Focus on RNA interference: from nanoformulations to in vivo delivery

mRNA-based therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment

In the rapidly evolving landscape of medical research, the emergence of RNA-based therapeutics is paradigm shifting. It is mainly driven by the molecular adaptability and capacity to provide precision in targeting. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic crisis underscored the effectiveness of the mRNA therapeutic development platform and brought it to the forefront of RNA-based interventions. These RNA-based therapeutic approaches can reshape gene expression, manipulate cellular functions, and correct the aberrant molecular processes underlying various diseases. The new technologies hold the potential to engineer and deliver tailored therapeutic agents to tackle genetic disorders, cancers, and infectious diseases in a highly personalized and precisely tuned manner. The review discusses the most recent advancements in the field of mRNA therapeutics for cancer treatment, with a focus on the features of the most utilized RNA-based therapeutic interventions, current pre-clinical and clinical developments, and the remaining challenges in delivery strategies, effectiveness, and safety considerations.

Synthesis and bioactivity of a novel surfactin-based lipopeptide for mRNA delivery

The effective delivery of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) to specific cell types and target tissues poses a significant challenge in nonviral therapeutic strategies. Lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged as a leading carrier system for delivering mRNA, particularly for infectious diseases, such as COVID-19. This study aimed to describe the synthesis of a novel lipopeptide based on surfactin, a naturally occurring surfactant. Additionally, a series of novel LNPs were rationally designed, based on the modified surfactin, OleSurf, and were formulated and optimized. The physicochemical properties, morphologies, and stabilities of the particles were evaluated. All formulations containing OleSurf produced particles with a diameter <80 nm and an encapsulation efficiency >95%. OleSurf LNPs demonstrated excellent transfection efficiency and luciferase expression with no cytotoxicity, compared to lipofectamine 2000, a known transfection reagent, and were comparable to the DLin-MC3-DMA lipid. OleSurf-based LNPs behaved as efficient mRNA carriers and showed enhanced mRNA-binding capabilities, associated with facilitated intracellular release, endosomal escape, and protection from endonuclease degradation. In addition, OleSurf-LNPs showed a higher mRNA delivery efficiency, a more advantageous biodistribution pattern, and an improved safety profile in vivo. Overall, the novel OleSurf LNPs presented an optimal delivery platform for mRNA therapeutics.

Transforming Healthcare with Nanomedicine: A SWOT Analysis of Drug Delivery Innovation

Objective

Nanomedicine represents a transformative approach in biomedical applications. This study aims to delineate the application of nanomedicine in the biomedical field through the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis to evaluate its efficacy and potential in clinical applications.

Methods

The SWOT analysis framework was employed to systematically review and assess the internal strengths and weaknesses, along with external opportunities and threats of nanomedicine. This method provides a balanced consideration of the potential benefits and challenges.

Results

Findings from the SWOT analysis indicate that nanomedicine presents significant potential in drug delivery, diagnostic imaging, and tissue engineering. Nonetheless, it faces substantial hurdles such as safety issues, environmental concerns, and high development costs. Critical areas for development were identified, particularly concerning its therapeutic potential and the uncertainties surrounding long-term effects.

Conclusion

Nanomedicine holds substantial promise in driving medical innovation. However, successful clinical translation requires addressing safety, cost, and regulatory challenges. Interdisciplinary collaboration and comprehensive strategic planning are crucial for the safe and effective application of nanomedicine.

Artificial intelligence in nanomedicine

The field of nanomedicine has made substantial strides in the areas of therapeutic and diagnostic development. For example, nanoparticle-modified drug compounds and imaging agents have resulted in markedly enhanced treatment outcomes and contrast efficiency. In recent years, investigational nanomedicine platforms have also been taken into the clinic, with regulatory approval for Abraxane® and other products being awarded. As the nanomedicine field has continued to evolve, multifunctional approaches have been explored to simultaneously integrate therapeutic and diagnostic agents onto a single particle, or deliver multiple nanomedicine-functionalized therapies in unison. Similar to the objectives of conventional combination therapy, these strategies may further improve treatment outcomes through targeted, multi-agent delivery that preserves drug synergy. Also, similar to conventional/unmodified combination therapy, nanomedicine-based drug delivery is often explored at fixed doses. A persistent challenge in all forms of drug administration is that drug synergy is time-dependent, dose-dependent and patient-specific at any given point of treatment. To overcome this challenge, the evolution towards nanomedicine-mediated co-delivery of multiple therapies has made the potential of interfacing artificial intelligence (AI) with nanomedicine to sustain optimization in combinatorial nanotherapy a reality. Specifically, optimizing drug and dose parameters in combinatorial nanomedicine administration is a specific area where AI can actionably realize the full potential of nanomedicine. To this end, this review will examine the role that AI can have in substantially improving nanomedicine-based treatment outcomes, particularly in the context of combination nanotherapy for both N-of-1 and population-optimized treatment.

Selective Capture and Purification of MicroRNAs and Intracellular Proteins through Antisense-vectorized Magnetic Nanobeads

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding nucleotides playing a crucial role in posttranscriptional expression and regulation of target genes in nearly all kinds of cells. In this study, we demonstrate a reliable and efficient capture and purification of miRNAs and intracellular proteins using magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with antisense oligonucleotides. For this purpose, a tumor suppressor miRNA (miR-198), deregulated in several human cancer types, was chosen as the model oligonucleotide. Magnetite nanoparticles carrying the complementary sequence of miR-198 (miR-198 antisense) on their surface were delivered into cells and subsequently used for the extracellular transport of miRNA and proteins. The successful capture of miR-198 was demonstrated by isolating RNA from magnetic nanoparticles followed by real-time PCR quantification. Our experimental data showed that antisense-coated particles captured 5-fold higher amounts of miR-198 when compared to the control nanoparticles. Moreover, several proteins that could play a significant role in miR-198 biogenesis were found attached to miR-198 conjugated nanoparticles and analyzed by mass spectrometry. Our findings demonstrate that a purpose-driven vectorization of magnetic nanobeads with target-specific recognition ligands is highly efficient in selectively transporting miRNA and disease-relevant proteins out of cells and could become a reliable and useful tool for future diagnostic, therapeutic and analytical applications.

RNA Interference-Based Cancer Drugs: The Roadblocks, and the "Delivery" of the Promise

Nucleic acid-based therapeutics like synthetic small interfering RNAs have been exploited to modulate gene function, taking advantage of RNA interference (RNAi), an evolutionally conserved biological process. Recently, the world's first RNAi drug was approved for a rare genetic disorder in the liver. However, there are significant challenges that need to be resolved before RNAi can be translated in other genetic diseases like cancer. Current drug delivery platforms for therapeutic silencing RNAs are tailored to hepatic targets. RNAi therapies for nonhepatic conditions are still at early clinical phases. In this study, we discuss the critical design considerations in anticancer RNAi drug development, insights gained from initial clinical trials, and new strategies that are entering clinical development, shaping the future of RNAi in cancer.

Cell specific delivery of modified mRNA expressing therapeutic proteins to leukocytes

Therapeutic alteration of gene expression in vivo can be achieved by delivering nucleic acids (e.g., mRNA, siRNA) using nanoparticles. Recent progress in modified messenger RNA (mmRNA) synthesis facilitated the development of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) loaded with mmRNA as a promising tool for in vivo protein expression. Although progress have been made with mmRNA-LNPs based protein expression in hepatocytes, cell specificity is still a major challenge. Moreover, selective protein expression is essential for an improved therapeutic effect, due to the heterogeneous nature of diseases. Here, we present a precision protein expression strategy in Ly6c⁺ inflammatory leukocytes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) induced mice. We demonstrate a therapeutic effect in an IBD model by targeted expression of the interleukin 10 in Ly6c⁺ inflammatory leukocytes. A selective mmRNA expression strategy has tremendous therapeutic potential in IBD and can ultimately become a novel therapeutic modality in many other diseases.

Therapeutic alteration of protein expression using modified mRNA is limited by immunogenicity and instability in vivo. Here the authors use antibody-coated lipid nanoparticles to deliver mRNA to leukocytes and drive expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines in an inflammatory bowel disease mouse model.