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McGraw E, Laurent GM, Avila LA. Nanoparticle-mediated photoporation - an emerging versatile physical drug delivery method. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2024:d4na00122b. [PMID: 39280791 PMCID: PMC11391416 DOI: 10.1039/d4na00122b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/17/2024] [Indexed: 09/18/2024]
Abstract
Facilitating the delivery of impermeable molecules into cells stands as a pivotal step for both basic research and therapeutic delivery. While current methods predominantly use nanoparticles or viral vectors, the exploration of physical phenomena, particularly light-based techniques, remains relatively under-explored. Photoporation, a physical method, employs either pulsed or continuous wave lasers to create transient pores in cell membranes. These openings enable the entry of exogenous, membrane-impermeable molecules into the cytosol while preserving cell viability. Poration can either be achieved directly through focusing a laser beam onto a cell membrane, or indirectly through the addition of sensitizing nanoparticles that interact with the laser pulses. Nanoparticle-mediated photoporation specifically has recently been receiving increasing attention for the high-throughput ability to transfect cells, which also has exciting potential for clinical translation. Here, we begin with a snapshot of the current state of direct and indirect photoporation and the mechanisms that contribute to cell pore formation and molecule delivery. Following this, we present an outline of the evolution of photoporation methodologies for mammalian and non-mammalian cells, accompanied by a description of variations in experimental setups among photoporation systems. Finally, we discuss the potential clinical translation of photoporation and offer our perspective on recent key findings in the field, addressing unmet needs, gaps, and inconsistencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin McGraw
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University Auburn AL 36849 USA +1-334-844-1639
| | | | - L Adriana Avila
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University Auburn AL 36849 USA +1-334-844-1639
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2
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Lu C, Rohilla P, Felner EI, Byagathvalli G, Azizoglu E, Bhamla MS, Prausnitz MR. Tolerability of a piezoelectric microneedle electroporator in human subjects. Bioeng Transl Med 2024; 9:e10662. [PMID: 39036075 PMCID: PMC11256137 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Electroporation, or the use of electric pulses to facilitate the intracellular delivery of DNA, RNA, and other molecules, is a well-established technique, that has been demonstrated to significantly augment the immunogenicity of DNA/mRNA vaccines and therapeutics. However, the clinical translation of traditional electroporators has been limited due to high costs, large size, complex user operation, and poor tolerability in humans due to nerve stimulation. In prior work, we introduced ePatch: an ultra-low-cost, handheld, battery-free electroporator employing a piezoelectric pulser coupled with a microneedle electrode array that showed enhanced immunogenic responses to an intradermal SARS-CoV-2 DNA vaccine in mice. The current study shifts focus from efficacy to tolerability, hypothesizing that ePatch's microneedle array, which localizes the electric field to the superficial skin strata, will minimize nerve stimulation and improve patient comfort. We tested this hypothesis in 14 healthy adults, monitoring pain and other potential adverse effects associated with electroporation. Compared to the insertion of a traditional hypodermic needle, the ePatch was less painful. Adverse effects such as pain, tenderness, erythema and swelling at the application sites were minimal, transient, and statistically indistinguishable between the experimental and placebo ePatch application, suggesting excellent tolerability towards electroporation. In summary, ePatch has a favorable tolerability profile in humans and offers the potential for the safe use of electroporation in a variety of clinical settings, including DNA and mRNA vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao‐Yi Lu
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Pankaj Rohilla
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Eric I. Felner
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of EndocrinologyEmory University School of MedicineAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Gaurav Byagathvalli
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Erkan Azizoglu
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - M. Saad Bhamla
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Mark R. Prausnitz
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
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Sun W, Wu Y, Ying T. Progress in novel delivery technologies to improve efficacy of therapeutic antibodies. Antiviral Res 2024; 225:105867. [PMID: 38521465 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2024.105867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics have achieved remarkable success in treating a wide range of human diseases. However, conventional systemic delivery methods have limitations in insufficient target tissue permeability, high costs, repeated administrations, etc. Novel technologies have been developed to address these limitations and further enhance antibody therapy. Local antibody delivery via respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, eye and blood-brain barrier have shown promising results in increasing local concentrations and overcoming barriers. Nucleic acid-encoded antibodies expressed from plasmid DNA, viral vectors or mRNA delivery platforms also offer advantages over recombinant proteins such as sustained expression, rapid onset, and lower costs. This review summarizes recent advances in antibody delivery methods and highlights innovative technologies that have potential to expand therapeutic applications of antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenli Sun
- MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yanling Wu
- MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Synthetic Immunology, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Tianlei Ying
- MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Synthetic Immunology, Shanghai 200032, China.
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Chung C, Kudchodkar SB, Chung CN, Park YK, Xu Z, Pardi N, Abdel-Mohsen M, Muthumani K. Expanding the Reach of Monoclonal Antibodies: A Review of Synthetic Nucleic Acid Delivery in Immunotherapy. Antibodies (Basel) 2023; 12:46. [PMID: 37489368 PMCID: PMC10366852 DOI: 10.3390/antib12030046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Harnessing the immune system to combat disease has revolutionized medical treatment. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), in particular, have emerged as important immunotherapeutic agents with clinical relevance in treating a wide range of diseases, including allergies, autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and infectious diseases. These mAbs are developed from naturally occurring antibodies and target specific epitopes of single molecules, minimizing off-target effects. Antibodies can also be designed to target particular pathogens or modulate immune function by activating or suppressing certain pathways. Despite their benefit for patients, the production and administration of monoclonal antibody therapeutics are laborious, costly, and time-consuming. Administration often requires inpatient stays and repeated dosing to maintain therapeutic levels, limiting their use in underserved populations and developing countries. Researchers are developing alternate methods to deliver monoclonal antibodies, including synthetic nucleic acid-based delivery, to overcome these limitations. These methods allow for in vivo production of monoclonal antibodies, which would significantly reduce costs and simplify administration logistics. This review explores new methods for monoclonal antibody delivery, including synthetic nucleic acids, and their potential to increase the accessibility and utility of life-saving treatments for several diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Curtis N Chung
- GeneOne Life Science, Inc., Seoul 04500, Republic of Korea
| | - Young K Park
- GeneOne Life Science, Inc., Seoul 04500, Republic of Korea
| | - Ziyang Xu
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Norbert Pardi
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | - Kar Muthumani
- GeneOne Life Science, Inc., Seoul 04500, Republic of Korea
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Oh S, Jang MS, Jung KJ, Han JS, Lee H, Gil A, Jeon B, Roberts CC, Maslow JN, Kim YB, Han KH. Preclinical safety assessment of the suction-assisted intradermal injection of the SARS-CoV-2 DNA vaccine candidate pGO-1002 in white rabbit. Arch Toxicol 2023; 97:1177-1189. [PMID: 36683063 PMCID: PMC9868498 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03446-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
pGO-1002, a non-viral DNA vaccine that expresses both spike and ORF3a antigens of SARS-CoV-2, is undergoing phase 1 and phase 2a clinical trials in Korea and the US. A preclinical repeated-dose toxicity study in New Zealand white rabbits in compliance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) was conducted to assess the potential toxicity, local tolerance, and immunogenicity of the vaccine and GeneDerm suction device. The dose rate was 1.2 mg/head pGO-1002, and this was administered intradermally to a group of animals (eight animals/sex/group) three times at 2-week intervals, followed by a 4-week recovery period. After each administration, suction was applied to the injection site using the GeneDerm device. Mortality, clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, skin irritation, ophthalmology, body temperature, urinalysis, and clinical pathology were also monitored. Gross observations and histopathological evaluation were performed. Overall, pGO-1002 administration-related changes were confined to minor damage or changes at the injection site, increased spleen weight and minimal increased cellularity in white pulp. All changes of injection site were considered local inflammatory changes or pharmacological actions due to the vaccine with the changes in spleen considered consistent with vaccine-induced immune activation. All findings showed reversibility during the 4-week recovery period. Animals vaccinated with pGO-1002, administered by intradermal injection and followed by application of suction with GeneDerm, developed humoral and cellular responses against the SARS-CoV-2 antigens consistent with prior studies in rats. Collectively, it was concluded that the pGO-1002 vaccine was safe and effective under these experimental conditions and these data supported future human study of the vaccine, now known as GLS-5310, for clinical trial use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seunghee Oh
- Department of Advanced Toxicology Research, Korea Institute of Toxicology, 141 Gajeong-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Seong Jang
- Department of Advanced Toxicology Research, Korea Institute of Toxicology, 141 Gajeong-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Jin Jung
- Department of Advanced Toxicology Research, Korea Institute of Toxicology, 141 Gajeong-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Seok Han
- Department of Advanced Toxicology Research, Korea Institute of Toxicology, 141 Gajeong-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyojin Lee
- GeneOne Life Science, Inc., Yeongdeungpo Gu, Seoul, 07335, Korea
| | - Areum Gil
- GeneOne Life Science, Inc., Yeongdeungpo Gu, Seoul, 07335, Korea
| | - Bohyun Jeon
- GeneOne Life Science, Inc., Yeongdeungpo Gu, Seoul, 07335, Korea
| | | | - Joel N Maslow
- GeneOne Life Science, Inc., Yeongdeungpo Gu, Seoul, 07335, Korea
| | - Yong-Bum Kim
- Department of Advanced Toxicology Research, Korea Institute of Toxicology, 141 Gajeong-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Kang-Hyun Han
- Department of Advanced Toxicology Research, Korea Institute of Toxicology, 141 Gajeong-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 34114, Republic of Korea.
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Liu Y, Zhu Y, Jiang L, Lu C, Xiao L, Wang T, Chen J, Sun L, Deng L, Gu M, Zheng T, Feng M, Shi Y. Efficacy of electro-acupuncture in postpartum with diastasis recti abdominis: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1003361. [PMID: 36483239 PMCID: PMC9724647 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1003361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Electro-acupuncture (EA) has promising effects on diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA), defined as a separation of the two muscle bellies of rectus abdominis. To study, there is scant knowledge or scarce high-quality evidence. Objective We aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of EA in treating DRA during postpartum. It was assumed that the improvement of DRA was more obvious in the EA group than in the control group. Design Randomized, controlled, blinded trial (Clinical Trial Registration: ChiCTR2100041891). Setting Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China. Participants Females aged 20-45 years without a past medical history of pathological rectus abdominal dissection were recruited from DRA inclusion criteria from 42 days to 1 year postpartum. Intervention 110 participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to a control group with no EA intervention (n = 55), and EA group (n = 55). The EA group received ten sessions of EA combined with physical exercise or only physical exercise for 2 weeks with a 26-week follow-up. Measurements Outcomes were assessed at baseline, week 2, and week 26. The primary outcome was the change of the inter recti distance (IRD) and electromyographic evaluation of the pelvic floor. Secondary outcomes included elasticity of linea alba (LA), paraumbilical subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) measurement, body mass index (BMI), percentage body fat (F%), dyspepsia symptoms, menstrual symptoms, quality of life (QoL), pain performance of patients with lower back pain, postnatal depression symptoms (PDS), postpartum self-image, and DRA-related symptom assessment including urine leakage, frequency, and urgency, constipation, sexual dysfunction, and chronic pelvic pain. Results A total of 110 maternal (55 in each group) were recruited. The mean difference in IRD from baseline to week 2 and week 26 in all states of the two groups were reduced compared with those before treatment, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). The mean of IRD at the horizontal line of the umbilicus in the end-expiratory state was smaller in the EA group than in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05) at week 2. The mean of IRD at the horizontal line of the umbilicus in head-up and flexed knee state was smaller in the EA group than in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05) at week 26. Five (9.1%) and thirteen (23.64%) adverse events were reported in EA and control groups, respectively. No serious adverse events were reported. Limitation The frequency intensity of EA parameters was selected between 4 and 6 because of individual tolerance differences. Conclusion EA is an effective approach to improve IRD, electromyographic evaluation of the pelvic floor, BMI, the elasticity of LA, paraumbilical SAT, and symptoms of DRA, with durable effects at 26 weeks. Primary funding source The Construction Fund of Medical Key Disciplines of Hangzhou (Project Number: OO20200097), Hangzhou Medical and Health Science and Technology Project No. A20200483, and Zhejiang Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Plan Project (Project Number: 2021ZQ065). Clinical trial registration http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx, identifier: ChiCTR2100041891.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Liu
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ying Zhu
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Liyuan Jiang
- Department of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation, Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Liyuan Jiang
| | - Chao Lu
- Department of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation, Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lijuan Xiao
- Chun'an County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chun'an, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiayu Chen
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation, Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lujun Deng
- Department of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation, Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Meiyu Gu
- Department of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation, Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tingting Zheng
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Min Feng
- Department of Maternal Health Care, Maternity and Child Health Care Centers of Hechi, Hechi, China
| | - Yingying Shi
- Dingqiao Hospital of Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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7
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Sachdev S, Potočnik T, Rems L, Miklavčič D. Revisiting the role of pulsed electric fields in overcoming the barriers to in vivo gene electrotransfer. Bioelectrochemistry 2022; 144:107994. [PMID: 34930678 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2021.107994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Gene therapies are revolutionizing medicine by providing a way to cure hitherto incurable diseases. The scientific and technological advances have enabled the first gene therapies to become clinically approved. In addition, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we are witnessing record speeds in the development and distribution of gene-based vaccines. For gene therapy to take effect, the therapeutic nucleic acids (RNA or DNA) need to overcome several barriers before they can execute their function of producing a protein or silencing a defective or overexpressing gene. This includes the barriers of the interstitium, the cell membrane, the cytoplasmic barriers and (in case of DNA) the nuclear envelope. Gene electrotransfer (GET), i.e., transfection by means of pulsed electric fields, is a non-viral technique that can overcome these barriers in a safe and effective manner. GET has reached the clinical stage of investigations where it is currently being evaluated for its therapeutic benefits across a wide variety of indications. In this review, we formalize our current understanding of GET from a biophysical perspective and critically discuss the mechanisms by which electric field can aid in overcoming the barriers. We also identify the gaps in knowledge that are hindering optimization of GET in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaurya Sachdev
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Tržaška cesta 25, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tjaša Potočnik
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Tržaška cesta 25, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Lea Rems
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Tržaška cesta 25, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Damijan Miklavčič
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Tržaška cesta 25, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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8
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Lallow EO, Jhumur NC, Ahmed I, Kudchodkar SB, Roberts CC, Jeong M, Melnik JM, Park SH, Muthumani K, Shan JW, Zahn JD, Shreiber DI, Singer JP, Park YK, Maslow JN, Lin H. Novel suction-based in vivo cutaneous DNA transfection platform. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabj0611. [PMID: 34739313 PMCID: PMC8570601 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj0611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
This work reports a suction-based cutaneous delivery method for in vivo DNA transfection. Following intradermal Mantoux injection of plasmid DNA in a rat model, a moderate negative pressure is applied to the injection site, a technique similar to Chinese báguàn and Middle Eastern hijama cupping therapies. Strong GFP expression was demonstrated with pEGFP-N1 plasmids where fluorescence was observed as early as 1 hour after dosing. Modeling indicates a strong correlation between focal strain/stress and expression patterns. The absence of visible and/or histological tissue injury contrasts with current in vivo transfection systems such as electroporation. Specific utility was demonstrated with a synthetic SARS-CoV-2 DNA vaccine, which generated host humoral immune response in rats with notable antibody production. This method enables an easy-to-use, cost-effective, and highly scalable platform for both laboratorial transfection needs and clinical applications for nucleic acid–based therapeutics and vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emran O. Lallow
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Nandita C. Jhumur
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Ijaz Ahmed
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | | | | | | | - Juliet M. Melnik
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Sarah H. Park
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | | | - Jerry W. Shan
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Jeffrey D. Zahn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - David I. Shreiber
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Jonathan P. Singer
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | | | - Joel N. Maslow
- GeneOne Life Science, Seoul, South Korea
- Corresponding author. (J.N.M.); (H.L.)
| | - Hao Lin
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Corresponding author. (J.N.M.); (H.L.)
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9
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Potočnik T, Miklavčič D, Maček Lebar A. Gene transfer by electroporation with high frequency bipolar pulses in vitro. Bioelectrochemistry 2021; 140:107803. [PMID: 33975183 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2021.107803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
High-frequency bipolar pulses (HF-BP) have been demonstrated to be efficient for membrane permeabilization and irreversible electroporation. Since membrane permeabilization has been achieved using HF-BP pulses we hypothesized that with these pulses we can also achieve successful gene electrotransfer (GET). Three variations of bursts of 2 µs bipolar pulses with 2 µs interphase delay were applied in HF-BP protocols. We compared transfection efficiency of monopolar micro and millisecond pulses and HF-BP protocols at various plasmid DNA (pDNA) concentrations on CHO - K1 cells. GET efficiency increased with increasing pDNA concentration. Overall GET obtained by HF-BP pulse protocols was comparable to overall GET obtained by longer monopolar pulse protocols. Our results, however, suggest that although we were able to achieve similar percent of transfected cells, the number of pDNA copies that were successfully transferred into cells seemed to be higher when longer monopolar pulses were used. Interestingly, we did not observe any direct correlation between fluorescence intensity of pDNA aggregates formed on cell membrane and transfection efficiency. The results of our study confirmed that we can achieve successful GET with bipolar microsecond i. e. HF-BP pulses, although at the expense of higher pDNA concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tjaša Potočnik
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Tržaška 25, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Damijan Miklavčič
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Tržaška 25, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Alenka Maček Lebar
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Tržaška 25, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Hettinga J, Carlisle R. Vaccination into the Dermal Compartment: Techniques, Challenges, and Prospects. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:E534. [PMID: 32947966 PMCID: PMC7564253 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8030534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2019, an 'influenza pandemic' and 'vaccine hesitancy' were listed as two of the top 10 challenges to global health by the WHO. The skin is a unique vaccination site, due to its immune-rich milieu, which is evolutionarily primed to respond to challenge, and its ability to induce both humoral and cellular immunity. Vaccination into this dermal compartment offers a way of addressing both of the challenges presented by the WHO, as well as opening up avenues for novel vaccine formulation and dose-sparing strategies to enter the clinic. This review will provide an overview of the diverse range of vaccination techniques available to target the dermal compartment, as well as their current state, challenges, and prospects, and touch upon the formulations that have been developed to maximally benefit from these new techniques. These include needle and syringe techniques, microneedles, DNA tattooing, jet and ballistic delivery, and skin permeabilization techniques, including thermal ablation, chemical enhancers, ablation, electroporation, iontophoresis, and sonophoresis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert Carlisle
- Department of Engineering Science, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK;
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11
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Mpendo J, Mutua G, Nanvubya A, Anzala O, Nyombayire J, Karita E, Dally L, Hannaman D, Price M, Fast PE, Priddy F, Gelderblom HC, Hills NK. Acceptability and tolerability of repeated intramuscular electroporation of Multi-antigenic HIV (HIVMAG) DNA vaccine among healthy African participants in a phase 1 randomized controlled trial. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0233151. [PMID: 32469893 PMCID: PMC7259687 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Intramuscular electroporation (IM/EP) is a vaccine delivery technique that improves the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines. We evaluated the acceptability and tolerability of electroporation among healthy African study participants. Methods Forty-five participants were administered a DNA vaccine (HIV-MAG) or placebo by electroporation at three visits occurring at four week-intervals. At the end of each visit, participants were asked to rate pain at four times: (1) when the device was placed on the skin and vaccine injected, before the electrical stimulation, (2) at the time of electrical stimulation and muscle contraction, and (3) at 10 minutes and (4) 30 minutes after the procedure was completed. For analyses, pain level was dichotomized as either “acceptable” (none/slight/uncomfortable) or “too much” (Intense, severe, and very severe) and examined over time using repeated measures models. Optional brief comments made by participants were summarized anecdotally. Results All 45 participants completed all three vaccination visits; none withdrew from the study due to the electroporation procedure. Most (76%) reported pain levels as acceptable at every time point across all vaccination visits. The majority of “unacceptable” pain was reported at the time of electrical stimulation. The majority of the participants (97%) commented that they preferred electroporation to standard injection. Conclusion Repeated intramuscular electroporation for vaccine delivery was found to be acceptable and feasible among healthy African HIV vaccine trial participants. The majority of participants reported an acceptable pain level at all vaccination time points. Further investigation may be warranted into the value of EP to improve immunization outcomes. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01496989
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliet Mpendo
- Uganda Virus Research Institute-International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, HIV Vaccine Program, Entebbe, Uganda
- * E-mail:
| | - Gaudensia Mutua
- Kenya AIDS Vaccine Initiative, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Annet Nanvubya
- Uganda Virus Research Institute-International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, HIV Vaccine Program, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Omu Anzala
- Kenya AIDS Vaccine Initiative, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | | | - Len Dally
- EMMES Corporation, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Drew Hannaman
- Ichor Medical Systems, Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Matt Price
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Patricia E. Fast
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Frances Priddy
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Huub C. Gelderblom
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Nancy K. Hills
- University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
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12
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Rubin AE, Usta OB, Schloss R, Yarmush M, Golberg A. Selective Inactivation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus epidermidis with Pulsed Electric Fields and Antibiotics. Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle) 2019; 8:136-148. [PMID: 31737412 DOI: 10.1089/wound.2018.0819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: Increasing numbers of multidrug-resistant bacteria make many antibiotics ineffective; therefore, new approaches to combat microbial infections are needed. In addition, antibiotics are not selective-they kill pathogenic organisms as well as organisms that could positively contribute to wound healing (bio flora). Approach: Here we report on selective inactivation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus epidermidis, potential pathogens involved in wound infections with pulsed electric fields (PEFs) and antibiotics (mix of penicillin, streptomycin, and nystatin). Results: Using a Taguchi experimental design in vitro, we found that, under similar electric field strengths, the pulse duration is the most important parameter for P. aeruginosa inactivation, followed by the number of pulses and pulse frequency. P. aeruginosa, a potential severe pathogen, is more sensitive than the less pathogenic S. epidermidis to PEF (alone or in combination with antibiotics). Applying 200 pulses with a duration of 60 μs at 2.8 Hz, the minimum electric fields of 308.8 ± 28.3 and 378.4 ± 12.9 V/mm were required to inactive P. aeruginosa and S. epidermidis, respectively. Addition of antibiotics reduced the threshold for minimum electric fields required to inactivate the bacteria. Innovation: This study provides essential information, such as critical electric field parameters for bacteria inactivation, required for developing in vivo treatment and clinical protocols for using PEF for wound healing. Conclusion: A combination of PEFs with antibiotics reduces the electric field threshold required for bacteria disinfection. Such an approach simplifies devices required to disinfect large areas of infected wounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey Ethan Rubin
- Porter School of Environment and Earth Sciences, Tel Aviv University Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Osman Berk Usta
- Center for Engineering in Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Shriners Burn Hospital for Children and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Rene Schloss
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Martin Yarmush
- Center for Engineering in Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Shriners Burn Hospital for Children and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Alexander Golberg
- Porter School of Environment and Earth Sciences, Tel Aviv University Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Gill KS, Fernandes P, Bird B, Soden DM, Forde PF. Combination of electroporation delivered metabolic modulators with low-dose chemotherapy in osteosarcoma. Oncotarget 2018; 9:31473-31489. [PMID: 30140384 PMCID: PMC6101145 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Osteosarcoma accounts for roughly 60% of all malignant bone tumors in children and young adults. The five-year survival rate for localized tumors after surgery and chemotherapy is approximately 70% whilst it drastically reduces to 15-30% in metastatic cases. Metabolic modulation is known to increase sensitivity of cancers to chemotherapy. A novel treatment strategy in Osteosarcoma is needed to battle this devastating malady. RESULTS Electroporation-delivered metabolic modulators were more effective in halting the cell cycle of Osteosarcoma cells and this negatively affects their ability to recover and proliferate, as shown in colony formation assays. Electroporation-delivered metabolic modulators increase the sensitivity of Osteosarcoma cells to chemotherapy and this combination reduces their survivability. CONCLUSION This novel treatment approach highlights the efficacy of electroporation in the delivery of metabolic modulators in Osteosarcoma cells, and increased sensitivity to chemotherapy allowing for a lower dose to be therapeutic. METHODS Metabolic modulations of two Osteosarcoma cell lines were performed with clinically available modulators delivered using electroporation, and its combination with low-dose Cisplatin. The effects of Dicholoroacetic acid, 2-Deoxy-D-glucose and Metformin on cell cycle and recovery of Osteosarcoma cells were assessed. Their sensitivity to chemotherapy was also assessed when treated in combination with electroporation-delivered metabolic modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kheshwant S. Gill
- Cancer Research at UCC, Western Gateway Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Philana Fernandes
- Cancer Research at UCC, Western Gateway Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Brian Bird
- Cancer Research at UCC, Western Gateway Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Bons Secours Hospital, Cork, Ireland
| | - Declan M. Soden
- Cancer Research at UCC, Western Gateway Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Patrick F. Forde
- Cancer Research at UCC, Western Gateway Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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Kwiatkowski S, Knap B, Przystupski D, Saczko J, Kędzierska E, Knap-Czop K, Kotlińska J, Michel O, Kotowski K, Kulbacka J. Photodynamic therapy - mechanisms, photosensitizers and combinations. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 106:1098-1107. [PMID: 30119176 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.07.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1048] [Impact Index Per Article: 174.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 07/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a modern and non-invasive form of therapy, used in the treatment of non-oncological diseases as well as cancers of various types and locations. It is based on the local or systemic application of a photosensitive compound - the photosensitizer, which is accumulated in pathological tissues. The photosensitizer molecules absorb the light of the appropriate wavelength, initiating the activation processes leading to the selective destruction of the inappropriate cells. The photocytotoxic reactions occur only within the pathological tissues, in the area of photosensitizer distribution, enabling selective destruction. Over the last decade, a significant acceleration in the development of nanotechnology has been observed. The combination of photosensitizers with nanomaterials can improve the photodynamic therapy efficiency and eliminate its side effects as well. The use of nanoparticles enables achievement a targeted method which is focused on specific receptors, and, as a result, increases the selectivity of the photodynamic therapy. The object of this review is the anticancer application of PDT, its advantages and possible modifications to potentiate its effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanisław Kwiatkowski
- Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego 5, 50-345, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Bartosz Knap
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Dawid Przystupski
- Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego 5, 50-345, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Jolanta Saczko
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Wroclaw Medical University, Chalubinskiego 10, 50-368, Wroclaw, Poland; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 211A, 50-556, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Kędzierska
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Karolina Knap-Czop
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwillowska 11, 20-080, Lublin, Poland
| | - Jolanta Kotlińska
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Olga Michel
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Wroclaw Medical University, Chalubinskiego 10, 50-368, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Kotowski
- Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego 5, 50-345, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Julita Kulbacka
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Wroclaw Medical University, Chalubinskiego 10, 50-368, Wroclaw, Poland; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 211A, 50-556, Wroclaw, Poland.
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15
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Adipose tissue: a new target for electroporation-enhanced DNA vaccines. Gene Ther 2017; 24:757-767. [PMID: 29106403 PMCID: PMC5746593 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2017.96] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Revised: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
DNA vaccines delivered using electroporation (EP) have had clinical success, but these EP methods generally utilize invasive needle electrodes. Here, we demonstrate the delivery and immunogenicity of a DNA vaccine into subcutaneous adipose tissue cells using noninvasive EP. Using finite element analysis, we predicted that plate electrodes, when oriented properly, could effectively concentrate the electric field within adipose tissue. In practice, these electrodes generated widespread gene expression persisting for at least 60 days in vivo within interscapular subcutaneous fat pads of guinea pigs. We then applied this adipose-EP protocol to deliver a DNA vaccine coding for an influenza antigen into guinea pigs. The resulting host immune responses elicited were of a similar magnitude to those achieved by skin delivery with EP. The onset of the humoral immune response was more rapid when the DNA dose was spread over multiple injection sites, and increasing the voltage of the EP device increased the magnitude of the immune response. This study supports further development of EP protocols delivering gene-based therapies to subcutaneous fat.
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16
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Tiptiri-Kourpeti A, Spyridopoulou K, Pappa A, Chlichlia K. DNA vaccines to attack cancer: Strategies for improving immunogenicity and efficacy. Pharmacol Ther 2016; 165:32-49. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2016.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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17
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Higuti E, Cecchi CR, Oliveira NAJ, Lima ER, Vieira DP, Aagaard L, Jensen TG, Jorge AAL, Bartolini P, Peroni CN. Partial correction of the dwarf phenotype by non-viral transfer of the growth hormone gene in mice: Treatment age is critical. Growth Horm IGF Res 2016; 26:1-7. [PMID: 26774398 DOI: 10.1016/j.ghir.2015.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Revised: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 12/01/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Non-viral transfer of the growth hormone gene to different muscles of immunodeficient dwarf (lit/scid) mice is under study with the objective of improving phenotypic correction via this particular gene therapy approach. Plasmid DNA was administered into the exposed quadriceps or non-exposed tibialis cranialis muscle of lit/scid mice followed by electroporation, monitoring several growth parameters. In a 6-month bioassay, 50μg DNA were injected three times into the quadriceps muscle of 80-day old mice. A 50% weight increase, with a catch-up growth of 21%, together with a 16% increase for nose-to-tail and tail lengths (catch-up=19-21%) and a 24-28% increase for femur length (catch-up=53-60%), were obtained. mIGF1 serum levels were ~7-fold higher than the basal levels for untreated mice, but still ~2-fold lower than in non-dwarf scid mice. Since treatment age was found to be particularly important in a second bioassay utilizing 40-day old mice, these pubertal mice were compared in a third bioassay with adult (80-day old) mice, all treated twice with 50μg DNA injected into each tibialis cranialis muscle, via a less invasive approach. mIGF1 concentrations at the same level as co-aged scid mice were obtained 15days after administration in pubertal mice. Catch-up growth, based on femur length (77%), nose-to-tail (36%) and tail length (39%) increases was 40 to 95% higher than those obtained upon treating adult mice. These data pave the way for the development of more effective pre-clinical assays in pubertal dwarf mice for the treatment of GH deficiency via plasmid-DNA muscular administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza Higuti
- Biotechnology Center, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN-CNEN), Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Cláudia R Cecchi
- Biotechnology Center, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN-CNEN), Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Nélio A J Oliveira
- Biotechnology Center, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN-CNEN), Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Eliana R Lima
- Biotechnology Center, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN-CNEN), Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Daniel P Vieira
- Biotechnology Center, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN-CNEN), Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Lars Aagaard
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Thomas G Jensen
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Alexander A L Jorge
- Genetic-Endocrinology Unit (LIM25), Endocrinology Department, University of São Paulo School of Medicine (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Paolo Bartolini
- Biotechnology Center, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN-CNEN), Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Cibele N Peroni
- Biotechnology Center, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN-CNEN), Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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18
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Lambricht L, Lopes A, Kos S, Sersa G, Préat V, Vandermeulen G. Clinical potential of electroporation for gene therapy and DNA vaccine delivery. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2015; 13:295-310. [PMID: 26578324 DOI: 10.1517/17425247.2016.1121990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Electroporation allows efficient delivery of DNA into cells and tissues, thereby improving the expression of therapeutic or immunogenic proteins that are encoded by plasmid DNA. This simple and versatile method holds a great potential and could address unmet medical needs such as the prevention or treatment of many cancers or infectious diseases. AREAS COVERED This review explores the electroporation mechanism and the parameters affecting its efficacy. An analysis of past and current clinical trials focused on DNA electroporation is presented. The pathologies addressed, the protocol used, the treatment outcome and the tolerability are highlighted. In addition, several of the possible optimization strategies for improving patient compliance and therapeutic efficacy are discussed such as plasmid design, use of genetic adjuvants for DNA vaccines, choice of appropriate delivery site and electrodes as well as pulse parameters. EXPERT OPINION The growing number of clinical trials and the results already available underline the strong potential of DNA electroporation which combines both safety and efficiency. Nevertheless, it remains critical to further increase fundamental knowledge to refine future strategies, to develop concerted and common DNA electroporation protocols and to continue exploring new electroporation-based therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laure Lambricht
- a Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute , Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials , Brussels , Belgium
| | - Alessandra Lopes
- a Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute , Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials , Brussels , Belgium
| | - Spela Kos
- b Institute of Oncology Ljubljana , Department of Experimental Oncology , Ljubljana , Slovenia
| | - Gregor Sersa
- b Institute of Oncology Ljubljana , Department of Experimental Oncology , Ljubljana , Slovenia
| | - Véronique Préat
- a Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute , Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials , Brussels , Belgium
| | - Gaëlle Vandermeulen
- a Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute , Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials , Brussels , Belgium
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19
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Dan X, Han L, Riaz H, Luo X, Liu X, Chong Z, Yang L. Construction and evaluation of the novel DNA vaccine harboring the inhibin α (1-32) and the RF-amide related peptide-3 genes for improving fertility in mice. Exp Anim 2015; 65:17-25. [PMID: 26437787 PMCID: PMC4783647 DOI: 10.1538/expanim.15-0044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
To further improve fertility of animals, a novel gene RFRP-3 (RF-amide
related peptide-3, RFRP-3) was used to construct DNA vaccines with INH
α (1–32) (inhibin, INH) fragment for the first time.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of novel DNA vaccines on fertility in
mice. Synthesized SINH and SRFRP (INH and RFRP genes
were separately ligated to the C-terminus of the small envelope protein of the hepatitis B
virus (HBV-S) gene) fragments were inserted into multiple cloning site of pIRES vector to
develop p-SINH/SRFRP. The synthesized tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) signal sequence
was then inserted into the p-SINH/SRFRP to construct p-TPA-SINH/TPA-SFRFP. Meanwhile,
p-SINH was prepared and considered as positive control. Forty Kunming mice were equally
divided into four groups and respectively immunized by electroporation with p-SINH,
p-SINH/SRFRP and p-TPA-SINH/TPA-SRFRP vaccine (three times at 2 weeks interval) and saline
as control. Results showed that the average antibodies (P/N value) of anti-INH and
anti-RFRP in mice inoculated with p-TPA-SINH/TPA-SFRFP were significantly higher
(P<0.05) than those inoculated with p-SINH/SRFRP and the positive
rates were 100% (anti-INH) and 90% (anti-RFRP) respectively, at 2 weeks after the third
immunization. Litter size of mice immunized with the three recombinant plasmids was higher
(P<0.05) than that of the control, and litter size of mice immunized
with p-TPA-SINH/TPA-SRFRP significantly increased (P<0.05) compared
with p-SINH. These results suggested that the p-TPA-SINH/TPA-SRFRP harboring
INH and RFRP genes was successfully constructed and
had good immunogenicity, and might effectively increase litter size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingang Dan
- Key Lab of Education Ministry of China in Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P.R. China
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20
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Skin rejuvenation with non-invasive pulsed electric fields. Sci Rep 2015; 5:10187. [PMID: 25965851 PMCID: PMC4428072 DOI: 10.1038/srep10187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2014] [Accepted: 03/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Degenerative skin diseases affect one third of individuals over the age of sixty. Current therapies use various physical and chemical methods to rejuvenate skin; but since the therapies affect many tissue components including cells and extracellular matrix, they may also induce significant side effects, such as scarring. Here we report on a new, non-invasive, non-thermal technique to rejuvenate skin with pulsed electric fields. The fields destroy cells while simultaneously completely preserving the extracellular matrix architecture and releasing multiple growth factors locally that induce new cells and tissue growth. We have identified the specific pulsed electric field parameters in rats that lead to prominent proliferation of the epidermis, formation of microvasculature, and secretion of new collagen at treated areas without scarring. Our results suggest that pulsed electric fields can improve skin function and thus can potentially serve as a novel non-invasive skin therapy for multiple degenerative skin diseases.
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Abstract
Plasmid or non-viral gene therapy offers an alternative to classic viral gene delivery that negates the need for a biological vector. In this case, delivery is enhanced by a variety of approaches including lipid or polymer conjugation, particle-mediated delivery, hydrodynamic delivery, ultrasound or electroporation. Electroporation was originally used as a laboratory tool to deliver DNA to bacterial and mammalian cells in culture. Electrode development allowed this technique to be modified for in vivo use. After preclinical therapeutic studies, clinical delivery of cell impermeant chemotherapeutic agents progressed to clinical delivery of plasmid DNA. One huge benefit of this delivery technique is its malleability. The pulse protocol used for plasmid delivery can be fine-tuned to control the levels and duration of subsequent transgene expression. This fine-tuning allows transgene expression to be tailored to each therapeutic application. Effective and appropriate expression induces the desired clinical response that is a critical component for any gene therapy. This chapter focuses on clinical trials using in vivo electroporation or electrotransfer as a plasmid delivery method. The first clinical trial was initiated in 2004, and now more than fifty trials use electric fields for gene delivery. Safety and tolerability has been demonstrated by several groups, and early clinical efficacy results are promising in both cancer therapeutic and infectious disease vaccine applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Heller
- Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA; School of Medical Diagnostics and Translational Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Loree C Heller
- Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA; School of Medical Diagnostics and Translational Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
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22
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Ranasinghe C, Ramshaw IA. Genetic heterologous prime–boost vaccination strategies for improved systemic and mucosal immunity. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 8:1171-81. [DOI: 10.1586/erv.09.86] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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23
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van Drunen Littel-van den Hurk S, Hannaman D. Electroporation for DNA immunization: clinical application. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 9:503-17. [DOI: 10.1586/erv.10.42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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Saljoughian N, Zahedifard F, Doroud D, Doustdari F, Vasei M, Papadopoulou B, Rafati S. Cationic solid-lipid nanoparticles are as efficient as electroporation in DNA vaccination against visceral leishmaniasis in mice. Parasite Immunol 2013; 35:397-408. [DOI: 10.1111/pim.12042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2013] [Accepted: 05/23/2013] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- N. Saljoughian
- Molecular Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory; Pasteur Institute of Iran; Tehran Iran
| | - F. Zahedifard
- Molecular Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory; Pasteur Institute of Iran; Tehran Iran
| | - D. Doroud
- Department of Quality Control; Research and Production Complex; Pasteur Institute of Iran; Tehran Iran
| | - F. Doustdari
- Molecular Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory; Pasteur Institute of Iran; Tehran Iran
| | - M. Vasei
- Department of Pathology; Shariati Hospital; Tehran University of Medical Sciences; Tehran Iran
| | - B. Papadopoulou
- Research Centre in Infectious Disease; CHU de Quebec Research Centre (CHUL); Quebec QC Canada
- Department of Microbiology; Infectious Disease and Immunology; Faculty of Medicine; Laval University; Quebec QC Canada
| | - S. Rafati
- Molecular Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory; Pasteur Institute of Iran; Tehran Iran
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25
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Diehl MC, Lee JC, Daniels SE, Tebas P, Khan AS, Giffear M, Sardesai NY, Bagarazzi ML. Tolerability of intramuscular and intradermal delivery by CELLECTRA(®) adaptive constant current electroporation device in healthy volunteers. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2013; 9:2246-52. [PMID: 24051434 DOI: 10.4161/hv.24702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA vaccines are being developed as a potentially safe and effective immunization platform. However, translation of DNA vaccines into a clinical setting has produced results that have fallen short of those generated in a preclinical setting. Various strategies are being developed to address this lack of potency, including improvements in delivery methods. Electroporation (EP) creates transient increases in cell membrane permeability, thus enhancing DNA uptake and leading to a more robust immune response. Here, we report on the safety and tolerability of delivering sterile saline via intramuscular (IM) or intradermal (ID) injection followed by in vivo electroporation using the CELLECTRA(®) adaptive constant current device in healthy adults from two open-label studies. Pain, as assessed by VAS, was highest immediately after EP but diminishes by about 50% within 5 min. Mean VAS scores appear to correlate with the amount of energy delivered and depth of needle insertion, especially for intramuscular EP. Mean scores did not exceed 7 out of 10 or 3 out of 10 for IM and ID EP, respectively. The majority of adverse events included mild to moderate injection site reactions that resolved within one day. No deaths or serious adverse events were reported during the course of either study. Overall, injection followed by EP with the CELLECTRA(®) device was well-tolerated and no significant safety concerns were identified. These studies support the further development of electroporation as a vaccine delivery method to enhance immunogenicity, particularly for diseases in which traditional vaccination approaches are ineffective.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Pablo Tebas
- University of Pennsylvania; Division of Infectious Disease; Philadelphia, PA USA
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26
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DeMuth PC, Min Y, Huang B, Kramer JA, Miller AD, Barouch DH, Hammond PT, Irvine DJ. Polymer multilayer tattooing for enhanced DNA vaccination. NATURE MATERIALS 2013; 12:367-76. [PMID: 23353628 PMCID: PMC3965298 DOI: 10.1038/nmat3550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 200] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2012] [Accepted: 12/13/2012] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
DNA vaccines have many potential benefits but have failed to generate robust immune responses in humans. Recently, methods such as in vivo electroporation have demonstrated improved performance, but an optimal strategy for safe, reproducible, and pain-free DNA vaccination remains elusive. Here we report an approach for rapid implantation of vaccine-loaded polymer films carrying DNA, immune-stimulatory RNA, and biodegradable polycations into the immune-cell-rich epidermis, using microneedles coated with releasable polyelectrolyte multilayers. Films transferred into the skin following brief microneedle application promoted local transfection and controlled the persistence of DNA and adjuvants in the skin from days to weeks, with kinetics determined by the film composition. These 'multilayer tattoo' DNA vaccines induced immune responses against a model HIV antigen comparable to electroporation in mice, enhanced memory T-cell generation, and elicited 140-fold higher gene expression in non-human primate skin than intradermal DNA injection, indicating the potential of this strategy for enhancing DNA vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter C DeMuth
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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Two doses of bovine viral diarrhea virus DNA vaccine delivered by electroporation induce long-term protective immune responses. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2012; 20:166-73. [PMID: 23220999 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00565-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a pathogen of major importance in cattle, so there is a need for new effective vaccines. DNA vaccines induce balanced immune responses and are relatively inexpensive and thus promising for both human and veterinary applications. In this study, newborn calves with maternal antibodies were vaccinated intramuscularly (i.m.) with a BVDV E2 DNA vaccine with the TriGrid Delivery System for i.m. delivery (TDS-IM). Two doses of this vaccine spaced 6 or 12 weeks apart were sufficient to induce significant virus-neutralizing antibody titers, numbers of activated T cells, and reduction in viral shedding and clinical presentations after BVDV-2 challenge. In contrast to the placebo-treated animals, the vaccinated calves did not lose any weight, which is an excellent indicator of the well-being of an animal and has a significant economic impact. Furthermore, the interval between the two vaccinations did not influence the magnitude of the immune responses or degree of clinical protection, and a third immunization was not necessary or beneficial. Since electroporation may enhance not only the magnitude but also the duration of immunity after DNA immunization, the interval between vaccination and challenge was extended in a second trial, which showed that two doses of this E2 DNA vaccine again significantly reduced clinical disease against BVDV for several months. These results are promising and support this technology for use against infectious diseases in cattle and large species, including humans, in general.
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28
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Kardos TJ, Rabussay DP. Contactless magneto-permeabilization for intracellular plasmid DNA delivery in-vivo. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2012; 8:1707-13. [PMID: 22894955 DOI: 10.4161/hv.21576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Electroporation, an attractive process for delivering DNA and other molecules into target cells in vivo and in vitro is limited by the necessity of electrodes that need to be in contact with the subject or object to be electroporated. We have used magnetic fields, which do not require material contact with the subject, to temporarily permeabilize cells in guinea pig skin in vivo to enhance uptake and expression of GFP plasmid DNA. The results show for the first time that magnetic fields can trigger a process likely similar to electroporation. In designing the magnetic pulses, our most important criterion was a high rate of change of the magnetic field, based on the principle described by Michael Faraday which is expressed by the formula: E = -dB/dt, (E, electric field, B, magnetic field, t, time). Magnetic fields were generated by a flat electromagnet in a hand-held applicator positioned above the target tissue. The magnetic pulses had a peak magnetic flux density of 4 tesla; 50 pulses were applied in 5 sec. Biphasic magnetic pulses were twice as effective as monophasic pulses and about equally effective as traditional electroporation pulses . Advantages of magnetopermeabilization over electoporation include: No contact between applicator and subject ("contact-less"); no need for invasive, disposable, sterile electrodes ("needle-less"); no pain from needles and reduced overall pain; no known side effects; easier and faster to administer than electroporation; less expensive due to absence of disposables; and, importantly, greater tissue penetration of the magnetic field allowing treatment of anatomical areas inaccessible by electroporation.
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29
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Broderick KE, Chan A, Lin F, Shen X, Kichaev G, Khan AS, Aubin J, Zimmermann TS, Sardesai NY. Optimized in vivo transfer of small interfering RNA targeting dermal tissue using in vivo surface electroporation. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2012; 1:e11. [PMID: 23344722 PMCID: PMC3381603 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2012.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2011] [Revised: 01/03/2012] [Accepted: 01/05/2012] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Electroporation (EP) of mammalian tissue is a technique that has been used successfully in the clinic for the delivery of genetic-based vaccines in the form of DNA plasmids. There is great interest in platforms which efficiently deliver RNA molecules such as messenger RNA and small interfering RNA (siRNA) to mammalian tissue. However, the in vivo delivery of RNA enhanced by EP has not been extensively characterized. This paper details the optimization of electrical parameters for a novel low-voltage EP method to deliver oligonucleotides (both DNA and RNA) to dermal tissue in vivo. Initially, the electrical parameters were optimized for dermal delivery of plasmid DNA encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) using this novel surface dermal EP device. While all investigated parameters resulted in visible transfection, voltage parameters in the 10 V range elicited the most robust signal. The parameters optimized for DNA, were then assessed for translation of successful electrotransfer of siRNA into dermal tissue. Robust tagged-siRNA transfection in skin was detected. We then assessed whether these parameters translated to successful transfer of siRNA resulting in gene knockdown in vivo. Using a reporter gene construct encoding GFP and tagged siRNA targeting the GFP message, we show simultaneous transfection of the siRNA to the skin via EP and the concomitant knockdown of the reporter gene signal. The siRNA delivery was accomplished with no evidence of injection site inflammation or local tissue damage. The minimally invasive low-voltage EP method is thus capable of efficiently delivering both DNA and RNA molecules to dermal tissue in a tolerable manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate E Broderick
- Department of Research and Development, Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, USA
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30
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Superior induction of T cell responses to conserved HIV-1 regions by electroporated alphavirus replicon DNA compared to that with conventional plasmid DNA vaccine. J Virol 2012; 86:4082-90. [PMID: 22318135 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.06535-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccination using "naked" DNA is a highly attractive strategy for induction of pathogen-specific immune responses; however, it has been only weakly immunogenic in humans. Previously, we constructed DNA-launched Semliki Forest virus replicons (DREP), which stimulate pattern recognition receptors and induce augmented immune responses. Also, in vivo electroporation was shown to enhance immune responses induced by conventional DNA vaccines. Here, we combine these two approaches and show that in vivo electroporation increases CD8(+) T cell responses induced by DREP and consequently decreases the DNA dose required to induce a response. The vaccines used in this study encode the multiclade HIV-1 T cell immunogen HIVconsv, which is currently being evaluated in clinical trials. Using intradermal delivery followed by electroporation, the DREP.HIVconsv DNA dose could be reduced to as low as 3.2 ng to elicit frequencies of HIV-1-specific CD8(+) T cells comparable to those induced by 1 μg of a conventional pTH.HIVconsv DNA vaccine, representing a 625-fold molar reduction in dose. Responses induced by both DREP.HIVconsv and pTH.HIVconsv were further increased by heterologous vaccine boosts employing modified vaccinia virus Ankara MVA.HIVconsv and attenuated chimpanzee adenovirus ChAdV63.HIVconsv. Using the same HIVconsv vaccines, the mouse observations were supported by an at least 20-fold-lower dose of DNA vaccine in rhesus macaques. These data point toward a strategy for overcoming the low immunogenicity of DNA vaccines in humans and strongly support further development of the DREP vaccine platform for clinical evaluation.
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31
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Safety and tolerability of the Easy Vax™ clinical epidermal electroporation system in healthy adults. Mol Ther 2011; 20:214-20. [PMID: 22068424 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2011.235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA vaccines are cost-effective and versatile, though intracellular delivery has been challenging in humans. Alternative delivery modalities such as electroporation have demonstrated improved immune responses, but are painful. In this single-center, double-blind, medical device trial, we evaluated the safety and tolerability of Easy Vax™ dermal electroporation system, alone (without DNA) in healthy adults. Three randomized protocol doses were administered to 10 subjects (80% white, 60% female, mean age: 32.1 years) in each of two areas (total of six doses). Two subjects complained of shooting pain, burning and/or tingling when doses were administered to the forearm region, but not the lateral deltoid regions. Subsequent doses for the remaining eight subjects were restricted to the deltoid regions only. Tolerability pain scores never exceeded 3 of 10 in the 11-Point Pain Rating scale, and 12 of 100 in the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and lower in follow-up evaluations (P < 0.0001), with no significant difference between the three dosing protocols. Electrical properties of the skin, measured automatically by the device, showed no correlation between pain intensity and skin conductance. In conclusion, the Easy Vax™ electroporation device is safe and well tolerated when administered over the lateral deltoid skin regions in healthy volunteers.
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32
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Lin F, Shen X, McCoy JR, Mendoza JM, Yan J, Kemmerrer SV, Khan AS, Weiner DB, Broderick KE, Sardesai NY. A novel prototype device for electroporation-enhanced DNA vaccine delivery simultaneously to both skin and muscle. Vaccine 2011; 29:6771-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.12.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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33
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Sardesai NY, Weiner DB. Electroporation delivery of DNA vaccines: prospects for success. Curr Opin Immunol 2011; 23:421-9. [PMID: 21530212 PMCID: PMC3109217 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2011.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 293] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2011] [Revised: 03/23/2011] [Accepted: 03/25/2011] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
A number of noteworthy technology advances in DNA vaccines research and development over the past few years have led to the resurgence of this field as a viable vaccine modality. Notably, these include--optimization of DNA constructs; development of new DNA manufacturing processes and formulations; augmentation of immune responses with novel encoded molecular adjuvants; and the improvement in new in vivo delivery strategies including electroporation (EP). Of these, EP mediated delivery has generated considerable enthusiasm and appears to have had a great impact in vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy by increasing antigen delivery upto a 1000 fold over naked DNA delivery alone. This increased delivery has resulted in an improved in vivo immune response magnitude as well as response rates relative to DNA delivery by direct injection alone. Indeed the immune responses and protection from pathogen challenge observed following DNA administration via EP in many cases are comparable or superior to other well studied vaccine platforms including viral vectors and live/attenuated/inactivated virus vaccines. Significantly, the early promise of EP delivery shown in numerous pre-clinical animal models of many different infectious diseases and cancer are now translating into equally enhanced immune responses in human clinical trials making the prospects for this vaccine approach to impact diverse disease targets tangible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niranjan Y Sardesai
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals, 1787 Sentry Parkway, Blue Bell, PA 19422, United States.
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34
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Donate A, Coppola D, Cruz Y, Heller R. Evaluation of a novel non-penetrating electrode for use in DNA vaccination. PLoS One 2011; 6:e19181. [PMID: 21559474 PMCID: PMC3084774 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2011] [Accepted: 03/29/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Current progress in the development of vaccines has decreased the incidence of fatal and non-fatal infections and increased longevity. However, new technologies need to be developed to combat an emerging generation of infectious diseases. DNA vaccination has been demonstrated to have great potential for use with a wide variety of diseases. Alone, this technology does not generate a significant immune response for vaccination, but combined with delivery by electroporation (EP), can enhance plasmid expression and immunity. Most EP systems, while effective, can be invasive and painful making them less desirable for use in vaccination. Our lab recently developed a non-invasive electrode known as the multi-electrode array (MEA), which lies flat on the surface of the skin without penetrating the tissue. In this study we evaluated the MEA for its use in DNA vaccination using Hepatitis B virus as the infectious model. We utilized the guinea pig model because their skin is similar in thickness and morphology to humans. The plasmid encoding Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was delivered intradermally with the MEA to guinea pig skin. The results show increased protein expression resulting from plasmid delivery using the MEA as compared to injection alone. Within 48 hours of treatment, there was an influx of cellular infiltrate in experimental groups. Humoral responses were also increased significantly in both duration and intensity as compared to injection only groups. While this electrode requires further study, our results suggest that the MEA has potential for use in electrically mediated intradermal DNA vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Donate
- College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
- Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Domenico Coppola
- H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Yolmari Cruz
- College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Richard Heller
- Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
- College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
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Chen X, Fernando GJP, Crichton ML, Flaim C, Yukiko SR, Fairmaid EJ, Corbett HJ, Primiero CA, Ansaldo AB, Frazer IH, Brown LE, Kendall MAF. Improving the reach of vaccines to low-resource regions, with a needle-free vaccine delivery device and long-term thermostabilization. J Control Release 2011; 152:349-55. [PMID: 21371510 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2011.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2010] [Revised: 02/23/2011] [Accepted: 02/23/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Dry-coated microprojections can deliver vaccine to abundant antigen-presenting cells in the skin and induce efficient immune responses and the dry-coated vaccines are expected to be thermostable at elevated temperatures. In this paper, we show that we have dramatically improved our previously reported gas-jet drying coating method and greatly increased the delivery efficiency of coating from patch to skin to from 6.5% to 32.5%, by both varying the coating parameters and removing the patch edge. Combined with our previous dose sparing report of influenza vaccine delivery in a mouse model, the results show that we now achieve equivalent protective immune responses as intramuscular injection (with the needle and syringe), but with only 1/30th of the actual dose. We also show that influenza vaccine coated microprojection patches are stable for at least 6 months at 23°C, inducing comparable immunogenicity with freshly coated patches. The dry-coated microprojection patches thus have key and unique attributes in ultimately meeting the medical need in certain low-resource regions with low vaccine affordability and difficulty in maintaining "cold-chain" for vaccine storage and transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianfeng Chen
- The University of Queensland, Delivery of Drugs and Genes Group (D(2)G(2)), Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Brisbane
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36
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Bolhassani A, Safaiyan S, Rafati S. Improvement of different vaccine delivery systems for cancer therapy. Mol Cancer 2011; 10:3. [PMID: 21211062 PMCID: PMC3024302 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-10-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2010] [Accepted: 01/07/2011] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer vaccines are the promising tools in the hands of the clinical oncologist. Many tumor-associated antigens are excellent targets for immune therapy and vaccine design. Optimally designed cancer vaccines should combine the best tumor antigens with the most effective immunotherapy agents and/or delivery strategies to achieve positive clinical results. Various vaccine delivery systems such as different routes of immunization and physical/chemical delivery methods have been used in cancer therapy with the goal to induce immunity against tumor-associated antigens. Two basic delivery approaches including physical delivery to achieve higher levels of antigen production and formulation with microparticles to target antigen-presenting cells (APCs) have demonstrated to be effective in animal models. New developments in vaccine delivery systems will improve the efficiency of clinical trials in the near future. Among them, nanoparticles (NPs) such as dendrimers, polymeric NPs, metallic NPs, magnetic NPs and quantum dots have emerged as effective vaccine adjuvants for infectious diseases and cancer therapy. Furthermore, cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) have been known as attractive carrier having applications in drug delivery, gene transfer and DNA vaccination. This review will focus on the utilization of different vaccine delivery systems for prevention or treatment of cancer. We will discuss their clinical applications and the future prospects for cancer vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azam Bolhassani
- Molecular Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shima Safaiyan
- Molecular Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sima Rafati
- Molecular Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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37
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Improved DNA vaccination by skin-targeted delivery using dry-coated densely-packed microprojection arrays. J Control Release 2010; 148:327-33. [PMID: 20850487 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2010.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2010] [Revised: 08/04/2010] [Accepted: 09/02/2010] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
HSV-2-gD2 DNA vaccine was precisely delivered to immunologically sensitive regions of the skin epithelia using dry-coated microprojection arrays. These arrays delivered a vaccine payload to the epidermis and the upper dermis of mouse skin. Immunomicroscopy results showed that, in 43 ± 5% of microprojection delivery sites, the DNA vaccine was delivered to contact with professional antigen presenting cells in the epidermal layer. Associated with this efficient delivery of the vaccine into the vicinity of the professional antigen presenting cells, we achieved superior antibody responses and statistically equal protection rate against an HSV-2 virus challenge, when compared with the mice immunized with intramuscular injection using needle and syringe, but with less than 1/10th of the delivered antigen.
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38
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Golberg A, Rubinsky B. The Effect of Electroporation Type Pulsed Electric Fields on DNA in Aqueous Solution. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2010; 9:423-30. [DOI: 10.1177/153303461000900412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Electroporation is a physical phenomenon in which pulsed electric fields applied across a cell produce transient (reversible) or permanent (irreversible) permeabilization of the cell membrane. Irreversible electroporation is an important method of sterilization in the food industry and it is becoming an important minimally invasive tissue ablation technique in medicine. Motivated by recent observations of apoptosis like marker stains in irreversibly electroporated cells we performed a study on the effects of electroporation type electric pulses on the integrity of naked DNA in solution. Using gel electrophoresis analyses we show that pulses of the irreversible electroporation type have the ability to affect the naked DNA in solution. It is found that some electric parameters that lead to cell death by irreversible electroporation also cause changes in the naked DNA exposed to the same procedure. Our analysis tentatively suggests that some electroporation type electric pulses cause nicks in the DNA molecule. Therefore, it is possible that the mechanisms of cell death in irreversible electroporation also include damages to the DNA. However, this work did not investigate the possible effects of electroporation induced electrode corrosion byproducts, such as Al3+ ions on DNA integrity; which should be also studied in the future. In general, since electroporation phenomena based applications are widely used in medicine and biotechnology, the current study suggests that further research into the effects of electroporation type electric pulses on the DNA are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Golberg
- Center for Bioengineering in the Service of Humanity and Society, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
- Authors contribution AG designed and performed experiments, analyzed data and wrote the paper, BR supervised the project and wrote the paper
| | - Boris Rubinsky
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate Program in Biophysics, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley CA 84720, USA
- Authors contribution AG designed and performed experiments, analyzed data and wrote the paper, BR supervised the project and wrote the paper
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39
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Heller R, Cruz Y, Heller LC, Gilbert RA, Jaroszeski MJ. Electrically mediated delivery of plasmid DNA to the skin, using a multielectrode array. Hum Gene Ther 2010; 21:357-62. [PMID: 19839722 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2009.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The easy accessibility of skin makes it an excellent target for gene transfer protocols. To take full advantage of skin as a target for gene transfer, it is important to establish an efficient and reproducible delivery system. Electroporation is a strong candidate to meet this delivery criterion. Electroporation of the skin is a simple, direct, in vivo method to deliver genes for therapy. Previously, delivery to the skin was performed by means of applicators with relatively large distances between electrodes, resulting in significant muscle stimulation and pain. These applicators also had limitations in controlling the directionality of the applied field. To resolve this issue, a system consisting of an array of electrodes that decreased the distance between them and that were independently addressable for directional control of the field was developed. This new multielectrode array (MEA) was compared with an established electrode. In a rat model, comparable reporter expression was seen after delivery with each electrode. Delivery was also evaluated in a guinea pig model to determine the potential of this approach in an animal model with skin thickness and structure similar to human skin. The results clearly showed that effective delivery was related to both the electrode and the parameters chosen. With the MEA, the muscle twitching associated with application of electric fields was notably reduced compared with conventional electrode systems. This is important, as it will facilitate the translation of electroporation-mediated gene delivery to skin for clinical use with DNA vaccines or for therapies for cancer or protein deficiencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Heller
- Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23508, USA.
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40
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Oliveira NAJ, Cecchi CR, Higuti E, Oliveira JE, Jensen TG, Bartolini P, Peroni CN. Long-term human growth hormone expression and partial phenotypic correction by plasmid-based gene therapy in an animal model of isolated growth hormone deficiency. J Gene Med 2010; 12:580-5. [DOI: 10.1002/jgm.1470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
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