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Wehn AC, Krestel E, Harapan BN, Klymchenko A, Plesnila N, Khalin I. To see or not to see: In vivo nanocarrier detection methods in the brain and their challenges. J Control Release 2024; 371:216-236. [PMID: 38810705 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.05.044] [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: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Nanoparticles have a great potential to significantly improve the delivery of therapeutics to the brain and may also be equipped with properties to investigate brain function. The brain, being a highly complex organ shielded by selective barriers, requires its own specialized detection system. However, a significant hurdle to achieve these goals is still the identification of individual nanoparticles within the brain with sufficient cellular, subcellular, and temporal resolution. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the current knowledge on detection systems for tracking nanoparticles across the blood-brain barrier and within the brain. We discuss commonly employed in vivo and ex vivo nanoparticle identification and quantification methods, as well as various imaging modalities able to detect nanoparticles in the brain. Advantages and weaknesses of these modalities as well as the biological factors that must be considered when interpreting results obtained through nanotechnologies are summarized. Finally, we critically evaluate the prevailing limitations of existing technologies and explore potential solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Clarissa Wehn
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), Munich University Hospital, Feodor-Lynen-Straße 17, 81377, Germany; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Munich Medical Center, Marchioninistraße 17, 81377 Munich, Germany.
| | - Eva Krestel
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), Munich University Hospital, Feodor-Lynen-Straße 17, 81377, Germany.
| | - Biyan Nathanael Harapan
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), Munich University Hospital, Feodor-Lynen-Straße 17, 81377, Germany; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Munich Medical Center, Marchioninistraße 17, 81377 Munich, Germany.
| | - Andrey Klymchenko
- Laboratoire de Biophotonique et Pharmacologie, CNRS UMR 7213, Université de Strasbourg, 74 route du Rhin - CS 60024, 67401 Illkirch Cedex, France.
| | - Nikolaus Plesnila
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), Munich University Hospital, Feodor-Lynen-Straße 17, 81377, Germany; Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Feodor-Lynen-Straße 17, 81377 Munich, Germany.
| | - Igor Khalin
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), Munich University Hospital, Feodor-Lynen-Straße 17, 81377, Germany; Normandie University, UNICAEN, INSERM UMR-S U1237, Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders (PhIND), GIP Cyceron, Institute Blood and Brain @ Caen-Normandie (BB@C), 14 074 Bd Henri Becquerel, 14000 Caen, France.
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Ding X, Wang Y, Zhang S, Zhang R, Chen D, Liu C, Xu J, Chen L. Reductive amination of ω-conotoxin MVIIA: synthesis, determination of modification sites, and self-assembly. Amino Acids 2024; 56:26. [PMID: 38554247 PMCID: PMC10981597 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-023-03366-2] [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: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
Peptide drugs have disadvantages such as low stability, short half-life and side effects, which limit their widespread use in clinical practice. Therefore, peptide drugs can be modified to improve these disadvantages. Numerous studies have shown that alkyl-modified peptide drugs can self-assemble to prolong the duration of efficacy and/or reduce side effects. However, the commonly used solid-phase synthesis method for alkyl-modified peptides is time-consuming. To overcome this, a simple reductive amination reaction was employed, which can directly graft the alkyl chain to the peptide sequence and effectively avoid stepwise synthesis from C- to N-terminal with amino acids. In this study, ω-conotoxin MVIIA was used as the peptide drug, while myristic aldehyde was used as the alkylating agent. To obtain the maximum productivity of modified peptides, the molar ratio of peptide MVIIA to myristic aldehyde in the reductive amination reaction was optimized. Furthermore, the peptide modification sites in this reaction were confirmed by secondary mass spectrometry analysis. Besides, alkyl-modified peptide MVIIA was able to form micelles by self-assembly and improved stability in serum, which was related to our previous work where myristoylated peptide MVIIA micelles can improve the drug stability. Finally, this study was intended to provide a methodological basis for modifying the alkyl chain of peptide drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiufang Ding
- State Key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing, 102205, China
| | - Yue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing, 102205, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioprocess, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Sida Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing, 102205, China
| | - Ruihua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing, 102205, China
| | - Dong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing, 102205, China
| | - Changcai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing, 102205, China
| | - Jianfu Xu
- State Key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing, 102205, China.
| | - Long Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioprocess, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China.
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Dichiara M, Cosentino G, Giordano G, Pasquinucci L, Marrazzo A, Costanzo G, Amata E. Designing drugs optimized for both blood-brain barrier permeation and intra-cerebral partition. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024; 19:317-329. [PMID: 38145409 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2294118] [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: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION With the increasing incidence and prevalence of neurological disorders globally, there is a paramount need for new pharmacotherapies. BBB effectively protects the brain but raises a profound challenge to drug permeation, with less than 2% of most drugs reaching the CNS. AREAS COVERED This article reviews aspects of the most recent design strategies, providing insights into ideas and concepts in CNS drug discovery. An overview of the products available on the market is given and why clinical trials are continuously failing is discussed. EXPERT OPINION Among the available CNS drugs, small molecules account for most successful CNS therapeutics due to their ability to penetrate the BBB through passive or carrier-mediated mechanisms. The development of new CNS drugs is very difficult. To date, there is a lack of effective drugs for alleviating or even reversing the progression of brain diseases. Particularly, the use of artificial intelligence strategies, together with more appropriate animal models, may enable the design of molecules with appropriate permeation, to elicit a biological response from the neurotherapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Dichiara
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco e della Salute, Università degli Studi di Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cosentino
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco e della Salute, Università degli Studi di Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Giorgia Giordano
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco e della Salute, Università degli Studi di Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Lorella Pasquinucci
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco e della Salute, Università degli Studi di Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Agostino Marrazzo
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco e della Salute, Università degli Studi di Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Giuliana Costanzo
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco e della Salute, Università degli Studi di Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Emanuele Amata
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco e della Salute, Università degli Studi di Catania, Catania, Italy
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Ding X, Wang Y, Zhang S, Zhang R, Chen D, Chen L, Zhang Y, Luo SZ, Xu J, Pei C. Self-Assembly Nanostructure of Myristoylated ω-Conotoxin MVIIA Increases the Duration of Efficacy and Reduces Side Effects. Mar Drugs 2023; 21:md21040229. [PMID: 37103368 PMCID: PMC10144222 DOI: 10.3390/md21040229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain is one of the most prevalent health problems worldwide. An alternative to suppress or alleviate chronic pain is the use of peptide drugs that block N-type Ca2+ channels (Cav2.2), such as ω-conotoxin MVIIA. Nevertheless, the narrow therapeutic window, severe neurological side effects and low stability associated with peptide MVIIA have restricted its widespread use. Fortunately, self-assembly endows the peptide with high stability and multiple functions, which can effectively control its release to prolong its duration of action. Inspired by this, MVIIA was modified with appropriate fatty acid chains to render it amphiphilic and easier to self-assemble. In this paper, an N-terminal myristoylated MVIIA (Myr-MVIIA, medium carbon chain length) was designed and prepared to undergo self-assembly. The present results indicated that Myr-MVIIA can self-assemble into micelles. Self-assembled micelles formed by Myr-MVIIA at higher concentrations than MVIIA can prolong the duration of the analgesic effect and significantly reduce or even eliminate the side effects of tremor and coordinated motor dysfunction in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiufang Ding
- State key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing 102205, China
| | - Yue Wang
- State key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing 102205, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioprocess, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Sida Zhang
- State key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing 102205, China
| | - Ruihua Zhang
- State key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing 102205, China
| | - Dong Chen
- State key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing 102205, China
| | - Long Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioprocess, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- State key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing 102205, China
| | - Shi-Zhong Luo
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioprocess, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Jianfu Xu
- State key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing 102205, China
| | - Chengxin Pei
- State key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing 102205, China
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Xia X, Zhou Y, Gao H. Prodrug strategy for enhanced therapy of central nervous system disease. Chem Commun (Camb) 2021; 57:8842-8855. [PMID: 34486590 DOI: 10.1039/d1cc02940a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) disease is one of the most notorious arch-criminals of human health across the world. Although considerable efforts have been devoted to promote the development of CNS drugs, ideal therapeutical effects are yet far from enough. The blood-brain barrier remains a major player that impedes the full potential of CNS therapeutical agents as it blocks the entry of CNS drugs into the brain. The past few decades have witnessed the upspring of prodrug strategies as a promising method to accelerate CNS drug development. The prodrug strategy with the ability to overcome the formidable blood-brain barrier enhances the delivery to the brain and hence improves the effects of the CNS therapeutics. In this Feature Article, we summarize the reported barriers and strategies for CNS therapeutics and spotlight prodrug design strategies to improve the efficiency of crossing the blood-brain barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Xia
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China.
| | - Yang Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China.
| | - Huile Gao
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China.
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Zhao C, Chen H, Wang F, Zhang X. Amphiphilic self-assembly peptides: Rational strategies to design and delivery for drugs in biomedical applications. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2021; 208:112040. [PMID: 34425532 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2021.112040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Amphiphilic self-assembling peptides are widely used in tissue and cell engineering, antimicrobials, drug-delivery systems and other biomedical fields due to their good biocompatibility, functionality, flexibility of design and synthesis, and tremendous potential as delivery carriers for drugs. Currently, the design and study of amphipathic peptides by a bottom-up method to develop new biomedical materials have become a hot topic. However, defined rules have not been established for the design and development of self-assembled peptides. Therefore, the focus of this review is to summarize and provide several rational strategies for the design and study of amphiphilic self-assembly peptides. In addition, this paper also describes the types and general self-assembling mechanism of amphipathic peptides, and outlines their applications in the delivery of hydrophobic drugs, nucleic acid drugs, peptide drugs and vaccines. Amphiphilic self-assembled peptides are expected to exploit new functional materials for drug delivery and other applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunqian Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), NMPA Key Laboratory for Quality Research and Evaluation of Carbohydrate-based Medicine, Institute of Biochemical and Biotechnological Drug, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hongyuan Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, People's Republic of China.
| | - Fengshan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), NMPA Key Laboratory for Quality Research and Evaluation of Carbohydrate-based Medicine, Institute of Biochemical and Biotechnological Drug, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xinke Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, People's Republic of China.
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Ma Y, Mou Q, Yan D, Zhu X. Engineering small molecule nanodrugs to overcome barriers for cancer therapy. VIEW 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/viw.20200062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Ma
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai China
| | - Quanbing Mou
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai China
| | - Deyue Yan
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai China
| | - Xinyuan Zhu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai China
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