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Israel LL, Sun T, Braubach O, Cox A, Shatalova ES, Rashid HM, Galstyan A, Grodzinski Z, Song XY, Chepurna O, Ljubimov VA, Chiechi A, Sharma S, Phebus C, Wang Y, Ljubimova JY, Black KL, Holler E. β-Amyloid targeting nanodrug for neuron-specific delivery of nucleic acids in Alzheimer's disease mouse models. J Control Release 2023; 361:636-658. [PMID: 37544515 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.08.001] [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: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Delivery of therapeutic substances into the brain poses a significant challenge in the treatment of neurological disorders. This is primarily due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which restricts access, alongside the limited stability and distribution of these agents within the brain tissue. Here we demonstrate an efficient delivery of microRNA (miRNA) and antisense RNA preferentially to neurons compared to astroglia in the brain of healthy and Alzheimer's disease mice, via disulfide-linked conjugation with poly(ß-L-malic acid-trileucine)-copolymer a biodegradable, amphiphilic, and multivalent platform. By conjugating a D-configured (D3)-peptide (vector) for specific targeting, highly efficient delivery across the BBB is achieved through the Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-1 (LRP-1) transcytosis pathway, amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides. Nanodrug distribution was determined by fluorescent labeling and analyzed by microscopy in neurons, astroglia, and in extracellular amyloid plaques typical for Alzheimer's disease. Whereas D-configured BBB-vectors can efficiently target neurons, L-configured (e.g., AP2-peptide) guided vector can only cross BBB but not seem to bind neurons. An analysis of post-injection fluorescence distribution, and RNA-seq followed by real-time PCR validation, confirmed a successful in vivo delivery of morpholino-miRNA-186 nanoconjugates into mouse brain. The size and fluorescence intensity of the intracellular nanodrug particulates were analyzed and verified by a competition with non-fluorescent conjugates. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from RNA-seq were identified in the nanodrug injected mice, and the changes of selected DEGs related to Alzheimer's disease were further validated by western blot and real-time PCR. Collectively, these results demonstrated that D3-peptide-conjugated nanopolymer drug is able to achieve neuron-selective delivery of miRNA and can serve as an efficient brain delivery vehicle in Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liron L Israel
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles 90048, USA
| | - Tao Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles 90048, USA
| | - Oliver Braubach
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles 90048, USA
| | - Alysia Cox
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles 90048, USA
| | | | | | - Anna Galstyan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles 90048, USA
| | - Zachary Grodzinski
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles 90048, USA
| | - Xue Ying Song
- Cedars-Sinai Cancer Applied Genomics Shared Resource, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles 90048, USA
| | - Oksana Chepurna
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles 90048, USA
| | - Vladimir A Ljubimov
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles 90048, USA
| | - Antonella Chiechi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles 90048, USA
| | - Sachin Sharma
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles 90048, USA
| | - Connor Phebus
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles 90048, USA
| | - Yizhou Wang
- Cedars-Sinai Cancer Applied Genomics Shared Resource, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles 90048, USA
| | - Julia Y Ljubimova
- Terasaki Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, 90024, USA..
| | - Keith L Black
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles 90048, USA.
| | - Eggehard Holler
- Terasaki Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, 90024, USA..
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Huang X, Xu L, Qian H, Wang X, Tao Z. Polymalic acid for translational nanomedicine. J Nanobiotechnology 2022; 20:295. [PMID: 35729582 PMCID: PMC9210645 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01497-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
With rich carboxyl groups in the side chain, biodegradable polymalic acid (PMLA) is an ideal delivery platform for multifunctional purposes, including imaging diagnosis and targeting therapy. This polymeric material can be obtained via chemical synthesis, or biological production where L-malic acids are polymerized in the presence of PMLA synthetase inside a variety of microorganisms. Fermentative methods have been employed to produce PMLAs from biological sources, and analytical assessments have been established to characterize this natural biopolymer. Further functionalized, PMLA serves as a versatile carrier of pharmaceutically active molecules at nano scale. In this review, we first delineate biosynthesis of PMLA in different microorganisms and compare with its chemical synthesis. We then introduce the biodegradation mechanism PMLA, its upscaled bioproduction together with characterization. After discussing advantages and disadvantages of PMLA as a suitable delivery carrier, and strategies used to functionalize PMLA for disease diagnosis and therapy, we finally summarize the current challenges in the biomedical applications of PMLA and envisage the future role of PMLA in clinical nanomedicine. The biosynthesis of polymalic acid (PMLA) and its biotechnical high-grade production from microorganisms compared with the chemical synthesis of PMLA The physicochemical and biological characteristics of PMLA and its derivatives How PMLA’s general chemical characteristics can be used to generate various macromolecular compounds for pharmaceutical delivery The concepts of biological and clinical targeting exemplified by PMLA-based drugs and imaging agents and their biodistribution and biodegradability An evaluation of the mechanisms that generate preclinical antitumor efficacy and the translational potential for clinical imaging
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Huang
- Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, China
| | - Liusheng Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hui Qian
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, China.,Zhenjiang Key Laboratory of High Technology Research On Exosomes Foundation and Transformation Application, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xinghuan Wang
- Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, China.
| | - Zhimin Tao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, China. .,Zhenjiang Key Laboratory of High Technology Research On Exosomes Foundation and Transformation Application, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, China.
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Biosynthetic Polymalic Acid as a Delivery Nanoplatform for Translational Cancer Medicine. Trends Biochem Sci 2020; 46:213-224. [PMID: 33268216 PMCID: PMC7580597 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2020.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Poly(β-L-malic acid) (PMLA) is a natural polyester produced by numerous microorganisms. Regarding its biosynthetic machinery, a nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) is proposed to direct polymerization of L-malic acid in vivo. Chemically versatile and biologically compatible, PMLA can be used as an ideal carrier for several molecules, including nucleotides, proteins, chemotherapeutic drugs, and imaging agents, and can deliver multimodal theranostics through biological barriers such as the blood–brain barrier. We focus on PMLA biosynthesis in microorganisms, summarize the physicochemical and physiochemical characteristics of PMLA as a naturally derived polymeric delivery platform at nanoscale, and highlight the attachment of functional groups to enhance cancer detection and treatment.
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Kopeček J, Yang J. Polymer nanomedicines. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2020; 156:40-64. [PMID: 32735811 PMCID: PMC7736172 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2020.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Polymer nanomedicines (macromolecular therapeutics, polymer-drug conjugates, drug-free macromolecular therapeutics) are a group of biologically active compounds that are characterized by their large molecular weight. This review focuses on bioconjugates of water-soluble macromolecules with low molecular weight drugs and selected proteins. After analyzing the design principles, different structures of polymer carriers are discussed followed by the examination of the efficacy of the conjugates in animal models and challenges for their translation into the clinic. Two innovative directions in macromolecular therapeutics that depend on receptor crosslinking are highlighted: a) Combination chemotherapy of backbone degradable polymer-drug conjugates with immune checkpoint blockade by multivalent polymer peptide antagonists; and b) Drug-free macromolecular therapeutics, a new paradigm in drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jindřich Kopeček
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
| | - Jiyuan Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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Ljubimova JY, Sun T, Mashouf L, Ljubimov AV, Israel LL, Ljubimov VA, Falahatian V, Holler E. Covalent nano delivery systems for selective imaging and treatment of brain tumors. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2017; 113:177-200. [PMID: 28606739 PMCID: PMC5578712 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2017.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Nanomedicine is a rapidly evolving form of therapy that holds a great promise for superior drug delivery efficiency and therapeutic efficacy than conventional cancer treatment. In this review, we attempt to cover the benefits and the limitations of current nanomedicines with special attention to covalent nano conjugates for imaging and drug delivery in the brain. The improvement in brain tumor treatment remains dismal despite decades of efforts in drug development and patient care. One of the major obstacles in brain cancer treatment is the poor drug delivery efficiency owing to the unique blood-brain barrier (BBB) in the CNS. Although various anti-cancer agents are available to treat tumors outside of the CNS, the majority fails to cross the BBB. In this regard, nanomedicines have increasingly drawn attention due to their multi-functionality and versatility. Nano drugs can penetrate BBB and other biological barriers, and selectively accumulate in tumor cells, while concurrently decreasing systemic toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Y Ljubimova
- Nanomedicine Research Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd., AHSP, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
| | - Tao Sun
- Nanomedicine Research Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd., AHSP, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Leila Mashouf
- Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Alexander V Ljubimov
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Liron L Israel
- Nanomedicine Research Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd., AHSP, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Vladimir A Ljubimov
- Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, University of South Florida, 2 Tampa General Circle, Tampa, FL 33606, USA
| | - Vida Falahatian
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Clinical Research Training Program (CRTP), 2424 Erwin Road, Suite 1102, Hock Plaza Box 2721, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Eggehard Holler
- Nanomedicine Research Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd., AHSP, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Institut für Biophysik und Physikalische Biochemie, Universität Regensburg, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany
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