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Dong Y, Wang J, Chen L, Chen H, Dang S, Li F. Aptamer-based assembly systems for SARS-CoV-2 detection and therapeutics. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:6830-6859. [PMID: 38829187 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs00774j] [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: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Nucleic acid aptamers are oligonucleotide chains with molecular recognition properties. Compared with antibodies, aptamers show advantages given that they are readily produced via chemical synthesis and elicit minimal immunogenicity in biomedicine applications. Notably, aptamer-encoded nucleic acid assemblies further improve the binding affinity of aptamers with the targets due to their multivalent synergistic interactions. Specially, aptamers can be engineered with special topological arrangements in nucleic acid assemblies, which demonstrate spatial and valence matching towards antigens on viruses, thus showing potential in the detection and therapeutic applications of viruses. This review presents the recent progress on the aptamers explored for SARS-CoV-2 detection and infection treatment, wherein applications of aptamer-based assembly systems are introduced in detail. Screening methods and chemical modification strategies for aptamers are comprehensively summarized, and the types of aptamers employed against different target domains of SARS-CoV-2 are illustrated. The evolution of aptamer-based assembly systems for the detection and neutralization of SARS-CoV-2, as well as the construction principle and characteristics of aptamer-based DNA assemblies are demonstrated. The typically representative works are presented to demonstrate how to assemble aptamers rationally and elaborately for specific applications in SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis and neutralization. Finally, we provide deep insights into the current challenges and future perspectives towards aptamer-based nucleic acid assemblies for virus detection and neutralization in nanomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhang Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P. R. China.
| | - Jingping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P. R. China.
| | - Ling Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P. R. China.
| | - Haonan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P. R. China.
| | - Shuangbo Dang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P. R. China.
| | - Feng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P. R. China.
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2
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Park SV, Kang B, Lee M, Yoo H, Jo H, Woo S, Oh SS. In vitro selection of a trans aptamer complex for target-responsive fluorescence activation. Anal Chim Acta 2024; 1301:342465. [PMID: 38553123 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2024.342465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most biological molecular complexes consist of multiple functional domains, yet rationally constructing such multifunctional complexes is challenging. Aptamers, the nucleic acid-based functional molecules, can perform multiple tasks including target recognition, conformational changes, and enzymatic activities, while being chemically synthesizable and tunable, and thus provide a basis for engineering enhanced functionalities through combination of multiple units. However, the conventional approach of simply combining aptamer units in a serial manner is susceptible to undesired crosstalk or interference between the aptamer units and to false interactions with non-target molecules; besides, the approach would require additional mechanisms to separate the units if they are desired to function independently. It is clearly a challenge to develop multi-aptamer complexes that preserve independent functions of each unit while avoiding undesired interference and non-specific interactions. RESULTS By directly in vitro selecting a 'trans' aptamer complex, we demonstrate that one aptamer unit ('utility module') can remain hidden or 'inactive' until a target analyte triggers the other unit ('sensing module') and separates the two aptamers. Since the operation of the utility module occurs free from the sensing module, unnecessary crosstalk between the two units can be avoided. Because the utility module is kept inactive until separated from the complex, non-specific interactions of the hidden module with noncognate targets can be naturally prevented. In our demonstration, the sensing module was selected to detect serotonin, a clinically important neurotransmitter, and the target-binding-induced structure-switching of the sensing module reveals and activates the utility module that turns on a fluorescence signal. The aptamer complex exhibited a moderately high affinity and an excellent specificity for serotonin with ∼16-fold discrimination against common neurotransmitter molecules, and displayed strong robustness to perturbations in the design, disallowing nonspecific reactions against various challenges. SIGNIFICANCE This work represents the first example of a trans aptamer complex that was in vitro selected de novo. The trans aptamer complex selected by our strategy does not require chemical modifications or immediate optimization processes to function, because the complex is directly selected to perform desired functions. This strategy should be applicable to a wide range of functional nucleic acid moieties, which will open up diverse applications in biosensing and molecular therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soyeon V Park
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, South Korea
| | - Byunghwa Kang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, South Korea
| | - Minjong Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, South Korea
| | - Hyebin Yoo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, South Korea
| | - Hyesung Jo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, South Korea
| | - Sungwook Woo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, South Korea.
| | - Seung Soo Oh
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, South Korea.
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3
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Lauzon D, Vallée-Bélisle A. Design and Thermodynamics Principles to Program the Cooperativity of Molecular Assemblies. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202313944. [PMID: 37975629 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202313944] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Most functional nanosystems in living organisms are constructed using multimeric assemblies that provide multiple advantages over their monomeric counterparts such as cooperative or anti-cooperative responses, integration of multiple signals and self-regulation. Inspired by these natural nanosystems, chemists have been synthesizing self-assembled supramolecular systems over the last 50 years with increasing complexity with applications ranging from biosensing, drug delivery, synthetic biology, and system chemistry. Although many advances have been made concerning the design principles of novel molecular architectures and chemistries, little is still known, however, about how to program their dynamic of assembly so that they can assemble at the required concentration and with the right sensitivity. Here, we used synthetic DNA assemblies and double-mutant cycle analysis to explore the thermodynamic basis to program the cooperativity of molecular assemblies. The results presented here exemplify how programmable molecular assemblies can be efficiently built by fusing interacting domains and optimizing their compaction. They may also provide the rational basis for understanding the thermodynamic and mechanistic principles driving the evolution of multimeric biological complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Lauzon
- Laboratory of Biosensors & Nanomachines, Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, H2V 0B3, QC, Canada
| | - Alexis Vallée-Bélisle
- Laboratory of Biosensors & Nanomachines, Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, H2V 0B3, QC, Canada
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4
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Cisneros E, Sherwani N, Lanier OL, Peppas NA. Targeted delivery methods for RNA interference are necessary to obtain a potential functional cure for HIV/AIDS. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 199:114970. [PMID: 37385543 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is of great interest in many different therapeutic areas including infectious diseases such as immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Thanks to current, advanced treatments for HIV, the diagnosis is no longer a death sentence. However, even with these treatments, latency is suggested to persist in T-lymphocyte-rich tissues including gut-associated lymphatic tissue (GALT), spleen, and bone marrow making HIV an incurable disease. Therefore, it is important to design systems that can effectively deliver therapeutics to these tissues to fight latent infection and find a functional cure. Numerous therapeutics ranging from small molecules to cell therapies have been explored as a cure for HIV but have failed to maintain therapeutic longevity. RNA interference (RNAi) provides a unique opportunity to achieve a functional cure for those who suffer from chronic HIV/AIDS by suppressing replication of the virus. However, RNA has certain imitations in delivery as it cannot be delivered without a carrier due to its negative charge and degradation from endogenous nucleases. Here, we provide a detailed analysis of explored systems for siRNA delivery for HIV/AIDS in the context of RNA therapeutic design and nanoparticle design. In addition, we suggest strategies that should be used to target specific tissues that are rich in lymphatic tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan Cisneros
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Institute of Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, and Regenerative Medicine, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Najia Sherwani
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Olivia L Lanier
- Institute of Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, and Regenerative Medicine, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Nicholas A Peppas
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Institute of Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, and Regenerative Medicine, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
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5
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Ancheta LR, Shramm PA, Bouajram R, Higgins D, Lappi DA. Streptavidin-Saporin: Converting Biotinylated Materials into Targeted Toxins. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:toxins15030181. [PMID: 36977072 PMCID: PMC10059012 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15030181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptavidin-Saporin can be considered a type of ‘secondary’ targeted toxin. The scientific community has taken advantage of this conjugate in clever and fruitful ways using many kinds of biotinylated targeting agents to send saporin into a cell selected for elimination. Saporin is a ribosome-inactivating protein that causes inhibition of protein synthesis and cell death when delivered inside a cell. Streptavidin-Saporin, mixed with biotinylated molecules to cell surface markers, results in powerful conjugates that are used both in vitro and in vivo for behavior and disease research. Streptavidin-Saporin harnesses the ‘Molecular Surgery’ capability of saporin, creating a modular arsenal of targeted toxins used in applications ranging from the screening of potential therapeutics to behavioral studies and animal models. The reagent has become a well-published and validated resource in academia and industry. The ease of use and diverse functionality of Streptavidin-Saporin continues to have a significant impact on the life science industry.
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Chen MJ, Gatignol A, Scarborough RJ. The discovery and development of RNA-based therapies for treatment of HIV-1 infection. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2023; 18:163-179. [PMID: 36004505 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2022.2117296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Long-term control of HIV-1 infection can potentially be achieved using autologous stem cell transplants with gene-modified cells. Non-coding RNAs represent a diverse class of therapeutic agents including ribozymes, RNA aptamers and decoys, small interfering RNAs, short hairpin RNAs, and U1 interference RNAs that can be designed to inhibit HIV-1 replication. They have been engineered for delivery as drugs to complement current HIV-1 therapies and as gene therapies for a potential HIV-1 functional cure. AREAS COVERED This review surveys the past three decades of development of these RNA technologies with a focus on their efficacy and safety for treating HIV-1 infections. We describe the mechanisms of each RNA-based agent, targets they have been developed against, efforts to enhance their stability and efficacy, and we evaluate their performance in past and ongoing preclinical and clinical trials. EXPERT OPINION RNA-based technologies are among the top candidates for gene therapies where they can be stably expressed for long-term suppression of HIV-1. Advances in both gene and drug delivery strategies and improvements to non-coding RNA stability and antiviral properties will cooperatively drive forward progress in improving drug therapy and engineering HIV-1 resistant cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle J Chen
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Anne Gatignol
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Robert J Scarborough
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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Yi L, Yang L. Stem-like T cells and niches: Implications in human health and disease. Front Immunol 2022; 13:907172. [PMID: 36059484 PMCID: PMC9428355 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.907172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, accumulating evidence has elucidated the important role of T cells with stem-like characteristics in long-term maintenance of T cell responses and better patient outcomes after immunotherapy. The fate of TSL cells has been correlated with many physiological and pathological human processes. In this review, we described present advances demonstrating that stem-like T (TSL) cells are central players in human health and disease. We interpreted the evolutionary characteristics, mechanism and functions of TSL cells. Moreover, we discuss the import role of distinct niches and how they affect the stemness of TSL cells. Furthermore, we also outlined currently available strategies to generate TSL cells and associated affecting factors. Moreover, we summarized implication of TSL cells in therapies in two areas: stemness enhancement for vaccines, ICB, and adoptive T cell therapies, and stemness disruption for autoimmune disorders.
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8
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Nucleic Acid Aptamers Emerging as Modulators of G-Protein-Coupled Receptors: Challenge to Difficult Cell Surface Proteins. Cells 2022; 11:cells11111825. [PMID: 35681520 PMCID: PMC9180700 DOI: 10.3390/cells11111825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), among various cell surface proteins, are essential targets in the fields of basic science and drug discovery. The discovery and development of modulators for the receptors have provided deep insights into the mechanism of action of receptors and have led to a new therapeutic option for human diseases. Although various modulators against GPCRs have been developed to date, the identification of new modulators for GPCRs remains a challenge due to several technical problems and limitations. To overcome this situation, a variety of strategies have been developed by several modalities, including nucleic acid aptamers, which are emerging as unique molecules isolated by a repetitive selection process against various types of targets from an enormous combinatorial library. This review summarized the achievements in the development of aptamers targeting GPCRs, and discussed their isolation methods and the diverse functional features of aptamers against GPCRs.
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9
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Chakraborty B, Das S, Gupta A, Xiong Y, Vyshnavi TV, Kizer ME, Duan J, Chandrasekaran AR, Wang X. Aptamers for Viral Detection and Inhibition. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:667-692. [PMID: 35220716 PMCID: PMC8905934 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent times have experienced more than ever the impact of viral infections in humans. Viral infections are known to cause diseases not only in humans but also in plants and animals. Here, we have compiled the literature review of aptamers selected and used for detection and inhibition of viral infections in all three categories: humans, animals, and plants. This review gives an in-depth introduction to aptamers, different types of aptamer selection (SELEX) methodologies, the benefits of using aptamers over commonly used antibody-based strategies, and the structural and functional mechanism of aptasensors for viral detection and therapy. The review is organized based on the different characterization and read-out tools used to detect virus-aptasensor interactions with a detailed index of existing virus-targeting aptamers. Along with addressing recent developments, we also discuss a way forward with aptamers for DNA nanotechnology-based detection and treatment of viral diseases. Overall, this review will serve as a comprehensive resource for aptamer-based strategies in viral diagnostics and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Banani Chakraborty
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012, India
| | - Sreyashi Das
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Arushi Gupta
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012, India
| | - Yanyu Xiong
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Nick Holonyak Jr. Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory (HMNTL), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - T-V Vyshnavi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012, India
| | - Megan E. Kizer
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jinwei Duan
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Chang’an University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710064, China
| | - Arun Richard Chandrasekaran
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York 12222, United States
| | - Xing Wang
- Nick Holonyak Jr. Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory (HMNTL), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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10
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Liu M, Wang L, Lo Y, Shiu SCC, Kinghorn AB, Tanner JA. Aptamer-Enabled Nanomaterials for Therapeutics, Drug Targeting and Imaging. Cells 2022; 11:159. [PMID: 35011722 PMCID: PMC8750369 DOI: 10.3390/cells11010159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A wide variety of nanomaterials have emerged in recent years with advantageous properties for a plethora of therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Such applications include drug delivery, imaging, anti-cancer therapy and radiotherapy. There is a critical need for further components which can facilitate therapeutic targeting, augment their physicochemical properties, or broaden their theranostic applications. Aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acids which have been selected or evolved to bind specifically to molecules, surfaces, or cells. Aptamers can also act as direct biologic therapeutics, or in imaging and diagnostics. There is a rich field of discovery at the interdisciplinary interface between nanomaterials and aptamer science that has significant potential across biomedicine. Herein, we review recent progress in aptamer-enabled materials and discuss pending challenges for their future biomedical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengping Liu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China; (M.L.); (L.W.); (Y.L.); (S.C.-C.S.); (A.B.K.)
| | - Lin Wang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China; (M.L.); (L.W.); (Y.L.); (S.C.-C.S.); (A.B.K.)
| | - Young Lo
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China; (M.L.); (L.W.); (Y.L.); (S.C.-C.S.); (A.B.K.)
| | - Simon Chi-Chin Shiu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China; (M.L.); (L.W.); (Y.L.); (S.C.-C.S.); (A.B.K.)
| | - Andrew B. Kinghorn
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China; (M.L.); (L.W.); (Y.L.); (S.C.-C.S.); (A.B.K.)
| | - Julian A. Tanner
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China; (M.L.); (L.W.); (Y.L.); (S.C.-C.S.); (A.B.K.)
- Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
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Serumula W, Fernandez G, Gonzalez VM, Parboosing R. Anti-HIV Aptamers: Challenges and Prospects. Curr HIV Res 2022; 20:7-19. [PMID: 34503417 DOI: 10.2174/1570162x19666210908114825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection continues to be a significant health burden in many countries around the world. Current HIV treatment through a combination of different antiretroviral drugs (cART) effectively suppresses viral replication, but drug resistance and crossresistance are significant challenges. This has prompted the search for novel targets and agents, such as nucleic acid aptamers. Nucleic acid aptamers are oligonucleotides that attach to the target sites with high affinity and specificity. This review provides a target-by-target account of research into anti-HIV aptamers and summarises the challenges and prospects of this therapeutic strategy, specifically in the unique context of HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Serumula
- Department of Virology, National Health Laboratory Service, University of KwaZulu-Natal, c/o Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, 5th Floor Laboratory Building, 800 Bellair Road, Mayville, Durban 4091, South Africa
| | - Geronimo Fernandez
- Departamento de Bioquímica-Investigación, Aptus Biotech SL, Avda. Cardenal Herrera Oria, 298-28035 Madrid. Spain
| | - Victor M Gonzalez
- Departamento de Bioquímica-Investigación, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS)-Hospital Ramón y Cajal, 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Raveen Parboosing
- Department of Virology, National Health Laboratory Service, University of KwaZulu-Natal, c/o Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, 5th Floor Laboratory Building, 800 Bellair Road, Mayville, Durban 4091, South Africa
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12
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Malatji K, Fru PN, Mufhandu H, Alexandre K. Synthesis of fluorescence labelled aptamers for use as low-cost reagents in HIV/AIDS research and diagnostics. Biomed Rep 2021; 16:8. [PMID: 34938537 PMCID: PMC8686199 DOI: 10.3892/br.2021.1491] [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: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Aptamers are nucleic acids selected by systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment. They have potential as alternatives to antibodies in medical research and diagnostics, with the advantages of being non-immunogenic and relatively inexpensive to produce. In the present study, gp120 aptamers conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) were generated, which could interact with HIV-1 gp120. A previously isolated gp120 aptamer, CSIR 1.1, was conjugated with FITC by incubation with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide and imidazole. The conjugation and binding to the glycoprotein were confirmed by flow cytometry. FITC conjugated aptamers showed an increase in fluorescence emission 24-fold higher than baseline, and this difference was statistically significant (P=0.0016). Compared with a commercially available biotinylated anti-gp120 antibody, detected using FITC conjugated streptavidin, the emission of fluorescence obtained from the FITC-conjugated aptamer was 8-fold higher, suggesting a stronger interaction with gp120. In addition, the FITC conjugated aptamer neutralized HIV-1 pseudoviruses with an average IC50 of 21.3 nM, similar to the parent aptamer that had an IC50 of 19.2 nM. However, the difference in inhibition between the two aptamers was not statistically significant (P=0.784). These results indicate that the FITC-conjugated aptamer generated in the present study could potentially be used as a low-cost reagent in HIV/AIDS research and diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanyane Malatji
- Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Emerging Research Area Platform, Next Generation Health Cluster, Pretoria, Gauteng 0001, South Africa.,Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Pascaline N Fru
- Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Hazel Mufhandu
- Department of Microbiology, North West University, School of Biological Sciences, Mmabatho, North West 2735, South Africa
| | - Kabamba Alexandre
- Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Emerging Research Area Platform, Next Generation Health Cluster, Pretoria, Gauteng 0001, South Africa
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Khanali J, Azangou-Khyavy M, Asaadi Y, Jamalkhah M, Kiani J. Nucleic Acid-Based Treatments Against COVID-19: Potential Efficacy of Aptamers and siRNAs. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:758948. [PMID: 34858370 PMCID: PMC8630580 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.758948] [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: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite significant efforts, there are currently no approved treatments for COVID-19. However, biotechnological approaches appear to be promising in the treatment of the disease. Accordingly, nucleic acid-based treatments including aptamers and siRNAs are candidates that might be effective in COVID-19 treatment. Aptamers can hamper entry and replication stages of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, while siRNAs can cleave the viral genomic and subgenomic RNAs to inhibit the viral life cycle and reduce viral loads. As a conjugated molecule, aptamer–siRNA chimeras have proven to be dual-functioning antiviral therapy, acting both as virus-neutralizing and replication-interfering agents as well as being a siRNA targeted delivery approach. Previous successful applications of these compounds against various stages of the pathogenesis of diseases and viral infections, besides their advantages over other alternatives, might provide sufficient rationale for the application of these nucleic acid-based drugs against the SARS-CoV-2. However, none of them are devoid of limitations. Here, the literature was reviewed to assess the plausibility of using aptamers, siRNAs, and aptamer–siRNA chimeras against the SARS-CoV-2 based on their previously established effectiveness, and discussing challenges lie in applying these molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javad Khanali
- School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Yasaman Asaadi
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Monire Jamalkhah
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Jafar Kiani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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14
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Pandey M, Ojha D, Bansal S, Rode AB, Chawla G. From bench side to clinic: Potential and challenges of RNA vaccines and therapeutics in infectious diseases. Mol Aspects Med 2021; 81:101003. [PMID: 34332771 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2021.101003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The functional and structural versatility of Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) makes them ideal candidates for overcoming the limitations imposed by small molecule-based drugs. Hence, RNA-based biopharmaceuticals such as messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), microRNA mimics, anti-miRNA oligonucleotides (AMOs), aptamers, riboswitches, and CRISPR-Cas9 are emerging as vital tools for the treatment and prophylaxis of many infectious diseases. Some of the major challenges to overcome in the area of RNA-based therapeutics have been the instability of single-stranded RNAs, delivery to the diseased cell, and immunogenicity. However, recent advancements in the delivery systems of in vitro transcribed mRNA and chemical modifications for protection against nucleases and reducing the toxicity of RNA have facilitated the entry of several exogenous RNAs into clinical trials. In this review, we provide an overview of RNA-based vaccines and therapeutics, their production, delivery, current advancements, and future translational potential in treating infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Pandey
- RNA Biology Laboratory, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, 121001, India
| | - Divya Ojha
- Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, 121001, India
| | - Sakshi Bansal
- RNA Biology Laboratory, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, 121001, India
| | - Ambadas B Rode
- Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, 121001, India.
| | - Geetanjali Chawla
- RNA Biology Laboratory, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, 121001, India.
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15
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16
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Wan Q, Liu X, Zu Y. Oligonucleotide aptamers for pathogen detection and infectious disease control. Theranostics 2021; 11:9133-9161. [PMID: 34522231 PMCID: PMC8419047 DOI: 10.7150/thno.61804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
During an epidemic or pandemic, the primary task is to rapidly develop precise diagnostic approaches and effective therapeutics. Oligonucleotide aptamer-based pathogen detection assays and control therapeutics are promising, as aptamers that specifically recognize and block pathogens can be quickly developed and produced through simple chemical synthesis. This work reviews common aptamer-based diagnostic techniques for communicable diseases and summarizes currently available aptamers that target various pathogens, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Moreover, this review discusses how oligonucleotide aptamers might be leveraged to control pathogen propagation and improve host immune system responses. This review offers a comprehensive data source to the further develop aptamer-based diagnostics and therapeutics specific for infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Youli Zu
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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17
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Bolhassani A, Milani A. Small Interfering RNAs and their Delivery Systems: A Novel Powerful Tool for the Potential Treatment of HIV Infections. Curr Mol Pharmacol 2021; 13:173-181. [PMID: 31760929 DOI: 10.2174/1874467212666191023120954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 10/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) have rapidly developed into biomedical research as a novel tool for the potential treatment of various human diseases. They are based on altered gene expression. In spite of the availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), there is a specific interest in developing siRNAs as a therapeutic agent for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) due to several problems including toxicity and drug resistance along with long term treatment. The successful use of siRNAs for therapeutic goals needs safe and effective delivery to specific cells and tissues. Indeed, the efficiency of gene silencing depends on the potency of the carrier used for siRNA delivery. The combination of siRNA and nano-carriers is a potent method to prevent the limitations of siRNA formulation. Three steps were involved in non-viral siRNA carriers such as the complex formation of siRNA with a cationic carrier, conjugation of siRNA with small molecules, and encapsulation of siRNA within nanoparticles. In this mini-review, the designed siRNAs and their carriers are described against HIV-1 infections both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azam Bolhassani
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Milani
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.,Iranian Comprehensive Hemophilia Care Center, Tehran, Iran
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18
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Wu Y, Zhang D, Hu X, Peng R, Li J, Zhang X, Tan W. Multicolor Two‐Photon Nanosystem for Multiplexed Intracellular Imaging and Targeted Cancer Therapy. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202103027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yong‐Xiang Wu
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL) State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering College of Biology Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province Hunan University Changsha Hunan 410082 China
- State Key Laboratory Base of Novel Functional Materials and Preparation Science Key Laboratory of Advanced Mass Spectrometry and Molecular Analysis of Zhejiang Province School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering Institute of Mass Spectrometry Ningbo University Ningbo Zhejiang 315211 China
| | - Dailiang Zhang
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL) State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering College of Biology Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province Hunan University Changsha Hunan 410082 China
| | - Xiaoxiao Hu
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL) State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering College of Biology Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province Hunan University Changsha Hunan 410082 China
| | - Ruizi Peng
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL) State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering College of Biology Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province Hunan University Changsha Hunan 410082 China
- Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital) Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC) Chinese Academy of Sciences Hangzhou Zhejiang 310022 China
| | - Junbin Li
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL) State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering College of Biology Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province Hunan University Changsha Hunan 410082 China
| | - Xiaobing Zhang
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL) State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering College of Biology Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province Hunan University Changsha Hunan 410082 China
| | - Weihong Tan
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL) State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering College of Biology Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province Hunan University Changsha Hunan 410082 China
- Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital) Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC) Chinese Academy of Sciences Hangzhou Zhejiang 310022 China
- Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM) Renji Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 China
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19
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Wu Y, Zhang D, Hu X, Peng R, Li J, Zhang X, Tan W. Multicolor Two‐Photon Nanosystem for Multiplexed Intracellular Imaging and Targeted Cancer Therapy. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:12569-12576. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.202103027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yong‐Xiang Wu
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL) State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering College of Biology Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province Hunan University Changsha Hunan 410082 China
- State Key Laboratory Base of Novel Functional Materials and Preparation Science Key Laboratory of Advanced Mass Spectrometry and Molecular Analysis of Zhejiang Province School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering Institute of Mass Spectrometry Ningbo University Ningbo Zhejiang 315211 China
| | - Dailiang Zhang
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL) State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering College of Biology Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province Hunan University Changsha Hunan 410082 China
| | - Xiaoxiao Hu
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL) State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering College of Biology Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province Hunan University Changsha Hunan 410082 China
| | - Ruizi Peng
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL) State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering College of Biology Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province Hunan University Changsha Hunan 410082 China
- Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital) Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC) Chinese Academy of Sciences Hangzhou Zhejiang 310022 China
| | - Junbin Li
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL) State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering College of Biology Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province Hunan University Changsha Hunan 410082 China
| | - Xiaobing Zhang
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL) State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering College of Biology Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province Hunan University Changsha Hunan 410082 China
| | - Weihong Tan
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL) State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering College of Biology Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province Hunan University Changsha Hunan 410082 China
- Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital) Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC) Chinese Academy of Sciences Hangzhou Zhejiang 310022 China
- Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM) Renji Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 China
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20
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Ray RM, Hansen AH, Taskova M, Jandl B, Hansen J, Soemardy C, Morris KV, Astakhova K. Enhanced target cell specificity and uptake of lipid nanoparticles using RNA aptamers and peptides. Beilstein J Org Chem 2021; 17:891-907. [PMID: 33981364 PMCID: PMC8093553 DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.17.75] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) constitute a facile and scalable approach for delivery of payloads to human cells. LNPs are relatively immunologically inert and can be produced in a cost effective and scalable manner. However, targeting and delivery of LNPs across the blood–brain barrier (BBB) has proven challenging. In an effort to target LNPs composed of an ionizable cationic lipid (DLin-MC3-DMA), cholesterol, the phospholipid 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC), and 1,2-dimyristoyl-rac-glycero-3-methoxypolyethylene glycol-2000 (DMG-PEG 2000) to particular cell types, as well as to generate LNPs that can cross the BBB, we developed and assessed two approaches. The first was centered on the BBB-penetrating trans-activator of transcription (Tat) peptide or the peptide T7, and the other on RNA aptamers targeted to glycoprotein gp160 from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5), a HIV-1 coreceptor. We report herein a CCR5-selective RNA aptamer that acts to facilitate entry through a simplified BBB model and that drives the uptake of LNPs into CCR5-expressing cells, while the gp160 aptamer did not. We further observed that the addition of cell-penetrating peptides, Tat and T7, did not increase BBB penetration above the aptamer-loaded LNPs alone. Moreover, we found that these targeted LNPs exhibit low immunogenic and low toxic profiles and that targeted LNPs can traverse the BBB to potentially deliver drugs into the target tissue. This approach highlights the usefulness of aptamer-loaded LNPs to increase target cell specificity and potentially deliverability of central-nervous-system-active RNAi therapeutics across the BBB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roslyn M Ray
- Center for Gene Therapy, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Maria Taskova
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Bernhard Jandl
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jonas Hansen
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Citra Soemardy
- Center for Gene Therapy, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States of America
| | - Kevin V Morris
- Center for Gene Therapy, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States of America.,School of Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia 4222.,Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Kira Astakhova
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
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21
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Lu T, Zhang H, Zhou J, Ma Q, Yan W, Zhao L, Wu S, Chen H. Aptamer-targeting of Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) can be an effective strategy to inhibit virus replication. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4649. [PMID: 33633317 PMCID: PMC7907208 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84223-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Aleutian mink disease (AMD), which is caused by Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV), is an important contagious disease for which no effective vaccine is yet available. AMD causes major economic losses for mink farmers globally and threatens some carnivores such as skunks, genets, foxes and raccoons. Aptamers have exciting potential for the diagnosis and/or treatment of infectious viral diseases, including AMD. Using a magnetic beads-based systemic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) approach, we have developed aptamers with activity against AMDV after 10 rounds of selection. After incubation with the ADVa012 aptamer (4 μM) for 48 h, the concentration of AMDV in the supernatant of infected cells was 47% lower than in the supernatant of untreated cells, whereas a random library of aptamers has no effect. The half-life of ADVa012 was ~ 32 h, which is significantly longer than that of other aptamers. Sequences and three dimensions structural modeling of selected aptamers indicated that they fold into similar stem-loop structures, which may be a preferred structure for binding to the target protein. The ADVa012 aptamer was shown to have an effective and long-lasting inhibitory effect on viral production in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taofeng Lu
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Research, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Research, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- Shanghai Laboratory Animal Research Center, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Qin Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150069, China
| | - Wenzhuo Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150069, China
| | - Lili Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150069, China
| | - Shuguang Wu
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Research, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Hongyan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150069, China.
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22
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Catuogno S, Esposito CL, Giangrande PH. Stick-Based Methods for Aptamer-Mediated siRNA Targeted Delivery. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2282:31-42. [PMID: 33928568 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1298-9_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite the therapeutic utility of small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules, the development of a safe and reliable method to selectively target diseased organs and tissues is still a critical need for their translation to the clinic. Here we describe how nucleic acid-based aptamers against cell surface epitopes may be used to address this issue. We discuss the most recent examples and advances in the field of aptamer siRNA delivery and provide a fast and simple protocol for the design and generation of aptamer-siRNA chimeras. The described approach is based on the annealing of the targeting aptamer, and the antisense strand through "stick" complementary sequences elongated at their 3' end, and the subsequent paring with the sense strand. Such a protocol allows a modular non-covalent generation of the constructs and permits an efficient delivery of the siRNA moiety into aptamer target cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Catuogno
- Istituto per l'Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale, CNR, Naples, Italy.
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23
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Ning Y, Hu J, Lu F. Aptamers used for biosensors and targeted therapy. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 132:110902. [PMID: 33096353 PMCID: PMC7574901 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acid sequences that can bind to target molecules with high selectivity and affinity. Most aptamers are screened in vitro by a combinatorial biology technique called systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). Since aptamers were discovered in the 1990s, they have attracted considerable attention and have been widely used in many fields owing to their unique advantages. In this review, we present an overview of the advancements made in aptamers used for biosensors and targeted therapy. For the former, we will discuss multiple aptamer-based biosensors with different principles detected by various signaling methods. For the latter, we will focus on aptamer-based targeted therapy using aptamers as both biotechnological tools for targeted drug delivery and as targeted therapeutic agents. Finally, challenges and new perspectives associated with these two regions were further discussed. We hope that this review will help researchers interested in aptamer-related biosensing and targeted therapy research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Ning
- Department of Microbiology, The Medicine School of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, 410208, PR China
| | - Jue Hu
- Department of Microbiology, The Medicine School of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, 410208, PR China
| | - Fangguo Lu
- Department of Microbiology, The Medicine School of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, 410208, PR China.
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24
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Cunha-Santos C, Perdigao PRL, Martin F, Oliveira JG, Cardoso M, Manuel A, Taveira N, Goncalves J. Inhibition of HIV replication through siRNA carried by CXCR4-targeted chimeric nanobody. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:2859-2870. [PMID: 31641784 PMCID: PMC11104913 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03334-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Small interfering RNA (siRNA) application in therapy still faces a major challenge with the lack of an efficient and specific delivery system. Current vehicles are often responsible for poor efficacy, safety concerns, and burden costs of siRNA-based therapeutics. Here, we describe a novel strategy for targeted delivery of siRNA molecules to inhibit human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Specific membrane translocation of siRNA inhibitor was addressed by an engineered nanobody targeting the HIV co-receptor CXCR4 (NbCXCR4) in fusion with a single-chain variable fragment (4M5.3) that carried the FITC-conjugated siRNA. 4M5.3-NbCXCR4 conjugate (4M5.3X4) efficiently targeted CXCR4+ T lymphocytes, specifically translocating siRNA by receptor-mediated endocytosis. Targeted delivery of siRNA directed to the mRNA of HIV transactivator tat silenced Tat-driven viral transcription and inhibited the replication of distinct virus clades. In summary, we have shown that the engineered nanobody chimera developed in this study constitutes an efficient and specific delivery method of siRNAs through CXCR4 receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Cunha-Santos
- Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Department, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Pedro Ricardo Lucas Perdigao
- Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Department, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Francisco Martin
- HIV Evolution, Epidemiology and Prevention Department, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Joana Gomes Oliveira
- Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Department, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Miguel Cardoso
- Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Department, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Manuel
- Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Department, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Nuno Taveira
- HIV Evolution, Epidemiology and Prevention Department, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar Egas Moniz (CiiEM), Instituto Universitário Egas Moniz, Monte de Caparica, Portugal
| | - Joao Goncalves
- Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Department, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisbon, Portugal.
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25
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Thevendran R, Sarah S, Tang TH, Citartan M. Strategies to bioengineer aptamer-driven nanovehicles as exceptional molecular tools for targeted therapeutics: A review. J Control Release 2020; 323:530-548. [PMID: 32380206 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.04.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Aptamers are a class of folded nucleic acid strands capable of binding to different target molecules with high affinity and selectivity. Over the years, they have gained a substantial amount of interest as promising molecular tools for numerous medical applications, particularly in targeted therapeutics. However, only the different treatment approaches and current developments of aptamer-drug therapies have been discussed so far, ignoring the crucial technical and functional aspects of constructing a therapeutically effective aptamer-driven drug delivery system that translates to improved in-vivo performance. Hence, this paper provides a comprehensive review of the strategies used to improve the therapeutic performance of aptamer-guided delivery systems. We focus on the different functional features such as drug deployment, payload capacity, in-vivo stability and targeting efficiency to further our knowledge in enhancing the cell-specific delivery of aptamer-drug conjugates. Each reported strategy is critically discussed to emphasize both the benefits provided in comparison with other similar techniques and to outline their potential drawbacks with respect to the molecular properties of the aptamers, the drug and the system to be designed. The molecular architecture and design considerations for an efficient aptamer-based delivery system are also briefly elaborated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramesh Thevendran
- Advanced Medical & Dental Institute (AMDI), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam, 13200, Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia.
| | - Shigdar Sarah
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - Thean-Hock Tang
- Advanced Medical & Dental Institute (AMDI), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam, 13200, Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia.
| | - Marimuthu Citartan
- Advanced Medical & Dental Institute (AMDI), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam, 13200, Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia.
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26
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Bajan S, Hutvagner G. RNA-Based Therapeutics: From Antisense Oligonucleotides to miRNAs. Cells 2020; 9:E137. [PMID: 31936122 PMCID: PMC7016530 DOI: 10.3390/cells9010137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 229] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The first therapeutic nucleic acid, a DNA oligonucleotide, was approved for clinical use in 1998. Twenty years later, in 2018, the first therapeutic RNA-based oligonucleotide was United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved. This promises to be a rapidly expanding market, as many emerging biopharmaceutical companies are developing RNA interference (RNAi)-based, and RNA-based antisense oligonucleotide therapies. However, miRNA therapeutics are noticeably absent. miRNAs are regulatory RNAs that regulate gene expression. In disease states, the expression of many miRNAs is measurably altered. The potential of miRNAs as therapies and therapeutic targets has long been discussed and in the context of a wide variety of infections and diseases. Despite the great number of studies identifying miRNAs as potential therapeutic targets, only a handful of miRNA-targeting drugs (mimics or inhibitors) have entered clinical trials. In this review, we will discuss whether the investment in finding potential miRNA therapeutic targets has yielded feasible and practicable results, the benefits and obstacles of miRNAs as therapeutic targets, and the potential future of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Bajan
- Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
- Health and Sport Science, University of Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast, QLD 4556, Australia
| | - Gyorgy Hutvagner
- School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
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Rai MF, Pan H, Yan H, Sandell LJ, Pham CTN, Wickline SA. Applications of RNA interference in the treatment of arthritis. Transl Res 2019; 214:1-16. [PMID: 31351032 PMCID: PMC6848781 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2019.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism for post-transcriptional gene regulation mediated by small interfering RNA (siRNA) and microRNA. siRNA-based therapy holds significant promise for the treatment of a wide-range of arthritic diseases. siRNA selectively suppresses the expression of a gene product and can thus achieve the specificity that is lacking in small molecule inhibitors. The potential use of siRNA-based therapy in arthritis, however, has not progressed to clinical trials despite ample evidence for efficacy in preclinical studies. One of the main challenges to clinical translation is the lack of a suitable delivery vehicle to efficiently and safely access diverse pathologies. Moreover, the ideal targets in treatment of arthritides remain elusive given the complexity and heterogeneity of these disease pathogeneses. Herein, we review recent preclinical studies that use RNAi-based drug delivery systems to mitigate inflammation in models of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. We discuss a self-assembling peptide-based nanostructure that demonstrates the potential of overcoming many of the critical barriers preventing the translation of this technology to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Farooq Rai
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Musculoskeletal Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri; Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Hua Pan
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of South Florida Health Heart Institute, Morsani School of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
| | - Huimin Yan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Linda J Sandell
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Musculoskeletal Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri; Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Christine T N Pham
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
| | - Samuel A Wickline
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of South Florida Health Heart Institute, Morsani School of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
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Abstract
The RNA interference (RNAi) pathway regulates mRNA stability and translation in nearly all human cells. Small double-stranded RNA molecules can efficiently trigger RNAi silencing of specific genes, but their therapeutic use has faced numerous challenges involving safety and potency. However, August 2018 marked a new era for the field, with the US Food and Drug Administration approving patisiran, the first RNAi-based drug. In this Review, we discuss key advances in the design and development of RNAi drugs leading up to this landmark achievement, the state of the current clinical pipeline and prospects for future advances, including novel RNAi pathway agents utilizing mechanisms beyond post-translational RNAi silencing.
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Rose KM, Alves Ferreira-Bravo I, Li M, Craigie R, Ditzler MA, Holliger P, DeStefano JJ. Selection of 2'-Deoxy-2'-Fluoroarabino Nucleic Acid (FANA) Aptamers That Bind HIV-1 Integrase with Picomolar Affinity. ACS Chem Biol 2019; 14:2166-2175. [PMID: 31560515 PMCID: PMC7005942 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.9b00237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Systematic Evolution
of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX)
is the iterative process by which nucleic acids that can bind with
high affinity and specificity (termed aptamers) to specific protein
targets are selected. Using a SELEX protocol adapted for Xeno-Nucleic
Acid (XNA) as a suitable substrate for aptamer generation, 2′-fluoroarabinonucleic
acid (FANA) was used to select several related aptamers to HIV-1 integrase
(IN). IN bound FANA aptamers with equilibrium dissociation constants
(KD,app) of ∼50–100 pM in
a buffer with 200 mM NaCl and 6 mM MgCl2. Comparisons to
published HIV-1 IN RNA and DNA aptamers as well as IN genomic binding
partners indicated that FANA aptamers bound more than 2 orders of
magnitude more tightly to IN. Using a combination of RNA folding algorithms
and covariation analysis, all strong binding aptamers demonstrated
a common four-way junction structure, despite significant sequence
variation. IN aptamers were selected from the same starting library
as FA1, a FANA aptamer that binds with pM affinity to HIV-1 Reverse
Transcriptase (RT). It contains a 20-nucleotide 5′ DNA sequence
followed by 59 FANA nucleotides. IN-1.1 (one of the selected aptamers)
potently inhibited IN activity and intasome formation in vitro. Replacing
the FANA nucleotides of IN-1.1 with 2′-fluororibonucleic acid
(F-RNA), which has the same chemical formula but with a ribose rather
than arabinose sugar conformation, dramatically reduced binding, suggesting
that FANA adopts unique structural conformations that promote binding
to HIV-1 IN.
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Takahashi M, Li H, Zhou J, Chomchan P, Aishwarya V, Damha MJ, Rossi JJ. Dual Mechanisms of Action of Self-Delivering, Anti-HIV-1 FANA Oligonucleotides as a Potential New Approach to HIV Therapy. MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 2019; 17:615-625. [PMID: 31394430 PMCID: PMC6695270 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2019.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Currently, the most effective and durable therapeutic option for HIV-1 infection is combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Although cART is powerful and can delay viral evolution of drug resistance for decades, it is associated with limitations, including an inability to eradicate the virus and a potential for adverse effects. Therefore, it is imperative to discover new HIV therapeutic modalities. In this study, we designed, characterized, and evaluated the in vitro potency of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoroarabinonucleotide (FANA) modified antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) targeting highly conserved regions in the HIV-1 genome. Carrier-free cellular internalization of FANA ASOs resulted in strong suppression of HIV-1 replication in HIV-1-infected human primary cells. In vitro mechanistic studies suggested that the inhibitory effect of FANA ASOs can be attributed to RNase H1 activation and steric hindrance of dimerization. Using 5′-RACE PCR and sequencing analysis, we confirmed the presence of human RNase H1-mediated target RNA cleavage products in cells treated with FANA ASOs. We observed no overt cytotoxicity or immune responses upon FANA ASO treatment. Together, our results strongly suggest that FANA ASOs hold great promise for antiretroviral therapy. The dual ability of FANA ASOs to target RNA by recruiting RNase H1 and/or sterically blocking RNA dimerization further enhances their therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayumi Takahashi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Monrovia, CA 91016, USA
| | - Haitang Li
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Monrovia, CA 91016, USA
| | - Jiehua Zhou
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Monrovia, CA 91016, USA
| | - Pritsana Chomchan
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Monrovia, CA 91016, USA
| | | | - Masad J Damha
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - John J Rossi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Monrovia, CA 91016, USA; Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Science, Beckman Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA.
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Pang KM, Castanotto D, Li H, Scherer L, Rossi JJ. Incorporation of aptamers in the terminal loop of shRNAs yields an effective and novel combinatorial targeting strategy. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:e6. [PMID: 29077949 PMCID: PMC5758892 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy by engineering patient's own blood cells to confer HIV resistance can potentially lead to a functional cure for AIDS. Toward this goal, we have previously developed an anti-HIV lentivirus vector that deploys a combination of shRNA, ribozyme and RNA decoy. To further improve this therapeutic vector against viral escape, we sought an additional reagent to target HIV integrase. Here, we report the development of a new strategy for selection and expression of aptamer for gene therapy. We developed a SELEX protocol (multi-tag SELEX) for selecting RNA aptamers against proteins with low solubility or stability, such as integrase. More importantly, we expressed these aptamers in vivo by incorporating them in the terminal loop of shRNAs. This novel strategy allowed efficient expression of the shRNA–aptamer fusions that targeted RNAs and proteins simultaneously. Expressed shRNA–aptamer fusions targeting HIV integrase or reverse transcriptase inhibited HIV replication in cell cultures. Viral inhibition was further enhanced by combining an anti-integrase aptamer with an anti-HIV Tat-Rev shRNA. This construct exhibited efficacy comparable to that of integrase inhibitor Raltegravir. Our strategy for the selection and expression of RNA aptamers can potentially extend to other gene therapy applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ka Ming Pang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA.,Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Cancer Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Daniela Castanotto
- Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Cancer Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Haitang Li
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Lisa Scherer
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - John J Rossi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA.,Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
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Abstract
As the HIV pandemic rapidly spread worldwide in the 1980s and 1990s, a new approach to treat cancer, genetic diseases, and infectious diseases was also emerging. Cell and gene therapy strategies are connected with human pathologies at a fundamental level, by delivering DNA and RNA molecules that could correct and/or ameliorate the underlying genetic factors of any illness. The history of HIV gene therapy is especially intriguing, in that the virus that was targeted was soon co-opted to become part of the targeting strategy. Today, HIV-based lentiviral vectors, along with many other gene delivery strategies, have been used to evaluate HIV cure approaches in cell culture, small and large animal models, and in patients. Here, we trace HIV cell and gene therapy from the earliest clinical trials, using genetically unmodified cell products from the patient or from matched donors, through current state-of-the-art strategies. These include engineering HIV-specific immunity in T-cells, gene editing approaches to render all blood cells in the body HIV-resistant, and most importantly, combination therapies that draw from both of these respective "offensive" and "defensive" approaches. It is widely agreed upon that combinatorial approaches are the most promising route to functional cure/remission of HIV infection. This chapter outlines cell and gene therapy strategies that are poised to play an essential role in eradicating HIV-infected cells in vivo.
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Raja MAG, Katas H, Amjad MW. Design, mechanism, delivery and therapeutics of canonical and Dicer-substrate siRNA. Asian J Pharm Sci 2019; 14:497-510. [PMID: 32104477 PMCID: PMC7032099 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajps.2018.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Upon the discovery of RNA interference (RNAi), canonical small interfering RNA (siRNA) has been recognized to trigger sequence-specific gene silencing. Despite the benefits of siRNAs as potential new drugs, there are obstacles still to be overcome, including off-target effects and immune stimulation. More recently, Dicer substrate siRNA (DsiRNA) has been introduced as an alternative to siRNA. Similarly, it also is proving to be potent and target-specific, while rendering less immune stimulation. DsiRNA is 25–30 nucleotides in length, and is further cleaved and processed by the Dicer enzyme. As with siRNA, it is crucial to design and develop a stable, safe, and efficient system for the delivery of DsiRNA into the cytoplasm of targeted cells. Several polymeric nanoparticle systems have been well established to load DsiRNA for in vitro and in vivo delivery, thereby overcoming a major hurdle in the therapeutic uses of DsiRNA. The present review focuses on a comparison of siRNA and DsiRNA on the basis of their design, mechanism, in vitro and in vivo delivery, and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Abdul Ghafoor Raja
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Northern Border University, Rafha 73211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haliza Katas
- Centre for Drug Delivery Research, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Wahab Amjad
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Northern Border University, Rafha 73211, Saudi Arabia
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Yoon S, Wu X, Armstrong B, Habib N, Rossi JJ. An RNA Aptamer Targeting the Receptor Tyrosine Kinase PDGFRα Induces Anti-tumor Effects through STAT3 and p53 in Glioblastoma. MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 2018; 14:131-141. [PMID: 30594071 PMCID: PMC6307106 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2018.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Revised: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Human glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive malignancy of the CNS, with less than 5% survival. Despite great efforts to find effective therapeutics, current options remain very limited. To develop a targeted cancer therapeutic, we selected RNA aptamers against platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα), which is a receptor tyrosine kinase. One RNA aptamer (PDR3) with high affinity (0.25 nM) showed PDGFRα specificity and was internalized in U251-MG cells. Following treatment with the PDR3 aptamer, expression of the transcription factor STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) was inhibited, whereas the expression of the histone demethylase JMJD3 and the tumor suppressor p53 were upregulated. PDR3 also upregulated serine phosphorylation of p53, which subsequently mediated apoptosis through the death receptors: tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptors 1/2 (TRAIL-R1/R2), Fas-associated via death domain (FADD), and Fas. PDR3 significantly decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, translocation of PDR3 into the nucleus induced hypomethylation at the promoters of cyclin D2. To assess the feasibility of targeted delivery, we conjugated PDR3 aptamer with STAT3-siRNA for a chimera. The PDR3-siSTAT3 chimera successfully inhibited the expression of target genes and showed significant inhibition of cell viability. In summary, our results show that well-tailored RNA aptamers targeting the PDGFRα-STAT3 axis have the potential to act as anti-cancer therapeutics in GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sorah Yoon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Xiwei Wu
- Integrative Genomic Core, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | | | - Nagy Habib
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - John J Rossi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA.
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35
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Aptamer Chimeras for Therapeutic Delivery: The Challenging Perspectives. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:genes9110529. [PMID: 30384431 PMCID: PMC6266988 DOI: 10.3390/genes9110529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acid-based aptamers have emerged as efficient delivery carriers of therapeutics. Thanks to their unique features, they can be, to date, considered one of the best targeting moieties, allowing the specific recognition of diseased cells and avoiding unwanted off-target effects on healthy tissues. In this review, we revise the most recent contributes on bispecific and multifunctional aptamer therapeutic chimeras. We will discuss key examples of aptamer-mediated delivery of nucleic acid and peptide-based therapeutics underlying their great potentiality and versatility. Achieved objectives and challenges will be highlighted as well.
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Molefe PF, Masamba P, Oyinloye BE, Mbatha LS, Meyer M, Kappo AP. Molecular Application of Aptamers in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer and Communicable Diseases. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2018; 11:ph11040093. [PMID: 30274155 PMCID: PMC6315466 DOI: 10.3390/ph11040093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer and infectious diseases such as Ebola, HIV, tuberculosis, Zika, hepatitis, measles and human schistosomiasis are serious global health hazards. The increasing annual morbidities and mortalities of these diseases have been blamed on drug resistance and the inefficacy of available diagnostic tools, particularly those which are immunologically-based. Antibody-based tools rely solely on antibody production for diagnosis and for this reason they are the major cause of diagnostic delays. Unfortunately, the control of these diseases depends on early detection and administration of effective treatment therefore any diagnostic delay is a huge challenge to curbing these diseases. Hence, there is a need for alternative diagnostic tools, discovery and development of novel therapeutic agents. Studies have demonstrated that aptamers could potentially offer one of the best solutions to these problems. Aptamers are short sequences of either DNA or RNA molecules, which are identified in vitro through a SELEX process. They are sensitive and bind specifically to target molecules. Their promising features suggest they may serve as better diagnostic agents and can be used as drug carriers for therapeutic purposes. In this article, we review the applications of aptamers in the theranostics of cancer and some infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philisiwe Fortunate Molefe
- Biotechnology and Structural Biochemistry (BSB) Group, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa.
| | - Priscilla Masamba
- Biotechnology and Structural Biochemistry (BSB) Group, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa.
| | - Babatunji Emmanuel Oyinloye
- Biotechnology and Structural Biochemistry (BSB) Group, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa.
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Sciences, Afe Babalola University, PMB 5454, Ado-Ekiti 360001, Nigeria.
| | - Londiwe Simphiwe Mbatha
- Biotechnology and Structural Biochemistry (BSB) Group, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa.
| | - Mervin Meyer
- DST/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, Biolabels Node, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7535, South Africa.
| | - Abidemi Paul Kappo
- Biotechnology and Structural Biochemistry (BSB) Group, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa.
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Wang Y, Hoinka J, Liang Y, Adamus T, Swiderski P, Przytycka TM. AptaBlocks: Designing RNA complexes and accelerating RNA-based drug delivery systems. Nucleic Acids Res 2018; 46:8133-8142. [PMID: 29986050 PMCID: PMC6144873 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA-based therapeutics, i.e. the utilization of synthetic RNA molecules to alter cellular functions, have the potential to address targets which are currently out of scope for traditional drug design pipelines. This potential however hinges on the ability to selectively deliver and internalize therapeutic RNAs into cells of interest. Cell internalizing RNA aptamers selected against surface receptors and discriminatively expressed on target cells hold particular promise as suitable candidates for such delivery agents. Specifically, these aptamers can be combined with a therapeutic cargo and facilitate internalization of the cargo into the cell of interest. A recently proposed method to obtain such aptamer-cargo constructs employs a double-stranded "sticky bridge" where the complementary strands constituting the bridge are conjugated with the aptamer and the cargo respectively. The design of appropriate sticky bridge sequences however has proven highly challenging given the structural and functional constraints imposed on them during synthesis and administration. These include, but are not limited to, guaranteed formation and stability of the complex, non-interference with the aptamer or the cargo, as well as the prevention of spurious aggregation of the molecules during incubation. In order to address these issues, we have developed AptaBlocks - a computational method to design RNA complexes that hybridize via sticky bridges. The effectiveness of our approach has been verified computationally, and experimentally in the context of drug delivery to pancreatic cancer cells. Importantly, AptaBlocks is a general method for the assembly of nucleic acid systems that, in addition to designing of RNA-based drug delivery systems, can be used in other applications of RNA nanotechnology. AptaBlocks is available at https://github.com/wyjhxq/AptaBlocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijie Wang
- National Center of Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, NIH, Bethesda MD 20894, USA
| | - Jan Hoinka
- National Center of Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, NIH, Bethesda MD 20894, USA
| | - Yong Liang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Tomasz Adamus
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Piotr Swiderski
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Teresa M Przytycka
- National Center of Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, NIH, Bethesda MD 20894, USA
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Bayat P, Nosrati R, Alibolandi M, Rafatpanah H, Abnous K, Khedri M, Ramezani M. SELEX methods on the road to protein targeting with nucleic acid aptamers. Biochimie 2018; 154:132-155. [PMID: 30193856 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2018.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Systematic evolution of ligand by exponential enrichment (SELEX) is an efficient method used to isolate high-affinity single stranded oligonucleotides from a large random sequence pool. These SELEX-derived oligonucleotides named aptamer, can be selected against a broad spectrum of target molecules including proteins, cells, microorganisms and chemical compounds. Like antibodies, aptamers have a great potential in interacting with and binding to their targets through structural recognition and are therefore called "chemical antibodies". However, aptamers offer advantages over antibodies including smaller size, better tissue penetration, higher thermal stability, lower immunogenicity, easier production, lower cost of synthesis and facilitated conjugation or modification with different functional moieties. Thus, aptamers represent an attractive substitution for protein antibodies in the fields of biomarker discovery, diagnosis, imaging and targeted therapy. Enormous interest in aptamer technology triggered the development of SELEX that has underwent numerous modifications since its introduction in 1990. This review will discuss the recent advances in SELEX methods and their advantages and limitations. Aptamer applications are also briefly outlined in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Payam Bayat
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Rahim Nosrati
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mona Alibolandi
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Houshang Rafatpanah
- Inflammation and Inflammatory Diseases Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Khalil Abnous
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mostafa Khedri
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ramezani
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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Therapeutic aptamers in discovery, preclinical and clinical stages. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2018; 134:51-64. [PMID: 30125605 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2018.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The aptamer field witnessed steady growth during the past 28 years as evident from the exponentially increasing number of related publications. The field is "coming of age", but like other biomedical research areas facing a global push towards translational research to carry ideas from bench- to bedside, there is pressure to show impact for aptamers at the clinical end. Being easy-to-make, non-immunogenic, stable and high-affinity nano-ligands, aptamers are perfectly poised to move in this direction. They can specifically bind targets ranging from small molecules to complex multimeric structures, making them potentially useful in a limitless variety of therapeutic approaches. This review will summarize efforts made to accomplish the therapeutic promise of aptamers, with a focus on aptamers directly acting as therapeutic molecules, rather than those used in targeted delivery of other drugs. The review will showcase representative examples at various stages of development, covering different disease categories.
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40
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Catuogno S, Esposito CL, Condorelli G, de Franciscis V. Nucleic acids delivering nucleic acids. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2018; 134:79-93. [PMID: 29630917 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2018.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid therapeutics, including siRNAs, miRNAs/antimiRs, gRNAs and ASO, represent innovative and highly promising molecules for the safe treatment of a wide range of pathologies. The efficiency of systemic treatments is impeded by 1) the need to overcome physical and functional barriers in the organism, and 2) to accumulate in the intracellular active site at therapeutic concentrations. Although oligonucleotides either as modified naked molecules or complexed with delivery carriers have revealed to be effectively delivered to the affected target cells, this is restricted to topic treatments or to a few highly vascularized tissues. Therefore, the development of effective strategies for therapeutic nucleic acid selective delivery to target tissues is of primary importance in order to reduce the occurrence of undesired effects on non-target healthy tissues and to permit their translation to clinic. Due to their high affinity for specific ligands, high tissue penetration and chemical flexibility, short single-stranded nucleic acid aptamers are emerging as very attractive carriers for various therapeutic oligonucleotides. Yet, different aptamer-based bioconjugates, able to provide accumulation into target tissues, as well as efficient processing of therapeutic oligonucleotides, have been developed. In this respect, nucleic acid aptamer-mediated delivery strategies represent a powerful approach able to increase the therapeutic efficacy also highly reducing the overall toxicity. In this review, we will summarize recent progress in the field and discuss achieved objectives and optimization of aptamers as delivery carriers of short oligonucleotides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Catuogno
- Istituto di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Naples, Italy
| | - Carla Lucia Esposito
- Istituto di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Naples, Italy
| | - Gerolama Condorelli
- Istituto di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Naples, Italy; Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Vittorio de Franciscis
- Istituto di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Naples, Italy.
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Sivakumar P, Kim S, Kang HC, Shim MS. Targeted siRNA delivery using aptamer-siRNA chimeras and aptamer-conjugated nanoparticles. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2018; 11:e1543. [PMID: 30070426 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2018] [Revised: 06/09/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The sequence-specific gene-silencing ability of small interfering RNA (siRNA) has been exploited as a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of a variety of diseases. However, efficient and safe delivery of siRNA into target cells is still a challenge in the clinical development of siRNA-based therapeutics. Recently, nucleic acid-based aptamers that target cell surface proteins have emerged as a new class of targeting moieties due to their high specificity and avidity. To date, various aptamer-mediated siRNA delivery systems have been developed to enhance the RNA interference (RNAi) efficacy of siRNA via targeted delivery. In this review, we summarize recent advances in developing aptamer-mediated siRNA delivery systems for RNAi therapeutics, mainly aptamer-siRNA chimeras and aptamer-functionalized nanocarriers incorporating siRNA, with a focus on their molecular designs and formulations. In addition, the challenges and engineering strategies of aptamer-mediated siRNA delivery systems for clinical translation are discussed. This article is categorized under: Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Nucleic Acid-Based Structures Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Padmanaban Sivakumar
- Division of Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sumin Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, Integrated Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and BK21 PLUS Team for Creative Leader Program for Pharmacomics-based Future Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, The Catholic University of Korea, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Han Chang Kang
- Department of Pharmacy, Integrated Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and BK21 PLUS Team for Creative Leader Program for Pharmacomics-based Future Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, The Catholic University of Korea, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Suk Shim
- Division of Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
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Complexes of Oligoribonucleotides with d-Mannitol Modulate the Innate Immune Response to Influenza A Virus H1N1 (A/FM/1/47) In Vivo. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2018; 11:ph11030073. [PMID: 30037133 PMCID: PMC6161188 DOI: 10.3390/ph11030073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid replication of the influenza A virus and lung tissue damage caused by exaggerated pro-inflammatory host immune responses lead to numerous deaths. Therefore, novel therapeutic agents that have anti-influenza activities and attenuate excessive pro-inflammatory responses that are induced by an influenza virus infection are needed. Oligoribonucleotides-d-mannitol (ORNs-d-M) complexes possess both antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities. The current research was aimed at studying the ORNs-d-M effects on expression of innate immune genes in mice lungs during an influenza virus infection. Expression of genes was determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot assays. In the present studies, we found that the ORNs-d-M reduced the influenza-induced up-expression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) (tlr3, tlr7, tlr8), nuclear factor NF-kB (nfkbia, nfnb1), cytokines (ifnε, ifnk, ifna2, ifnb1, ifnγ, il6, il1b, il12a, tnf), chemokines (ccl3, ccl4, сcl5, cxcl9, cxcl10, cxcl11), interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) (oas1a, oas2, oas3, mx1), and pro-oxidation (nos2, xdh) genes. The ORNs-d-M inhibited the mRNA overexpression of tlr3, tlr7, and tlr8 induced by the influenza virus, which suggests that they impair the upregulation of NF-kB, cytokines, chemokines, ISGs, and pro-oxidation genes induced by the influenza virus by inhibiting activation of the TLR-3, TLR-7, and TLR-8 signaling pathways. By impairing activation of the TLR-3, TLR-7, and TLR-8 signaling pathways, the ORNs-d-M can modulate the innate immune response to an influenza virus infection.
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Modular cell-internalizing aptamer nanostructure enables targeted delivery of large functional RNAs in cancer cell lines. Nat Commun 2018; 9:2283. [PMID: 29891903 PMCID: PMC5995956 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04691-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Large RNAs and ribonucleoprotein complexes have powerful therapeutic potential, but effective cell-targeted delivery tools are limited. Aptamers that internalize into target cells can deliver siRNAs (<15 kDa, 19–21 nt/strand). We demonstrate a modular nanostructure for cellular delivery of large, functional RNA payloads (50–80 kDa, 175–250 nt) by aptamers that recognize multiple human B cell cancer lines and transferrin receptor-expressing cells. Fluorogenic RNA reporter payloads enable accelerated testing of platform designs and rapid evaluation of assembly and internalization. Modularity is demonstrated by swapping in different targeting and payload aptamers. Both modules internalize into leukemic B cell lines and remained colocalized within endosomes. Fluorescence from internalized RNA persists for ≥2 h, suggesting a sizable window for aptamer payloads to exert influence upon targeted cells. This demonstration of aptamer-mediated, cell-internalizing delivery of large RNAs with retention of functional structure raises the possibility of manipulating endosomes and cells by delivering large aptamers and regulatory RNAs. Large RNAs and ribonucleoprotein complexes have shown potential as novel therapeutic agents, but their targeted delivery to cells is still challenging. Here the authors present a modular aptamer nanostructure for intracellular delivery of RNAs up to 250 nucleotides to cancer cells.
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Pan Q, Luo F, Liu M, Zhang XL. Oligonucleotide aptamers: promising and powerful diagnostic and therapeutic tools for infectious diseases. J Infect 2018; 77:83-98. [PMID: 29746951 PMCID: PMC7112547 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2018.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Revised: 01/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The entire human population is at risk of infectious diseases worldwide. Thus far, the diagnosis and treatment of human infectious diseases at the molecular and nanoscale levels have been extremely challenging tasks because of the lack of effective probes to identify and recognize biomarkers of pathogens. Oligonucleotide aptamers are a class of small nucleic acid ligands that are composed of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or RNA and act as affinity probes or molecular recognition elements for a variety of targets. These aptamers have an exciting potential for diagnose and/or treatment of specific diseases. In this review, we highlight areas where aptamers have been developed as diagnostic and therapeutic agents for both bacterial and viral infectious diseases as well as aptamer-based detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Department of Immunology School of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical Research Institute and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy Wuhan University School of Medicine, Donghu Road 185#, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| | - Fengling Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Department of Immunology School of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical Research Institute and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy Wuhan University School of Medicine, Donghu Road 185#, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| | - Min Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Department of Immunology School of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical Research Institute and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy Wuhan University School of Medicine, Donghu Road 185#, Wuhan 430071, PR China
| | - Xiao-Lian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Department of Immunology School of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical Research Institute and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy Wuhan University School of Medicine, Donghu Road 185#, Wuhan 430071, PR China.
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Shrivastava S, Charlins P, Ackley A, Embree H, Dropulic B, Akkina R, Weinberg MS, Morris KV. Stable Transcriptional Repression and Parasitism of HIV-1. MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 2018; 12:12-18. [PMID: 30195752 PMCID: PMC6019856 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2018.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2017] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Gene-based therapies represent a promising treatment for HIV-1 infection, as they offer the potential for sustained viral inhibition and reduced treatment interventions. One approach developed here involves using conditionally replicating vectors (CR-vectors). CR-vectors utilize HIV-expressed proteins to replicate and disseminate along with HIV into the budding viral particles, thereby co-infecting target cellular reservoirs. We generated and characterized several CR-vectors carrying various therapeutic payloads of non-coding RNAs targeted to HIV-1, both transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally. Both virus and vector expression was followed in cell culture systems and T cells in the presence and absence of mycophenolic acid (MPA) selection. We find here that CR-vectors functionally suppress HIV expression in a long-term stable manner and that transcriptional targeting of and epigenetic silencing of HIV can be passaged to newly infected cells by the action of the CR-vector, ultimately establishing a sustained parasitism of HIV. Our findings suggest that CR-vectors with modulatory non-coding RNAs may be a viable approach to achieving long-term sustained suppression of HIV-1, leading ultimately to a functional cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surya Shrivastava
- Hematological Malignancy and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute and Center for Gene Therapy, City of Hope-Beckman Research Institute, 1500 Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91007, USA
| | - Paige Charlins
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Amanda Ackley
- Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Ramesh Akkina
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Marc S Weinberg
- Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kevin V Morris
- Hematological Malignancy and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute and Center for Gene Therapy, City of Hope-Beckman Research Institute, 1500 Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91007, USA; Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Design and Preparation of Aptamer-siRNA Chimeras (AsiCs) for Targeted Cancer Therapy. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1632:175-186. [PMID: 28730439 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7138-1_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Conjugation of cell-internalizing DNA or RNA aptamers to tumor-suppressing siRNAs represents a novel promising approach for cancer therapy. Here we describe how to employ RNA aptamers that bind to cell surface receptors as carriers for cell-targeted siRNA (or miRNA) delivery. This protocol was optimized to improve the efficiency of the aptamer-siRNA/miRNA conjugates and facilitate its implementation in most molecular biology labs. The single working steps include (1) outlining the optimal sequences of the RNA strands bearing the aptamer and siRNA sequence, for which further (2) a dsDNA template is synthesized and then (3) transcribed into an RNA that will be (4) folded and annealed to a chemically synthesized siRNA complementary strand. Moreover, we reference recent examples and advances in the aptamer delivery field.
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Zhou J, Lazar D, Li H, Xia X, Satheesan S, Charlins P, O'Mealy D, Akkina R, Saayman S, Weinberg MS, Rossi JJ, Morris KV. Receptor-targeted aptamer-siRNA conjugate-directed transcriptional regulation of HIV-1. Am J Cancer Res 2018; 8:1575-1590. [PMID: 29556342 PMCID: PMC5858168 DOI: 10.7150/thno.23085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene-based therapies represent a promising therapeutic paradigm for the treatment of HIV-1, as they have the potential to maintain sustained viral inhibition with reduced treatment interventions. Such an option may represent a long-term treatment alternative to highly active antiretroviral therapy. Methods: We previously described a therapeutic approach, referred to as transcriptional gene silencing (TGS), whereby small noncoding RNAs directly inhibit the transcriptional activity of HIV-1 by targeting sites within the viral promoter, specifically the 5' long terminal repeat (LTR). TGS differs from traditional RNA interference (RNAi) in that it is characterized by concomitant silent-state epigenetic marks on histones and DNA. To deliver TGS-inducing RNAs, we developed functional RNA conjugates based on the previously reported dual function of the gp120 (A-1) aptamer conjugated to 27-mer Dicer-substrate anti-HIV-1 siRNA (dsiRNA), LTR-362. Results: We demonstrate here that high levels of processed guide RNAs localize to the nucleus in infected T lymphoblastoid CEM cell line and primary human CD4+ T-cells. Treatment of the aptamer-siRNA conjugates induced TGS with an ~10-fold suppression of viral p24 levels as measured at day 12 post infection. To explore the silencing efficacy of aptamer-siRNA conjugates in vivo, HIV-1-infected humanized NOD/SCID/IL2 rγnull mice (hu-NSG) were treated with the aptamer-siRNA conjugates. Systemic delivery of the A-1-stick-LTR-362 27-mer siRNA conjugates suppressed HIV-1 infection and protected CD4+ T cell levels in viremia hu-NSG mice. Principle conclusions: Collectively these data suggest that the gp120 aptamer-dsiRNA conjugate design is suitable for systemic delivery of small RNAs that can be used to suppress HIV-1.
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Selection and Identification of Skeletal-Muscle-Targeted RNA Aptamers. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2017; 10:199-214. [PMID: 29499933 PMCID: PMC5862129 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2017.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Revised: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Oligonucleotide gene therapy has shown great promise for the treatment of muscular dystrophies. Nevertheless, the selective delivery to affected muscles has shown to be challenging because of their high representation in the body and the high complexity of their cell membranes. Current trials show loss of therapeutic molecules to non-target tissues leading to lower target efficacy. Therefore, strategies that increase uptake efficiency would be particularly compelling. To address this need, we applied a cell-internalization SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) approach and identified a skeletal muscle-specific RNA aptamer. A01B RNA aptamer preferentially internalizes in skeletal muscle cells and exhibits decreased affinity for off-target cells. Moreover, this in vitro selected aptamer retained its functionality in vivo, suggesting a potential new approach for targeting skeletal muscles. Ultimately, this will aid in the development of targeted oligonucleotide therapies against muscular dystrophies.
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50
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Catuogno S, Esposito CL. Aptamer Cell-Based Selection: Overview and Advances. Biomedicines 2017; 5:biomedicines5030049. [PMID: 28805744 PMCID: PMC5618307 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines5030049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Revised: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aptamers are high affinity single-stranded DNA/RNA molecules, produced by a combinatorial procedure named SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential enrichment), that are emerging as promising diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Among selection strategies, procedures using living cells as complex targets (referred as "cell-SELEX") have been developed as an effective mean to generate aptamers for heavily modified cell surface proteins, assuring the binding of the target in its native conformation. Here we give an up-to-date overview on cell-SELEX technology, discussing the most recent advances with a particular focus on cancer cell targeting. Examples of the different protocol applications and post-SELEX strategies will be briefly outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Catuogno
- Istituto di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale "G. Salvatore", CNR, Naples 80100, Italy.
| | - Carla Lucia Esposito
- Istituto di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale "G. Salvatore", CNR, Naples 80100, Italy.
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