1
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Chandole PK, Pawar TJ, Olivares-Romero JL, Tivari SR, Garcia Lara B, Patel H, Ahmad I, Delgado-Alvarado E, Kokate SV, Jadeja Y. Exploration of novel cationic amino acid-enriched short peptides: design, SPPS, biological evaluation and in silico study. RSC Adv 2024; 14:17710-17723. [PMID: 38832247 PMCID: PMC11145139 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra08313f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a critical challenge worldwide, necessitating the pursuit of novel approaches to counteract bacterial and fungal pathogens. In this context, we explored the potential of cationic amino acid-enriched short peptides, synthesized via solid-phase methods, as innovative antimicrobial candidates. Our comprehensive evaluation assessed the antibacterial and antifungal efficacy of these peptides against a panel of significant pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. Utilizing molecular docking techniques, we delved into the molecular interactions underpinning the peptides' action against these microorganisms. The results revealed a spectrum of inhibitory activities, with certain peptide sequences displaying pronounced effectiveness across various pathogens. These findings underscore the peptides' potential as promising antimicrobial agents, with molecular docking offering valuable insights into their mechanisms of action. This study enriches antimicrobial peptide (AMP) research by identifying promising candidates for further refinement and development toward therapeutic application, highlighting their significance in addressing the urgent issue of AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tushar Janardan Pawar
- Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Instituto de Ecología A.C. Carretera Antigua a Coatepec 351 Xalapa 91073 Veracruz Mexico
| | - José Luis Olivares-Romero
- Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Instituto de Ecología A.C. Carretera Antigua a Coatepec 351 Xalapa 91073 Veracruz Mexico
| | - Sunil R Tivari
- Department of Chemistry, Marwadi University Rajkot-360003 Gujarat India
| | - Bianney Garcia Lara
- Departamento de Química, Universidad de Guanajuato Noria Alta S/N Guanajuato-36050 Guanajuato Mexico
| | - Harun Patel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, R. C. Patel Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Shirpur District Dhule-425405 Maharashtra India
| | - Iqrar Ahmad
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, R. C. Patel Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Shirpur District Dhule-425405 Maharashtra India
| | - Enrique Delgado-Alvarado
- Micro and Nanotechnology Research Center, Universidad Veracruzana Blvd. Av. Ruiz Cortines No. 455 Fracc. Costa Verde Boca del Río 94294 Mexico
| | - Siddhant V Kokate
- Department of Chemistry, S. S. C. College Junnar Pune-410502 Maharashtra India
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2
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Wang J, Ye M, Zhu B. Peptide Self-Assembly Facilitating DNA Transfection and the Application in Inhibiting Cancer Cells. Molecules 2024; 29:932. [PMID: 38474444 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29050932] [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: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-viral vectors have been developing in gene delivery due to their safety and low immunogenicity. But their transfection effect is usually very low, thus limiting the application. Hence, we designed eight peptides (compounds 1-8). We compared their performances; compound 8 had the best transfection efficacy and biocompatibility. The transfection effect was similar with that of PEI, a most-widely-employed commercial transfection reagent. Atomic force microscope (AFM) images showed that the compound could self-assemble and the self-assembled peptide might encapsulate DNA. Based on these results, we further analyzed the inhibitory result in cancer cells and found that compound 8 could partially fight against Hela cells. Therefore, the compound is promising to pave the way for the development of more effective and less toxic transfection vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyu Wang
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Min Ye
- College of Pharmacy, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, China
| | - Baokuan Zhu
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
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3
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Klipp A, Burger M, Leroux JC. Get out or die trying: Peptide- and protein-based endosomal escape of RNA therapeutics. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 200:115047. [PMID: 37536508 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.115047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
RNA therapeutics offer great potential to transform the biomedical landscape, encompassing the treatment of hereditary conditions and the development of better vaccines. However, the delivery of RNAs into the cell is hampered, among others, by poor endosomal escape. This major hurdle is often tackled using special lipids, polymers, or protein-based delivery vectors. In this review, we will focus on the most prominent peptide- and protein-based endosomal escape strategies with focus on RNA drugs. We discuss cell penetrating peptides, which are still incorporated into novel transfection systems today to promote endosomal escape. However, direct evidence for enhanced endosomal escape by the action of such peptides is missing and their transfection efficiency, even in permissive cell culture conditions, is rather low. Endosomal escape by the help of pore forming proteins or phospholipases, on the other hand, allowed to generate more efficient transfection systems. These are, however, often hampered by considerable toxicity and immunogenicity. We conclude that the perfect enhancer of endosomal escape has yet to be devised. To increase the chances of success, any new transfection system should be tested under relevant conditions and guided by assays that allow direct quantification of endosomal escape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Klipp
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Michael Burger
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Jean-Christophe Leroux
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
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4
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Yuxue J, Ran S, Minghui F, Minjia S. Applications of nanomaterials in endometriosis treatment. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1184155. [PMID: 37229500 PMCID: PMC10203239 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1184155] [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: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis is a common disease of the reproductive system in women of childbearing age with an unclear pathogenesis. Endometriosis mainly manifests as dysmenorrhea, abdominal pain, and infertility. Currently, medical therapy and surgical treatment are usually used for endometriosis treatment. However, due to the high recurrence rate and many complications, it has greatly affected patients' quality of life. Nanotechnology is a new technology that mainly investigates the characteristics and applications of nanomaterials. To date, nanotechnology has received widespread attention in the field of biomedicine. Nanomaterials can not only be used as drugs to treat endometriosis directly, but also enhance the therapeutic effect of endometriosis by delivering drugs, siRNA, antibodies, vesicles, etc. This review comprehensively discusses nanomaterial-based therapies for endometriosis treatment, such as nanomaterial-based gene therapy, photothermal therapy, immunotherapy, and magnetic hyperthermia, which provides a theoretical reference for the clinical application of nanotechnology in the treatment of endometriosis.
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5
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Dzhuzha A, Gandalipov E, Korzhikov-Vlakh V, Katernyuk E, Zakharova N, Silonov S, Tennikova T, Korzhikova-Vlakh E. Amphiphilic Polypeptides Obtained by Post-Polymerization Modification of Poly-l-Lysine as Systems for Combined Delivery of Paclitaxel and siRNA. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15041308. [PMID: 37111793 PMCID: PMC10143851 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15041308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of effective anti-cancer therapeutics remains one of the current pharmaceutical challenges. The joint delivery of chemotherapeutic agents and biopharmaceuticals is a cutting-edge approach to creating therapeutic agents of enhanced efficacy. In this study, amphiphilic polypeptide delivery systems capable of loading both hydrophobic drug and small interfering RNA (siRNA) were developed. The synthesis of amphiphilic polypeptides included two steps: (i) synthesis of poly-αl-lysine by ring-opening polymerization and (ii) its post-polymerization modification with hydrophobic l-amino acid and l-arginine/l-histidine. The obtained polymers were used for the preparation of single and dual delivery systems of PTX and short double-stranded nucleic acid. The obtained double component systems were quite compact and had a hydrodynamic diameter in the range of 90-200 nm depending on the polypeptide. The release of PTX from the formulations was studied, and the release profiles were approximated using a number of mathematical dissolution models to establish the most probable release mechanism. A determination of the cytotoxicity in normal (HEK 293T) and cancer (HeLa and A549) cells revealed the higher toxicity of the polypeptide particles to cancer cells. The separate evaluation of the biological activity of PTX and anti-GFP siRNA formulations testified the inhibitory efficiency of PTX formulations based on all polypeptides (IC50 4.5-6.2 ng/mL), while gene silencing was effective only for the Tyr-Arg-containing polypeptide (56-70% GFP knockdown).
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Affiliation(s)
- Apollinariia Dzhuzha
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint-Petersburg State University, Universitetsky Pr. 26, St. Petersburg 198504, Russia
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Bolshoy Pr. 31, St. Petersburg 199004, Russia
| | - Erik Gandalipov
- International Institute of Solution Chemistry and Advanced Materials Technologies, ITMO University, Lomonosov Street 9, St. Petersburg 191002, Russia
| | - Viktor Korzhikov-Vlakh
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint-Petersburg State University, Universitetsky Pr. 26, St. Petersburg 198504, Russia
| | - Elena Katernyuk
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint-Petersburg State University, Universitetsky Pr. 26, St. Petersburg 198504, Russia
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Bolshoy Pr. 31, St. Petersburg 199004, Russia
| | - Natalia Zakharova
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Bolshoy Pr. 31, St. Petersburg 199004, Russia
| | - Sergey Silonov
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint-Petersburg State University, Universitetsky Pr. 26, St. Petersburg 198504, Russia
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tihkorezky Pr. 4, St. Petersburg 194064, Russia
| | - Tatiana Tennikova
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint-Petersburg State University, Universitetsky Pr. 26, St. Petersburg 198504, Russia
| | - Evgenia Korzhikova-Vlakh
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint-Petersburg State University, Universitetsky Pr. 26, St. Petersburg 198504, Russia
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Bolshoy Pr. 31, St. Petersburg 199004, Russia
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6
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The Development of Cell-Penetrating Peptides for Efficient and Selective In Vivo Expression of mRNA in Spleen Tissue. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15030952. [PMID: 36986813 PMCID: PMC10055000 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15030952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
mRNA-based therapeutics are presently one of the nucleic acid-based therapeutics with a high potential for extraordinary success as preventive vaccines. Current applications with mRNA therapeutics rely on lipid nanoparticle (LNP) mediated delivery of nucleic acids. In order to achieve the transition from preventive to therapeutic vaccines, there is a challenge of delivering the mRNA into non-hepatic tissues, especially into lymphoid tissues such as the spleen and lymph nodes. In this work, we characterize new cell-penetrating peptides NF424 and NF436 that exhibit preferential delivery of mRNA into the spleen after a single i.v. injection, without the use of any active targeting mechanisms. We show that between the spleen, liver, and the lungs, >95% of mRNA expression arises in the spleen tissue and the majority of expression occurs in the dendritic cells. The cell-penetrating peptides NF424 and NF436 represent promising candidates for cancer immunotherapeutic applications with tumor antigens.
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7
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Choosing an Optimal Solvent Is Crucial for Obtaining Cell-Penetrating Peptide Nanoparticles with Desired Properties and High Activity in Nucleic Acid Delivery. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15020396. [PMID: 36839718 PMCID: PMC9963036 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15020396] [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: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are highly promising transfection agents that can deliver various compounds into living cells, including nucleic acids (NAs). Positively charged CPPs can form non-covalent complexes with negatively charged NAs, enabling simple and time-efficient nanoparticle preparation. However, as CPPs have substantially different chemical and physical properties, their complexation with the cargo and characteristics of the resulting nanoparticles largely depends on the properties of the surrounding environment, i.e., solution. Here, we show that the solvent used for the initial dissolving of a CPP determines the properties of the resulting CPP particles formed in an aqueous solution, including the activity and toxicity of the CPP-NA complexes. Using different biophysical methods such as dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM and SEM), we show that PepFect14 (PF14), a cationic amphipathic CPP, forms spherical particles of uniform size when dissolved in organic solvents, such as ethanol and DMSO. Water-dissolved PF14, however, tends to form micelles and non-uniform aggregates. When dissolved in organic solvents, PF14 retains its α-helical conformation and biological activity in cell culture conditions without any increase in cytotoxicity. Altogether, our results indicate that by using a solvent that matches the chemical nature of the CPP, the properties of the peptide-cargo particles can be tuned in the desired way. This can be of critical importance for in vivo applications, where CPP particles that are too large, non-uniform, or prone to aggregation may induce severe consequences.
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8
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Kim JS, Park J, Choi JH, Kang S, Park N. RNA-DNA hybrid nano-materials for highly efficient and long lasting RNA interference effect. RSC Adv 2023; 13:3139-3146. [PMID: 36756454 PMCID: PMC9854246 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra06249f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
In attempts to effectively improve RNAi function, we herein report a new RNAi approach using X-shaped RDNA and Dgel (RNA interfering DNA hydrogel, Ri-Dgel). X-shaped RDNA is a 4 branched nanostructure which was composed of three dsDNA branches and one dsRNA branch, and the structure was made by annealing partially complementary ssDNAs and chimeric RNA-DNA oligonucleotides. Ri-Dgel was synthesized through the ligation of the X-shaped RDNAs using their palindromic sticky ends. In MDCK/GFP cells transfected with 1 μM of each format of siRNA, Ri-Dgel and X-RDNA, the intensity of GFP fluorescence was significantly reduced by 65% and 56%, respectively, while dsRNA which is a conventional siRNA format showed a relatively weak reduction intensity of 7% compared with a negative control. We also observed the decreased intensity of GFP fluorescence by approximately 59% in MDA-MB-231/GFP cells transfected with 5 nM Ri-Dgel. Furthermore, the Ri-Dgel showed persistent RNAi efficiency up to 6 days from the treatment. The use of Ri-Dgel to trigger RNAi resulted in enhanced efficacy and longer duration at lower concentration compared to traditional dsRNA implying the nanostructured DNA-RNA hybrid materials have great potential as a platform technology for RNAi-based therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joung Sug Kim
- Department of Chemistry, The Natural Science Research Institute, Myongji University 116 Myongji-Ro Yongin Gyeonggi-do Republic of Korea
| | - Junghyun Park
- Department of Chemistry, The Natural Science Research Institute, Myongji University 116 Myongji-Ro Yongin Gyeonggi-do Republic of Korea
| | - Jang Hyeon Choi
- Department of Chemistry, The Natural Science Research Institute, Myongji University 116 Myongji-Ro Yongin Gyeonggi-do Republic of Korea
| | - Seungjae Kang
- Department of Chemistry, The Natural Science Research Institute, Myongji University 116 Myongji-Ro Yongin Gyeonggi-do Republic of Korea
| | - Nokyoung Park
- Department of Chemistry, The Natural Science Research Institute, Myongji University 116 Myongji-Ro Yongin Gyeonggi-do Republic of Korea
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9
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Porosk L, Langel Ü. Approaches for evaluation of novel CPP-based cargo delivery systems. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1056467. [PMID: 36339538 PMCID: PMC9634181 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1056467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) can be broadly defined as relatively short synthetic, protein derived or chimeric peptides. Their most remarkable property is their ability to cross cell barriers and facilitate the translocation of cargo, such as drugs, nucleic acids, peptides, small molecules, dyes, and many others across the plasma membrane. Over the years there have been several approaches used, adapted, and developed for the evaluation of CPP efficacies as delivery systems, with the fluorophore attachment as the most widely used approach. It has become progressively evident, that the evaluation method, in order to lead to successful outcome, should concede with the specialties of the delivery. For characterization and assessment of CPP-cargo a combination of research tools of chemistry, physics, molecular biology, engineering, and other fields have been applied. In this review, we summarize the diverse, in silico, in vitro and in vivo approaches used for evaluation and characterization of CPP-based cargo delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ly Porosk
- Laboratory of Drug Delivery, Institute of Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ülo Langel
- Laboratory of Drug Delivery, Institute of Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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10
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Predicting Transiently Expressed Protein Yields: Comparison of Transfection Methods in CHO and HEK293. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14091949. [PMID: 36145697 PMCID: PMC9505259 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14091949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic proteins are currently at the apex of innovation in pharmaceutical medicine. However, their industrial production is technically challenging and improved methods for transient transfection of mammalian cell cultures are necessary. We aimed to find a fast, microliter-scale transfection assay that allows the prediction of protein expression in the transient production settings. We used an array of lipid, polymeric and cell-penetrating peptide transfection reagents, and compared their performance in various high throughput transfection assays to their performance in protein (antibody) expression in professional protein-producer cell lines. First, we show that some of the most frequently used microliter-scale transfection efficacy assays fail to predict performance in the protein production in milliliter and liter scale settings. We found that CHO suspension culture post-transfection EGFP(+) population and SEAP quantitation correlate with large-scale protein production, whereas the adhesion culture assays and transfection of pLuc are non-predictive. Second, we demonstrated that cell-penetrating peptide-based transfection achieves significantly higher protein yields compared to PEI and lipoplex methods in both CHO and HEK293 producer cell lines. In this work we demonstrate a CPP-based transient protein expression approach that significantly outperformed the current industry standard workhorse method of PEI.
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11
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Wang J, Chen G, Liu N, Han X, Zhao F, Zhang L, Chen P. Strategies for improving the safety and RNAi efficacy of noncovalent peptide/siRNA nanocomplexes. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 302:102638. [PMID: 35299136 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2022.102638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In the past decades, the striking development of cationic polypeptides and cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) tailored for small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery has been fuelled by the conception of nuclear acid therapy and precision medicine. Owing to their amino acid compositions, inherent secondary structures as well as diverse geometrical shapes, peptides or peptide-containing polymers exhibit good biodegradability, high flexibility, and bio-functional diversity as nonviral siRNA vectors. Also, a variety of noncovalent nanocomplexes could be built via self-assembling and electrostatic interactions between cationic peptides and siRNAs. Although the peptide/siRNA nanocomplex-based RNAi therapies, STP705 and MIR-19, are under clinical trials, a guideline addressing the current bottlenecks of peptide/siRNA nanocomplex delivery is in high demand for future research and development. In this review, we present strategies for improving the safety and RNAi efficacy of noncovalent peptide/siRNA nanocomplexes in the treatment of genetic disorders. Through thorough analysis of those RNAi formulations using different delivery strategies, we seek to shed light on the rationale of peptide design and modification in constructing robust siRNA delivery systems, including targeted and co-delivery systems. Based on this, we provide a timely and comprehensive understanding of how to engineer biocompatible and efficient peptide-based siRNA vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Guang Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada; Key Laboratory of Chemical Additives for China National Light Industry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China.
| | - Nan Liu
- Advanced Materials Institute, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Xiaoxia Han
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Feng Zhao
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - P Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada; Advanced Materials Institute, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan 250014, China.
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12
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Maloverjan M, Padari K, Abroi A, Rebane A, Pooga M. Divalent Metal Ions Boost Effect of Nucleic Acids Delivered by Cell-Penetrating Peptides. Cells 2022; 11:cells11040756. [PMID: 35203400 PMCID: PMC8870069 DOI: 10.3390/cells11040756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are promising tools for the transfection of various substances, including nucleic acids, into cells. The aim of the current work was to search for novel safe and effective approaches for enhancing transfection efficiency of nanoparticles formed from CPP and splice-correcting oligonucleotide (SCO) without increasing the concentration of peptide. We analyzed the effect of inclusion of calcium and magnesium ions into nanoparticles on CPP-mediated transfection in cell culture. We also studied the mechanism of such transfection as well as its efficiency, applicability in case of different cell lines, nucleic acid types and peptides, and possible limitations. We discovered a strong positive effect of these ions on transfection efficiency of SCO, that translated to enhanced synthesis of functional reporter protein. We observed significant changes in intracellular distribution and trafficking of nanoparticles formed by the addition of the ions, without increasing cytotoxicity. We propose a novel strategy for preparing CPP-oligonucleotide nanoparticles with enhanced efficiency and, thus, higher therapeutic potential. Our discovery may be translated to primary cell cultures and, possibly, in vivo studies, with the aim of increasing CPP-mediated transfection efficiency and the likelihood of using CPPs in clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Maloverjan
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, 1 Nooruse Street, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (M.M.); (A.A.)
| | - Kärt Padari
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, 23b Riia Street, 51010 Tartu, Estonia;
| | - Aare Abroi
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, 1 Nooruse Street, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (M.M.); (A.A.)
| | - Ana Rebane
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 14b Ravila Street, 50411 Tartu, Estonia;
| | - Margus Pooga
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, 1 Nooruse Street, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (M.M.); (A.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +372-737-4836
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13
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Hooshmand SE, Sabet MJ, Hasanzadeh A, Mousavi SMK, Moghadam NH, Hooshmand SA, Rabiee N, Liu Y, Hamblin MR, Karimi M. Histidine‐enhanced gene delivery systems: The state of the art. J Gene Med 2022; 24:e3415. [DOI: 10.1002/jgm.3415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Seyyed Emad Hooshmand
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Makkieh Jahanpeimay Sabet
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Akbar Hasanzadeh
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Seyede Mahtab Kamrani Mousavi
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Niloofar Haeri Moghadam
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Seyed Aghil Hooshmand
- Laboratory of Systems Biology and Bioinformatics (LBB), Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics University of Tehran Tehran Iran
| | - Navid Rabiee
- Department of Physics Sharif University of Technology Tehran Iran
- School of Engineering Macquarie University Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Yong Liu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM) Soochow University Suzhou Jiangsu China
| | - Michael R. Hamblin
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science University of Johannesburg South Africa
| | - Mahdi Karimi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
- Oncopathology Research Center Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
- Research Center for Science and Technology in Medicine Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
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14
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Yang C, Jiang Y, Hao SH, Yan XY, Hong DF, Naranmandura H. Aptamers: an emerging navigation tool of therapeutic agents for targeted cancer therapy. J Mater Chem B 2021; 10:20-33. [PMID: 34881767 DOI: 10.1039/d1tb02098f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Chemotherapeutic agents have been used for the treatment of numerous cancers, but due to poor selectivity and severe systemic side effects, their clinical application is limited. Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or RNA aptamers could conjugate with highly toxic chemotherapy drugs, toxins, therapeutic RNAs or other molecules as novel aptamer-drug conjugates (ApDCs), which are capable of significantly improving the therapeutic efficacy and reducing the systemic toxicity of drugs and have great potential in clinics for targeted cancer therapy. In this review, we have comprehensively discussed and summarized the current advances in the screening approaches of aptamers for specific cancer biomarker targeting and development of the aptamer-drug conjugate strategy for targeted drug delivery. Moreover, considering the huge progress in artificial intelligence (AI) for protein and RNA structure predictions, automatic design of aptamers using deep/machine learning techniques could be a powerful approach for rapid and precise construction of biopharmaceutics (i.e., ApDCs) for application in cancer targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Yang
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Public Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. .,Department of Toxicology, School of Medicine and Public Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yu Jiang
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Public Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. .,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sai Heng Hao
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Xing Yi Yan
- Department of Toxicology, School of Medicine and Public Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - De Fei Hong
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Hua Naranmandura
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Public Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. .,Department of Toxicology, School of Medicine and Public Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, China
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15
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Abstract
The efficacy of transfection reagents and nanoparticles is often assessed by measuring levels of expressed reporter protein. Fluorescence and luminescence based assays provide sensitive, quantifiable and repeatable approaches. The genes expressing reporter protein can be integrated into the cells to create stable reporter cell lines or can be expressed from a transfected plasmid. Green fluorescent protein, luciferase, and secreted alkaline phosphatase are well-established reporters with versatile applications. Monitoring changes in live cells during and after transfection offer opportunities to reveal related mechanisms, efficacy, and bottlenecks of transfection.In this chapter, we describe the experimental setup and considerations for in vitro screening of delivery vectors. This can further be extended to measurements in reporter cell lines.
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16
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Cell-Penetrating Peptide and siRNA-Mediated Therapeutic Effects on Endometriosis and Cancer In Vitro Models. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13101618. [PMID: 34683911 PMCID: PMC8541686 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13101618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy is a powerful tool for the development of new treatment strategies for various conditions, by aiming to transport biologically active nucleic acids into diseased cells. To achieve that goal, we used highly potential delivery vectors, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), as oligonucleotide carriers for the development of a therapeutic approach for endometriosis and cancer. Despite marked differences, both of these conditions still exhibit similarities, like excessive, uncoordinated, and autonomous cellular proliferation and invasion, accompanied by overlapping gene expression patterns. Thus, in the current study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of CPP and siRNA nanoparticles using in vitro models of benign endometriosis and malignant glioblastoma. We demonstrated that CPPs PepFect6 and NickFect70 are highly effective in transfecting cell lines, primary cell cultures, and three-dimensional spheroids. CPP nanoparticles are capable of inducing siRNA-specific knockdown of therapeutic genes, ribonucleotide reductase subunit M2 (RRM2), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which results in the reduction of in vitro cellular proliferation, invasion, and migration. In addition, we proved that it is possible to achieve synergistic suppression of endometriosis cellular proliferation and invasion by combining gene therapy and hormonal treatment approaches by co-administering CPP/siRNA nanoparticles together with the endometriosis-drug danazol. We suggest a novel target, RRM2, for endometriosis therapy and as a proof-of-concept, we propose a CPP-mediated gene therapy approach for endometriosis and cancer.
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17
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Internalisation and Biological Activity of Nucleic Acids Delivering Cell-Penetrating Peptide Nanoparticles Is Controlled by the Biomolecular Corona. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14070667. [PMID: 34358093 PMCID: PMC8308718 DOI: 10.3390/ph14070667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acid molecules can be transferred into cells to alter gene expression and, thus, alleviate certain pathological conditions. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are vectors that can be used for transfecting nucleic acids as well as many other compounds. CPPs associate nucleic acids non-covalently, forming stable nanoparticles and providing efficient transfection of cells in vitro. However, in vivo, expected efficiency is achieved only in rare cases. One of the reasons for this discrepancy is the formation of protein corona around nanoparticles, once they are exposed to a biological environment, e.g., blood stream. In this study, we compared protein corona of CPP-nucleic acid nanoparticles formed in the presence of bovine, murine and human serum. We used Western blot and mass-spectrometry to identify the major constituents of protein corona forming around nanoparticles, showing that proteins involved in transport, haemostasis and complement system are its major components. We investigated physical features of nanoparticles and measured their biological efficiency in splice-correction assay. We showed that protein corona constituents might alter the fate of nanoparticles in vivo, e.g., by subjecting them to phagocytosis. We demonstrated that composition of protein corona of nanoparticles is species-specific that leads to dissimilar transfection efficiency and should be considered while developing delivery systems for nucleic acids.
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18
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Huang S, Zhu Z, Jia B, Zhang W, Song J. Design of acid-activated cell-penetrating peptides with nuclear localization capacity for anticancer drug delivery. J Pept Sci 2021; 27:e3354. [PMID: 34101293 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Camptothecin (CPT), a DNA-toxin drug, exerts anticancer activity by inhibiting topoisomerase I. Targeted delivery of CPT into the cancer cell nucleus is important for enhancing its therapeutic efficiency. In this study, a new type of acid-activated cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) with nuclear localization capacity was constructed by conjugating six histidine residues and a hydrophobic peptide sequence, PFVYLI, to the nuclear localization sequence (NLS). Our results indicated that HNLS-3 displayed significant pH-dependent cellular uptake efficiency, endosomal escape ability, and nuclear localization activity. More importantly, the HNLS-3-CPT conjugate showed obviously enhanced cytotoxicity and selectivity compared with CPT. Taken together, our findings provide an effective approach to develop efficient CPPs with both cancer- and nucleus-targeting properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujie Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhongwen Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Bo Jia
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jingjing Song
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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19
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Bornerie M, Brion A, Guichard G, Kichler A, Douat C. Delivery of siRNA by tailored cell-penetrating urea-based foldamers. Chem Commun (Camb) 2021; 57:1458-1461. [PMID: 33438700 DOI: 10.1039/d0cc06285e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Cell-penetrating foldamers (CPFs) have recently shown promise as efficient and safe nucleic acid delivery systems. However, the application of CPFs to siRNA transport remains scarce. Here, we report helical CPFs tailored with specific end-groups (pyridylthio- or n-octyl-ureas) as effective molecular systems in combination with helper lipids to intracellularly deliver biologically-relevant siRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mégane Bornerie
- Univ. of Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, 2 rue Robert Escarpit, Pessac F-33607, France.
| | - Anaïs Brion
- Equipe 3Bio, CAMB 7199 CNRS-Univ., Strasbourg, Faculté de Pharmacie, 74 route du Rhin, Illkirch cedex F-67401, France.
| | - Gilles Guichard
- Univ. of Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, 2 rue Robert Escarpit, Pessac F-33607, France.
| | - Antoine Kichler
- Equipe 3Bio, CAMB 7199 CNRS-Univ., Strasbourg, Faculté de Pharmacie, 74 route du Rhin, Illkirch cedex F-67401, France.
| | - Céline Douat
- Univ. of Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, 2 rue Robert Escarpit, Pessac F-33607, France. and Department Pharmazie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Butenandtstraße 5-13, München D-81377, Germany.
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20
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Ozaki M, Yoshida S, Tsuruoka T, Usui K. Intracellular mineralization of gold nanoparticles using gold ion-binding peptides with cell-penetrating ability. Chem Commun (Camb) 2021; 57:725-728. [PMID: 33411858 DOI: 10.1039/d0cc06117d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
We developed a system to directly produce gold nanoparticles in cells by intracellular mineralization in lower concentration than conventional methods using a peptide consisting of a cell-penetrating sequence and a gold ion-binding sequence. Furthermore, we could control the uniquely shaped gold nanostructures that were produced by changing peptide structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Ozaki
- Faculty of Frontiers of Innovative Research in Science and Technology (FIRST), Konan University, 6500047, Kobe, Japan.
| | - Shuhei Yoshida
- Faculty of Frontiers of Innovative Research in Science and Technology (FIRST), Konan University, 6500047, Kobe, Japan.
| | - Takaaki Tsuruoka
- Faculty of Frontiers of Innovative Research in Science and Technology (FIRST), Konan University, 6500047, Kobe, Japan.
| | - Kenji Usui
- Faculty of Frontiers of Innovative Research in Science and Technology (FIRST), Konan University, 6500047, Kobe, Japan.
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21
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Yang G, Zhao Y, Gong A, Miao W, Yan L, Nie P, Wang Z. Improved Cellular Delivery of Antisense Oligonucleotide for miRNA-21 Imaging In Vivo Using Cell-Penetrating Peptide-Based Nanoprobes. Mol Pharm 2021; 18:787-795. [PMID: 33480702 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.0c00160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Most oligonucleotides fail to enter a cell and cannot escape from endosomes after endocytosis because of their negative charge and large molecular weight. More efficient cellular delivery of oligonucleotides should be developed for the widespread implementation of antisense imaging. The purpose of this study was to construct a novel antisense nanoprobe, 99mTc-labeled anti-miRNA oligonucleotides/cell-penetrating peptide PepFect6 (99mTc-AMO/PF6), and to evaluate its efficacy for imaging the miRNA-21 expression in A549 lung adenocarcinoma xenografts. Naked AMO and commercial Lipofectamine 2000-based nanoparticles (AMO/LIP) were used for comparison. The cellular delivery efficiency of AMO/PF6 was first investigated by laser confocal scanning microscopy using Cy5.5-labeled probes and further validated by in vivo fluorescence imaging. Then, the probes were labeled with 99mTc via hydrazinonicotinamide (HYNIC). The cytotoxicity assay, cellular uptake, and retention kinetics of the probes were evaluated in vitro. The biodistribution of the probes was investigated in A549 lung cancer xenografts, and SPECT imaging was performed in vivo. AMO/PF6 showed lower cytotoxicity than AMO/LIP (P < 0.05) but showed no significant difference with naked AMO. Fluorescence microscopy demonstrated more extensive and scattered signal distribution inside the A549 cells by AMO/PF6 than AMO/LIP. The labeling efficiency of 99mTc-AMO/PF6 was 72.6 ± 1.42%, and the specific activity was 11.6 ± 0.13 MBq/ng. The cellular uptake of 99mTc-PF6/AMO peaked at 12 h, with the uptake of 11.24 ± 0.12 mol/cell × 10-16, and the cellular retention of 99mTc-AMO/PF6 was 3.92 ± 0.15 mol/cell × 10-16 at 12 h after interrupted incubation. AMO/PF6 showed higher cellular uptake and retention than naked AMO and AMO/LIP. The biodistribution study showed that the tumor had the highest radioactivity accumulation, with the uptake ratio of tumor/muscle (T/M) increasing from 14.59 ± 0.67 to 21.76 ± 0.98 between 1 and 6 h after injection, followed by the uptake in the kidneys and the liver. The results of in vivo fluorescence and SPECT imaging were consistent with the results of the biodistribution. The tumor was visualized at 6 h after injection of AMO/PF6 with the highest T/M ratio among these probes (P < 0.05). PF6 improves cellular delivery of antisense oligonucleotides via noncovalent nanoparticles. 99mTc-AMO/PF6 shows favorable imaging properties and is promising for miRNAs imaging in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangjie Yang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 59, Haier Road, Qingdao 266061, Shandong, China
| | - Yujun Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 59, Haier Road, Qingdao 266061, Shandong, China
| | - Aidi Gong
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 59, Haier Road, Qingdao 266061, Shandong, China
| | - Wenjie Miao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 59, Haier Road, Qingdao 266061, Shandong, China
| | - Lei Yan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 59, Haier Road, Qingdao 266061, Shandong, China
| | - Pei Nie
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 16, Jiangsu Road, Qingdao 266003, Shandong, China
| | - Zhenguang Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 59, Haier Road, Qingdao 266061, Shandong, China
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22
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Kim GC, Cheon DH, Lee Y. Challenge to overcome current limitations of cell-penetrating peptides. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2021; 1869:140604. [PMID: 33453413 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2021.140604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The penetration of biological membranes is a prime obstacle for the delivery of pharmaceutical drugs. Cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) is an efficient vehicle that can deliver various cargos across the biological membranes. Since the discovery, CPPs have been rigorously studied to unveil the underlying penetrating mechanism as well as to exploit CPPs for various biomedical applications. This review will focus on the various strategies to overcome current limitations regarding stability, selectivity, and efficacy of CPPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gyu Chan Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Hee Cheon
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea
| | - Yan Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
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23
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Abstract
Cell-Penetrating Peptides (CPP) are valuable tools capable of crossing the plasma membrane to deliver therapeutic cargo inside cells. Small interfering RNAs (siRNA) are double-stranded RNA molecules capable of silencing the expression of a specific protein triggering the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway, but they are unable to cross the plasma membrane and have a short half-life in the bloodstream. In this overview, we assessed the many different approaches used and developed in the last two decades to deliver siRNA through the plasma membrane through different CPPs sorted according to three different loading strategies: covalent conjugation, complex formation, and CPP-decorated (functionalized) nanocomplexes. Each of these strategies has pros and cons, but it appears the latter two are the most commonly reported and emerging as the most promising strategies due to their simplicity of synthesis, use, and versatility. Recent progress with siRNA delivered by CPPs seems to focus on targeted delivery to reduce side effects and amount of drugs used, and it appears to be among the most promising use for CPPs in future clinical applications.
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24
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Porosk L, Gaidutšik I, Langel Ü. Approaches for the discovery of new cell-penetrating peptides. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2020; 16:553-565. [PMID: 33874824 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2021.1851187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: The capability of cell-penetrating peptides (CPP), also known as protein transduction domains (PTD), to enter into cells possibly with an attached cargo, makes their application as delivery vectors or as direct therapeutics compelling. They are generally biocompatible, nontoxic, and easy to synthesize and modify. Three decades after the discovery of the first CPPs, ~2,000 CPP sequences have been identified, and many more predicted. Nevertheless, the field has a strong commitment to authenticate new, more efficient, and specific CPPs.Areas covered: Although a scattering of CPPs have been found by chance, various systematic approaches have been developed and refined over the years to directly aid the identification and depiction of new peptide-based delivery vectors or therapeutics. Here, the authors give an overview of CPPs, and review various approaches of discovering new ones. An emphasis is placed on in silico methods, as these have advanced rapidly in recent years.Expert opinion: Although there are many known CPPs, there is a need to find more efficient and specific CPPs. Several approaches are used to identify such sequences. The success of these approaches depends on the advancement of others and the successful prediction of CPP sequences relies on experimental data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ly Porosk
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ilja Gaidutšik
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ülo Langel
- Department Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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25
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NickFect type of cell-penetrating peptides present enhanced efficiency for microRNA-146a delivery into dendritic cells and during skin inflammation. Biomaterials 2020; 262:120316. [PMID: 32896817 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2020.120316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are post-transcriptional gene expression regulators with potential therapeutic applications. miR-146a is a negative regulator of inflammatory processes in both tissue-resident and specialized immune cells and may therefore have therapeutic effect in inflammatory skin diseases. PepFect (PF) and NickFect (NF) type of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have previously been shown to deliver miRNA mimics and/or siRNAs into cell cultures and in vivo. Here, we first demonstrate that selected PF- and NF-type of CPPs support delivery of fluorescent labelled miRNA mimics into keratinocytes (KCs) and dendritic cells (DCs). Second, we show that both PF- and NF-miR-146a nanocomplexes were equally effective in KCs, while NFs were more efficient in DCs as assessed by downregulation of miR-146a-influenced genes. None of miRNA nanocomplexes with the tested CPPs influenced the viability of KCs and DCs nor caused activation of DCs according to CD86 and CD83 markers. Transmission electron microscopy analysis with Nanogold-labelled miR-146a mimics and assessment of endocytic trafficking pathways revealed endocytosis as an active route of delivery in both KCs and DCs for all tested CPPs. However, consistent with the higher efficiency, NF-delivered miR-146a was detected more often outside endosomes in DCs. Finally, pre-injection of NF71:miR-146a nanocomplexes was confirmed to suppress inflammatory responses in a mouse model of irritant contact dermatitis as shown by reduced ear swelling response and downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, IL-1β, IL-33 and TNF-α. In conclusion, NF71 efficiently delivers miRNA mimics into KCs as well as DCs, and therefore may have advantage in therapeutic delivery of miRNAs in case of inflammatory skin diseases.
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26
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He J, Xu S, Mixson AJ. The Multifaceted Histidine-Based Carriers for Nucleic Acid Delivery: Advances and Challenges. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:E774. [PMID: 32823960 PMCID: PMC7465012 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12080774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Histidines incorporated into carriers of nucleic acids may enhance the extracellular stability of the nanoparticle, yet aid in the intracellular disruption of the nanoparticle, enabling the release of the nucleic acid. Moreover, protonation of histidines in the endosomes may result in endosomal swelling with subsequent lysis. These properties of histidine are based on its five-member imidazole ring in which the two nitrogen atoms may form hydrogen bonds or act as a base in acidic environments. A wide variety of carriers have integrated histidines or histidine-rich domains, which include peptides, polyethylenimine, polysaccharides, platform delivery systems, viral phages, mesoporous silica particles, and liposomes. Histidine-rich carriers have played key roles in our understanding of the stability of nanocarriers and the escape of the nucleic acids from endosomes. These carriers show great promise and offer marked potential in delivering plasmids, siRNA, and mRNA to their intracellular targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - A. James Mixson
- Department of Pathology, University Maryland School of Medicine, 10 S. Pine St., University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (J.H.); (S.X.)
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27
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Heitz M, Zamolo S, Javor S, Reymond JL. Fluorescent Peptide Dendrimers for siRNA Transfection: Tracking pH Responsive Aggregation, siRNA Binding, and Cell Penetration. Bioconjug Chem 2020; 31:1671-1684. [PMID: 32421327 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.0c00231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Transfecting nucleic acids into various cells is a key procedure in biological research also envisioned for therapeutic applications. In our effort to obtain simple reagents that would be readily accessible from commercial building blocks, we recently reported peptide dendrimers as single component siRNA transfection reagents accessible in pure form by solid-phase peptide synthesis. Here, we extend our studies of these dendrimers by identifying analogs bearing a coumarin or BODIPY fluorescent label in their core and displaying comparable siRNA transfection efficiencies, pH dependent aggregation, siRNA binding, and secondary structures. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) studies show that the dendrimers are tightly associated with siRNA within the formed nanoparticles at pH 7.4 but are released into solution at pH 5.0 and can participate in endosome escape by destabilizing the membrane at this pH value. Colocalization studies furthermore suggest that peptide dendrimers and siRNA remain tightly associated throughout the transfection process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Heitz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Susanna Zamolo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sacha Javor
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Louis Reymond
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
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