N. Charles Street Baltimore MD 21218 USA
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23
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Mastorakos P, Kambhampati SP, Mishra MK, Wu T, Song E, Hanes J, Kannan RM. Hydroxyl PAMAM dendrimer-based gene vectors for transgene delivery to human retinal pigment epithelial cells. NANOSCALE 2015; 7:3845-56. [PMID: 25213606 PMCID: PMC4797994 DOI: 10.1039/c4nr04284k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Ocular gene therapy holds promise for the treatment of numerous blinding disorders. Despite the significant progress in the field of viral and non-viral gene delivery to the eye, significant obstacles remain in the way of achieving high-level transgene expression without adverse effects. The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is involved in the pathogenesis of retinal diseases and is a key target for a number of gene-based therapeutics. In this study, we addressed the inherent drawbacks of non-viral gene vectors and combined different approaches to design an efficient and safe dendrimer-based gene-delivery platform for delivery to human RPE cells. We used hydroxyl-terminated polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers functionalized with various amounts of amine groups to achieve effective plasmid compaction. We further used triamcinolone acetonide (TA) as a nuclear localization enhancer for the dendrimer-gene complex and achieved significant improvement in cell uptake and transfection of hard-to-transfect human RPE cells. To improve colloidal stability, we further shielded the gene vector surface through incorporation of PEGylated dendrimer along with dendrimer-TA for DNA complexation. The resultant complexes showed improved stability while minimally affecting transgene delivery, thus improving the translational relevance of this platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Mastorakos
- Center for Nanomedicine at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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24
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Yurek DM, Hasselrot U, Cass WA, Sesenoglu-Laird O, Padegimas L, Cooper MJ. Age and lesion-induced increases of GDNF transgene expression in brain following intracerebral injections of DNA nanoparticles. Neuroscience 2014; 284:500-512. [PMID: 25453772 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2014] [Revised: 10/10/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
In previous studies that used compacted DNA nanoparticles (DNP) to transfect cells in the brain, we observed higher transgene expression in the denervated striatum when compared to transgene expression in the intact striatum. We also observed that long-term transgene expression occurred in astrocytes as well as neurons. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that the higher transgene expression observed in the denervated striatum may be a function of increased gliosis. Several aging studies have also reported an increase of gliosis as a function of normal aging. In this study we used DNPs that encoded for human glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (hGDNF) and either a non-specific human polyubiquitin C (UbC) or an astrocyte-specific human glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter. The DNPs were injected intracerebrally into the denervated or intact striatum of young, middle-aged or aged rats, and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) transgene expression was subsequently quantified in brain tissue samples. The results of our studies confirmed our earlier finding that transgene expression was higher in the denervated striatum when compared to intact striatum for DNPs incorporating either promoter. In addition, we observed significantly higher transgene expression in the denervated striatum of old rats when compared to young rats following injections of both types of DNPs. Stereological analysis of GFAP+ cells in the striatum confirmed an increase of GFAP+ cells in the denervated striatum when compared to the intact striatum and also an age-related increase; importantly, increases in GFAP+ cells closely matched the increases in GDNF transgene levels. Thus neurodegeneration and aging may lay a foundation that is actually beneficial for this particular type of gene therapy while other gene therapy techniques that target neurons are actually targeting cells that are decreasing as the disease progresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- D M Yurek
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, United States.
| | - U Hasselrot
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - W A Cass
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | | | - L Padegimas
- Copernicus Therapeutics, Inc., Cleveland, OH 44106, United States
| | - M J Cooper
- Copernicus Therapeutics, Inc., Cleveland, OH 44106, United States
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25
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Newland B, Aied A, Pinoncely AV, Zheng Y, Zhao T, Zhang H, Niemeier R, Dowd E, Pandit A, Wang W. Untying a nanoscale knotted polymer structure to linear chains for efficient gene delivery in vitro and to the brain. NANOSCALE 2014; 6:7526-7533. [PMID: 24886722 DOI: 10.1039/c3nr06737h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to develop a platform transfection technology, for applications in the brain, which could transfect astrocytes without requiring cell specific functionalization and without the common cause of toxicity through high charge density. Here we show that a simple and scalable preparation technique can be used to produce a "knot" structured cationic polymer, where single growing chains can crosslink together via disulphide intramolecular crosslinks (internal cyclizations). This well-defined knot structure can thus "untie" under reducing conditions, showing a more favorable transfection profile for astrocytes compared to 25 kDa-PEI (48-fold), SuperFect® (39-fold) and Lipofectamine®2000 (18-fold) whilst maintaining neural cell viability at over 80% after four days of culture. The high transfection/lack of toxicity of this knot structured polymer in vitro, combined with its ability to mediate luciferase transgene expression in the adult rat brain, demonstrates its use as a platform transfection technology which should be investigated further for neurodegenerative disease therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Newland
- Network of Excellence for Functional Biomaterials (NFB), National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
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26
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Reduced Ischemic Injury After Stroke in Mice by Angiogenic Gene Delivery Via Ultrasound-Targeted Microbubble Destruction. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2014; 73:548-58. [DOI: 10.1097/nen.0000000000000077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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Neurotrophic and neuroprotective efficacy of intranasal GDNF in a rat model of Parkinson's disease. Neuroscience 2014; 274:11-23. [PMID: 24845869 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2013] [Revised: 05/05/2014] [Accepted: 05/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) exerts neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects on substantia nigra (SN) dopamine neurons and has great therapeutic potential for Parkinson's disease (PD). Hindering this potential is the fact that GDNF cannot cross the blood-brain barrier. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of GDNF administered by the intranasal route in normal rats, and in the unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) model of PD. In the first study, rats received single intranasal doses of 50-μg GDNF in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or cationic liposomes, but no 6-OHDA. In the second study, rats were nasally administered 10, 50 or 150 μg of GDNF in PBS or cationic liposomes 1h before injection of 6-OHDA. All groups were sacrificed 3-4 weeks later. Both intranasal GDNF treatments induced a neurotrophic effect in the SN insofar as the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons was significantly higher than in controls given intranasal PBS liposomes. Dopamine cell counts were also higher in the intact SN of 6-OHDA-lesioned rats compared to controls given PBS liposomes. Most importantly, intranasal GDNF provided significant neuroprotective efficacy indicated by greater TH immunostaining density in the lesioned versus intact SN of rats given single 50-μg doses of GDNF in PBS, or 150-μg doses of liposomal GDNF, compared to lesioned rats given PBS liposomes. Three 50-μg doses given at daily intervals (1 day before, 1h before, and 1 day after 6-OHDA) provided even greater protection than single 150-μg doses. Multiple doses at short intervals may therefore provide greater neuroprotection than single bolus doses. These results demonstrate both a neurotrophic effect of intranasal GDNF in the intact SN as well as neuroprotective efficacy in the unilateral 6-OHDA model, supporting pursuit of this approach as a potential treatment for PD.
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Harmon BT, Aly AE, Padegimas L, Sesenoglu-Laird O, Cooper MJ, Waszczak BL. Intranasal administration of plasmid DNA nanoparticles yields successful transfection and expression of a reporter protein in rat brain. Gene Ther 2014; 21:514-21. [PMID: 24670994 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2014.28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2013] [Revised: 02/12/2014] [Accepted: 02/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Viral vectors are a commonly used method for gene therapy because of their highly efficient transduction of cells. However, many vectors have a small genetic capacity, and their potential for immunogenicity can limit their usefulness. Moreover, for disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), the need for invasive surgical delivery of viruses to the brain also detracts from their clinical applicability. Here, we show that intranasal delivery of unimolecularly compacted DNA nanoparticles (DNA NPs), which consist of single molecules of plasmid DNA encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) compacted with 10 kDa polyethylene glycol (PEG)-substituted lysine 30-mers (CK30PEG10k), successfully transfect cells in the rat brain. Direct eGFP fluorescence microscopy, eGFP-immunohistochemistry (IHC) and eGFP-ELISA all demonstrated eGFP protein expression 2 days after intranasal delivery. eGFP-positive cells were found throughout the rostral-caudal axis of the brain, most often adjacent to capillary endothelial cells. This localization provides evidence for distribution of the nasally administered DNA NPs via perivascular flow. These results are the first report that intranasal delivery of DNA NPs can bypass the blood-brain barrier and transfect and express the encoded protein in the rat brain, affording a non-invasive approach for gene therapy of CNS disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- B T Harmon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - A E Aly
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - L Padegimas
- Copernicus Therapeutics, Inc., Cleveland, OH, USA
| | | | - M J Cooper
- Copernicus Therapeutics, Inc., Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - B L Waszczak
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
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29
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da Silva AL, Martini SV, Abreu SC, Samary CDS, Diaz BL, Fernezlian S, de Sá VK, Capelozzi VL, Boylan NJ, Goya RG, Suk JS, Rocco PRM, Hanes J, Morales MM. DNA nanoparticle-mediated thymulin gene therapy prevents airway remodeling in experimental allergic asthma. J Control Release 2014; 180:125-33. [PMID: 24556417 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2014.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2013] [Revised: 02/01/2014] [Accepted: 02/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Thymulin has been shown to present anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties in experimental lung diseases. We hypothesized that a biologically active thymulin analog gene, methionine serum thymus factor, delivered by highly compacted DNA nanoparticles may prevent lung inflammation and remodeling in a mouse model of allergic asthma. The DNA nanoparticles are composed of a single molecule of plasmid DNA compacted with block copolymers of poly-L-lysine and polyethylene glycol (CK30PEG), which have been found safe in a human phase I/II clinical trial. Thymulin plasmids were detected in the lungs of ovalbumin-challenged asthmatic mice up to 27days after administration of DNA nanoparticles carrying thymulin plasmids. A single dose of DNA nanoparticles carrying thymulin plasmids prevented lung inflammation, collagen deposition and smooth muscle hypertrophy in the lungs of a murine model of ovalbumin-challenged allergic asthma, leading to improved lung mechanics. In the present model of chronic allergic asthma, highly compacted DNA nanoparticles using thymulin analog gene modulated the inflammatory and remodeling processes improving lung mechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana L da Silva
- Laboratory of Pulmonary Investigation, Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sabrina V Martini
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Soraia C Abreu
- Laboratory of Pulmonary Investigation, Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cynthia dos S Samary
- Laboratory of Pulmonary Investigation, Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bruno L Diaz
- Laboratory of Immunology, Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sandra Fernezlian
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Karen de Sá
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vera Luiza Capelozzi
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nicholas J Boylan
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA; The Center for Nanomedicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Rodolfo Gustavo Goya
- Institute for Biochemical Research at La Plata (INIBIOLP), and Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, National University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Jung Soo Suk
- The Center for Nanomedicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, The Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Patricia R M Rocco
- Laboratory of Pulmonary Investigation, Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Justin Hanes
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA; The Center for Nanomedicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, The Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
| | - Marcelo M Morales
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Han Z, Conley SM, Naash MI. Gene Therapy for Stargardt Disease Associated with ABCA4 Gene. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2014; 801:719-24. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-3209-8_90] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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31
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Kim AJ, Woodworth GF, Boylan NJ, Suk JS, Hanes J. Highly compacted pH-responsive DNA nanoparticles mediate transgene silencing in experimental glioma. J Mater Chem B 2014; 2:8165-8173. [PMID: 25485114 DOI: 10.1039/c4tb00559g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Complex genetic mutations are common in brain cancer, making gene therapy an attractive approach to repair or modulate altered genes and cellular pathways. Non-viral gene vectors can offer DNA delivery without the risk of immunogenicity and/or insertional mutagenesis that are common with viral vectors. We developed pH-responsive DNA nanoparticles, CH12K18PEG5k, by inserting a poly-L-histidine segment between PEG and poly-L-lysine to engineer a triblock copolymer. CH12K18PEG5k DNA nanoparticles trafficked through clathrin-dependent endocytosis (CME) as the primary pathway in mouse glioblastoma (GBM) cells, and protected plasmid DNA from both DNase-mediated and acidic lysosomal degradation. CH12K18PEG5k DNA nanoparticles effectively silenced a tumor-specific transgene (firefly luciferase) following direct injection into mouse intracranial GBM. Toxicity and histological analysis showed no evidence of acute or delayed inflammatory responses. These results demonstrate the utility of using this DNA nanoparticle-based technology for delivering genes to tumor cells as a possible therapeutic approach for patients with brain cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 22 South Green Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 (USA) ; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD 21201 (USA) ; Center for Nanomedicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 400 North Broadway Street, Baltimore, MD 21231 (USA)
| | - Graeme F Woodworth
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 22 South Green Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 (USA) ; Center for Nanomedicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 400 North Broadway Street, Baltimore, MD 21231 (USA)
| | - Nicholas J Boylan
- Center for Nanomedicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 400 North Broadway Street, Baltimore, MD 21231 (USA)
| | - Jung Soo Suk
- Center for Nanomedicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 400 North Broadway Street, Baltimore, MD 21231 (USA)
| | - Justin Hanes
- Center for Nanomedicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 400 North Broadway Street, Baltimore, MD 21231 (USA) ; Department of Ophthalmology, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Neurosurgery, and Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 400 North Broadway Street, Baltimore, MD 21231 (USA) ; Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 21231 (USA)
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32
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Zhang C, Jin Y, Ziemba KS, Fletcher AM, Ghosh B, Truit E, Yurek DM, Smith GM. Long distance directional growth of dopaminergic axons along pathways of netrin-1 and GDNF. Exp Neurol 2013; 250:156-64. [PMID: 24099728 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2013.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2013] [Revised: 09/26/2013] [Accepted: 09/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Different experimental and clinical strategies have been used to promote survival of transplanted embryonic ventral mesencephalic (VM) neurons. However, few studies have focused on the long-distance growth of dopaminergic axons from VM transplants. The aim of this study is to identify some of the growth and guidance factors that support directed long-distance growth of dopaminergic axons from VM transplants. Lentivirus encoding either glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) or netrin-1, or a combination of lenti-GDNF with either lenti-GDNF family receptor α1 (GFRα-1) or lenti-netrin-1 was injected to form a gradient along the corpus callosum. Two weeks later, a piece of embryonic day 14 VM tissue was transplanted into the corpus callosum adjacent to the low end of the gradient. Results showed that tyrosine hydroxylase (TH(+)) axons grew a very short distance from the VM transplants in control groups, with few axons reaching the midline. In GDNF or netrin-1 expressing groups, more TH(+) axons grew out of transplants and reached the midline. Pathways co-expressing GDNF with either GFRα-1 or netrin-1 showed significantly increased axonal outgrowth. Interestingly, only the GDNF/netrin-1 combination resulted in the majority of axons reaching the distal target (80%), whereas along the GDNF/GFRα-1 pathway only 20% of the axons leaving the transplant reached the distal target. This technique of long-distance axon guidance may prove to be a useful strategy in reconstructing damaged neuronal circuits, such as the nigrostriatal pathway in Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Zhang
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center (SCoBIRC), University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
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33
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Koirala A, Conley SM, Makkia R, Liu Z, Cooper MJ, Sparrow JR, Naash MI. Persistence of non-viral vector mediated RPE65 expression: case for viability as a gene transfer therapy for RPE-based diseases. J Control Release 2013; 172:745-52. [PMID: 24035979 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2013.08.299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2013] [Accepted: 08/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) gene RPE65 are associated with multiple blinding diseases including Leber's Congenital Amaurosis (LCA). Our goal has been to develop persistent, effective non-viral genetic therapies to treat this condition. Using precisely engineered DNA vectors and high capacity compacted DNA nanoparticles (NP), we previously demonstrated that both plasmid and NP forms of VMD2-hRPE65-S/MAR improved the disease phenotypes in an rpe65(-/-) model of LCA up to 6 months post-injection (PI), however the duration of this treatment efficacy was not established. Here, we test the ability of these vectors to sustain gene expression and phenotypic improvement for the life of the animal. NPs or naked DNA were subretinally injected in rpe65(-/-) mice at postnatal day (P) 16 and evaluated at 15 months PI. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunofluorescence were performed at PI-15 months and demonstrated appreciable expression of transferred RPE65 (levels were 32% of wild-type [WT] for NPs and 44% of WT for naked DNA). No reduction in expression at the message level was observed from PI-6 month data. Spectral electroretinography (ERG) demonstrated significant improvement in cone ERG amplitudes in treated versus uninjected animals. Most importantly, we also observed reduced fundus autofluorescence in the eyes injected with NP and naked DNA compared to uninjected counterparts. Consistent with these observations, biochemical studies showed a reduction in the accumulation of toxic retinyl esters in treated mice, suggesting that the transferred hRPE65 was functional. These critical results indicate that both NP and uncompacted plasmid VMD2-hRPE65-S/MAR can mediate persistent, long-term improvement in an RPE-associated disease phenotype, and suggest that DNA NPs, which are non-toxic and have a large payload capacity, expand the treatment repertoire available for ocular gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adarsha Koirala
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 940 Stanton L. Young Boulevard, BMSB 781, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
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34
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Newland B, Abu-Rub M, Naughton M, Zheng Y, Pinoncely AV, Collin E, Dowd E, Wang W, Pandit A. GDNF gene delivery via a 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate based cyclized knot polymer for neuronal cell applications. ACS Chem Neurosci 2013; 4:540-6. [PMID: 23391146 DOI: 10.1021/cn4000023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonviral genetic therapeutic intervention strategies for neurological disorders hold great promise, but a lack of vector efficacy, coupled with vector toxicity, continue to hinder progress. Here we report the application of a newly developed class of polymer, distinctly different from conventional branched polymers, as a transfection agent for the delivery of glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) encoding gene. This new 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) based cyclized knot polymer was studied for neuronal cell transfection applications, in comparison to branched polyethyleneimine (PEI). While showing a similar transfection profile over multiple cell types, the cyclized knot polymer showed far lower toxicity. In addition, transfection of Neu7 astrocytes with the GDNF encoding gene was able to cause neurite outgrowth when cocultured with dorsal root ganglia (DRGs). The cyclized knot polymer assessed here (PD-E 8%PEG), synthesized via a simple one-pot reaction, was shown to have great potential for neuronal gene therapy applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- B. Newland
- Network of Excellence for Functional
Biomaterials (NFB), ‡Pharmacology and Therapeutics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - M. Abu-Rub
- Network of Excellence for Functional
Biomaterials (NFB), ‡Pharmacology and Therapeutics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - M. Naughton
- Network of Excellence for Functional
Biomaterials (NFB), ‡Pharmacology and Therapeutics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Y. Zheng
- Network of Excellence for Functional
Biomaterials (NFB), ‡Pharmacology and Therapeutics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - A. V. Pinoncely
- Network of Excellence for Functional
Biomaterials (NFB), ‡Pharmacology and Therapeutics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - E. Collin
- Network of Excellence for Functional
Biomaterials (NFB), ‡Pharmacology and Therapeutics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - E. Dowd
- Network of Excellence for Functional
Biomaterials (NFB), ‡Pharmacology and Therapeutics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - W. Wang
- Network of Excellence for Functional
Biomaterials (NFB), ‡Pharmacology and Therapeutics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - A. Pandit
- Network of Excellence for Functional
Biomaterials (NFB), ‡Pharmacology and Therapeutics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
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35
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Koirala A, Makkia RS, Conley SM, Cooper MJ, Naash MI. S/MAR-containing DNA nanoparticles promote persistent RPE gene expression and improvement in RPE65-associated LCA. Hum Mol Genet 2013; 22:1632-42. [PMID: 23335596 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddt013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in genes in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cause or contribute to debilitating ocular diseases, including Leber's congenital amaurosis (LCA). Genetic therapies, particularly adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), are a popular choice for monogenic diseases; however, the limited payload capacity of AAVs combined with the large number of retinal disease genes exceeding that capacity make the development of alternative delivery methods critical. Here, we test the ability of compacted DNA nanoparticles (NPs) containing a plasmid with a scaffold matrix attachment region (S/MAR) and vitelliform macular dystrophy 2 (VMD2) promoter to target the RPE, drive long-term, tissue-specific gene expression and mediate proof-of-principle rescue in the rpe65(-/-) model of LCA. We show that the S/MAR-containing plasmid exhibited reporter gene expression levels several fold higher than plasmid or NPs without S/MARs. Importantly, this expression was highly persistent, lasting up to 2 years (last timepoint studied). We therefore selected this plasmid for testing in the rpe65(-/-) mouse model and observe that NP or plasmid VMD2-hRPE65-S/MAR led to structural and functional improvements in the LCA disease phenotype. These results indicate that the non-viral delivery of hRPE65 vectors can result in persistent, therapeutically efficacious gene expression in the RPE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adarsha Koirala
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 940 Stanton L. Young Boulevard, BMSB 781, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
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36
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Newland B, Dowd E, Pandit A. Biomaterial approaches to gene therapies for neurodegenerative disorders of the CNS. Biomater Sci 2013; 1:556-576. [DOI: 10.1039/c3bm60030k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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37
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Sun W, Fletcher D, van Heeckeren RC, Davis PB. Non-covalent ligand conjugation to biotinylated DNA nanoparticles using TAT peptide genetically fused to monovalent streptavidin. J Drug Target 2012; 20:678-90. [PMID: 22845840 DOI: 10.3109/1061186x.2012.712128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
DNA nanoparticles (DNA NPs), which self-assemble from DNA plasmids and poly-L-lysine (pLL)-polyethylene glycol (PEG) block copolymers, transfect several cell types in vitro and in vivo with minimal toxicity and immune response. To further enhance the gene transfer efficiency of DNA NP and control its tropism, we established a strategy to efficiently attach peptide ligands to DNA NPs. The non-covalent biotin-streptavidin (SA) interaction was used for ligand conjugation to overcome problems associated with covalent conjugation methods. A fusion protein of SA with the HIV-1 TAT peptide was cloned, expressed, purified and attached to biotinylated DNA NPs. A modified SA system with tetrameric structure but monovalent biotin binding capacity was adopted and shown to reduce the aggregation of biotinylated DNA NPs compared to neutravidin. Compared to unmodified DNA NPs, TAT modified DNA NPs significantly enhanced in vitro gene transfer, particularly at low DNA concentrations. Studies of cellular uptake and cellular distribution of the DNA NPs indicated that attaching TAT enhanced binding of DNA NPs to cell surface but not internalization at high DNA concentrations. In vivo studies showed that TAT modified DNA NPs mediated equal level of gene transfer to the mouse airways via the luminal route compared to unmodified DNA NPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenchao Sun
- Department of Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University Schoolof Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
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Schellinger JG, Pahang JA, Johnson RN, Chu DSH, Sellers DL, Maris DO, Convertine AJ, Stayton PS, Horner PJ, Pun SH. Melittin-grafted HPMA-oligolysine based copolymers for gene delivery. Biomaterials 2012; 34:2318-26. [PMID: 23261217 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2012.09.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2012] [Accepted: 09/28/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Non-viral gene delivery systems capable of transfecting cells in the brain are critical in realizing the potential impact of nucleic acid therapeutics for diseases of the central nervous system. In this study, the membrane-lytic peptide melittin was incorporated into block copolymers synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The first block, designed for melittin conjugation, was composed of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) and pyridyl disulfide methacrylamide (PDSMA) and the second block, designed for DNA binding, was composed of oligo-l-lysine (K10) and HPMA. Melittin modified with cysteine at the C-terminus was conjugated to the polymers through the pyridyl disulfide pendent groups via disulfide exchange. The resulting pHgMelbHK10 copolymers are more membrane-lytic than melittin-free control polymers, and efficiently condensed plasmid DNA into salt-stable particles (~100-200 nm). The melittin-modified polymers transfected both HeLa and neuron-like PC-12 cells more efficiently than melittin-free polymers although toxicity associated with the melittin peptide was observed. Optimized formulations containing the luciferase reporter gene were delivered to mouse brain by intraventricular brain injections. Melittin-containing polyplexes produced about 35-fold higher luciferase activity in the brain compared to polyplexes without melittin. Thus, the melittin-containing block copolymers described in this work are promising materials for gene delivery to the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan G Schellinger
- Department of Bioengineering, Univeristy of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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39
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Rossmiller B, Mao H, Lewin AS. Gene therapy in animal models of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. Mol Vis 2012; 18:2479-96. [PMID: 23077406 PMCID: PMC3472929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2012] [Accepted: 10/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy for dominantly inherited genetic disease is more difficult than gene-based therapy for recessive disorders, which can be treated with gene supplementation. Treatment of dominant disease may require gene supplementation partnered with suppression of the expression of the mutant gene either at the DNA level, by gene repair, or at the RNA level by RNA interference or transcriptional repression. In this review, we examine some of the gene delivery approaches used to treat animal models of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa, focusing on those models associated with mutations in the gene for rhodopsin. We conclude that combinatorial approaches have the greatest promise for success.
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40
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Writer MJ, Kyrtatos PG, Bienemann AS, Pugh JA, Lowe AS, Villegas-Llerena C, Kenny GD, White EA, Gill SS, McLeod CW, Lythgoe MF, Hart SL. Lipid peptide nanocomplexes for gene delivery and magnetic resonance imaging in the brain. J Control Release 2012; 162:340-8. [PMID: 22800579 PMCID: PMC3657147 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2012.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2012] [Revised: 06/29/2012] [Accepted: 07/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Gadolinium-labelled nanocomplexes offer prospects for the development of real-time, non-invasive imaging strategies to visualise the location of gene delivery by MRI. In this study, targeted nanoparticle formulations were prepared comprising a cationic liposome (L) containing a Gd-chelated lipid at 10, 15 and 20% by weight of total lipid, a receptor-targeted, DNA-binding peptide (P) and plasmid DNA (D), which electrostatically self-assembled into LPD nanocomplexes. The LPD formulation containing the liposome with 15% Gd-chelated lipid displayed optimal peptide-targeted, transfection efficiency. MRI conspicuity peaked at 4h after incubation of the nanocomplexes with cells, suggesting enhancement by cellular uptake and trafficking. This was supported by time course confocal microscopy analysis of transfections with fluorescently-labelled LPD nanocomplexes. Gd-LPD nanocomplexes delivered to rat brains by convection-enhanced delivery were visible by MRI at 6 h, 24 h and 48 h after administration. Histological brain sections analysed by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) confirmed that the MRI signal was associated with the distribution of Gd(3+) moieties and differentiated MRI signals due to haemorrhage. The transfected brain cells near the injection site appeared to be mostly microglial. This study shows the potential of Gd-LPD nanocomplexes for simultaneous delivery of contrast agents and genes for real-time monitoring of gene therapy in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele J. Writer
- Molecular Immunology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Panagiotis G. Kyrtatos
- Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, Department of Medicine and UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Alison S. Bienemann
- The Functional Neurosurgery Research Group, Bristol University, Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Southmead Hospital, Bristol BS16 1LE, UK
| | - John A. Pugh
- Centre For Analytical Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Andrew S. Lowe
- Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, Department of Medicine and UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | | | - Gavin D. Kenny
- Molecular Immunology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Edward A. White
- The Functional Neurosurgery Research Group, Bristol University, Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Southmead Hospital, Bristol BS16 1LE, UK
| | - Steven S. Gill
- The Functional Neurosurgery Research Group, Bristol University, Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Southmead Hospital, Bristol BS16 1LE, UK
| | - Cameron W. McLeod
- Centre For Analytical Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Mark F. Lythgoe
- Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, Department of Medicine and UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Stephen L. Hart
- Molecular Immunology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
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41
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Han Z, Conley SM, Makkia RS, Cooper MJ, Naash MI. DNA nanoparticle-mediated ABCA4 delivery rescues Stargardt dystrophy in mice. J Clin Invest 2012; 122:3221-6. [PMID: 22886305 PMCID: PMC3428101 DOI: 10.1172/jci64833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2012] [Accepted: 07/12/2012] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the photoreceptor-specific flippase ABCA4 are associated with Stargardt disease and many other forms of retinal degeneration that currently lack curative therapies. Gene replacement is a logical strategy for ABCA4-associated disease, particularly given the current success of traditional viral-mediated gene delivery, such as with adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors. However, the large size of the ABCA4 cDNA (6.8 kbp) has hampered progress in the development of genetic treatments. Nonviral DNA nanoparticles (NPs) can accommodate large genes, unlike traditional viral vectors, which have capacity limitations. We utilized an optimized DNA NP technology to subretinally deliver ABCA4 to Abca4-deficient mice. We detected persistent ABCA4 transgene expression for up to 8 months after injection and found marked correction of functional and structural Stargardt phenotypes, such as improved recovery of dark adaptation and reduced lipofuscin granules. These data suggest that DNA NPs may be an excellent, clinically relevant gene delivery approach for genes too large for traditional viral vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongchao Han
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Copernicus Therapeutics Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Shannon M. Conley
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Copernicus Therapeutics Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Rasha S. Makkia
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Copernicus Therapeutics Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Mark J. Cooper
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Copernicus Therapeutics Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Muna I. Naash
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Copernicus Therapeutics Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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42
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Ensign LM, Schneider C, Suk JS, Cone R, Hanes J. Mucus penetrating nanoparticles: biophysical tool and method of drug and gene delivery. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2012; 24:3887-94. [PMID: 22988559 PMCID: PMC3710133 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201201800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 182] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
A method that could provide more uniform and longer-lasting drug and gene delivery to mucosal surfaces holds the potential to greatly improve the effectiveness of prophylactic and therapeutic approaches for numerous diseases and conditions, including sexually transmitted infections, cystic fibrosis, chronic rhinosinusitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and glaucoma to name a few. However, the body's natural defenses, including adhesive, rapidly cleared mucus linings coating nearly all entry points to the body not covered by skin, has limited the effectiveness of drug and gene delivery by nanoscale delivery systems. This article discusses the recent development of the “mucuspenetrating particle” or “MPP” nanotechnology, and how it has been used to both enhance understanding of the nanoscale barrier properties of human mucus secretions, and to achieve more uniform and longer-lasting drug delivery to mucosal tissues following topical administration. Drug loaded MPPs possess non-adhesive coatings that allow them to rapidly penetrate mucus layers through openings in the mucus mesh at rates nearly as fast as they would penetrate pure water. Critically, MPPs allow enhanced drug and gene delivery to mucosal tissues without diminishing the protective function of mucus. Recent progress in the development of MPPs as a biophysical tool to probe the length-scale dependent rheological properties of mucosal secretions and as a method for drug and gene delivery is highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Ensign
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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43
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Hagedorn C, Baiker A, Postberg J, Ehrhardt A, Lipps HJ. Handling S/MAR vectors. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2012; 2012:657-63. [PMID: 22661441 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.top068262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Nonviral episomal vectors represent attractive alternatives to currently used virus-based expression systems. In the late 1990s, it was shown that a plasmid containing an expression cassette linked to a scaffold/matrix attached region (S/MAR) replicates as a low copy number episome in all cell lines tested, as well as primary cells, and can be used for the genetic modification of higher animals. Once established in the cell, the S/MAR vector replicates early during S-phase and, in the absence of selection, is stably retained in the cells for an unlimited period of time. This vector can therefore be regarded as a minimal model system for studying the epigenetic regulation of replication and functional nuclear architecture. In theory, this construct represents an almost "ideal" expression system for gene therapy. In practice, S/MAR-based vectors stably modify mammalian cells with efficiencies far below those of virus-based constructs. Consequently, they have not yet found application in gene therapy trials. Furthermore, S/MAR vector systems are not trivial to handle and several critical technical issues have to be considered when modifying these vectors for various applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Hagedorn
- Centre for Biomedical Education and Research, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Witten/Herdecke, 58453 Witten, Germany
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44
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Han Z, Koirala A, Makkia R, Cooper MJ, Naash MI. Direct gene transfer with compacted DNA nanoparticles in retinal pigment epithelial cells: expression, repeat delivery and lack of toxicity. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2012; 7:521-39. [PMID: 22356602 DOI: 10.2217/nnm.11.158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM To evaluate the safety of compacted DNA nanoparticles (NPs) in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. MATERIALS & METHODS Enhanced GFP expression cassettes controlled by the RPE-specific vitelloform macular dystrophy promoter were constructed with and without a bacterial backbone and compacted into NPs formulated with polyethylene glycol-substituted lysine 30-mers. Single or double subretinal injections were administered in adult BALB/c mice. Expression levels of enhanced GFP, proinflammatory cytokines and neutrophil/macrophage mediators, and retinal function by electroretinogram were evaluated at different time-points postinjection. RESULTS Immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR demonstrated that NPs specifically transfect RPE cells at a higher efficiency than naked DNA and similar results were observed after the second injection. At 6 h postinjections, a transient inflammatory response was observed in all cohorts, including saline, indicating an adverse effect to the injection procedure. Subsequently, no inflammation was detected in all experimental groups. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates the safety and efficacy of NP-mediated RPE gene transfer therapy following multiple subretinal administrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongchao Han
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, BMSB 781, 940 Stanton L Young Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
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45
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Boylan NJ, Kim AJ, Suk JS, Adstamongkonkul P, Simons BW, Lai SK, Cooper MJ, Hanes J. Enhancement of airway gene transfer by DNA nanoparticles using a pH-responsive block copolymer of polyethylene glycol and poly-L-lysine. Biomaterials 2011; 33:2361-71. [PMID: 22182747 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.11.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2011] [Accepted: 11/26/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Highly compacted DNA nanoparticles, composed of single molecules of plasmid DNA compacted with block copolymers of polyethylene glycol and poly-L-lysine (PEG-CK(30)), have shown considerable promise in human gene therapy clinical trials in the nares, but may be less capable of transfecting cells that lack surface nucleolin. To address this potential shortcoming, we formulated pH-responsive DNA nanoparticles that mediate gene transfer via a nucleolin-independent pathway. Poly-L-histidine was inserted between PEG and poly-L-lysine to form a triblock copolymer system, PEG-CH(12)K(18). Inclusion of poly-L-histidine increased the buffering capacity of PEG-CH(12)K(18) to levels comparable with branched polyethyleneimine. PEG-CH(12)K(18) compacted DNA into rod-shaped DNA nanoparticles with similar morphology and colloidal stability as PEG-CK(30) DNA nanoparticles. PEG-CH(12)K(18) DNA nanoparticles entered human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) that lack surface nucleolin by a clathrin-dependent endocytic mechanism followed by endo-lysosomal processing. Despite trafficking through the degradative endo-lysosomal pathway, PEG-CH(12)K(18) DNA nanoparticles improved the in vitro gene transfer by ~20-fold over PEG-CK(30) DNA nanoparticles, and in vivo gene transfer to lung airways in BALB/c mice by ~3-fold, while maintaining a favorable toxicity profile. These results represent an important step toward the rational development of an efficient gene delivery platform for the lungs based on highly compacted DNA nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Boylan
- The Center for Nanomedicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 400 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
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Non-degradative intracellular trafficking of highly compacted polymeric DNA nanoparticles. J Control Release 2011; 158:102-7. [PMID: 22079809 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2011.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2011] [Revised: 10/13/2011] [Accepted: 10/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Highly compacted DNA nanoparticles (DNPs) composed of polyethylene glycol linked to a 30-mer of poly-l-lysine via a single cysteine residue (CK(30)PEG) have previously been shown to provide efficient gene delivery to the brain, eyes and lungs. In this study, we used a combination of flow cytometry, high-resolution live-cell confocal microscopy, and multiple particle tracking (MPT) to investigate the intracellular trafficking of highly compacted CK(30)PEG DNPs made using two different molecular weights of PEG, CK(30)PEG(10k) and CK(30)PEG(5k). We found that PEG MW did not have a major effect on particle morphology nor nanoparticle intracellular transport. CK(30)PEG(10k) and CK(30)PEG(5k) DNPs both entered human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells via a caveolae-mediated pathway, bypassing degradative endolysosomal trafficking. Both nanoparticle formulations were found to rapidly accumulate in the perinuclear region of cells within 2h, 37±19% and 47±8% for CK(30)PEG(10k) and CK(30)PEG(5k), respectively. CK(30)PEG(10k) and CK(30)PEG(5k) DNPs moved within live cells at average velocities of 0.09±0.04μm/s and 0.11±0.04μm/s, respectively, in good agreement with reported values for caveolae. These findings show that highly compacted DNPs employ highly regulated trafficking mechanisms similar to biological pathogens to target specific intracellular compartments.
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Abstract
Efficient and prolonged human cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (hCFTR) expression is a major goal for cystic fibrosis (CF) lung therapy. A hCFTR expression plasmid was optimized as a payload for compacted DNA nanoparticles formulated with polyethylene glycol (PEG)-substituted 30-mer lysine peptides. A codon-optimized and CpG-reduced hCFTR synthetic gene (CO-CFTR) was placed in a polyubiquitin C expression plasmid. Compared to hCFTR complementary DNA (cDNA), CO-CFTR produced a ninefold increased level of hCFTR protein in transfected HEK293 cells and, when compacted as DNA nanoparticles, produced a similar improvement in lung mRNA expression in Balb/c and fatty acid binding protein promoter (FABP) CF mice, although expression duration was transient. Various vector modifications were tested to extend duration of CO-CFTR expression. A novel prolonged expression (PE) element derived from the bovine growth hormone (BGH) gene 3' flanking sequence produced prolonged expression of CO-CFTR mRNA at biologically relevant levels. A time course study in the mouse lung revealed that CO-CFTR mRNA did not change significantly, with CO-CFTR/mCFTR geometric mean ratios of 94% on day 2, 71% on day 14, 53% on day 30, and 14% on day 59. Prolonged CO-CFTR expression is dependent on the orientation of the PE element and its transcription, is not specific to the UbC promoter, and is less dependent on other vector backbone elements.
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48
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Koirala A, Makkia RS, Cooper MJ, Naash MI. Nanoparticle-mediated gene transfer specific to retinal pigment epithelial cells. Biomaterials 2011; 32:9483-93. [PMID: 21885113 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.08.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2011] [Accepted: 08/19/2011] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Previously, we demonstrated that CK30PEG10k-compacted DNA nanoparticles (NPs) efficiently target photoreceptor cells and improve visual function in a retinitis pigmentosa model. Here, we test the ability of these NPs in driving transgene expression in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), using an RPE-specific reporter vector (VMD2-eGFP). NPs, uncompacted plasmid, or saline were subretinally delivered to adult BALB/c mice. NP-based expression was specific to RPE cells and caused no deleterious effects on retinal structure and function. eGFP expression levels in NP-injected eyes peaked at post-injection day 2 (PI-2), stabilized at levels ~3-fold higher than in naked DNA-injected eyes, and remained elevated at the latest time-point examined (PI-30). Unlike naked DNA, which only transfected cells at the site of injection, NPs were able to transfect cells throughout the RPE. Subretinal injections of rhodamine labeled NPs and naked DNA showed comparable initial uptake into RPE cells. However, at PI-7 and -30 days significantly more fluorescence was detected inside the RPE of NP-injected eyes compared to naked DNA, suggesting NPs are stable inside the cell which could possibly lead to higher and sustained expression. Overall, our results demonstrate that NPs can efficiently deliver genes to the RPE and hold great potential for the treatment of RPE-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adarsha Koirala
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
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49
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Fletcher AM, Kowalczyk TH, Padegimas L, Cooper MJ, Yurek DM. Transgene expression in the striatum following intracerebral injections of DNA nanoparticles encoding for human glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor. Neuroscience 2011; 194:220-6. [PMID: 21839809 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.07.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2011] [Revised: 07/27/2011] [Accepted: 07/29/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
A goal of our studies is to develop a potential therapeutic for Parkinson's disease (PD) by a human glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (hGDNF) expression plasmid administered to the rat striatum as a compacted DNA nanoparticle (DNP) and which will generate long-term hGDNF expression at biologically active levels. In the present study, we used a DNA plasmid encoding for hGDNF and a polyubiquitin C (UbC) promoter that was previously shown to have activity in both neurons and glia, but primarily in glia. A two-fold improvement was observed at the highest plasmid dose when using hGDNF DNA incorporating sequences found in RNA splice variant 1 compared with splice variant 2; of note, the splice variant 2 sequence is used in most preclinical studies. This optimized expression cassette design includes flanking scaffold matrix attachment elements (S/MARs) as well as a CpG-depleted prokaryotic domain and, where possible, eukaryotic elements. Stable long-term GDNF activity at levels 300-400% higher than baseline was observed following a single intracerebral injection. In a previous study, DNP plasmids encoding for reporter genes had been successful in generating long-term reporter transgene activity in the striatum (>365 days) and in this study produced sustained GDNF activity at the longest assessed time point (6 months).
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Fletcher
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
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50
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Hagedorn C, Wong SP, Harbottle R, Lipps HJ. Scaffold/Matrix Attached Region-Based Nonviral Episomal Vectors. Hum Gene Ther 2011; 22:915-23. [DOI: 10.1089/hum.2011.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Hagedorn
- Centre for Biomedical Education and Research, Institute of Cell Biology, University Witten/Herdecke, 58453 Witten, Germany
| | - Suet-Ping Wong
- Gene Therapy Research Group, Section of Molecular Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Harbottle
- Gene Therapy Research Group, Section of Molecular Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Hans J. Lipps
- Centre for Biomedical Education and Research, Institute of Cell Biology, University Witten/Herdecke, 58453 Witten, Germany
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