1
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Bouazzaoui A, Abdellatif AA. Vaccine delivery systems and administration routes: Advanced biotechnological techniques to improve the immunization efficacy. Vaccine X 2024; 19:100500. [PMID: 38873639 PMCID: PMC11170481 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvacx.2024.100500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Since the first use of vaccine tell the last COVID-19 pandemic caused by spread of SARS-CoV-2 worldwide, the use of advanced biotechnological techniques has accelerated the development of different types and methods for immunization. The last pandemic showed that the nucleic acid-based vaccine, especially mRNA, has an advantage in terms of development time; however, it showed a very critical drawback namely, the higher costs when compared to other strategies, and its inability to protect against new variants. This showed the need of more improvement to reach a better delivery and efficacy. In this review we will describe different vaccine delivery systems including, the most used viral vector, and also variable strategies for delivering of nucleic acid-based vaccines especially lipid-based nanoparticles formulation, polymersomes, electroporation and also the new powerful tools for the delivery of mRNA, which is based on the use of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs). Additionally, we will also discuss the main challenges associated with each system. Finlay, the efficacy and safety of the vaccines depends not only on the formulations and delivery systems, but also the dosage and route of administration are also important players, therefore we will see the different routes for the vaccine administration including traditionally routes (intramuscular, Transdermal, subcutaneous), oral inhalation or via nasal mucosa, and will describe the advantages and disadvantage of each administration route.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdellatif Bouazzaoui
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, P.O. Box 715, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
- Science and Technology Unit, Umm Al Qura University, P.O. Box 715, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed A.H. Abdellatif
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, 51452 Qassim, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, 71524 Assiut, Egypt
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2
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Lu N, Li Z, Su D, Chen J, Zhao J, Gao Y, Liu Q, Liu G, Luo X, Luo R, Deng X, Zhu H, Luo Z. Design of novel chiral self-assembling peptides to explore the efficiency and mechanism of mRNA-FIPV vaccine delivery vehicles. Int J Pharm 2024; 660:124344. [PMID: 38885779 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2024.124344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
The enhancement of conventional liposome and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) methodologies in the formulation and deployment of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines necessitates further refinement to augment both their effectiveness and biosafety profiles. Additionally, researching these innovative delivery carrier materials represents both a prominent focus and a significant challenge in the current scientific landscape. Here we designed new chiral self-assembling peptides as the delivery carrier for RNA vaccines to study the underlying mechanisms in the feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) model system. Firstly, we successfully transcribed mature enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) mRNA and feline infectious peritonitis virus nucleocapsid (FIPV N) mRNA in vitro from optimized vectors. Subsequently, we developed chiral self-assembling peptide-1 (CSP-1) and chiral self-assembling peptide-2 (CSP-2) peptides, taking into account the physical and chemical characteristics of nucleic acid molecules as well as the principles of self-assembling peptides, with the aim of improving the delivery efficiency of mRNA molecule complexes. We determined the optimal coating ratio between CSP and mRNA by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. We found that the peptides and mRNA complexes can protect the mRNA from RNase A enzyme and efficiently deliver mRNA into cells for target antigen proteins expression. Animal experiments confirmed that CSP-1/mRNA complex can effectively trigger immune response mechanisms involving IFN-γ and T cell activation. It can also stimulate CD4+ and CD8+ T cell proliferation and induce serum antibody titers up to 10,000 times higher. And no pathological changes were observed by immunohistochemistry in liver, spleen, and kidney, indicating that CSP-1 may be a safe and promising delivery system for mRNA vaccines. Methodologically, this research represents a novel endeavor in the utilization of chiral self-assembling peptides within the realm of mRNA vaccines. This approach not only introduces fresh prospects for employing such nanomaterials in various mRNA vaccines but also expands the potential for developing small molecules, proteins, and antibodies. Furthermore, it paves the way for new clinical applications of existing pharmaceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Lu
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhaoxu Li
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Di Su
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jialei Chen
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiawei Zhao
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yu Gao
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qichen Liu
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Guicen Liu
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xinyi Luo
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Ruyue Luo
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine,Chicago, IL,United States
| | - Xiaoyan Deng
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Huifang Zhu
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhongli Luo
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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3
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McCormick K, Moreno Herrero J, Haas H, Fattah S, Heise A, O’Brien FJ, Cryan SA. Optimizing the Delivery of mRNA to Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Tissue Engineering Applications. Mol Pharm 2024; 21:1662-1676. [PMID: 38504417 PMCID: PMC10988554 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) represents a promising therapeutic tool in the field of tissue engineering for the fast and transient production of growth factors to support new tissue regeneration. However, one of the main challenges to optimizing its use is achieving efficient uptake and delivery to mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which have been long reported as difficult-to-transfect. The aim of this study was to systematically screen a range of nonviral vectors to identify optimal transfection conditions for mRNA delivery to MSCs. Furthermore, for the first time, we wanted to directly compare the protein expression profile from three different types of mRNA, namely, unmodified mRNA (uRNA), base-modified mRNA (modRNA), and self-amplifying mRNA (saRNA) in MSCs. A range of polymer- and lipid-based vectors were used to encapsulate mRNA and directly compared in terms of physicochemical properties as well as transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity in MSCs. We found that both lipid- and polymer-based materials were able to successfully condense and encapsulate mRNA into nanosized particles (<200 nm). The overall charge and encapsulation efficiency of the nanoparticles was dependent on the vector type as well as the vector:mRNA ratio. When screened in vitro, lipid-based vectors proved to be superior in terms of mRNA delivery to MSCs cultured in a 2D monolayer and from a 3D collagen-based scaffold with minimal effects on cell viability, thus opening the potential for scaffold-based mRNA delivery. Modified mRNA consistently showed the highest levels of protein expression in MSCs, demonstrating 1.2-fold and 5.6-fold increases versus uRNA and saRNA, respectively. In summary, we have fully optimized the nonviral delivery of mRNA to MSCs, determined the importance of careful selection of the mRNA type used, and highlighted the strong potential of mRNA for tissue engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie McCormick
- Tissue
Engineering Research Group, Department of Anatomy and Regenerative
Medicine, RCSI, Dublin D02 YN77, Ireland
- Science
Foundation Ireland Advance Materials and Bioengineering Research Centre, Dublin D02 W9K7, Ireland
| | | | | | - Sarinj Fattah
- Tissue
Engineering Research Group, Department of Anatomy and Regenerative
Medicine, RCSI, Dublin D02 YN77, Ireland
- School
of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, RCSI, Dublin D02 YN77, Ireland
| | - Andreas Heise
- Science
Foundation Ireland Advance Materials and Bioengineering Research Centre, Dublin D02 W9K7, Ireland
- Dept.
of Chemistry, RCSI, Dublin D02 YN77, Ireland
- Science
Foundation Ireland Centre for Research in Medical Devices, Galway H91 W2TY, Ireland
| | - Fergal J. O’Brien
- Tissue
Engineering Research Group, Department of Anatomy and Regenerative
Medicine, RCSI, Dublin D02 YN77, Ireland
- Science
Foundation Ireland Advance Materials and Bioengineering Research Centre, Dublin D02 W9K7, Ireland
- Science
Foundation Ireland Centre for Research in Medical Devices, Galway H91 W2TY, Ireland
- Trinity
Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Trinity
College Dublin, Dublin D02 R590, Ireland
| | - Sally-Ann Cryan
- Tissue
Engineering Research Group, Department of Anatomy and Regenerative
Medicine, RCSI, Dublin D02 YN77, Ireland
- Science
Foundation Ireland Advance Materials and Bioengineering Research Centre, Dublin D02 W9K7, Ireland
- Science
Foundation Ireland Centre for Research in Medical Devices, Galway H91 W2TY, Ireland
- Trinity
Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Trinity
College Dublin, Dublin D02 R590, Ireland
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4
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Rajpersaud T, Tabandeh S, Leon L, Loverde SM. Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Polyelectrolyte Complexes. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:1468-1480. [PMID: 38366971 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) are currently of great interest due to their applications toward developing new adaptive materials and their relevance in membraneless organelles. These complexes emerge during phase separation when oppositely charged polymers are mixed in aqueous media. Peptide-based PECs are particularly useful toward developing new drug delivery methods due to their inherent biocompatibility. The underlying peptide sequence can be tuned to optimize specific material properties of the complex, such as interfacial tension and viscosity. Given their applicability, it would be advantageous to understand the underlying sequence-dependent phase behavior of oppositely charged peptides. Here, we report microsecond molecular dynamic simulations to characterize the effect of hydrophobicity on the sequence-dependent peptide conformation for model polypeptide sequences that were previously reported by Tabandeh et al. These sequences are designed with alternating chirality of the peptide backbone. We present microsecond simulations of six oppositely charged peptide pairs, characterizing the sequence-dependent effect on peptide size, degree of hydrogen bonding, secondary structure, and conformation. This analysis recapitulates sensible trends in peptide conformation and degree of hydrogen bonding, consistent with experimentally reported results. Ramachandran plots reveal that backbone conformation at the single amino acid level is highly influenced by the neighboring sequence in the chain. These results give insight into how subtle changes in hydrophobic side chain size and chirality influence the strength of hydrogen bonding between the chains and, ultimately, the secondary structure. Furthermore, principal component analysis reveals that the minimum energy structures may be subtly modulated by the underlying sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Rajpersaud
- Ph.D. Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
| | - Sara Tabandeh
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32816, United States
| | - Lorraine Leon
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32816, United States
| | - Sharon M Loverde
- Ph.D. Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Department of Chemistry, College of Staten Island, The City University of New York, 2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10314, United States
- Ph.D. Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, United States
- Ph.D. Program in Physics, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, United States
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5
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Gu J, Xu Z, Liu Q, Tang S, Zhang W, Xie S, Chen X, Chen J, Yong KT, Yang C, Xu G. Building a Better Silver Bullet: Current Status and Perspectives of Non-Viral Vectors for mRNA Vaccines. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2302409. [PMID: 37964681 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines have exhibited great potential to replace conventional vaccines owing to their low risk of insertional mutagenesis, safety and efficacy, rapid and scalable production, and low-cost manufacturing. With the great achievements of chemical modification and sequence optimization methods of mRNA, the key to the success of mRNA vaccines is strictly dependent on safe and efficient gene vectors. Among various delivery platforms, non-viral mRNA vectors could represent perfect choices for future clinical translation regarding their safety, sufficient packaging capability, low immunogenicity, and versatility. In this review, the recent progress in the development of non-viral mRNA vectors is focused on. Various organic vectors including lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), polymers, peptides, and exosomes for efficient mRNA delivery are presented and summarized. Furthermore, the latest advances in clinical trials of mRNA vaccines are described. Finally, the current challenges and future possibilities for the clinical translation of these promising mRNA vectors are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Gu
- Department of Pharmacy, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan, University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, 518020, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Zhourui Xu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Qiqi Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Institute, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Shenzhen Baoan Women's and Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518102, China
| | - Shiqi Tang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Wenguang Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Shouxia Xie
- Department of Pharmacy, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan, University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, 518020, China
- Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518020, China
| | - Xiaoyan Chen
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Institute, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Shenzhen Baoan Women's and Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518102, China
| | - Jiajie Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Ken-Tye Yong
- School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Chengbin Yang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Gaixia Xu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
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6
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Neill B, Romero AR, Fenton OS. Advances in Nonviral mRNA Delivery Materials and Their Application as Vaccines for Melanoma Therapy. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2023:10.1021/acsabm.3c00721. [PMID: 37930174 PMCID: PMC11220486 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c00721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines are promising platforms for cancer immunotherapy because of their potential to encode for a variety of tumor antigens, high tolerability, and capacity to induce strong antitumor immune responses. However, the clinical translation of mRNA cancer vaccines can be hindered by the inefficient delivery of mRNA in vivo. In this review, we provide an overview of mRNA cancer vaccines by discussing their utility in treating melanoma. Specifically, we begin our review by describing the barriers that can impede mRNA delivery to target cells. We then review native mRNA structure and discuss various modification methods shown to enhance mRNA stability and transfection. Next, we outline the advantages and challenges of three nonviral carrier platforms (lipid nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, and lipopolyplexes) frequently used for mRNA delivery. Last, we summarize preclinical and clinical studies that have investigated nonviral mRNA vaccines for the treatment of melanoma. In writing this review, we aim to highlight innovative nonviral strategies designed to address mRNA delivery challenges while emphasizing the exciting potential of mRNA vaccines as next-generation therapies for the treatment of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bevin Neill
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Adriana Retamales Romero
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Owen S. Fenton
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
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7
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Bai C, Wang C, Lu Y. Novel Vectors and Administrations for mRNA Delivery. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2303713. [PMID: 37475520 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202303713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
mRNA therapy has shown great potential in infectious disease vaccines, cancer immunotherapy, protein replacement therapy, gene editing, and other fields due to its central role in all life processes. However, mRNA is challenging to pass through the cell membrane due to its significant negative charges and degradation from RNase, so the key to mRNA therapy is efficient packaging and delivery of it with appropriate vectors. Presently researchers have developed various vectors such as viruses and liposomes, but these conventional vectors are now difficult to meet the growing requirement like safety, efficiency, and targeting, so many novel delivery vectors with unique advantages have emerged recently. This review mainly introduces two categories of novel vectors: biomacromolecules and inorganic nanoparticles, as well as two novel methods of control and administration based on these novel vectors: controlled-release administration and non-invasive administration. These novel delivery strategies have the advantages of high safety, biocompatibility, versatility, intelligence, and targeting. This paper analyzes the challenges faced by the field of mRNA delivery in depth, and discusses how to use the characteristics of novel vectors and administrations to solve these problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenghai Bai
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biocatalysis, Ministry of Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Chen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biocatalysis, Ministry of Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yuan Lu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biocatalysis, Ministry of Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
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8
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Kim KR, Kim J, Cho S, Ahn DR. Human β-Defensin 23 as a Carrier for In Vitro and In Vivo Delivery of mRNA. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2477. [PMID: 37896237 PMCID: PMC10610245 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15102477] [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: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The successful application of mRNA therapeutics hinges on the effective intracellular delivery of mRNA both in vitro and in vivo. However, this remains a formidable challenge due to the polyanionic nature, longitudinal shape, and low nuclease resistance of mRNA. In this study, we introduce a novel mRNA delivery platform utilizing a human β-defensin peptide, hBD23. The positive charge of hBD23 allows it to form nanocomplexes with mRNA, facilitating cellular uptake and providing protection against serum nucleases. When optimized for peptide-to-mRNA (N/P) ratios, these hBD23/mRNA complexes demonstrated efficient cellular delivery and subsequent protein expression both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, as hBD23 is human derived, the complexes exhibited minimal cytotoxicity and immunogenicity. Given its high biocompatibility and delivery efficiency, hBD23 represents a promising platform for the in vitro and in vivo delivery of mRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoung-Ran Kim
- Chemical and Biological Integrative Research Center, Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; (K.-R.K.); (J.K.)
| | - Junghyun Kim
- Chemical and Biological Integrative Research Center, Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; (K.-R.K.); (J.K.)
| | - Seunghye Cho
- Division of Biomedical Science and Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea;
| | - Dae-Ro Ahn
- Chemical and Biological Integrative Research Center, Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; (K.-R.K.); (J.K.)
- Division of Biomedical Science and Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea;
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9
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Oyama R, Ishigame H, Tanaka H, Tateshita N, Itazawa M, Imai R, Nishiumi N, Kishikawa JI, Kato T, Anindita J, Nishikawa Y, Maeki M, Tokeshi M, Tange K, Nakai Y, Sakurai Y, Okada T, Akita H. An Ionizable Lipid Material with a Vitamin E Scaffold as an mRNA Vaccine Platform for Efficient Cytotoxic T Cell Responses. ACS NANO 2023; 17:18758-18774. [PMID: 37814788 PMCID: PMC10569098 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c02251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
RNA vaccines based on lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) with in vitro transcribed mRNA (IVT-mRNA) encapsulated are now a currently successful but still evolving modality of vaccines. One of the advantages of RNA vaccines is their ability to induce CD8+ T-cell-mediated cellular immunity that is indispensable for excluding pathogen-infected cells or cancer cells from the body. In this study, we report on the development of LNPs with an enhanced capability for inducing cellular immunity by using an ionizable lipid with a vitamin E scaffold. An RNA vaccine that contained this ionizable lipid and an IVT-mRNA encoding a model antigen ovalbumin (OVA) induced OVA-specific cytotoxic T cell responses and showed an antitumor effect against an E.G7-OVA tumor model. Vaccination with the LNPs conferred protection against lethal infection by Toxoplasma gondii using its antigen TgPF. The vitamin E scaffold-dependent type I interferon response was important for effector CD8+ T cell differentiation induced by the mRNA-LNPs. Our findings also revealed that conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) were essential for achieving CD8+ T cell responses induced by the mRNA-LNPs, while the XCR1-positive subset of cDCs, cDC1 specialized for antigen cross-presentation, was not required. Consistently, the mRNA-LNPs were found to selectively transfect another subset of cDCs, cDC2 that had migrated from the skin to lymph nodes, where they could make vaccine-antigen-dependent contacts with CD8+ T cells. The findings indicate that the activation of innate immune signaling by the adjuvant activity of the vitamin E scaffold and the expression of antigens in cDC2 are important for subsequent antigen presentation and the establishment of antigen-specific immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryotaro Oyama
- Laboratory
of DDS Design and Drug Disposition, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana,
Chuo-ku, Chiba City, Chiba, 260-0856, Japan
| | - Harumichi Ishigame
- Laboratory
for Tissue Dynamics, RIKEN Center for Integrative
Medical Sciences, 1-7-22
Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Hiroki Tanaka
- Laboratory
of DDS Design and Drug Disposition, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi 980-8578, Japan
| | - Naho Tateshita
- Laboratory
of DDS Design and Drug Disposition, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana,
Chuo-ku, Chiba City, Chiba, 260-0856, Japan
| | - Moeko Itazawa
- Laboratory
for Tissue Dynamics, RIKEN Center for Integrative
Medical Sciences, 1-7-22
Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Imai
- Laboratory
for Tissue Dynamics, RIKEN Center for Integrative
Medical Sciences, 1-7-22
Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
- Division
of Physiological Chemistry and Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Keio University, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8512, Japan
| | - Naomasa Nishiumi
- Laboratory
of DDS Design and Drug Disposition, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi 980-8578, Japan
| | - Jun-ichi Kishikawa
- Laboratory
for Cryo-EM Structural Biology, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Takayuki Kato
- Laboratory
for Cryo-EM Structural Biology, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Jessica Anindita
- Laboratory
of DDS Design and Drug Disposition, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana,
Chuo-ku, Chiba City, Chiba, 260-0856, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Nishikawa
- National
Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Nishi 2-13, Inada-cho, Obihiro City, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Maeki
- Division
of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita 13 Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido 060-8628, Japan
| | - Manabu Tokeshi
- Division
of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita 13 Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido 060-8628, Japan
| | - Kota Tange
- DDS
Research Laboratory, NOF CORPORATION, 3-3 Chidori-cho, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa 210-0865, Japan
| | - Yuta Nakai
- DDS
Research Laboratory, NOF CORPORATION, 3-3 Chidori-cho, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa 210-0865, Japan
| | - Yu Sakurai
- Laboratory
of DDS Design and Drug Disposition, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi 980-8578, Japan
| | - Takaharu Okada
- Laboratory
for Tissue Dynamics, RIKEN Center for Integrative
Medical Sciences, 1-7-22
Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
- Graduate
School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama
City University, 1-7-29
Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Hidetaka Akita
- Laboratory
of DDS Design and Drug Disposition, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi 980-8578, Japan
- Center
for Advanced Modalities and DDS, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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10
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Sun B, Wu W, Narasipura EA, Ma Y, Yu C, Fenton OS, Song H. Engineering nanoparticle toolkits for mRNA delivery. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 200:115042. [PMID: 37536506 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.115042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
The concept of using mRNA to produce its own medicine in situ in the body makes it an ideal drug candidate, holding great potential to revolutionize the way we approach medicine. The unique characteristics of mRNA, as well as its customizable biomedical functions, call for the rational design of delivery systems to protect and transport mRNA molecules. In this review, a nanoparticle toolkit is presented for the development of mRNA-based therapeutics from a drug delivery perspective. Nano-delivery systems derived from either natural systems or chemical synthesis, in the nature of organic or inorganic materials, are summarised. Delivery strategies in controlling the tissue targeting and mRNA release, as well as the role of nanoparticles in building and boosting the activity of mRNA drugs, have also been introduced. In the end, our insights into the clinical and translational development of mRNA nano-drugs are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Sun
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Weixi Wu
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Eshan A Narasipura
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yutian Ma
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Chengzhong Yu
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Owen S Fenton
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | - Hao Song
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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11
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Uchida S, Lau CYJ, Oba M, Miyata K. Polyplex designs for improving the stability and safety of RNA therapeutics. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 199:114972. [PMID: 37364611 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Nanoparticle-based delivery systems have contributed to the recent clinical success of RNA therapeutics, including siRNA and mRNA. RNA delivery using polymers has several distinct properties, such as enabling RNA delivery into extra-hepatic organs, modulation of immune responses to RNA, and regulation of intracellular RNA release. However, delivery systems should overcome safety and stability issues to achieve widespread therapeutic applications. Safety concerns include direct damage to cellular components, innate and adaptive immune responses, complement activation, and interaction with surrounding molecules and cells in the blood circulation. The stability of the delivery systems should balance extracellular RNA protection and controlled intracellular RNA release, which requires optimization for each RNA species. Further, polymer designs for improving safety and stability often conflict with each other. This review covers advances in polymer-based approaches to address these issues over several years, focusing on biological understanding and design concepts for delivery systems rather than material chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Uchida
- Department of Advanced Nanomedical Engineering, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan; Medical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 1-5 Shimogamohangi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-0823, Japan; Innovation Center of NanoMedicine (iCONM), Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 3-25-14 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, 210-0821, Japan.
| | - Chun Yin Jerry Lau
- Department of Materials Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Makoto Oba
- Medical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 1-5 Shimogamohangi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-0823, Japan
| | - Kanjiro Miyata
- Department of Materials Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan.
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12
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Del Toro Runzer C, Anand S, Mota C, Moroni L, Plank C, van Griensven M, Balmayor ER. Cellular uptake of modified mRNA occurs via caveolae-mediated endocytosis, yielding high protein expression in slow-dividing cells. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 32:960-979. [PMID: 37305166 PMCID: PMC10250585 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acids have clear clinical potential for gene therapy. Plasmid DNA (pDNA) was the first nucleic acid to be pursued as a therapeutic molecule. Recently, mRNA came into play as it offers improved safety and affordability. In this study, we investigated the uptake mechanisms and efficiencies of genetic material by cells. We focused on three main variables (1) the nucleic acid (pDNA, or chemically modified mRNA), (2) the delivery vector (Lipofectamine 3000 or 3DFect), and (3) human primary cells (mesenchymal stem cells, dermal fibroblasts, and osteoblasts). In addition, transfections were studied in a 3D environment using electrospun scaffolds. Cellular internalization and intracellular trafficking were assessed by using enhancers or inhibitors of endocytosis and endosomal escape. The polymeric vector TransIT-X2 was included for comparison purposes. While lipoplexes utilized several entry routes, uptake via caveolae served as the main route for gene delivery. pDNA yielded higher expression levels in fast-dividing fibroblasts, whereas, in slow-dividing osteoblasts, cmRNA was responsible for high protein production. In the case of mesenchymal stem cells, which presented an intermediate doubling time, the combination vector/nucleic acid seemed more relevant than the nucleic acid per se. In all cases, protein expression was higher when the cells were seeded on 3D scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Del Toro Runzer
- Department of Cell Biology-Inspired Tissue Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Shivesh Anand
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Carlos Mota
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Lorenzo Moroni
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Martijn van Griensven
- Department of Cell Biology-Inspired Tissue Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Musculoskeletal Gene Therapy Laboratory, Rehabilitation Medicine Research Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Elizabeth R. Balmayor
- Musculoskeletal Gene Therapy Laboratory, Rehabilitation Medicine Research Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
- Experimental Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic, Trauma, and Reconstructive Surgery, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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13
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Campelo SN, Huang PH, Buie CR, Davalos RV. Recent Advancements in Electroporation Technologies: From Bench to Clinic. Annu Rev Biomed Eng 2023; 25:77-100. [PMID: 36854260 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-bioeng-110220-023800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decade, the increased adoption of electroporation-based technologies has led to an expansion of clinical research initiatives. Electroporation has been utilized in molecular biology for mammalian and bacterial transfection; for food sanitation; and in therapeutic settings to increase drug uptake, for gene therapy, and to eliminate cancerous tissues. We begin this article by discussing the biophysics required for understanding the concepts behind the cell permeation phenomenon that is electroporation. We then review nano- and microscale single-cell electroporation technologies before scaling up to emerging in vivo applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina N Campelo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA;
| | - Po-Hsun Huang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Cullen R Buie
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rafael V Davalos
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA;
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14
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Yang W, Mixich L, Boonstra E, Cabral H. Polymer-Based mRNA Delivery Strategies for Advanced Therapies. Adv Healthc Mater 2023:e2202688. [PMID: 36785927 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202202688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA)-based therapies offer great promise for the treatment of a variety of diseases. In 2020, two FDA approvals of mRNA-based vaccines have elevated mRNA vaccines to global recognition. However, the therapeutic capabilities of mRNA extend far beyond vaccines against infectious diseases. They hold potential for cancer vaccines, protein replacement therapies, gene editing therapies, and immunotherapies. For realizing such advanced therapies, it is crucial to develop effective carrier systems. Recent advances in materials science have led to the development of promising nonviral mRNA delivery systems. In comparison to other carriers like lipid nanoparticles, polymer-based delivery systems often receive less attention, despite their unique ability to carefully tune their chemical features to promote mRNA protection, their favorable pharmacokinetics, and their potential for targeting delivery. In this review, the central features of polymer-based systems for mRNA delivery highlighting the molecular design criteria, stability, and biodistribution are discussed. Finally, the role of targeting ligands for the future of RNA therapies is analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqian Yang
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - Lucas Mixich
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - Eger Boonstra
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - Horacio Cabral
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
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15
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Matrices Activated with Messenger RNA. J Funct Biomater 2023; 14:jfb14010048. [PMID: 36662095 PMCID: PMC9864744 DOI: 10.3390/jfb14010048] [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: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Over two decades of preclinical and clinical experience have confirmed that gene therapy-activated matrices are potent tools for sustained gene modulation at the implantation area. Matrices activated with messenger RNA (mRNA) are the latest development in the area, and they promise an ideal combination of efficiency and safety. Indeed, implanted mRNA-activated matrices allow a sustained delivery of mRNA and the continuous production of therapeutic proteins in situ. In addition, they are particularly interesting to generate proteins acting on intracellular targets, as the translated protein can directly exert its therapeutic function. Still, mRNA-activated matrices are incipient technologies with a limited number of published records, and much is still to be understood before their successful implementation. Indeed, the design parameters of mRNA-activated matrices are crucial for their performance, as they affect mRNA stability, device immunogenicity, translation efficiency, and the duration of the therapy. Critical design factors include matrix composition and its mesh size, mRNA chemical modification and sequence, and the characteristics of the nanocarriers used for mRNA delivery. This review aims to provide some background relevant to these technologies and to summarize both the design space for mRNA-activated matrices and the current knowledge regarding their pharmaceutical performance. Furthermore, we will discuss potential applications of mRNA-activated matrices, mainly focusing on tissue engineering and immunomodulation.
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16
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Sittplangkoon C, Alameh MG, Weissman D, Lin PJC, Tam YK, Prompetchara E, Palaga T. mRNA vaccine with unmodified uridine induces robust type I interferon-dependent anti-tumor immunity in a melanoma model. Front Immunol 2022; 13:983000. [PMID: 36311701 PMCID: PMC9614103 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.983000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
An mRNA with unmodified nucleosides induces type I interferons (IFN-I) through the stimulation of innate immune sensors. Whether IFN-I induced by mRNA vaccine is crucial for anti-tumor immune response remains to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the immunogenicity and anti-tumor responses of mRNA encoding tumor antigens with different degrees of N1-methylpseudouridine (m1Ψ) modification in B16 melanoma model. Our results demonstrated that ovalbumin (OVA) encoding mRNA formulated in a lipid nanoparticle (OVA-LNP) induced substantial IFN-I production and the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) with negative correlation with increasing percentages of m1Ψ modification. In B16-OVA murine melanoma model, unmodified OVA-LNP significantly reduced tumor growth and prolonged survival, compared to OVA-LNP with m1Ψ modification. This robust anti-tumor effect correlated with the increase in intratumoral CD40+ DCs and the frequency of granzyme B+/IFN-γ+/TNF-α+ polyfunctional OVA peptide-specific CD8+ T cells. Blocking type I IFN receptor completely reversed the anti-tumor immunity of unmodified mRNA-OVA reflected in a significant decrease in OVA-specific IFN-γ secreting T cells and enrichment of PD-1+ tumor-infiltrating T cells. The robust anti-tumor effect of unmodified OVA-LNP was also observed in the lung metastatic tumor model. Finally, this mRNA vaccine was tested using B16 melanoma neoantigens (Pbk-Actn4) which resulted in delayed tumor growth. Taken together, our findings demonstrated that an unmodified mRNA vaccine induces IFN-I production or the downstream signaling cascades which plays a crucial role in inducing robust anti-tumor T cell response for controlling tumor growth and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chutamath Sittplangkoon
- Graduate Program in Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Immunology and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Mohamad-Gabriel Alameh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Drew Weissman
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | | | | | - Eakachai Prompetchara
- Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center-Chula VRC), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Tanapat Palaga
- Center of Excellence in Immunology and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- *Correspondence: Tanapat Palaga,
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17
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Meenakshi Sundaram DN, Plianwong S, Kc R, Ostergaard H, Uludağ H. In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Cytokine Production by Lipid-Substituted Low Molecular Weight Branched PEIs Used for Gene Delivery. Acta Biomater 2022; 148:279-297. [PMID: 35738388 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.06.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Lipid-modified low molecular weight branched polyethyleneimines (PEIs) are promising non-viral gene delivery systems that have been successfully explored for treatment of various diseases. The present study aims to determine in vitro safety of these delivery systems based on assessment of cytotoxicity with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), hemolysis with human red blood cells (RBC) and cytokine secretion from several sources of PBMCs. The viability of cells treated with lipopolymer/pDNA complexes was dependent on the polymer:pDNA ratio used but remained low at therapeutically relevant concentrations for most lipopolymers, except for the propionic acid substituted PEIs. The extent of hemolysis was minimal and below the accepted safety levels with most of the lipopolymers; however, some linoleic acid substituted PEIs yielded significant hemolysis activity. Unlike strong cytokine secretion from PMA/IO stimulated cells, most lipopolymer/pDNA complexes remained non-responsive, showing minimal changes in cytokine secretion (TNF-α, IL-6 and IFN-γ) irrespective of the lipopolymer/pDNA formulations. The 0.6 kDa PEI with lauric acid substituent displayed slight cytokine upregulation, however it remained low relative to the positive controls. This study demonstrated that the lipid modified LMW PEIs are expected to be safe in contact with blood components. However, close attention to lipopolymer concentration and ratio of polymer to pDNA in formulations might be required for individual lipopolymers for optimal safety response in nucleic acid therapies. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: : This manuscript investigated the safety aspects of various lipid modified low molecular weight polyethylenimine (LMW-PEI) polymers employed for pDNA delivery through in vitro studies. Using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from multiple sources, we show that the hemolysis ability was minimal for most polymers, although a particular lipid substituent (linoleic acid) at specific ratios exhibited hemolysis. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IFN-γ) were slightly upregulated only with a lauric acid substituted 0.6PEI, but remained low relative to positive control treatments. We further report the beneficial effect of polyacrylic acid additives on hemolysis and cytokine secretion to a reasonable extent. This study confirms the feasibility of using LMW-PEI as safe delivery agents for various therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Samarwadee Plianwong
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand
| | - Remant Kc
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Hanne Ostergaard
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Hasan Uludağ
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
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18
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Nonviral Delivery Systems of mRNA Vaccines for Cancer Gene Therapy. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14030512. [PMID: 35335891 PMCID: PMC8949480 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14030512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the use of messenger RNA (mRNA) in the fields of gene therapy, immunotherapy, and stem cell biomedicine has received extensive attention. With the development of scientific technology, mRNA applications for tumor treatment have matured. Since the SARS-CoV-2 infection outbreak in 2019, the development of engineered mRNA and mRNA vaccines has accelerated rapidly. mRNA is easy to produce, scalable, modifiable, and not integrated into the host genome, showing tremendous potential for cancer gene therapy and immunotherapy when used in combination with traditional strategies. The core mechanism of mRNA therapy is vehicle-based delivery of in vitro transcribed mRNA (IVT mRNA), which is large, negatively charged, and easily degradable, into the cytoplasm and subsequent expression of the corresponding proteins. However, effectively delivering mRNA into cells and successfully activating the immune response are the keys to the clinical transformation of mRNA therapy. In this review, we focus on nonviral nanodelivery systems of mRNA vaccines used for cancer gene therapy and immunotherapy.
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19
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Yokoo H, Oba M, Uchida S. Cell-Penetrating Peptides: Emerging Tools for mRNA Delivery. Pharmaceutics 2021; 14:pharmaceutics14010078. [PMID: 35056974 PMCID: PMC8781296 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14010078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Messenger RNAs (mRNAs) were previously shown to have great potential for preventive vaccination against infectious diseases and therapeutic applications in the treatment of cancers and genetic diseases. Delivery systems for mRNAs, including lipid- and polymer-based carriers, are being developed for improving mRNA bioavailability. Among these systems, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) of 4–40 amino acids have emerged as powerful tools for mRNA delivery, which were originally developed to deliver membrane-impermeable drugs, peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids to cells and tissues. Various functionalities can be integrated into CPPs by tuning the composition and sequence of natural and non-natural amino acids for mRNA delivery. With the employment of CPPs, improved endosomal escape efficiencies, selective targeting of dendritic cells (DCs), modulation of endosomal pathways for efficient antigen presentation by DCs, and effective mRNA delivery to the lungs by dry powder inhalation have been reported; additionally, they have been found to prolong protein expression by intracellular stabilization of mRNA. This review highlights the distinctive features of CPP-based mRNA delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidetomo Yokoo
- Medical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 606-0823, Japan;
| | - Makoto Oba
- Medical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 606-0823, Japan;
- Correspondence: (M.O.); (S.U.); Tel.: +81-75-703-4937 (M.O.); +81-75-703-4938 (S.U.)
| | - Satoshi Uchida
- Medical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 606-0823, Japan;
- Innovation Center of NanoMedicine (iCONM), Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, Kawasaki 210-0821, Japan
- Correspondence: (M.O.); (S.U.); Tel.: +81-75-703-4937 (M.O.); +81-75-703-4938 (S.U.)
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20
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Ouranidis A, Vavilis T, Mandala E, Davidopoulou C, Stamoula E, Markopoulou CK, Karagianni A, Kachrimanis K. mRNA Therapeutic Modalities Design, Formulation and Manufacturing under Pharma 4.0 Principles. Biomedicines 2021; 10:50. [PMID: 35052730 PMCID: PMC8773365 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10010050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the quest for a formidable weapon against the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, mRNA therapeutics have stolen the spotlight. mRNA vaccines are a prime example of the benefits of mRNA approaches towards a broad array of clinical entities and druggable targets. Amongst these benefits is the rapid cycle "from design to production" of an mRNA product compared to their peptide counterparts, the mutability of the production line should another target be chosen, the side-stepping of safety issues posed by DNA therapeutics being permanently integrated into the transfected cell's genome and the controlled precision over the translated peptides. Furthermore, mRNA applications are versatile: apart from vaccines it can be used as a replacement therapy, even to create chimeric antigen receptor T-cells or reprogram somatic cells. Still, the sudden global demand for mRNA has highlighted the shortcomings in its industrial production as well as its formulation, efficacy and applicability. Continuous, smart mRNA manufacturing 4.0 technologies have been recently proposed to address such challenges. In this work, we examine the lab and upscaled production of mRNA therapeutics, the mRNA modifications proposed that increase its efficacy and lower its immunogenicity, the vectors available for delivery and the stability considerations concerning long-term storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Ouranidis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Theofanis Vavilis
- Laboratory of Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Evdokia Mandala
- Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Christina Davidopoulou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Eleni Stamoula
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Catherine K Markopoulou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Anna Karagianni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Kyriakos Kachrimanis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
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21
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Steinle H, Weber J, Stoppelkamp S, Große-Berkenbusch K, Golombek S, Weber M, Canak-Ipek T, Trenz SM, Schlensak C, Avci-Adali M. Delivery of synthetic mRNAs for tissue regeneration. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 179:114007. [PMID: 34710530 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.114007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, nucleic acid-based therapeutics have gained increasing importance as novel treatment options for disease prevention and treatment. Synthetic messenger RNAs (mRNAs) are promising nucleic acid-based drugs to transiently express desired proteins that are missing or defective. Recently, synthetic mRNA-based vaccines encoding viral proteins have been approved for emergency use against COVID-19. Various types of vehicles, such as lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and liposomes, are being investigated to enable the efficient uptake of mRNA molecules into desired cells. In addition, the introduction of novel chemical modifications into mRNAs increased the stability, enabled the modulation of nucleic acid-based drugs, and increased the efficiency of mRNA-based therapeutic approaches. In this review, novel and innovative strategies for the delivery of synthetic mRNA-based therapeutics for tissue regeneration are discussed. Moreover, with this review, we aim to highlight the versatility of synthetic mRNA molecules for various applications in the field of regenerative medicine and also discuss translational challenges and required improvements for mRNA-based drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidrun Steinle
- University Hospital Tuebingen, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Calwerstraße 7/1, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Josefin Weber
- University Hospital Tuebingen, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Calwerstraße 7/1, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Sandra Stoppelkamp
- University Hospital Tuebingen, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Calwerstraße 7/1, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Katharina Große-Berkenbusch
- University Hospital Tuebingen, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Calwerstraße 7/1, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Sonia Golombek
- University Hospital Tuebingen, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Calwerstraße 7/1, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Marbod Weber
- University Hospital Tuebingen, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Calwerstraße 7/1, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Tuba Canak-Ipek
- University Hospital Tuebingen, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Calwerstraße 7/1, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Sarah-Maria Trenz
- University Hospital Tuebingen, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Calwerstraße 7/1, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Christian Schlensak
- University Hospital Tuebingen, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Calwerstraße 7/1, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Meltem Avci-Adali
- University Hospital Tuebingen, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Calwerstraße 7/1, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
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22
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Hashemzadeh I, Hasanzadeh A, Radmanesh F, Khodadadi Chegeni B, Hosseini ES, Kiani J, Shahbazi A, Naseri M, Fatahi Y, Nourizadeh H, Kheiri Yeghaneh Azar B, Aref AR, Liu Y, Hamblin MR, Karimi M. Polyethylenimine-Functionalized Carbon Dots for Delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 Complexes. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2021; 4:7979-7992. [DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.1c00890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Iman Hashemzadeh
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
- Advanced Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine Research Group (ANNRG), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
| | - Akbar Hasanzadeh
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
- Advanced Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine Research Group (ANNRG), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Radmanesh
- Uro-oncology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417613151, Iran
- Department of Cell Engineering, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran 1665659911, Iran
| | - Beheshteh Khodadadi Chegeni
- Advanced Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine Research Group (ANNRG), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
| | - Elaheh Sadat Hosseini
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
| | - Jafar Kiani
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
| | - Ali Shahbazi
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
| | - Marzieh Naseri
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
| | - Yousef Fatahi
- Nanotechnology Research Centre, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417613151, Iran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 1417613151, Tehran, Iran
- Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran 1419733151, Iran
| | - Helena Nourizadeh
- Advanced Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine Research Group (ANNRG), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
| | - Behjat Kheiri Yeghaneh Azar
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
| | - Amir R. Aref
- Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Yong Liu
- Engineering Research Center of Clinical Functional Materials and Diagnosis & Treatment Devices of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China
- Oujiang Laboratory, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China
| | - Michael R. Hamblin
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa
- Radiation Biology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
| | - Mahdi Karimi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
- Advanced Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine Research Group (ANNRG), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
- Research Center for Science and Technology in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417613151, Iran
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23
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Krhač Levačić A, Berger S, Müller J, Wegner A, Lächelt U, Dohmen C, Rudolph C, Wagner E. Dynamic mRNA polyplexes benefit from bioreducible cleavage sites for in vitro and in vivo transfer. J Control Release 2021; 339:27-40. [PMID: 34547258 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Currently, messenger RNA (mRNA)-based lipid nanoparticle formulations revolutionize the clinical field. Cationic polymer-based complexes (polyplexes) represent an alternative compound class for mRNA delivery. After establishing branched polyethylenimine with a succinylation degree of 10% (succPEI) as highly effective positive mRNA transfection standard, a diverse library of PEI-like peptides termed sequence-defined oligoaminoamides (OAAs) was screened for mRNA delivery. Notably, sequences, which had previously been identified as potent plasmid DNA (pDNA) or small-interfering RNA (siRNA) carriers, displayed only moderate mRNA transfection activity. A second round of screening combined the cationizable building block succinoyl tetraethylene pentamine and histidines for endosomal buffering, tyrosine tripeptides and various fatty acids for mRNA polyplex stabilization, as well as redox-sensitive units for programmed intracellular release. For the tested OAA carriers, balancing of extracellular stability, endosomal lytic activity, and intracellular release capability was found to be of utmost importance for optimum mRNA transfection efficiency. OAAs with T-shape topology containing two oleic acids as well-stabilizing fatty acids, attached via a dynamic bioreducible building block, displayed superior activity with up to 1000-fold increased transfection efficiency compared to their non-reducible analogs. In the absence of the dynamic linkage, incorporation of shorter less stabilizing fatty acids could only partly compensate for mRNA delivery. Highest GFP expression and the largest fraction of transfected cells (96%) could be detected for the bioreducible OAA with incorporated histidines and a dioleoyl motif, outperforming all other tested carriers as well as the positive control succPEI. The good in vitro performance of the dynamic lead structure was verified in vivo upon intratracheal administration of mRNA complexes in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Krhač Levačić
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, D-81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Simone Berger
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, D-81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Judith Müller
- Ethris GmbH, Semmelweisstr. 3, Planegg D-82152, Germany
| | - Andrea Wegner
- Ethris GmbH, Semmelweisstr. 3, Planegg D-82152, Germany
| | - Ulrich Lächelt
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, D-81377 Munich, Germany
| | | | | | - Ernst Wagner
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, D-81377 Munich, Germany.
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24
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Abstract
RNA-based therapeutics have shown great promise in treating a broad spectrum of diseases through various mechanisms including knockdown of pathological genes, expression of therapeutic proteins, and programmed gene editing. Due to the inherent instability and negative-charges of RNA molecules, RNA-based therapeutics can make the most use of delivery systems to overcome biological barriers and to release the RNA payload into the cytosol. Among different types of delivery systems, lipid-based RNA delivery systems, particularly lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), have been extensively studied due to their unique properties, such as simple chemical synthesis of lipid components, scalable manufacturing processes of LNPs, and wide packaging capability. LNPs represent the most widely used delivery systems for RNA-based therapeutics, as evidenced by the clinical approvals of three LNP-RNA formulations, patisiran, BNT162b2, and mRNA-1273. This review covers recent advances of lipids, lipid derivatives, and lipid-derived macromolecules used in RNA delivery over the past several decades. We focus mainly on their chemical structures, synthetic routes, characterization, formulation methods, and structure-activity relationships. We also briefly describe the current status of representative preclinical studies and clinical trials and highlight future opportunities and challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuebao Zhang
- Division of Pharmaceutics & Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Changzhen Sun
- Division of Pharmaceutics & Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Chang Wang
- Division of Pharmaceutics & Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Katarina E Jankovic
- Division of Pharmaceutics & Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Yizhou Dong
- Division of Pharmaceutics & Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Center for Clinical and Translational Science, The Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dorothy M. Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute, Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
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25
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Messerschmidt VL, Chintapula U, Kuriakose AE, Laboy S, Truong TTD, Kydd LA, Jaworski J, Pan Z, Sadek H, Nguyen KT, Lee J. Notch Intracellular Domain Plasmid Delivery via Poly(Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid) Nanoparticles to Upregulate Notch Pathway Molecules. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:707897. [PMID: 34651022 PMCID: PMC8507495 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.707897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Notch signaling is a highly conserved signaling system that is required for embryonic development and regeneration of organs. When the signal is lost, maldevelopment occurs and leads to a lethal state. Delivering exogenous genetic materials encoding Notch into cells can reestablish downstream signaling and rescue cellular functions. In this study, we utilized the negatively charged and FDA approved polymer poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) to encapsulate Notch Intracellular Domain-containing plasmid in nanoparticles. We show that primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) readily uptake the nanoparticles with and without specific antibody targets. We demonstrated that our nanoparticles are non-toxic, stable over time, and compatible with blood. We further demonstrated that HUVECs could be successfully transfected with these nanoparticles in static and dynamic environments. Lastly, we elucidated that these nanoparticles could upregulate the downstream genes of Notch signaling, indicating that the payload was viable and successfully altered the genetic downstream effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria L Messerschmidt
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States.,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Uday Chintapula
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States.,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Aneetta E Kuriakose
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States.,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Samantha Laboy
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
| | - Thuy Thi Dang Truong
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
| | - LeNaiya A Kydd
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
| | - Justyn Jaworski
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
| | - Zui Pan
- College of Nursing and Health Innovation, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
| | - Hashem Sadek
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Kytai T Nguyen
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States.,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Juhyun Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States.,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
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26
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Fus-Kujawa A, Prus P, Bajdak-Rusinek K, Teper P, Gawron K, Kowalczuk A, Sieron AL. An Overview of Methods and Tools for Transfection of Eukaryotic Cells in vitro. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:701031. [PMID: 34354988 PMCID: PMC8330802 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.701031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Transfection is a powerful analytical tool enabling studies of gene products and functions in eukaryotic cells. Successful delivery of genetic material into cells depends on DNA quantity and quality, incubation time and ratio of transfection reagent to DNA, the origin, type and the passage of transfected cells, and the presence or absence of serum in the cell culture. So far a number of transfection methods that use viruses, non-viral particles or physical factors as the nucleic acids carriers have been developed. Among non-viral carriers, the cationic polymers are proposed as the most attractive ones due to the possibility of their chemical structure modification, low toxicity and immunogenicity. In this review the delivery systems as well as physical, biological and chemical methods used for eukaryotic cells transfection are described and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Fus-Kujawa
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Pawel Prus
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
- Students’ Scientific Society, Katowice, Poland
| | - Karolina Bajdak-Rusinek
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Paulina Teper
- Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Gawron
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Kowalczuk
- Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Aleksander L. Sieron
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
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27
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Efficient Modified-mRNA Transfection in Neural Stem Cells. PHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.52547/phypha.27.1.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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28
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Dendrimer-Coated Gold Nanoparticles for Efficient Folate-Targeted mRNA Delivery In Vitro. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13060900. [PMID: 34204271 PMCID: PMC8235267 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13060900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) is not an attractive candidate for gene therapy due to its instability and has therefore received little attention. Recent studies show the advantage of mRNA over DNA, especially in cancer immunotherapy and vaccine development. This study aimed to formulate folic-acid-(FA)-modified, poly-amidoamine-generation-5 (PAMAM G5D)-grafted gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and to evaluate their cytotoxicity and transgene expression using the luciferase reporter gene (FLuc-mRNA) in vitro. Nanocomplexes were spherical and of favorable size. Nanocomplexes at optimum nanoparticle:mRNA (w/w) binding ratios showed good protection of the bound mRNA against nucleases and were well tolerated in all cell lines. Transgene expression was significantly (p < 0.0001) higher with FA-targeted, dendrimer-grafted AuNPs (Au:G5D:FA) in FA receptors overexpressing MCF-7 and KB cells compared to the G5D and G5D:FA NPs, decreasing significantly (p < 0.01) in the presence of excess competing FA ligand, which confirmed nanocomplex uptake via receptor mediation. Overall, transgene expression of the Au:G5D and Au:G5D:FA nanocomplexes exceeded that of G5D and G5D:FA nanocomplexes, indicating the pivotal role played by the inclusion of the AuNP delivery system. The favorable properties imparted by the AuNPs potentiated an increased level of luciferase gene expression.
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29
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The role of the multifunctional antimicrobial peptide melittin in gene delivery. Drug Discov Today 2021; 26:1053-1059. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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30
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Fayed O, van Griensven M, Tahmasebi Birgani Z, Plank C, Balmayor ER. Transcript-Activated Coatings on Titanium Mediate Cellular Osteogenesis for Enhanced Osteointegration. Mol Pharm 2021; 18:1121-1137. [PMID: 33492959 PMCID: PMC7927143 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.0c01042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Osteointegration is one of the most important factors for implant success. Several biomolecules have been used as part of drug delivery systems to improve implant integration into the surrounding bone tissue. Chemically modified mRNA (cmRNA) is a new form of therapeutic that has been used to induce bone healing. Combined with biomaterials, cmRNA can be used to develop transcript-activated matrices for local protein production with osteoinductive potential. In this study, we aimed to utilize this technology to create bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) transcript-activated coatings for titanium (Ti) implants. Therefore, different coating methodologies as well as cmRNA incorporation strategies were evaluated. Three different biocompatible biomaterials were used for the coating of Ti, namely, poly-d,l-lactic acid (PDLLA), fibrin, and fibrinogen. cmRNA-coated Ti disks were assayed for transfection efficiency, cmRNA release, cell viability and proliferation, and osteogenic activity in vitro. We found that cmRNA release was significantly delayed in Ti surfaces previously coated with biomaterials. Consequently, the transfection efficiency was greatly improved. PDLLA coating improved the transfection efficiency in a concentration-dependent manner. Lower PDLLA concentration used for the coating of Ti resulted in higher transfection efficiency. Fibrin and fibrinogen coatings showed even higher transfection efficiencies compared to all PDLLA concentrations. In those disks, not only the expression was up to 24-fold higher but also the peak of maximal expression was delayed from 24 h to 5 days, and the duration of expression was also extended until 7 days post-transfection. For fibrin, higher transfection efficiencies were obtained in the coatings with the lowest thrombin amounts. Accordingly, fibrinogen coatings gave the best results in terms of cmRNA transfection. All biomaterial-coated Ti surfaces showed improved cell viability and proliferation, though this was more noticeable in the fibrinogen-coated disks. The latter was also the only coating to support significant amounts of BMP2 produced by C2C12 cells in vitro. Osteogenesis was confirmed using BMP2 cmRNA fibrinogen-coated Ti disks, and it was dependent of the cmRNA amount present. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of C2C12 increased when using fibrinogen coatings containing 250 ng of cmRNA or more. Similarly, mineralization was also observed that increased with increasing cmRNA concentration. Overall, our results support fibrinogen as an optimal material to deliver cmRNA from titanium-coated surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omnia Fayed
- Institute of Molecular Immunology and Experimental Oncology-Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany.,Ethris GmbH, 82152 Planegg, Germany
| | - Martijn van Griensven
- cBITE, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Rehabilitation Medicine Research Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, United States
| | - Zeinab Tahmasebi Birgani
- IBE, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Christian Plank
- Institute of Molecular Immunology and Experimental Oncology-Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany.,Ethris GmbH, 82152 Planegg, Germany
| | - Elizabeth R Balmayor
- IBE, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Rehabilitation Medicine Research Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, United States
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31
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Fukushima Y, Uchida S, Imai H, Nakatomi H, Kataoka K, Saito N, Itaka K. Treatment of ischemic neuronal death by introducing brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA using polyplex nanomicelle. Biomaterials 2021; 270:120681. [PMID: 33517206 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.120681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Ischemic neuronal death causes serious lifelong neurological deficits; however, there is no proven effective treatment that can prevent neuronal death after the ischemia. We investigated the feasibility of mRNA therapeutics for preventing the neuronal death in a rat model of transient global ischemia (TGI). By intraventricular administration of mRNA encoding brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) using a polymer-based carrier, polyplex nanomicelle, the mRNA significantly increased the survival rate of hippocampal neurons after TGI, with a rapid rise of BDNF in the hippocampus. Interestingly, mRNA administration on Day 2 after TGI provided significantly better survival rate than the administration immediately after TGI. Eventually, dosing twice on Day 2 and 5 exerted long-term therapeutic effects, which were confirmed by a Y-maze behavioral test demonstrating improved spatial memory compared with untreated rats on Day 20. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that astrocytes were chief targets of the BDNF mRNA-loaded nanomicelles, suggesting that the augmented BDNF secretion from astrocytes creates a supportive microenvironment for the neurons to tolerate changes caused by ischemic stresses, and terminate the process of progressive neuronal death after the ischemic attack. Overall, the unique mechanism of action of mRNA therapeutics provide a promising approach for preventing ischemic neuronal death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Fukushima
- Department of Biofunction Research, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1010062, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 1138655, Tokyo, Japan; Innovation Center of NanoMedicine (iCONM), Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 2100821, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Satoshi Uchida
- Innovation Center of NanoMedicine (iCONM), Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 2100821, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan; Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 1138656, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideaki Imai
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 1138655, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Nakatomi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 1138655, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazunori Kataoka
- Innovation Center of NanoMedicine (iCONM), Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 2100821, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan; Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, 1130033, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobuhito Saito
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 1138655, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keiji Itaka
- Department of Biofunction Research, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1010062, Tokyo, Japan; Innovation Center of NanoMedicine (iCONM), Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 2100821, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan.
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32
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Nanoparticles as Adjuvants and Nanodelivery Systems for mRNA-Based Vaccines. Pharmaceutics 2020; 13:pharmaceutics13010045. [PMID: 33396817 PMCID: PMC7823281 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13010045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccines have shown promise against infectious diseases and several types of cancer in the last two decades. Their promise can be attributed to their safety profiles, high potency, and ability to be rapidly and affordably manufactured. Now, many RNA-based vaccines are being evaluated in clinical trials as prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines. However, until recently, their development has been limited by their instability and inefficient in vivo transfection. The nanodelivery system plays a dual function in RNA-based vaccination by acting as a carrier system and as an adjuvant. That is due to its similarity to microorganisms structurally and size-wise; the nanodelivery system can augment the response by the immune system via simulating the natural infection process. Nanodelivery systems allow non-invasive mucosal administration, targeted immune cell delivery, and controlled delivery, reducing the need for multiple administrations. They also allow co-encapsulating with immunostimulators to improve the overall adjuvant capacity. The aim of this review is to discuss the recent developments and applications of biodegradable nanodelivery systems that improve RNA-based vaccine delivery and enhance the immunological response against targeted diseases.
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33
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He J, Xu S, Leng Q, Mixson AJ. Location of a single histidine within peptide carriers increases mRNA delivery. J Gene Med 2020; 23:e3295. [PMID: 33171540 PMCID: PMC7900953 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.3295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previously, we determined that four-branched histidine-lysine (HK) peptides were effective carriers of plasmids and small interfering RNA. In the present study, we compared several branched HK carriers and, in particular, two closely-related H3K4b and H3K(+H)4b peptides for their ability as carriers of mRNA. The H3K(+H)4b peptide differed from its parent analogue, H3K4b, by only a single histidine in each branch. METHODS A series of four-branched HK peptides with varied sequences was synthesized on a solid-phase peptide synthesizer. The ability of these peptides to carry mRNA expressing luciferase to MDA-MB-231 cells was investigated. With gel retardation and heparin displacement assays, the stability of HK polyplexes was examined. We determined the intracellular uptake of HK polyplexes by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. The size and polydispersity index of the polyplexes in several media were measured by dynamic light scattering. RESULTS MDA-MB-231 cells transfected by H3K(+H)4b-mRNA polyplexes expressed 10-fold greater levels of luciferase than H3K4b polyplexes. With gel retardation and heparin displacement assays, the H3K(+H)4b polyplexes showed greater stability than H3K4b. Intracellular uptake and co-localization of H3K(+H)4b polyplexes within acidic endosomes were also significantly increased compared to H3K4b. Similar to H3K(+H)4b, several HK analogues with an additional histidine in the second domain of their branches were effective carriers of mRNA. When combined with DOTAP liposomes, H3K(+H)4b was synergistic in delivery of mRNA. CONCLUSIONS H3K(+H)4b was a more effective carrier of mRNA than H3K4b. Mechanistic studies suggest that H3K(+H)4b polyplexes were more stable than H3K4b polyplexes. Lipopolyplexes formed with H3K(+H)4b markedly increased mRNA transfection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxi He
- Department of Pathology, University Maryland School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Songhui Xu
- Department of Pathology, University Maryland School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Qixin Leng
- Department of Pathology, University Maryland School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - A James Mixson
- Department of Pathology, University Maryland School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Koji K, Yoshinaga N, Mochida Y, Hong T, Miyazaki T, Kataoka K, Osada K, Cabral H, Uchida S. Bundling of mRNA strands inside polyion complexes improves mRNA delivery efficiency in vitro and in vivo. Biomaterials 2020; 261:120332. [PMID: 32877764 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2020.120332] [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: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
RNA nanotechnology has promise for developing mRNA carriers with enhanced physicochemical and functional properties. However, the potential synergy for mRNA delivery of RNA nanotechnology in cooperation with established carrier systems remains unknown. This study proposes a combinational system of RNA nanotechnology and mRNA polyplexes, by focusing on mRNA steric structure inside the polyplexes. Firstly, several mRNA strands are bundled through hybridization with RNA oligonucleotide crosslinkers to obtain tight mRNA structure, and then the bundled mRNA is mixed with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-polycation block copolymers to prepare PEG-coated polyplex micelles (PMs). mRNA bundling results in highly condensed mRNA packaging inside PM core with dense PEG chains on the surface, thereby, improving PM stability against polyion exchange reaction and ribonuclease (RNase) attack. Importantly, such stabilization effects are attributed to bundled structure of mRNA rather than the increase in total mRNA amount encapsulated in the PMs, as encapsulation of long mRNA strands without bundling fails to improve PM stability. Consequently, PMs loading bundled mRNA exhibit enhanced stability in mouse blood circulation, and induce efficient protein expression in cultured cells and mouse brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoko Koji
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - Naoto Yoshinaga
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - Yuki Mochida
- Innovation Center of NanoMedicine (iCONM), Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 3-25-14 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, 210-0821, Japan
| | - Taehun Hong
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - Takuya Miyazaki
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan; Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, 705-1 Shimoimaizumi, Ebina, Kanagawa, 243-0435, Japan
| | - Kazunori Kataoka
- Innovation Center of NanoMedicine (iCONM), Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 3-25-14 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, 210-0821, Japan; Policy Alternatives Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Kensuke Osada
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Quantum Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - Horacio Cabral
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan; Innovation Center of NanoMedicine (iCONM), Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 3-25-14 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, 210-0821, Japan.
| | - Satoshi Uchida
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan; Innovation Center of NanoMedicine (iCONM), Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 3-25-14 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, 210-0821, Japan.
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Zhang SK, Gong L, Zhang X, Yun ZM, Li SB, Gao HW, Dai CJ, Yuan JJ, Chen JM, Gong F, Tan YX, Ji SP. Antimicrobial peptide AR-23 derivatives with high endosomal disrupting ability enhance poly(l-lysine)-mediated gene transfer. J Gene Med 2020; 22:e3259. [PMID: 32776410 PMCID: PMC7685122 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.3259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background pH‐sensitive peptides are a relatively new strategy for conquering the poor endosomal release of cationic polymer‐mediated transfection. Modification of antimicrobial peptides by exchanging positively‐charged residues with negatively‐charged glutamic acid residues (Glu) greatly improves its lytic activity at the endosomal pH, which could improve cationic polymer‐mediated transfection. Methods In the present study, we investigated the effect of the number of Glu substituted for positively‐charged residues on the endosomal escape activity of AR‐23 and the ability of mutated AR‐23 with respect to enhancing cationic polymer‐mediated transfection. Three analogs were synthesized by replacing the positively‐charged residues in the AR‐23 sequence with Glu one‐by‐one. Results The pH‐sensitive lysis ability of the peptides, the effect of peptides on the physicochemical characteristics, the intracellular trafficking, the transfection efficiency and the cytotoxicity of the polyplexes were determined. Increased lytic activity of peptides was observed with the increased number of Glu replacement in the AR‐23 sequence at acidic pH. The number of Glu substituted for positively‐charged residues of AR‐23 dramatically affects its lysis ability at neutral pH. Triple‐Glu substitution in the AR‐23 sequence greatly improved poly(l‐lysine)‐mediated gene transfection efficiency at the same time as maintaining low cytotoxicity. Conclusions The results indicate that replacement of positively‐charged residues with sufficient Glu residues may be considered as a method for designing pH‐sensitive peptides, which could be applied as potential enhancers for improving cationic polymer‐mediated transfection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Kun Zhang
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Gong
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, China.,PLA navy No. 971 Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zhi-Min Yun
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Su-Bo Li
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Hong-Wei Gao
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Cong-Jie Dai
- College of Oceanology and Food Sciences, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Jian-Jun Yuan
- College of Oceanology and Food Sciences, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Jing-Ming Chen
- Quanzhou Preschool Education College, Quanzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Feng Gong
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Ying-Xia Tan
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Shou-Ping Ji
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health Service and Transfusion Medicine, Beijing, China.,College of Oceanology and Food Sciences, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China
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Tanaka H, Sakurai Y, Anindita J, Akita H. Development of lipid-like materials for RNA delivery based on intracellular environment-responsive membrane destabilization and spontaneous collapse. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2020; 154-155:210-226. [PMID: 32650040 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2020.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Messenger RNA and small interfering RNA are attractive modalities for curing diseases by complementation or knock-down of proteins. For success of these RNAs, a drug delivery system (DDS) is required to control a pharmacokinetics, to enhance cellular uptake, to overcome biological membranes, and to release the cargo into the cytoplasm. Based on past research, developing nanoparticles that are neutrally charged have been the mainstream of their development. Also, the materials are further mounted with pH- and/or reducing environment-responsive units. In this review, we summarize progress made in the molecular design of these materials. We also focus on the importance of the hydrophobic scaffold for tissue/cell targeting, intracellular trafficking, and immune responses. As a practical example, the design concept of the SS-cleavable and pH-activated lipid-like material (ssPalm) and subsequent molecular modification tailored to the RNA-based medical application is discussed.
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Tan L, Zheng T, Li M, Zhong X, Tang Y, Qin M, Sun X. Optimization of an mRNA vaccine assisted with cyclodextrin-polyethyleneimine conjugates. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2020; 10:678-689. [PMID: 32048201 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-020-00725-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines have attracted great interest in recent years due to their high potency, safety profile, and potential of rapid development. Although a number of mRNA vaccines have entered clinical trials, there remain several challenges. Inefficient in vivo delivery of mRNA is the foremost one. Here we synthesized a conjugate composed of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and branched polyethyleneimine (molecular weight 2 kDa, bPEI2k) to deliver an mRNA vaccine. The CD-PEI (CP) conjugate helped the encapsulated mRNA molecules pass through the plasma membranes and escape from the endosomes, which consequently ensured high transfection efficiency. On this basis, we optimized several structural elements of mRNA molecules via synthesizing an advanced cap structure and incorporating untranslated regions (UTRs) and an extended poly(A) tail into the sequence. These modifications led to a higher expression level of encoded proteins, which was expected to induce potent immune responses with a relatively low dosage. We also investigated the relevance of the administration route to the immune responses induced by CP-assisted mRNA vaccines with in vivo evidence, providing a basis for the selection of optimum administration route in specific cases. This CP-based mRNA vaccine platform, with an optimized mRNA structure and administrated in a most appropriate route, holds a promise to be applied to specific antigens in the future. Graphical abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Tan
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Tao Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Man Li
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xiaofang Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yao Tang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Ming Qin
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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Fus-Kujawa A, Teper P, Botor M, Klarzyńska K, Sieroń Ł, Verbelen B, Smet M, Sieroń AL, Mendrek B, Kowalczuk A. Functional star polymers as reagents for efficient nucleic acids delivery into HT-1080 cells. INT J POLYM MATER PO 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/00914037.2020.1716227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Fus-Kujawa
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Paulina Teper
- Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Malwina Botor
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Klarzyńska
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Łukasz Sieroń
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Bram Verbelen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mario Smet
- Department of Chemistry, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Aleksander L. Sieroń
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Barbara Mendrek
- Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Kowalczuk
- Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, Zabrze, Poland
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Guimaraes PPG, Zhang R, Spektor R, Tan M, Chung A, Billingsley MM, El-Mayta R, Riley RS, Wang L, Wilson JM, Mitchell MJ. Ionizable lipid nanoparticles encapsulating barcoded mRNA for accelerated in vivo delivery screening. J Control Release 2019; 316:404-417. [PMID: 31678653 PMCID: PMC7032071 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2019.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) has recently emerged as a promising class of nucleic acid therapy, with the potential to induce protein production to treat and prevent a range of diseases. However, the widespread use of mRNA as a therapeutic requires safe and effective in vivo delivery technologies. Libraries of ionizable lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been designed to encapsulate mRNA, prevent its degradation, and mediate intracellular delivery. However, these LNPs are typically characterized and screened in an in vitro setting, which may not fully replicate the biological barriers that they encounter in vivo. Here, we designed and evaluated a library of engineered LNPs containing barcoded mRNA (b-mRNA) to accelerate the screening of mRNA delivery platforms in vivo. These b-mRNA are similar in structure and function to regular mRNA, and contain barcodes that enable their delivery to be quantified via deep sequencing. Using a mini-library of b-mRNA LNPs formulated via microfluidic mixing, we show that these different formulations can be pooled together, administered intravenously into mice as a single pool, and their delivery to multiple organs (liver, spleen, brain, lung, heart, kidney, pancreas, and muscle) can be quantified simultaneously using deep sequencing. In the context of liver and spleen delivery, LNPs that exhibited high b-mRNA delivery also yielded high luciferase expression, indicating that this platform can identify lead LNP candidates as well as optimal formulation parameters for in vivo mRNA delivery. Interestingly, LNPs with identical formulation parameters that encapsulated different types of nucleic acid barcodes (b-mRNA versus a DNA barcode) altered in vivo delivery, suggesting that the structure of the barcoded nucleic acid affects LNP in vivo delivery. This platform, which enables direct barcoding and subsequent quantification of a functional mRNA, can accelerate the in vivo screening and design of LNPs for mRNA therapeutic applications such as CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, mRNA vaccination, and other mRNA-based regenerative medicine and protein replacement therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro P G Guimaraes
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Roman Spektor
- Graduate Field of Genetics, Genomics and Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Mingchee Tan
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Amanda Chung
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Margaret M Billingsley
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Rakan El-Mayta
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Rachel S Riley
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Lili Wang
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - James M Wilson
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Michael J Mitchell
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
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Wallis J, Shenton DP, Carlisle RC. Novel approaches for the design, delivery and administration of vaccine technologies. Clin Exp Immunol 2019; 196:189-204. [PMID: 30963549 PMCID: PMC6468175 DOI: 10.1111/cei.13287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
It is easy to argue that vaccine development represents humankind's most important and successful endeavour, such is the impact that vaccination has had on human morbidity and mortality over the last 200 years. During this time the original method of Jenner and Pasteur, i.e. that of injecting live-attenuated or inactivated pathogens, has been developed and supplemented with a wide range of alternative approaches which are now in clinical use or under development. These next-generation technologies have been designed to produce a vaccine that has the effectiveness of the original live-attenuated and inactivated vaccines, but without the associated risks and limitations. Indeed, the method of development has undoubtedly moved away from Pasteur's three Is paradigm (isolate, inactivate, inject) towards an approach of rational design, made possible by improved knowledge of the pathogen-host interaction and the mechanisms of the immune system. These novel vaccines have explored methods for targeted delivery of antigenic material, as well as for the control of release profiles, so that dosing regimens can be matched to the time-lines of immune system stimulation and the realities of health-care delivery in dispersed populations. The methods by which vaccines are administered are also the subject of intense research in the hope that needle and syringe dosing, with all its associated issues regarding risk of injury, cross-infection and patient compliance, can be replaced. This review provides a detailed overview of new vaccine vectors as well as information pertaining to the novel delivery platforms under development.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Wallis
- Institute of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - D. P. Shenton
- Defence Science and Technology LaboratoryPorton DownUK
| | - R. C. Carlisle
- Institute of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
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Zhang HX, Zhang Y, Yin H. Genome Editing with mRNA Encoding ZFN, TALEN, and Cas9. Mol Ther 2019; 27:735-746. [PMID: 30803822 PMCID: PMC6453514 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2019.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Revised: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-editing technologies based on programmable nucleases have significantly broadened our ability to make precise and direct changes in the genomic DNA of various species, including human cells. Delivery of programmable nucleases into the target tissue or cell is one of the pressing challenges in transforming the technology into medicine. In vitro-transcribed (IVT) mRNA-mediated delivery of nucleases has several advantages, such as transient expression with efficient in vivo and in vitro delivery, no genomic integration, a potentially low off-target rate, and high editing efficiency. This review focuses on key barriers related to IVT mRNA delivery, on developed modes of delivery, and on the application and future prospects of mRNA encoding nuclease-mediated genome editing in research and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Xia Zhang
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 430071 Wuhan, China; Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, 430071 Wuhan, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, 430071 Wuhan, China.
| | - Hao Yin
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 430071 Wuhan, China; Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, 430071 Wuhan, China.
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Badieyan ZS, Evans T. Concise Review: Application of Chemically Modified mRNA in Cell Fate Conversion and Tissue Engineering. Stem Cells Transl Med 2019; 8:833-843. [PMID: 30891922 PMCID: PMC6646692 DOI: 10.1002/sctm.18-0259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemically modified RNA (cmRNA) has potential as a safe and efficient tool for nucleic acid‐based therapies and regenerative medicine. Modifications in the chemistry of mRNA can enhance stability, reduce immunogenicity, and thus facilitate mRNA‐based nucleic acid therapy, which eliminates risk of insertional mutagenesis. In addition to these valuable advantages, the mRNA‐based method showed significantly higher efficacy for reprogramming somatic cells to pluripotency compared with DNA‐ or protein‐based methods. These findings suggest cmRNA can provide a powerful and safe tool for cell programming and reprogramming. Delivery methods, particularly using lipid nanoparticles, provide strategies for cell and organ‐specific targeting. The present study comprehensively compares studies that have used cmRNAs for cell fate conversion and tissue engineering. The information should be useful for investigators looking to choose the most efficient and straightforward cmRNA‐based strategy and protocol for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine research. stem cells translational medicine2019;8:833&843
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohreh Sadat Badieyan
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Todd Evans
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
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Tabandeh S, Leon L. Engineering Peptide-Based Polyelectrolyte Complexes with Increased Hydrophobicity. Molecules 2019; 24:E868. [PMID: 30823653 PMCID: PMC6429441 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24050868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyelectrolyte complexation is a versatile platform for the design of self-assembled materials. Here we use rational design to create ionic hydrophobically-patterned peptides that allow us to precisely explore the role of hydrophobicity on electrostatic self-assembly. Polycations and polyanions were designed and synthesized with an alternating sequence of d- and l-chiral patterns of lysine or glutamic acid with either glycine, alanine or leucine due to their increasing hydrophobicity index, respectively. Two motifs were considered for the oppositely charged patterned peptides; one with equal residues of charged and uncharged amino acids and the other with increased charge density. Mass spectroscopy, circular dichroism, H- and F-NMR spectroscopy were used to characterize the polypeptides. Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) formed using the sequences were characterized using turbidity measurements, optical microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. Our results show that the critical salt concentration, a key measure of PEC stability, increased with both increasing charge density as well as hydrophobicity. Furthermore, by increasing the hydrophobicity, the amount of PEC formed increased with temperature, contrary to purely ionic PECs. Lastly, we assessed the encapsulation behavior of these materials using a hydrophobic dye. Concluding that encapsulation efficiency increased with hydrophobic content of the complexes providing insight for future work on the application of these materials for drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Tabandeh
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.
| | - Lorraine Leon
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32826, USA.
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Dendrimer functionalized folate-targeted gold nanoparticles for luciferase gene silencing in vitro: A proof of principle study. ACTA PHARMACEUTICA (ZAGREB, CROATIA) 2019; 69:49-61. [PMID: 31259716 DOI: 10.2478/acph-2019-0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Use of exogenous small interfering RNA (siRNA) has shown potential in gene silencing. The need for target-specific siRNA delivery vehicles is crucial to successful gene silencing. This study is aimed at developing and evaluating the safety and efficiency of siRNA delivery using unmodified and folic acid (FA) modified poly(amidoamine) generation 5 (PAMAM G5D) functionalized gold nanoparticles (Au:G5D/Au:G5D:FA) in vitro. All formulations were physico--chemically characterized and nanocomplexes were evaluated using the band shift, dye displacement, nuclease protection, MTT cell viability, and luciferase reporter gene assays. Nanocomplexes bound and protected siRNA against degrading RNases, and were well tolerated by the cells. The Au:G5D:FA nanocomplexes elicited excellent gene silencing in folate receptor expressing HeLa-Tat-Luc cells, decreasing significantly in the presence of excess FA ligand, indicating nanocomplex uptake by the mechanism of receptor mediation. These results highlight the synergistic role played by Au and the dendrimer in enhancement of transgene silencing.
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Establishment of an electroporation-mediated gene delivery system in porcine spermatogonial stem cells. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 2019; 55:177-188. [PMID: 30725355 DOI: 10.1007/s11626-019-00326-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are a useful tool for the generation of genetically modified transgenic sperm. As a result, the transfer of specific genes into the cytoplasm of SSCs is crucial for the successful generation of transgenic sperm. Here, we report electroporation conditions optimized for SSCs derived from the porcine testis. The highest transfection efficiency and cell viability were observed in porcine SSCs transfected with 1 μg transgenic vector with a single electric pulse from an electroporator at a voltage of 100 V and a capacitor setting of 250 μF. The transfection efficiency and cell viability were constant regardless of the size of the transgenic vector. Furthermore, we did not detect loss of spermatozoa differentiation potential in the transfected porcine SSCs. From these results, we confirm that this electroporation-based gene delivery system can effectively introduce foreign DNA into the genome of porcine SSCs without any loss of the original porcine SSC characteristics, which will be important in the generation of mosaicism-free transgenic pigs produced from transgenic porcine sperm.
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46
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Patel S, Athirasala A, Menezes PP, Ashwanikumar N, Zou T, Sahay G, Bertassoni LE. Messenger RNA Delivery for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Applications. Tissue Eng Part A 2019; 25:91-112. [PMID: 29661055 PMCID: PMC6352544 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tea.2017.0444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to control cellular processes and precisely direct cellular reprogramming has revolutionized regenerative medicine. Recent advances in in vitro transcribed (IVT) mRNA technology with chemical modifications have led to development of methods that control spatiotemporal gene expression. Additionally, there is a current thrust toward the development of safe, integration-free approaches to gene therapy for translational purposes. In this review, we describe strategies of synthetic IVT mRNA modifications and nonviral technologies for intracellular delivery. We provide insights into the current tissue engineering approaches that use a hydrogel scaffold with genetic material. Furthermore, we discuss the transformative potential of novel mRNA formulations that when embedded in hydrogels can trigger controlled genetic manipulation to regenerate tissues and organs in vitro and in vivo. The role of mRNA delivery in vascularization, cytoprotection, and Cas9-mediated xenotransplantation is additionally highlighted. Harmonizing mRNA delivery vehicle interactions with polymeric scaffolds can be used to present genetic cues that lead to precise command over cellular reprogramming, differentiation, and secretome activity of stem cells-an ultimate goal for tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddharth Patel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Collaborative Life Science Building, Oregon State University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Avathamsa Athirasala
- Division of Biomaterials and Biomechanics, Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Paula P. Menezes
- Division of Biomaterials and Biomechanics, Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - N. Ashwanikumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Collaborative Life Science Building, Oregon State University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Ting Zou
- Division of Biomaterials and Biomechanics, Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
- Endodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Gaurav Sahay
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Collaborative Life Science Building, Oregon State University, Portland, Oregon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Collaborative Life Science Building, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Luiz E. Bertassoni
- Division of Biomaterials and Biomechanics, Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Collaborative Life Science Building, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
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47
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Zhang R, Billingsley MM, Mitchell MJ. Biomaterials for vaccine-based cancer immunotherapy. J Control Release 2018; 292:256-276. [PMID: 30312721 PMCID: PMC6355332 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2018.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 10/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The development of therapeutic cancer vaccines as a means to generate immune reactivity against tumors has been explored since the early discovery of tumor-specific antigens by Georg Klein in the 1960s. However, challenges including weak immunogenicity, systemic toxicity, and off-target effects of cancer vaccines remain as barriers to their broad clinical translation. Advances in the design and implementation of biomaterials are now enabling enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity of cancer vaccines by controlling the presentation and release of vaccine components to immune cells and their microenvironment. Here, we discuss the rational design and clinical status of several classes of cancer vaccines (including DNA, mRNA, peptide/protein, and cell-based vaccines) along with novel biomaterial-based delivery technologies that improve their safety and efficacy. Further, strategies for designing new platforms for personalized cancer vaccines are also considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Margaret M Billingsley
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Michael J Mitchell
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States.
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Coolen AL, Lacroix C, Mercier-Gouy P, Delaune E, Monge C, Exposito JY, Verrier B. Poly(lactic acid) nanoparticles and cell-penetrating peptide potentiate mRNA-based vaccine expression in dendritic cells triggering their activation. Biomaterials 2018; 195:23-37. [PMID: 30610991 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2018.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Messenger RNA-based vaccines have the potential to trigger robust cytotoxic immune responses, which are essential for fighting cancer and infectious diseases like HIV. Dendritic Cells (DCs) are choice targets for mRNA-based vaccine strategies, as they link innate and adaptive immune responses and are major regulators of cytotoxic and humoral adaptive responses. However, efficient delivery of antigen-coding mRNAs into DC cytosol has been highly challenging. In this study, we developed an alternative to lipid-based mRNA delivery systems, using poly(lactic acid) nanoparticles (PLA-NPs) and cationic cell-penetrating peptides as mRNA condensing agent. The formulations are assembled in two steps: (1) formation of a polyplex between mRNAs and amphipathic cationic peptides (RALA, LAH4 or LAH4-L1), and (2) adsorption of polyplexes onto PLA-NPs. LAH4-L1/mRNA polyplexes and PLA-NP/LAH4-L1/mRNA nanocomplexes are taken up by DCs via phagocytosis and clathrin-dependent endocytosis, and induce strong protein expression in DCs in vitro. They modulate DC innate immune response by activating both endosome and cytosolic Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs), and induce markers of adaptive responses in primary human DCs in vitro, with prevalent Th1 signature. Thus, LAH4-L1/mRNA and PLA-NP/LAH4-L1/mRNA represent a promising platform for ex vivo treatment and mRNA vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Line Coolen
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et d'Ingénierie Thérapeutique, UMR 5305, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, IBCP, Lyon, France
| | - Céline Lacroix
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et d'Ingénierie Thérapeutique, UMR 5305, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, IBCP, Lyon, France
| | - Perrine Mercier-Gouy
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et d'Ingénierie Thérapeutique, UMR 5305, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, IBCP, Lyon, France
| | - Emilie Delaune
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et d'Ingénierie Thérapeutique, UMR 5305, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, IBCP, Lyon, France
| | - Claire Monge
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et d'Ingénierie Thérapeutique, UMR 5305, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, IBCP, Lyon, France
| | - Jean-Yves Exposito
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et d'Ingénierie Thérapeutique, UMR 5305, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, IBCP, Lyon, France
| | - Bernard Verrier
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et d'Ingénierie Thérapeutique, UMR 5305, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, IBCP, Lyon, France.
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Lou B, De Koker S, Lau CYJ, Hennink WE, Mastrobattista E. mRNA Polyplexes with Post-Conjugated GALA Peptides Efficiently Target, Transfect, and Activate Antigen Presenting Cells. Bioconjug Chem 2018; 30:461-475. [PMID: 30188694 PMCID: PMC6385079 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.8b00524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Vaccines based on
mRNA have emerged as potent systems to elicit
CD8+ T cell responses against various cancers and viral
infectious diseases. The efficient intracellular delivery of mRNA
molecules encoding antigens into the cytosol of antigen-presenting
cells (APCs) is still challenging, requiring cell attachment, active
uptake, and subsequent endosomal escape. Here, we report a facile
approach for the formulation of peptide-functionalized mRNA polyplexes
using copper-free click chemistry to promote presentation of mRNA
antigen by dendritic cells (DCs). After screening different membrane
active peptides, GALA modified mRNA polyplexes (PPx-GALA) with a size
around 350 nm and with a slightly negative surface charge (−7
mV), exhibited the highest EGFP-mRNA transfection in RAW 246.7 macrophages
(∼36%) and D1 dendritic cells (∼50%) as compared to
polyplexes decorated with melittin or LEDE peptides. Interestingly,
we found that PPx-GALA enters DCs through sialic acid mediated endo/phagocytosis,
which was not influenced by DC maturation. The PPx-GALA formulation
exhibited 18-fold higher cellular uptake compared to a lipofectamine
mRNA formulation without inducing cytotoxicity. Live cell imaging
showed that PPx-GALA that were taken up by endocytosis induced calcein
release from endosomes into the cytosol. DCs treated with PPx-GALA
containing mRNA encoding for OVA displayed enhanced T cell responses
and DC maturation. Collectively, these data provide a strong rationale
for further study of this PPx-GALA formulation in vivo as a promising mRNA vaccine platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Lou
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS) , Utrecht University , 3584CG Utrecht , The Netherlands
| | - Stefaan De Koker
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology , Ghent University , 9052 Zwijnaarde , Belgium
| | - Chun Yin Jerry Lau
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS) , Utrecht University , 3584CG Utrecht , The Netherlands
| | - Wim E Hennink
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS) , Utrecht University , 3584CG Utrecht , The Netherlands
| | - Enrico Mastrobattista
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS) , Utrecht University , 3584CG Utrecht , The Netherlands
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Chen R, Zhang H, Yan J, Bryers JD. Scaffold-mediated delivery for non-viral mRNA vaccines. Gene Ther 2018; 25:556-567. [PMID: 30242259 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-018-0040-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
mRNA is increasingly being recognized as a promising alternative to pDNA in gene vaccinations. Only recently, owing to the needs of cancer immunotherapies, has the biomaterials/gene delivery community begun to develop new biomaterial strategies for immunomodulation. Here, we report a novel way to use implantable porous scaffolds as a local gene delivery depot to enhance mRNA vaccine immunization in vitro, and in vivo when compared with conventional bolus injections. We first evaluated transfection efficiencies of single-stranded mRNA condensed and charge neutralized with two lipids (Lipofectamine Messenger MAXTM LM-MM and StemfectTM SF) and two cationic polymers (in vivo-jetPEI™, Poly (β-amino ester)) as gene carriers. As SF demonstrated highest in vitro transfection and cell viability, it was selected for subsequent porous polymer scaffold-loading trials. Enhanced in vitro transfection of SF:mRNA nanoparticle-loaded poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) scaffolds was also observed with a DC2.4 cell line. Improved sustained local release and local transgene expression were also demonstrated with SF:mRNA nanoparticle-loaded pHEMA scaffolds in vivo compared with bolus injections. Our results suggest that mRNA polyplex-loaded scaffolds may be a superior alternative to either repeated bolus immunizations or ex vivo transfection cell immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruying Chen
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195-5061, USA
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195-5061, USA
| | - Jingxuan Yan
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195-5061, USA
| | - James D Bryers
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195-5061, USA.
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