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de Roode KE, Hashemi K, Verdurmen WPR, Brock R. Tumor-On-A-Chip Models for Predicting In Vivo Nanoparticle Behavior. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2402311. [PMID: 38700060 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202402311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Nanosized drug formulations are broadly explored for the improvement of cancer therapy. Prediction of in vivo nanoparticle (NP) behavior, however, is challenging, given the complexity of the tumor and its microenvironment. Microfluidic tumor-on-a-chip models are gaining popularity for the in vitro testing of nanoparticle targeting under conditions that simulate the 3D tumor (microenvironment). In this review, following a description of the tumor microenvironment (TME), the state of the art regarding tumor-on-a-chip models for investigating nanoparticle delivery to solid tumors is summarized. The models are classified based on the degree of compartmentalization (single/multi-compartment) and cell composition (tumor only/tumor microenvironment). The physiological relevance of the models is critically evaluated. Overall, microfluidic tumor-on-a-chip models greatly improve the simulation of the TME in comparison to 2D tissue cultures and static 3D spheroid models and contribute to the understanding of nanoparticle behavior. Interestingly, two interrelated aspects have received little attention so far which are the presence and potential impact of a protein corona as well as nanoparticle uptake through phagocytosing cells. A better understanding of their relevance for the predictive capacity of tumor-on-a-chip systems and development of best practices will be a next step for the further refinement of advanced in vitro tumor models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim E de Roode
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, Nijmegen, 6525 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Khadijeh Hashemi
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, Nijmegen, 6525 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Wouter P R Verdurmen
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, Nijmegen, 6525 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Roland Brock
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, Nijmegen, 6525 GA, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, 329, Bahrain
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2
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Chernyavska M, Masoudnia M, Valerius T, Verdurmen WPR. Organ-on-a-chip models for development of cancer immunotherapies. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023; 72:3971-3983. [PMID: 37923890 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03572-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a promising approach in the treatment of diverse cancer types. However, the development of novel immunotherapeutic agents faces persistent challenges due to poor translation from preclinical to clinical stages. To address these challenges, the integration of microfluidic models in research efforts has recently gained traction, bridging the gap between in vitro and in vivo systems. This approach enables modeling of the complex human tumor microenvironment and interrogation of cancer-immune interactions. In this review, we analyze the current and potential applications of microfluidic tumor models in cancer immunotherapy development. We will first highlight current trends in the immunooncology landscape. Subsequently, we will discuss recent examples of microfluidic models applied to investigate mechanisms of immune-cancer interactions and for developing and screening cancer immunotherapies in vitro. First steps toward their validation for predicting human in vivo outcomes are discussed. Finally, promising opportunities that microfluidic tumor models offer are highlighted considering their advantages and current limitations, and we suggest possible next steps toward their implementation and integration into the immunooncology drug development process.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Chernyavska
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - M Masoudnia
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - T Valerius
- Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunotherapy, Department of Medicine II, Christian-Albrechts-University, Christian-Albrechts-Platz 4, 24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - W P R Verdurmen
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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3
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Palacio-Castañeda V, van de Crommert B, Verploegen E, Overeem M, van Oostrum J, Verdurmen WP. Potent and selective eradication of tumor cells by an EpCAM-targeted Ras-degrading enzyme. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2023; 30:16-26. [PMID: 37485031 PMCID: PMC10362089 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2023.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite decades of efforts, an urgent need remains to develop tumor cell-selective rat sarcoma (Ras)-targeting therapies that can treat patients with Ras-driven tumors. Here we report modular engineered proteins that degrade Ras selectively in tumor cells that overexpress the tumor cell marker epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) by fusing the Ras degrader Ras-Rap1-specific endopeptidase with the translocation domain of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A (ETA) or diphtheria toxin (DT). Redirection to EpCAM is achieved by a designed ankyrin repeat protein. In two-dimensional tumor cell cultures, complete degradation of Ras proteins after 24 h was observed with EpCAM-targeted Ras degraders fused to ETA or DT in EpCAM-overexpressing MCF7 and HCT116 cells, with median inhibition concentration values at sub-nanomolar levels. The viability of EpCAM-low non-cancerous fibroblasts remained unaffected. In a three-dimensional (3D) tumor-on-a-chip system that mimics the natural tumor microenvironment, effective Ras degradation and selective toxicity toward tumor cells, particularly with the ETA-fused constructs, was determined on-chip. To conclude, we demonstrate the potential of modular engineered proteins to kill tumor cells highly selectively by simultaneously exploiting EpCAM as a tumor-specific cell surface molecule as well as Ras as an intracellular oncotarget in a 3D system mimicking the natural tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Palacio-Castañeda
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Bas van de Crommert
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Elke Verploegen
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Mike Overeem
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jenny van Oostrum
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Wouter P.R. Verdurmen
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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4
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‘t Hart DC, Yildiz D, Palacio-Castañeda V, Li L, Gumuscu B, Brock R, Verdurmen WPR, van der Vlag J, Nijenhuis T. Co-Culture of Glomerular Endothelial Cells and Podocytes in a Custom-Designed Glomerulus-on-a-Chip Model Improves the Filtration Barrier Integrity and Affects the Glomerular Cell Phenotype. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:bios13030339. [PMID: 36979551 PMCID: PMC10046631 DOI: 10.3390/bios13030339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Crosstalk between glomerular endothelial cells and glomerular epithelial cells (podocytes) is increasingly becoming apparent as a crucial mechanism to maintain the integrity of the glomerular filtration barrier. However, in vitro studies directly investigating the effect of this crosstalk on the glomerular filtration barrier are scarce because of the lack of suitable experimental models. Therefore, we developed a custom-made glomerulus-on-a-chip model recapitulating the glomerular filtration barrier, in which we investigated the effects of co-culture of glomerular endothelial cells and podocytes on filtration barrier function and the phenotype of these respective cell types. The custom-made glomerulus-on-a-chip model was designed using soft lithography. The chip consisted of two parallel microfluidic channels separated by a semi-permeable polycarbonate membrane. The glycocalyx was visualized by wheat germ agglutinin staining and the barrier integrity of the glomerulus-on-a-chip model was determined by measuring the transport rate of fluorescently labelled dextran from the top to the bottom channel. The effect of crosstalk on the transcriptome of glomerular endothelial cells and podocytes was investigated via RNA-sequencing. Glomerular endothelial cells and podocytes were successfully cultured on opposite sides of the membrane in our glomerulus-on-a-chip model using a polydopamine and collagen A double coating. Barrier integrity of the chip model was significantly improved when glomerular endothelial cells were co-cultured with podocytes compared to monocultures of either glomerular endothelial cells or podocytes. Co-culture enlarged the surface area of podocyte foot processes and increased the thickness of the glycocalyx. RNA-sequencing analysis revealed the regulation of cellular pathways involved in cellular differentiation and cellular adhesion as a result of the interaction between glomerular endothelial cells and podocytes. We present a novel custom-made glomerulus-on-a-chip co-culture model and demonstrated for the first time using a glomerulus-on-a-chip model that co-culture affects the morphology and transcriptional phenotype of glomerular endothelial cells and podocytes. Moreover, we showed that co-culture improves barrier function as a relevant functional readout for clinical translation. This model can be used in future studies to investigate specific glomerular paracrine pathways and unravel the role of glomerular crosstalk in glomerular (patho) physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daan C. ‘t Hart
- Department of Nephrology, Research Institute for Medical Innovations, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Dilemin Yildiz
- Department of Nephrology, Research Institute for Medical Innovations, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Valentina Palacio-Castañeda
- Department of Medical Biosciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovations, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lanhui Li
- Biosensors and Devices Laboratory, Biomedical Engineering Department, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven Artificial Intelligence Systems Institute, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Burcu Gumuscu
- Biosensors and Devices Laboratory, Biomedical Engineering Department, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven Artificial Intelligence Systems Institute, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Roland Brock
- Department of Medical Biosciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovations, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 329, Bahrain
| | - Wouter P. R. Verdurmen
- Department of Medical Biosciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovations, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Johan van der Vlag
- Department of Nephrology, Research Institute for Medical Innovations, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Tom Nijenhuis
- Department of Nephrology, Research Institute for Medical Innovations, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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5
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Marquez-Martinez S, Vijayan A, Khan S, Zahn R. Cell entry and innate sensing shape adaptive immune responses to adenovirus-based vaccines. Curr Opin Immunol 2023; 80:102282. [PMID: 36716578 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2023.102282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Nonreplicating adenovirus-based vectors have been successfully implemented as prophylactic vaccines against infectious viral diseases and induce protective cellular and humoral responses. Differences in the mechanisms of cellular entry or endosomal escape of these vectors contribute to differences in innate immune sensing between adenovirus species. Innate immune responses to adenovirus-based vaccines, such as interferon signaling, have been reported to affect the development of adaptive responses in preclinical studies, although limited data are available in humans. Understanding the mechanisms of these early events is critical for the development of vaccines that elicit effective and durable adaptive immune responses while maintaining an acceptable reactogenicity profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Marquez-Martinez
- Janssen Vaccines & Prevention B.V., Archimedesweg 4-6, Leiden South Holland 2333 CN, the Netherlands.
| | - Aneesh Vijayan
- Janssen Vaccines & Prevention B.V., Archimedesweg 4-6, Leiden South Holland 2333 CN, the Netherlands
| | - Selina Khan
- Janssen Vaccines & Prevention B.V., Archimedesweg 4-6, Leiden South Holland 2333 CN, the Netherlands
| | - Roland Zahn
- Janssen Vaccines & Prevention B.V., Archimedesweg 4-6, Leiden South Holland 2333 CN, the Netherlands
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Palacio-Castañeda V, Oude Egberink R, Sait A, Andrée L, Sala BM, Hassani Besheli N, Oosterwijk E, Nilvebrant J, Leeuwenburgh SCG, Brock R, Verdurmen WPR. Mimicking the Biology of Engineered Protein and mRNA Nanoparticle Delivery Using a Versatile Microfluidic Platform. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13111944. [PMID: 34834361 PMCID: PMC8624409 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13111944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate the delivery of next-generation macromolecular drugs, such as engineered proteins and mRNA-containing nanoparticles, there is an increasing push towards the use of physiologically relevant disease models that incorporate human cells and do not face ethical dilemmas associated with animal use. Here, we illustrate the versatility and ease of use of a microfluidic platform for studying drug delivery using high-resolution microscopy in 3D. Using this microfluidic platform, we successfully demonstrate the specific targeting of carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) on cells overexpressing the protein in a tumor-mimicking chip system using affibodies, with CAIX-negative cells and non-binding affibodies as controls. Furthermore, we demonstrate this system’s feasibility for testing mRNA-containing biomaterials designed to regenerate bone defects. To this end, peptide- and lipid-based mRNA formulations were successfully mixed with colloidal gelatin in microfluidic devices, while translational activity was studied by the expression of a green fluorescent protein. This microfluidic platform enables the testing of mRNA delivery from colloidal biomaterials of relatively high densities, which represents a first important step towards a bone-on-a-chip platform. Collectively, by illustrating the ease of adaptation of our microfluidic platform towards use in distinct applications, we show that our microfluidic chip represents a powerful and flexible way to investigate drug delivery in 3D disease-mimicking culture systems that recapitulate key parameters associated with in vivo drug application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Palacio-Castañeda
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (V.P.-C.); (R.O.E.); (A.S.)
| | - Rik Oude Egberink
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (V.P.-C.); (R.O.E.); (A.S.)
| | - Arbaaz Sait
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (V.P.-C.); (R.O.E.); (A.S.)
| | - Lea Andrée
- Department of Dentistry—Regenerative Biomaterials, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Philips van Leydenlaan 25, 6525 EX Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (L.A.); (N.H.B.); (S.C.G.L.)
| | - Benedetta Maria Sala
- Division of Protein Engineering, Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, AlbaNova University Center, Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden; (B.M.S.); (J.N.)
| | - Negar Hassani Besheli
- Department of Dentistry—Regenerative Biomaterials, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Philips van Leydenlaan 25, 6525 EX Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (L.A.); (N.H.B.); (S.C.G.L.)
| | - Egbert Oosterwijk
- Department of Urology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 26/28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Johan Nilvebrant
- Division of Protein Engineering, Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, AlbaNova University Center, Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden; (B.M.S.); (J.N.)
| | - Sander C. G. Leeuwenburgh
- Department of Dentistry—Regenerative Biomaterials, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Philips van Leydenlaan 25, 6525 EX Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (L.A.); (N.H.B.); (S.C.G.L.)
| | - Roland Brock
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (V.P.-C.); (R.O.E.); (A.S.)
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 329, Bahrain
- Correspondence: (R.B.); (W.P.R.V.)
| | - Wouter P. R. Verdurmen
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (V.P.-C.); (R.O.E.); (A.S.)
- Correspondence: (R.B.); (W.P.R.V.)
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7
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Nestić D, Božinović K, Pehar I, Wallace R, Parker AL, Majhen D. The Revolving Door of Adenovirus Cell Entry: Not All Pathways Are Equal. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:1585. [PMID: 34683878 PMCID: PMC8540258 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13101585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Adenoviruses represent exceptional candidates for wide-ranging therapeutic applications, from vectors for gene therapy to oncolytics for cancer treatments. The first ever commercial gene therapy medicine was based on a recombinant adenovirus vector, while most recently, adenoviral vectors have proven critical as vaccine platforms in effectively controlling the global coronavirus pandemic. Here, we discuss factors involved in adenovirus cell binding, entry, and trafficking; how they influence efficiency of adenovirus-based vectors; and how they can be manipulated to enhance efficacy of genetically modified adenoviral variants. We focus particularly on endocytosis and how different adenovirus serotypes employ different endocytic pathways to gain cell entry, and thus, have different intracellular trafficking pathways that subsequently trigger different host antiviral responses. In the context of gene therapy, the final goal of the adenovirus vector is to efficiently deliver therapeutic transgenes into the target cell nucleus, thus allowing its functional expression. Aberrant or inefficient endocytosis can impede this goal, therefore, it should be considered when designing and constructing adenovirus-based vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davor Nestić
- Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (D.N.); (K.B.); (I.P.)
| | - Ksenija Božinović
- Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (D.N.); (K.B.); (I.P.)
| | - Isabela Pehar
- Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (D.N.); (K.B.); (I.P.)
| | - Rebecca Wallace
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK; (R.W.); (A.L.P.)
| | - Alan L. Parker
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK; (R.W.); (A.L.P.)
| | - Dragomira Majhen
- Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (D.N.); (K.B.); (I.P.)
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Alekseenko I, Kuzmich A, Kondratyeva L, Kondratieva S, Pleshkan V, Sverdlov E. Step-by-Step Immune Activation for Suicide Gene Therapy Reinforcement. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22179376. [PMID: 34502287 PMCID: PMC8430744 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene-directed enzyme prodrug gene therapy (GDEPT) theoretically represents a useful method to carry out chemotherapy for cancer with minimal side effects through the formation of a chemotherapeutic agent inside cancer cells. However, despite great efforts, promising preliminary results, and a long period of time (over 25 years) since the first mention of this method, GDEPT has not yet reached the clinic. There is a growing consensus that optimal cancer therapies should generate robust tumor-specific immune responses. The advent of checkpoint immunotherapy has yielded new highly promising avenues of study in cancer therapy. For such therapy, it seems reasonable to use combinations of different immunomodulators alongside traditional methods, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, as well as GDEPT. In this review, we focused on non-viral gene immunotherapy systems combining the intratumoral production of toxins diffused by GDEPT and immunomodulatory molecules. Special attention was paid to the applications and mechanisms of action of the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM–CSF), a cytokine that is widely used but shows contradictory effects. Another method to enhance the formation of stable immune responses in a tumor, the use of danger signals, is also discussed. The process of dying from GDEPT cancer cells initiates danger signaling by releasing damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that exert immature dendritic cells by increasing antigen uptake, maturation, and antigen presentation to cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. We hypothesized that the combined action of this danger signal and GM–CSF issued from the same dying cancer cell within a limited space would focus on a limited pool of immature dendritic cells, thus acting synergistically and enhancing their maturation and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte attraction potential. We also discuss the problem of enhancing the cancer specificity of the combined GDEPT–GM–CSF–danger signal system by means of artificial cancer specific promoters or a modified delivery system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Alekseenko
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, 123182 Moscow, Russia; (A.K.); (V.P.)
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (L.K.); (S.K.)
- Institute of Oncogynecology and Mammology, National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence: (I.A.); (E.S.)
| | - Alexey Kuzmich
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, 123182 Moscow, Russia; (A.K.); (V.P.)
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (L.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Liya Kondratyeva
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (L.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Sofia Kondratieva
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (L.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Victor Pleshkan
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, 123182 Moscow, Russia; (A.K.); (V.P.)
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (L.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Eugene Sverdlov
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, 123182 Moscow, Russia; (A.K.); (V.P.)
- Correspondence: (I.A.); (E.S.)
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9
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Palacio-Castañeda V, Dumas S, Albrecht P, Wijgers TJ, Descroix S, Verdurmen WPR. A Hybrid In Silico and Tumor-on-a-Chip Approach to Model Targeted Protein Behavior in 3D Microenvironments. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13102461. [PMID: 34070171 PMCID: PMC8158470 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13102461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Engineered proteins possess a great therapeutic potential, but the development of such therapies is impeded during preclinical studies by the lack of in vitro models that accurately simulate the human physiology. Animal models, on the other hand, also have difficulties predicting human responses, and are ethically concerning. In this study, we employed a hybrid approach where we combined mathematical modeling with 3D in vitro models that mimic aspects of the tumor microenvironment, in order to simulate the delivery of therapeutic proteins targeting cancer cells and to predict the biological activity. By cross-comparing simulated and experimental data from 3D models, we were able to correctly predict the best dose needed to deliver toxic proteins specifically to tumor cells, while leaving the surrounding non-tumor cells untouched. This study shows the potential of combining computational approaches with novel in vitro models to advance the development of protein therapeutics. Abstract To rationally improve targeted drug delivery to tumor cells, new methods combining in silico and physiologically relevant in vitro models are needed. This study combines mathematical modeling with 3D in vitro co-culture models to study the delivery of engineered proteins, called designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins), in biomimetic tumor microenvironments containing fibroblasts and tumor cells overexpressing epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) or human epithelial growth factor receptor (HER2). In multicellular tumor spheroids, we observed strong binding-site barriers in combination with low apparent diffusion coefficients of 1 µm2·s−1 and 2 µm2 ·s−1 for EpCAM- and HER2-binding DARPin, respectively. Contrasting this, in a tumor-on-a-chip model for investigating delivery in real-time, transport was characterized by hindered diffusion as a consequence of the lower local tumor cell density. Finally, simulations of the diffusion of an EpCAM-targeting DARPin fused to a fragment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A, which specifically kills tumor cells while leaving fibroblasts untouched, correctly predicted the need for concentrations of 10 nM or higher for extensive tumor cell killing on-chip, whereas in 2D models picomolar concentrations were sufficient. These results illustrate the power of combining in vitro models with mathematical modeling to study and predict the protein activity in complex 3D models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Palacio-Castañeda
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (V.P.-C.); (P.A.); (T.J.W.)
| | - Simon Dumas
- Physico-Chemistry Curie, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR168, Sorbonne University, 75005 Paris, France; (S.D.); (S.D.)
| | - Philipp Albrecht
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (V.P.-C.); (P.A.); (T.J.W.)
| | - Thijmen J. Wijgers
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (V.P.-C.); (P.A.); (T.J.W.)
| | - Stéphanie Descroix
- Physico-Chemistry Curie, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR168, Sorbonne University, 75005 Paris, France; (S.D.); (S.D.)
| | - Wouter P. R. Verdurmen
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (V.P.-C.); (P.A.); (T.J.W.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +31-24-3614263
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Torres C, Dumas S, Palacio-Castañeda V, Descroix S, Brock R, Verdurmen WPR. A Computational Investigation of In Vivo Cytosolic Protein Delivery for Cancer Therapy. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13040562. [PMID: 33921165 PMCID: PMC8071550 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13040562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to specifically block or degrade cytosolic targets using therapeutic proteins would bring tremendous therapeutic opportunities in cancer therapy. Over the last few years, significant progress has been made with respect to tissue targeting, cytosolic delivery, and catalytic inactivation of targets, placing this aim within reach. Here, we developed a mathematical model specifically built for the evaluation of approaches towards cytosolic protein delivery, involving all steps from systemic administration to translocation into the cytosol and target engagement. Focusing on solid cancer tissues, we utilized the model to investigate the effects of microvascular permeability, receptor affinity, the cellular density of targeted receptors, as well as the mode of activity (blocking/degradation) on therapeutic potential. Our analyses provide guidance for the rational optimization of protein design for enhanced activity and highlight the importance of tuning the receptor affinity as a function of receptor density as well as the receptor internalization rate. Furthermore, we provide quantitative insights into how enzymatic cargoes can enhance the distribution, extent, and duration of therapeutic activity, already at very low catalytic rates. Our results illustrate that with current protein engineering approaches, the goal of delivery of cytosolic delivery of proteins for therapeutic effects is well within reach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo Torres
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (C.T.); (V.P.-C.); (R.B.)
| | - Simon Dumas
- Physico-Chemistry Curie, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR168, Sorbonne University, 75005 Paris, France; (S.D.); (S.D.)
| | - Valentina Palacio-Castañeda
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (C.T.); (V.P.-C.); (R.B.)
| | - Stéphanie Descroix
- Physico-Chemistry Curie, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR168, Sorbonne University, 75005 Paris, France; (S.D.); (S.D.)
| | - Roland Brock
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (C.T.); (V.P.-C.); (R.B.)
| | - Wouter P. R. Verdurmen
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (C.T.); (V.P.-C.); (R.B.)
- Correspondence:
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11
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Becker L, Verdurmen WPR, Plückthun A. Reengineering anthrax toxin protective antigen for improved receptor-specific protein delivery. BMC Biol 2020; 18:100. [PMID: 32792013 PMCID: PMC7427085 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00827-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background To increase the size of the druggable proteome, it would be highly desirable to devise efficient methods to translocate designed binding proteins to the cytosol, as they could specifically target flat and hydrophobic protein-protein interfaces. If this could be done in a manner dependent on a cell surface receptor, two layers of specificity would be obtained: one for the cell type and the other for the cytosolic target. Bacterial protein toxins have naturally evolved such systems. Anthrax toxin consists of a pore-forming translocation unit (protective antigen (PA)) and a separate protein payload. When engineering PA to ablate binding to its own receptor and instead binding to a receptor of choice, by fusing a designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin), uptake in new cell types can be achieved. Results Prepore-to-pore conversion of redirected PA already occurs at the cell surface, limiting the amount of PA that can be administered and thus limiting the amount of delivered payload. We hypothesized that the reason is a lack of a stabilizing interaction with wild-type PA receptor. We have now reengineered PA to incorporate the binding domain of the anthrax receptor CMG2, followed by a DARPin, binding to the receptor of choice. This construct is indeed stabilized, undergoes prepore-to-pore conversion only in late endosomes, can be administered to much higher concentrations without showing toxicity, and consequently delivers much higher amounts of payload to the cytosol. Conclusion We believe that this reengineered system is an important step forward to addressing efficient cell-specific delivery of proteins to the cytosol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Becker
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Wouter P R Verdurmen
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Andreas Plückthun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Gold nanoparticle mediated radiation response among key cell components of the tumour microenvironment for the advancement of cancer nanotechnology. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12096. [PMID: 32694592 PMCID: PMC7374632 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68994-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the major issues in cancer radiotherapy (RT) is normal tissue toxicity. Introduction of radiosensitizers like gold nanoparticles (GNPs) into cancer cells to enhance the local RT dose has been tested successfully. However, it is not known how GNPs interact with other stromal cells such as normal fibroblasts (FBs) and cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) within the tumour microenvironment. It is known that FBs turn into CAFs to promote tumour growth. Hence, we used FBs and CAFs along with HeLa (our cancer cell line) to evaluate the differences in GNP uptake and resulting radiation induced damage to elucidate the GNP-mediated therapeutic effect in RT. The CAFs had the largest uptake of the GNPs per cell, with on average 265% relative to HeLa while FBs had only 7.55% the uptake of HeLa and 2.87% the uptake of CAFs. This translated to increases in 53BP1-related DNA damage foci in CAFs (13.5%) and HeLa (9.8%) compared to FBs (8.8%) with RT treatment. This difference in DNA damage due to selective targeting of cancer associated cells over normal cells may allow GNPs to be an effective tool in future cancer RT to battle normal tissue toxicity while improving local RT dose to the tumour.
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13
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van den Brand D, van Lith SAM, de Jong JM, Gorris MAJ, Palacio-Castañeda V, Couwenbergh ST, Goldman MRG, Ebisch I, Massuger LF, Leenders WPJ, Brock R, Verdurmen WPR. EpCAM-Binding DARPins for Targeted Photodynamic Therapy of Ovarian Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1762. [PMID: 32630661 PMCID: PMC7409335 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological malignancy due to late detection associated with dissemination throughout the abdominal cavity. Targeted photodynamic therapy (tPDT) aimed at epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), overexpressed in over 90% of ovarian cancer metastatic lesions, is a promising novel therapeutic modality. Here, we tested the specificity and activity of conjugates of EpCAM-directed designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins) with the photosensitizer IRDye 700DX in in vitro and in vivo ovarian cancer models. EpCAM-binding DARPins (Ec1: Kd = 68 pM; Ac2: Kd = 130 nM) and a control DARPin were site-specifically functionalized with fluorophores or IRDye 700DX. Conjugation of anti-EpCAM DARPins with fluorophores maintained EpCAM-specific binding in cell lines and patient-derived ovarian cancer explants. Penetration of DARPin Ec1 into tumor spheroids was slower than that of Ac2, indicative of a binding site barrier effect for Ec1. DARPin-IRDye 700DX conjugates killed EpCAM-expressing cells in a highly specific and illumination-dependent fashion in 2D and 3D cultures. Furthermore, they effectively homed to EpCAM-expressing subcutaneous OV90 xenografts in mice. In conclusion, the high activity and specificity observed in preclinical ovarian cancer models, combined with a high specificity in patient material, warrant a further investigation of EpCAM-targeted PDT for ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk van den Brand
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (D.v.d.B.); (J.M.d.J.); (V.P.-C.); (S.T.C.); (M.R.G.G.); (W.P.J.L.); (R.B.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 10, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Sanne A. M. van Lith
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 10, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Jelske M. de Jong
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (D.v.d.B.); (J.M.d.J.); (V.P.-C.); (S.T.C.); (M.R.G.G.); (W.P.J.L.); (R.B.)
| | - Mark A. J. Gorris
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 10, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Valentina Palacio-Castañeda
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (D.v.d.B.); (J.M.d.J.); (V.P.-C.); (S.T.C.); (M.R.G.G.); (W.P.J.L.); (R.B.)
| | - Stijn T. Couwenbergh
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (D.v.d.B.); (J.M.d.J.); (V.P.-C.); (S.T.C.); (M.R.G.G.); (W.P.J.L.); (R.B.)
| | - Mark R. G. Goldman
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (D.v.d.B.); (J.M.d.J.); (V.P.-C.); (S.T.C.); (M.R.G.G.); (W.P.J.L.); (R.B.)
| | - Inge Ebisch
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Weg door Jonkerbos 100, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Leon F. Massuger
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 10, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - William P. J. Leenders
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (D.v.d.B.); (J.M.d.J.); (V.P.-C.); (S.T.C.); (M.R.G.G.); (W.P.J.L.); (R.B.)
| | - Roland Brock
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (D.v.d.B.); (J.M.d.J.); (V.P.-C.); (S.T.C.); (M.R.G.G.); (W.P.J.L.); (R.B.)
| | - Wouter P. R. Verdurmen
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (D.v.d.B.); (J.M.d.J.); (V.P.-C.); (S.T.C.); (M.R.G.G.); (W.P.J.L.); (R.B.)
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