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Won Lee J, Kyu Shim M, Kim H, Jang H, Lee Y, Hwa Kim S. RNAi therapies: Expanding applications for extrahepatic diseases and overcoming delivery challenges. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 201:115073. [PMID: 37657644 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.115073] [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: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
The era of RNA medicine has become a reality with the success of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines against COVID-19 and the approval of several RNA interference (RNAi) agents in recent years. Particularly, therapeutics based on RNAi offer the promise of targeting intractable and previously undruggable disease genes. Recent advances have focused in developing delivery systems to enhance the poor cellular uptake and insufficient pharmacokinetic properties of RNAi therapeutics and thereby improve its efficacy and safety. However, such approach has been mainly achieved via lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) or chemical conjugation with N-Acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc), thus current RNAi therapy has been limited to liver diseases, most likely to encounter liver-targeting limitations. Hence, there is a huge unmet medical need for intense evolution of RNAi therapeutics delivery systems to target extrahepatic tissues and ultimately extend their indications for treating various intractable diseases. In this review, challenges of delivering RNAi therapeutics to tumors and major organs are discussed, as well as their transition to clinical trials. This review also highlights innovative and promising preclinical RNAi-based delivery platforms for the treatment of extrahepatic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong Won Lee
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea; Medicinal Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Man Kyu Shim
- Medicinal Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyosuk Kim
- Medicinal Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Hochung Jang
- Medicinal Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Yuhan Lee
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Center for Accelerated Medical Innovation & Center for Nanomedicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Sun Hwa Kim
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea; Medicinal Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea.
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Bellini NK, Thiemann OH, Reyes-Batlle M, Lorenzo-Morales J, Costa AO. A history of over 40 years of potentially pathogenic free-living amoeba studies in Brazil - a systematic review. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2022; 117:e210373. [PMID: 35792751 PMCID: PMC9252135 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760210373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Free-living amoeba (FLA) group includes the potentially pathogenic genera Acanthamoeba, Naegleria, Balamuthia, Sappinia, and Vermamoeba, causative agents of human infections (encephalitis, keratitis, and disseminated diseases). In Brazil, the first report on pathogenic FLA was published in the 70s and showed meningoencephalitis caused by Naegleria spp. FLA studies are emerging, but no literature review is available to investigate this trend in Brazil critically. Thus, the present work aims to integrate and discuss these data. Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched, retrieving studies from 1974 to 2020. The screening process resulted in 178 papers, which were clustered into core and auxiliary classes and sorted into five categories: wet-bench studies, dry-bench studies, clinical reports, environmental identifications, and literature reviews. The papers dating from the last ten years account for 75% (134/178) of the total publications, indicating the FLA topic has gained Brazilian interest. Moreover, 81% (144/178) address Acanthamoeba-related matter, revealing this genus as the most prevalent in all categories. Brazil’s Southeast, South, and Midwest geographic regions accounted for 96% (171/178) of the publications studied in the present work. To the best of our knowledge, this review is the pioneer in summarising the FLA research history in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natália Karla Bellini
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculdade de Farmácia, Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Otavio Henrique Thiemann
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brasil.,Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Departamento de Genética e Evolução, São Carlos, SP, Brasil
| | - María Reyes-Batlle
- Universidad de La Laguna, Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Departamento de Obstetricia, Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Red de Investigación Cooperativa en Enfermedades Tropicales, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
| | - Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
- Universidad de La Laguna, Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Departamento de Obstetricia, Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Red de Investigación Cooperativa en Enfermedades Tropicales, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain.,Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red MP de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Adriana Oliveira Costa
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculdade de Farmácia, Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
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3
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Polat HK, Kurt N, Aytekin E, Bozdağ Pehlivan S, Çalış S. Novel Drug Delivery Systems to Improve the Treatment of Keratitis. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther 2022; 38:376-395. [PMID: 35763406 DOI: 10.1089/jop.2021.0127] [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: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Keratitis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the cornea caused by different pathogens. It can cause serious visual morbidity if not treated quickly. Depending on the pathogen causing keratitis, eye drops containing antibacterial, antifungal, or antiviral agents such as besiloxacin, moxifloxacin, ofloxacin, voriconazol, econazole, fluconazole, and acyclovir are used, and these drops need to be applied frequently due to their low bioavailability. Studies are carried out on formulations with extended residence time in the cornea and increased permeability. These formulations include various new drug delivery systems such as inserts, nanoparticles, liposomes, niosomes, cubosomes, microemulsions, in situ gels, contact lenses, nanostructured lipid carriers, carbon quantum dots, and microneedles. Ex vivo and in vivo studies with these formulations have shown that the residence time of the active substances in the cornea is prolonged, and their ocular bioavailability is increased. In addition, in vivo studies have shown that these formulations successfully treat keratitis. However, it has been observed that fluoroquinolones are used in most of the studies; similar drug delivery systems are generally preferred for antifungal drugs, and studies for viral and acanthameba keratitis are limited. There is a need for new studies on different types of keratitis and different drug active substances. At the same time, proving the efficacy of drug delivery systems, which give promising results in in vivo animal models, with clinical studies is of great importance for progress in the treatment of keratitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heybet Kerem Polat
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.,Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University, Erzincan, Turkey
| | - Nihat Kurt
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.,Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, Turkey
| | - Eren Aytekin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sibel Bozdağ Pehlivan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sema Çalış
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
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Xu Y, Fourniols T, Labrak Y, Préat V, Beloqui A, des Rieux A. Surface Modification of Lipid-Based Nanoparticles. ACS NANO 2022; 16:7168-7196. [PMID: 35446546 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c02347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
There is a growing interest in the development of lipid-based nanocarriers for multiple purposes, including the recent increase of these nanocarriers as vaccine components during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of studies that involve the surface modification of nanocarriers to improve their performance (increase the delivery of a therapeutic to its target site with less off-site accumulation) is enormous. The present review aims to provide an overview of various methods associated with lipid nanoparticle grafting, including techniques used to separate grafted nanoparticles from unbound ligands or to characterize grafted nanoparticles. We also provide a critical perspective on the usefulness and true impact of these modifications on overcoming different biological barriers, with our prediction on what to expect in the near future in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yining Xu
- Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials, UCLouvain, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Avenue Mounier, 73 B1.73.12, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Thibaut Fourniols
- Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials, UCLouvain, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Avenue Mounier, 73 B1.73.12, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yasmine Labrak
- Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials, UCLouvain, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Avenue Mounier, 73 B1.73.12, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
- Bioanalysis and Pharmacology of Bioactive Lipids, UCLouvain, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Avenue Mounier, 72 B1.72.01, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Véronique Préat
- Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials, UCLouvain, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Avenue Mounier, 73 B1.73.12, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ana Beloqui
- Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials, UCLouvain, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Avenue Mounier, 73 B1.73.12, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Anne des Rieux
- Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials, UCLouvain, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Avenue Mounier, 73 B1.73.12, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
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5
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Chu KB, Lee HA, Pflieger M, Fischer F, Asfaha Y, Alves Avelar LA, Skerhut A, Kassack MU, Hansen FK, Schöler A, Kurz T, Kim MJ, Moon EK, Quan FS. Antiproliferation and Antiencystation Effect of Class II Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors on Acanthamoeba castellanii. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:271-279. [PMID: 34994538 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Acanthamoeba is a ubiquitous and free-living protozoan pathogen responsible for causing Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), a severe corneal infection inflicting immense pain that can result in permanent blindness. A drug-based treatment of AK has remained arduous because Acanthamoeba trophozoites undergo encystment to become highly drug-resistant cysts upon exposure to harsh environmental conditions such as amoebicidal agents (e.g., polyhexanide, chloroquine, and chlorohexidine). As such, drugs that block the Acanthamoeba encystation process could result in a successful AK treatment. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) have recently emerged as novel therapeutic options for treating various protozoan and parasitic diseases. Here, we investigated whether novel HDACi suppress the proliferation and encystation of Acanthamoeba. Synthetic class II HDACi FFK29 (IIa selective) and MPK576 (IIb selective) dose-dependently decreased the viability of Acanthamoeba trophozoites. While these HDACi demonstrated a negligible effect on the viability of mature cysts, Acanthamoeba encystation was significantly inhibited by these HDACi. Apoptosis was slightly increased in trophozoites after a treatment with these HDACi, whereas cysts were unaffected by the HDACi exposure. The viability of human corneal cells was not affected by HDACi concentrations up to 10 μmol/L. In conclusion, these synthetic HDACi demonstrated potent amoebicidal effects and inhibited the growth and encystation of Acanthamoeba, thus highlighting their enormous potential for further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ki-Back Chu
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, 02447 Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hae-Ahm Lee
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 02447 Seoul, South Korea
| | - Marc Pflieger
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Fabian Fischer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Yodita Asfaha
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Leandro A. Alves Avelar
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Alexander Skerhut
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Matthias U. Kassack
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Finn K Hansen
- Pharmaceutical and Cell Biological Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Andrea Schöler
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Brüderstraße 34, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thomas Kurz
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Min-Jeong Kim
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 02447 Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eun-Kyung Moon
- Department of Medical Zoology, Kyung Hee University, School of Medicine, 02447 Seoul, South Korea
| | - Fu-Shi Quan
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 02447 Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Medical Zoology, Kyung Hee University, School of Medicine, 02447 Seoul, South Korea
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6
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How liposomes pave the way for ocular drug delivery after topical administration. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2021.103045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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7
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Paradoxical Pro-inflammatory Responses by Human Macrophages to an Amoebae Host-Adapted Legionella Effector. Cell Host Microbe 2020; 27:571-584.e7. [PMID: 32220647 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2020.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Legionella pneumophila has co-evolved with amoebae, their natural hosts. Upon transmission to humans, the bacteria proliferate within alveolar macrophages causing pneumonia. Here, we show L. pneumophila injects the effector LamA, an amylase, into the cytosol of human macrophage (hMDMs) and amoebae to rapidly degrade glycogen to generate cytosolic hyper-glucose. In response, hMDMs shift their metabolism to aerobic glycolysis, which directly triggers an M1-like pro-inflammatory differentiation and nutritional innate immunity through enhanced tryptophan degradation. This leads to a modest restriction of bacterial proliferation in hMDMs. In contrast, LamA-mediated glycogenolysis in amoebae deprives the natural host from the main building blocks for synthesis of the cellulose-rich cyst wall, leading to subversion of amoeba encystation. This is non-permissive for bacterial proliferation. Therefore, LamA of L. pneumophila is an amoebae host-adapted effector that subverts encystation of the amoebae natural host, and the paradoxical hMDMs' pro-inflammatory response is likely an evolutionary accident.
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Khan NA, Anwar A, Siddiqui R. Acanthamoeba Keratitis: Current Status and Urgent Research Priorities. Curr Med Chem 2019; 26:5711-5726. [DOI: 10.2174/0929867325666180510125633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Revised: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background:First discovered in the early 1970s, Acanthamoeba keratitis has remained a major eye infection and presents a significant threat to the public health, especially in developing countries. The aim is to present a timely review of our current understanding of the advances made in this field in a comprehensible manner and includes novel concepts and provides clear directions for immediate research priorities.Methods:We undertook a search of bibliographic databases for peer-reviewed research literature and also summarized our published results in this field.Results:The present review focuses on novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in details which can provide access to management and treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis. This coupled with the recently available genome sequence information together with high throughput genomics technology and innovative approaches should stimulate interest in the rational design of preventative and therapeutic measures. Current treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis is problematic and often leads to infection recurrence. Better understanding of diagnosis, pathogenesis, pathophysiology and therapeutic regimens, would lead to novel strategies in treatment and prophylaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naveed Ahmed Khan
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, University City, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ayaz Anwar
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, University City, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, University City, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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Yim B, Park JH, Jeong H, Hong J, Kim M, Chang M, Chuck RS, Park CY. Effect of Nitric Oxide on Acanthamoeba castellanii. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019; 59:3239-3248. [PMID: 29971441 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.18-23786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Acanthamoeba keratitis is a well-known intractable corneal infectious disease. We investigated the anti-Acanthamoeba effect of exogenous nitric oxide (NO). Methods Acanthamoeba castellanii was axenically cultured and exposed to various concentrations of NO donors, such as sodium nitrite, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and NO-releasing silica nanoparticles (coated in branched polyethylene imine, size:100 nm), for 1 to 7 days (sodium nitrite and SNP: 0, 0.1, 1, 10, 100, and 1000 μM; silica nanoparticles: 0, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 μg/mL). Human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) were cultured and exposed to sodium nitrite, SNP (0, 0.1, 1, 10, 100, and 1000 μM), and silica nanoparticles for 1, 2, and 3 days. Results Sodium nitrite and SNP showed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on A. castellanii viability. A more prominent inhibitory effect was observed with SNP (less than 10% of organisms survived at 7-day culture with 1000 μM) compared with sodium nitrite. However, more cytotoxicity on HCEC was observed with SNP. NO-releasing silica nanoparticles were successfully internalized into the amoebic cytoplasm and accumulated in large vacuoles. Although blank silica nanoparticles had no inhibitory effect on A. castellanii viability, NO-releasing silica nanoparticles showed a dose-dependent amoebicidal effect. Furthermore, no cystic transformation of A. castellanii was observed under a phase contrast microscope or transmission electron microscope after exogenous NO treatment. Conclusions Our results demonstrated the anti-Acanthamoeba effect of exogenous NO. This finding suggests that NO-releasing drug platforms, including nano-carriers, can be a promising therapeutic strategy for Acanthamoeba keratitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bora Yim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Dongguk University, Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, South Korea
| | - Joo-Hee Park
- Department of Ophthalmology, Dongguk University, Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, South Korea
| | - Hyejoong Jeong
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jinkee Hong
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Martha Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Dongguk University, Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, South Korea
| | - Minwook Chang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Dongguk University, Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, South Korea
| | - Roy S Chuck
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States
| | - Choul Yong Park
- Department of Ophthalmology, Dongguk University, Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, South Korea
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Anwar A, Siddiqui R, Khan NA. Importance of Theranostics in Rare Brain-Eating Amoebae Infections. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:6-12. [PMID: 30149693 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic free-living amoebae including Acanthamoeba spp., Balamuthia mandrillaris, and Naegleria fowleri cause infections of the central nervous system (CNS), which almost always prove fatal. The mortality rate is high with the CNS infections caused by these microbes despite modern developments in healthcare and antimicrobial chemotherapy. The low awareness, delayed diagnosis, and lack of effective drugs are major hurdles to overcome these challenges. Nanomaterials have emerged as vital tools for concurrent diagnosis and therapy, which are commonly referred to as theranostics. Nanomaterials offer highly sensitive diagnostic systems and viable therapeutic effects as a single modality. There has been good progress to develop nanomaterials based efficient theranostic systems against numerous kinds of tumors, but this field is yet immature in the context of infectious diseases, particularly parasitic infections. Herein, we describe the potential value of theranostic applications of nanomaterials against brain infections due to pathogenic amoebae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayaz Anwar
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Sunway University, Selangor 47500, Malaysia
| | - Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Sunway University, Selangor 47500, Malaysia
| | - Naveed Ahmed Khan
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Sunway University, Selangor 47500, Malaysia
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Box Behnken design of siRNA-loaded liposomes for the treatment of a murine model of ocular keratitis caused by Acanthamoeba. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2018; 173:725-732. [PMID: 30384269 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2018.10.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Acanthamoeba keratitis is an ophthalmic disease with no specific treatment that specially affects contact lens users. The silencing of serine phosphatase (SP) and glycogen phosphorylase (GP) proteins produced by Acanthamoeba has been shown to significantly reduce the cytopathic effect, although no vehicle was proposed yet to deliver the siRNA sequences to the trophozoites. In this study, PEGylated cationic liposomes were proposed and optimized using Box-Behnken design. The influence of DOTAP:DOPE ratio, DSPE-PEG concentration, and siRNA/DOTAP charge ratio were evaluated over both biological response and physicochemical properties of liposomes. The ratio of DOTAP:DOPE had an effect in the trophozoite activity whereas the charge ratio influenced both size and protease activity. The predicted values were very close to the observed values, yielding a formulation with good activity and toxicity profile, which was used in the following experiments. A murine model of ocular keratitis was treated with siGP + siSP-loaded liposomes, as well as their respective controls, and combined treatment of liposomes and chlorhexidine. After 15 days of eight daily administrations, the liposomal complex combined with chlorhexidine was the only treatment able to reverse the more severe lesions associated with keratitis. There was 60% complete regression in corneal damage, with histological sections demonstrating the presence of an integral epithelium, without lymphocytic infiltrate. The set of results demonstrate the efficacy of a combined therapy based on siRNA with classical drugs for a better prognosis of keratitis caused by Acanthamoeba.
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Nisini R, Poerio N, Mariotti S, De Santis F, Fraziano M. The Multirole of Liposomes in Therapy and Prevention of Infectious Diseases. Front Immunol 2018; 9:155. [PMID: 29459867 PMCID: PMC5807682 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Liposomes are closed bilayer structures spontaneously formed by hydrated phospholipids that are widely used as efficient delivery systems for drugs or antigens, due to their capability to encapsulate bioactive hydrophilic, amphipathic, and lipophilic molecules into inner water phase or within lipid leaflets. The efficacy of liposomes as drug or antigen carriers has been improved in the last years to ameliorate pharmacokinetics and capacity to release their cargo in selected target organs or cells. Moreover, different formulations and variations in liposome composition have been often proposed to include immunostimulatory molecules, ligands for specific receptors, or stimuli responsive compounds. Intriguingly, independent research has unveiled the capacity of several phospholipids to play critical roles as intracellular messengers in modulating both innate and adaptive immune responses through various mechanisms, including (i) activation of different antimicrobial enzymatic pathways, (ii) driving the fusion–fission events between endosomes with direct consequences to phagosome maturation and/or to antigen presentation pathway, and (iii) modulation of the inflammatory response. These features can be exploited by including selected bioactive phospholipids in the bilayer scaffold of liposomes. This would represent an important step forward since drug or antigen carrying liposomes could be engineered to simultaneously activate different signal transduction pathways and target specific cells or tissues to induce antigen-specific T and/or B cell response. This lipid-based host-directed strategy can provide a focused antimicrobial innate and adaptive immune response against specific pathogens and offer a novel prophylactic or therapeutic option against chronic, recurrent, or drug-resistant infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Nisini
- Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Noemi Poerio
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Roma "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Sabrina Mariotti
- Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica De Santis
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Roma "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Fraziano
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Roma "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
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