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Cationic Dendrimers for siRNA Delivery: Computational Approaches for Characterization. Methods Mol Biol 2021. [PMID: 33928581 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1298-9_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Nowadays, computer simulations have been established as a fundamental tool in the design and development of new dendrimer-based nanocarriers for drug and gene delivery. Moreover, the level of detail contained in the information that can be gathered by performing atomistic-scale simulations cannot be obtained with any other available experimental technique. In this chapter we describe the main computational toolbox that can be exploited in the different stages of novel dendritic nanocarrier production-from the initial conception to the stage of biological intermolecular interactions.
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Laurini E, Aulic S, Marson D, Fermeglia M, Pricl S. Cationic Dendrimers for siRNA Delivery: An Overview of Methods for In Vitro/In Vivo Characterization. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2282:209-244. [PMID: 33928579 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1298-9_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
This chapter reviews the different techniques for analyzing the chemical-physical properties, transfection efficiency, cytotoxicity, and stability of covalent cationic dendrimers (CCDs) and self-assembled cationic dendrons (ACDs) for siRNA delivery in the presence and absence of their nucleic cargos. On the basis of the reported examples, a standard essential set of techniques is described for each step of a siRNA/nanovector (NV) complex characterization process: (1) analysis of the basic chemical-physical properties of the NV per se; (2) characterization of the morphology, size, strength, and stability of the siRNA/NV ensemble; (3) characterization and quantification of the cellular uptake and release of the siRNA fragment; (4) in vitro and (5) in vivo experiments for the evaluation of the corresponding gene silencing activity; and (6) assessment of the intrinsic toxicity of the NV and the siRNA/NV complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Laurini
- Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTs), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Suzana Aulic
- Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTs), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Domenico Marson
- Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTs), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Maurizio Fermeglia
- Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTs), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Sabrina Pricl
- Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTs), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- Department of General Biophysics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
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Evolution from Covalent to Self-Assembled PAMAM-Based Dendrimers as Nanovectors for siRNA Delivery in Cancer by Coupled In Silico-Experimental Studies. Part I: Covalent siRNA Nanocarriers. Pharmaceutics 2019; 11:pharmaceutics11070351. [PMID: 31323863 PMCID: PMC6680565 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics11070351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) represent a new approach towards the inhibition of gene expression; as such, they have rapidly emerged as promising therapeutics for a plethora of important human pathologies including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and other disorders of a genetic etiology. However, the clinical translation of RNA interference (RNAi) requires safe and efficient vectors for siRNA delivery into cells. Dendrimers are attractive nanovectors to serve this purpose, as they present a unique, well-defined architecture and exhibit cooperative and multivalent effects at the nanoscale. This short review presents a brief introduction to RNAi-based therapeutics, the advantages offered by dendrimers as siRNA nanocarriers, and the remarkable results we achieved with bio-inspired, structurally flexible covalent dendrimers. In the companion paper, we next report our recent efforts in designing, characterizing and testing a series of self-assembled amphiphilic dendrimers and their related structural alterations to achieve unprecedented efficient siRNA delivery both in vitro and in vivo.
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Laurini E, Marson D, Aulic S, Fermeglia M, Pricl S. Evolution from Covalent to Self-Assembled PAMAM-Based Dendrimers as Nanovectors for siRNA Delivery in Cancer by Coupled in Silico-Experimental Studies. Part II: Self-Assembled siRNA Nanocarriers. Pharmaceutics 2019; 11:pharmaceutics11070324. [PMID: 31295912 PMCID: PMC6680776 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics11070324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In part I of this review, the authors showed how poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM)-based dendrimers can be considered as promising delivering platforms for siRNA therapeutics. This is by virtue of their precise and unique multivalent molecular architecture, characterized by uniform branching units and a plethora of surface groups amenable to effective siRNA binding and delivery to e.g., cancer cells. However, the successful clinical translation of dendrimer-based nanovectors requires considerable amounts of good manufacturing practice (GMP) compounds in order to conform to the guidelines recommended by the relevant authorizing agencies. Large-scale GMP-standard high-generation dendrimer production is technically very challenging. Therefore, in this second part of the review, the authors present the development of PAMAM-based amphiphilic dendrons, that are able to auto-organize themselves into nanosized micelles which ultimately outperform their covalent dendrimer counterparts in in vitro and in vivo gene silencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Laurini
- Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTS), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Domenico Marson
- Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTS), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Suzana Aulic
- Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTS), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Maurizio Fermeglia
- Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTS), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Sabrina Pricl
- Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTS), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
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Abrami M, Marizza P, Zecchin F, Bertoncin P, Marson D, Lapasin R, de Riso F, Posocco P, Grassi G, Grassi M. Theoretical Importance of PVP-Alginate Hydrogels Structure on Drug Release Kinetics. Gels 2019; 5:gels5020022. [PMID: 31003517 PMCID: PMC6630402 DOI: 10.3390/gels5020022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The new concepts of personalized and precision medicine require the design of more and more refined delivery systems. In this frame, hydrogels can play a very important role as they represent the best surrogate of soft living tissues for what concerns rheological properties. Thus, this paper focusses on a global theoretical approach able to describe how hydrogel polymeric networks can affect the release kinetics of drugs characterized by different sizes. The attention is focused on a case study dealing with an interpenetrated hydrogel made up by alginate and poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone). METHODS Information about polymeric network characteristics (mesh size distribution and polymer volume fraction) is deduced from the theoretical interpretation of the rheological and the low field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) characterization of hydrogels. This information is then, embodied in the mass balance equation whose resolution provides the release kinetics. RESULTS Our simulations indicate the influence of network characteristics on release kinetics. In addition, the reliability of the proposed approach is supported by the comparison of the model outcome with experimental release data. CONCLUSIONS This study underlines the necessity of a global theoretical approach in order to design reliable delivery systems based on hydrogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Abrami
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, Trieste University, via Valerio 6, I-34127 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Paolo Marizza
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, Trieste University, via Valerio 6, I-34127 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Francesca Zecchin
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, Trieste University, via Valerio 6, I-34127 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Paolo Bertoncin
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, I-34127 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Domenico Marson
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, Trieste University, via Valerio 6, I-34127 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Romano Lapasin
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, Trieste University, via Valerio 6, I-34127 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Filomena de Riso
- Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Ørsteds Plads Bygning 345Ø, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Paola Posocco
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, Trieste University, via Valerio 6, I-34127 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Gabriele Grassi
- Department of Life Sciences, Cattinara University Hospital, Trieste University, Strada di Fiume 447, I-34149 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Mario Grassi
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, Trieste University, via Valerio 6, I-34127 Trieste, Italy.
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Parisi E, Garcia AM, Marson D, Posocco P, Marchesan S. Supramolecular Tripeptide Hydrogel Assembly with 5-Fluorouracil. Gels 2019; 5:E5. [PMID: 30691142 PMCID: PMC6473331 DOI: 10.3390/gels5010005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2018] [Revised: 01/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In this work, we present Thioflavin T fluorescence, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), circular dichroism (CD), Fourier-transformed infrared (FT-IR), and oscillatory rheometry studies applied to an antineoplastic drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), embedded in a heterochiral tripeptide hydrogel to obtain a drug delivery supramolecular system. The release of 5-fluorouracil was monitored over time by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and its interaction with the tripeptide assemblies was probed by all-atom molecular dynamics simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelina Parisi
- Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, University of Trieste; Via L. Giorgieri 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Ana M Garcia
- Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, University of Trieste; Via L. Giorgieri 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Domenico Marson
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste; Via A. Valerio 6/1, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Paola Posocco
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste; Via A. Valerio 6/1, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Silvia Marchesan
- Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, University of Trieste; Via L. Giorgieri 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
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Lozano-Cruz T, Gómez R, de la Mata FJ, Ortega P. New bow-tie cationic carbosilane dendritic system with a curcumin core as an anti-breast cancer agent. NEW J CHEM 2018. [DOI: 10.1039/c8nj01713a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
A water soluble “bow-tie” cationic carbosilane dendrimer with curcumin in the core displays antioxidant and antitumoral activities against breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Lozano-Cruz
- Departamento de Química Orgánica y Química Inorgánica. Instituto de Investigación Química “Andrés M. del Río” (IQAR)
- Universidad de Alcalá
- Campus Universitario
- E-28871 Alcalá de Henares
- Spain
| | - Rafael Gómez
- Departamento de Química Orgánica y Química Inorgánica. Instituto de Investigación Química “Andrés M. del Río” (IQAR)
- Universidad de Alcalá
- Campus Universitario
- E-28871 Alcalá de Henares
- Spain
| | - F. Javier de la Mata
- Departamento de Química Orgánica y Química Inorgánica. Instituto de Investigación Química “Andrés M. del Río” (IQAR)
- Universidad de Alcalá
- Campus Universitario
- E-28871 Alcalá de Henares
- Spain
| | - Paula Ortega
- Departamento de Química Orgánica y Química Inorgánica. Instituto de Investigación Química “Andrés M. del Río” (IQAR)
- Universidad de Alcalá
- Campus Universitario
- E-28871 Alcalá de Henares
- Spain
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Beiranvand Z, Bani F, Kakanejadifard A, Laurini E, Fermeglia M, Pricl S, Adeli M. Anticancer drug delivery systems based on specific interactions between albumin and polyglycerol. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra25463a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Since albumin is the main transporter and the most abundant protein in the blood, interactions between this protein and drug/gene nanocarriers are of great importance to ensure successful delivery to target tissue(s) in the body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Beiranvand
- Faculty of Science
- Department of Chemistry
- Lorestan University
- Khorramabad
- Iran
| | - Farhad Bani
- Institue of Biochemistry and Biophysic
- University of Tehran
- Iran
| | - Ali Kakanejadifard
- Faculty of Science
- Department of Chemistry
- Lorestan University
- Khorramabad
- Iran
| | - Erik Laurini
- Molecular Simulation Engineering (MOSE) Laboratory
- DEA
- University of Trieste
- 34127 Trieste
- Italy
| | - Maurizio Fermeglia
- Molecular Simulation Engineering (MOSE) Laboratory
- DEA
- University of Trieste
- 34127 Trieste
- Italy
| | - Sabrina Pricl
- Molecular Simulation Engineering (MOSE) Laboratory
- DEA
- University of Trieste
- 34127 Trieste
- Italy
| | - Mohsen Adeli
- Faculty of Science
- Department of Chemistry
- Lorestan University
- Khorramabad
- Iran
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Mehrabadi FS, Hirsch O, Zeisig R, Posocco P, Laurini E, Pricl S, Haag R, Kemmner W, Calderón M. Structure–activity relationship study of dendritic polyglycerolamines for efficient siRNA transfection. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra10944b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Structure–activity relationship studies were performed through in vitro, in silico, and in vivo analysis in order to evaluate the gene transfection potential of dendritic polyglycerolamines with different amine loadings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ole Hirsch
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt
- 10587 Berlin
- Germany
| | - Reiner Zeisig
- Experimental Pharmacology & Oncology GmbH
- 13125 Berlin
- Germany
| | - Paola Posocco
- Molecular Simulation Engineering (MOSE) Laboratory
- DICAMP
- University of Trieste
- 34127 Trieste
- Italy
| | - Erik Laurini
- Molecular Simulation Engineering (MOSE) Laboratory
- DICAMP
- University of Trieste
- 34127 Trieste
- Italy
| | - Sabrina Pricl
- Molecular Simulation Engineering (MOSE) Laboratory
- DICAMP
- University of Trieste
- 34127 Trieste
- Italy
| | - Rainer Haag
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie
- Freie Universität Berlin
- 14195 Berlin
- Germany
| | - Wolfgang Kemmner
- Translational Oncology
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center
- 13125 Berlin
- Germany
| | - Marcelo Calderón
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie
- Freie Universität Berlin
- 14195 Berlin
- Germany
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