Gene-silencing effects of anti-survivin siRNA delivered by RGDV-functionalized nanodiamond carrier in the breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7

Precision arrows: Navigating breast cancer with nanotechnology siRNA

Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems, including siRNA, present an innovative approach to treating breast cancer, which disproportionately affects women. These systems enable personalized and targeted therapies, adept at managing drug resistance and minimizing off-target effects. This review delves into the current landscape of nanotechnology-derived siRNA transport systems for breast cancer treatment, discussing their mechanisms of action, preclinical and clinical research, therapeutic applications, challenges, and future prospects. Emphasis is placed on the importance of targeted delivery and precise gene silencing in improving therapeutic efficacy and patient outcomes. The review addresses specific hurdles such as specificity, biodistribution, immunological reactions, and regulatory approval, offering potential solutions and avenues for future research. SiRNA drug delivery systems hold promise in revolutionizing cancer care and improving patient outcomes, but realizing their full potential necessitates ongoing research, innovation, and collaboration. Understanding the intricacies of siRNA delivery mechanisms is pivotal for designing effective cancer treatments, overcoming challenges, and advancing siRNA-based therapies for various diseases, including cancer. The article provides a comprehensive review of the methods involved in siRNA transport for therapeutic applications, particularly in cancer treatment, elucidating the complex journey of siRNA molecules from extracellular space to intracellular targets. Key mechanisms such as endocytosis, receptor-mediated uptake, and membrane fusion are explored, alongside innovative delivery vehicles and technologies that enhance siRNA delivery efficiency. Moreover, the article discusses challenges and opportunities in the field, including issues related to specificity, biodistribution, immune response, and clinical translation. By comprehending the mechanisms of siRNA delivery, researchers can design and develop more effective siRNA-based therapies for various diseases, including cancer.

Cellular uptake and fate of cationic polymer-coated nanodiamonds delivering siRNA: a mechanistic study

Gene silencing using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) is a selective and promising approach for treatment of numerous diseases. However, broad applications of siRNAs are compromised by their low stability in a biological environment and limited ability to penetrate cells. Nanodiamonds (NDs) coated with cationic polymers can enable cellular delivery of siRNAs. Recently, we developed a new type of ND coating based on a random copolymer consisting of (2-dimethylaminoethyl) methacrylate (DMAEMA) and N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide (HPMA) monomers. These hybrid ND-polymer particles (Cop+-FND) provide near-infrared fluorescence, form stable complexes with siRNA in serum, show low toxicity, and effectively deliver siRNA into cells in vitro and in vivo. Here, we present data on the mechanism of cellular uptake and cell trafficking of Cop+-FND : siRNA complexes and their ability to selectively suppress mRNA levels, as well as their cytotoxicity, viability and colloidal stability. We identified clathrin-mediated endocytosis as the predominant entry mechanism for Cop+-FND : siRNA into U-2 OS human bone osteosarcoma cells, with a substantial fraction of Cop+-FND : siRNA following the lysosome pathway. Cop+-FND : siRNA potently inhibited the target GAPDH gene with negligible toxicity and sufficient colloidal stability. Based on our results, we suggest that Cop+-FND : siRNA can serve as a suitable in vivo delivery system for siRNA.

Long-term biophysical stability of nanodiamonds combined with lipid nanocarriers for non-viral gene delivery to the retina

Nanodiamonds were combined with niosome, and resulting formulations were named as nanodiasomes, which were evaluated in terms of physicochemical features, cellular internalization, cell viability and transfection efficiency both in in vitro and in in vivo conditions. Such parameters were analyzed at 4 and 25 ^°C, and at 15 and 30 days after their elaboration. Nanodiasomes showed a particle size of 128 nm that was maintained over time inside the ±10% of deviation, unless after 30 days of storage at 25°C. Something similar occurred with the initial zeta potential value, 35.2 mV, being both formulations more stable at 4°C. The incorporation of nanodiamonds into niosomes resulted in a 4-fold increase of transfection efficiency that was maintained over time at 4 and 25°C. In vivo studies reported high transgene expression of nanodiasomes after subretinal and intravitreal administration in mice, when injected freshly prepared and after 30 days of storage at 4°C.

Versatile nanodiamond-based tools for therapeutics and bioimaging

Nanodiamonds (NDs) are a remarkable class of carbon-based nanoparticles in nanomedicine which have recently become a hot topic of research due to their unique features including functionalization versatility, tunable opto-magnetic properties, chemical stability, minimal cytotoxicity, high affinity to biomolecules and biocompatibility. These attractive features make NDs versatile tools for a wide range of biologically relevant applications. In this feature article, we discuss the opto-magnetic properties of negatively charged nitrogen vacancy (NV^-) centres in NDs as fluorescence probes. We further discuss the frequently used chemical methods for surface chemistry modification of NDs which are relevant for biomedical applications. The in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility of modified NDs is also highlighted. Subsequently, we give an overview of recent state-of-the-art biomedical applications of NDs as versatile tools for bioimaging and detection, and as targeting nanocarriers for chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, gene therapy, antimicrobial and antiviral therapy, and bone tissue engineering. Finally, we pinpoint the main challenges for NDs in biomedical applications which lie ahead and discuss perspectives on future directions in advancing the field for practical applications and clinical translations.

Novel Development of Nanoparticles-A Promising Direction for Precise Tumor Management

Although the clinical application of nanoparticles is still limited by biological barriers and distribution, with the deepening of our understanding of nanoparticles over the past decades, people are gradually breaking through the previous limitations in the diagnosis and treatment of tumors, providing novel strategies for clinical decision makers. The transition of nanoparticles from passive targeting to active tumor-targeting by abundant surface-modified nanoparticles is also a development process of precision cancer treatment. Different particles can be used as targeted delivery tools of antitumor drugs. The mechanism of gold nanoparticles inducing apoptosis and cycle arrest of tumor cells has been discovered. Moreover, the unique photothermal effect of gold nanoparticles may be widely used in tumor therapy in the future, with less side effects on surrounding tissues. Lipid-based nanoparticles are expected to overcome the blood-brain barrier due to their special characteristics, while polymer-based nanoparticles show better biocompatibility and lower toxicity. In this paper, we discuss the development of nanoparticles in tumor therapy and the challenges that need to be addressed.

Carbon-based Nanomaterials for delivery of small RNA molecules: a focus on potential cancer treatment applications

BACKGROUND

Nucleic acid-mediated therapy holds immense potential in the treatment of recalcitrant human diseases such as cancer. This is underscored by advances in understanding the mechanisms of gene regulation. In particular, the endogenous protective mechanism of gene silencing known as RNA interference (RNAi) has been extensively exploited.

METHODS

We review here the developments from 2011 to 2021, in the use of nanographene oxide, carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, carbon nanohorns, carbon nanodots and nanodiamonds for the delivery of therapeutic small RNA molecules.

RESULTS

Appropriately designed effector molecules such as small interfering RNA (siRNA), can, in theory, silence the expression of any disease-causing gene. Alternatively, siRNA can be generated in vivo through the introduction of plasmid-based short hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression vectors. Other small RNAs such as micro RNA (miRNA) also function in post-transcriptional gene regulation and are aberrantly expressed under disease conditions. The miRNA-based therapy involves either restoration of miRNA function through the introduction of miRNA mimics; or the inhibition of miRNA function by delivering anti-miRNA oligomers. However, the large size, hydrophilicity, negative charge and nuclease-sensitivity of nucleic acids necessitate an appropriate carrier for their introduction as medicine into cells.

CONCLUSION

While numerous organic and inorganic materials have been investigated for this purpose, the perfect carrier agent remains elusive. In recent years, carbon-based nanomaterials have received widespread attention in biotechnology due to their tunable surface characteristics, mechanical, electrical, optical and chemical properties.

Nanodiamond Integration into Niosomes as an Emerging and Efficient Gene Therapy Nanoplatform for Central Nervous System Diseases

Nanodiamonds (NDs) are promising materials for gene delivery because of their unique physicochemical and biological features, along with their possibility of combination with other nonviral systems. Our aim was to evaluate the biophysical performance of NDs as helper components of niosomes, named nanodiasomes, to address a potential nonviral gene delivery nanoplatform for therapeutic applications in central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Nanodiasomes, niosomes, and their corresponding complexes, obtained after genetic material addition at different ratios (w/w), were evaluated in terms of physicochemical properties, cellular uptake, intracellular disposition, biocompatibility, and transfection efficiency in HEK-293 cells. Nanodiasomes, niosomes, and complexes fulfilled the physicochemical features for gene therapy applications. Biologically, the incorporation of NDs into niosomes enhanced 75% transfection efficiency (p < 0.001) and biocompatibility (p < 0.05) to values over 90%, accompanied by a higher cellular uptake (p < 0.05). Intracellular trafficking analysis showed higher endocytosis via clathrins (p < 0.05) in nanodiaplexes compared with nioplexes, followed by higher lysosomal colocalization (p < 0.05), that coexisted with endosomal escape properties, whereas endocytosis mediated by caveolae was the most efficient pathway in the case of nanodiaplexes. Moreover, studies in CNS primary cells revealed that nanodiaplexes successfully transfected neuronal and retinal cells. This proof-of-concept study points out that ND integration into niosomes represents an encouraging nonviral nanoplatform strategy for the treatment of CNS diseases by gene therapy.

Investigation of the potential therapeutic effect of cationic lipoplex mediated fibroblast growth factor-2 encoding plasmid DNA delivery on wound healing

BACKGROUND

Developing an alternative and efficient therapy for wound healing has been an important research topic for pharmaceutical sciences. A straightforward but effective system for delivering fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) encoding plasmid DNA (pFGF-2) for wound healing therapy was aimed to develop in this study.

METHODS

In order to provide the delivery of pFGF-2, a delivery vector, namely, cationic lipid nanoparticle (cLN) was developed by the melt-emulsification process, complexed with pFGF-2 to form a lipoplex system and further characterized. The pFGF-2 binding and protecting ability of lipoplexes were evaluated. The cytotoxicity and transfection efficiency of the lipoplexes, FGF-2 expression levels, and in vitro wound healing ability have been investigated on the L929 fibroblast cell line.

RESULTS

The obtained lipoplex system has a particle size of 88.53 nm with a low PDI (0.185), and zeta potential values of 27.8 mV with a spherical shape. The ability of cLNs to bind pFGF-2 and protect against nucleases was demonstrated by gel retardation assay. Furthermore, the developed FGF-2 carrying lipoplexes system showed significant transfection and FGF-2 expression ability comparing naked plasmid. Finally, scratch assay revealed that the developed system is able to promote in vitro cell proliferation/migration in 48 h.

CONCLUSION

Promising results have been achieved with the use of lipoplexes carrying pFGF-2, and this approach could be considered as a potentially applicable concept for the future gene-based wound healing therapies.

Application of Carbon Nanoparticles in Oncology and Regenerative Medicine

Currently, carbon nanoparticles play a large role as carriers of various types of drugs, and also have applications in other fields of medicine, e.g., in tissue engineering, where they are used to reconstruct bone tissue. They also contribute to the early detection of cancer cells, and can act as markers in imaging diagnostics. Their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties are also known. This feature is particularly important in dental implantology, where various types of bacterial infections and implant rejection often occur. The search for newer and more effective treatments may lead to future use of nanoparticles on a large scale. In this work, the current state of knowledge on the possible use of nanotubes, nanodiamonds, and fullerenes in therapy is reviewed. Both advantages and disadvantages of the use of carbon nanoparticles in therapy and diagnostics have been indicated.

Nanodiamonds and their potential applications in breast cancer therapy: a narrative review

Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide. With the projected increase in breast cancer cases in recent years, optimising treatment becomes increasingly important. Current treatment modalities in breast cancer present major limitations, including chemoresistance, dose-limiting adverse effects and lack of selectivity in aggressive subtypes of breast cancers such as triple-negative breast cancer. Nanodiamonds have demonstrated promising outcomes in preclinical models from their unique surface characteristics allowing optimised delivery of various therapeutic agents, overcoming some of the significant hurdles in conventional treatment modalities. This review will present an update on preclinical findings of nanodiamond-based drug delivery systems for breast cancer therapy to date, challenges with the use of nanodiamonds along with considerations for future research.

Special Focus Issue Part II: Recruitment of solid lipid nanoparticles for the delivery of CRISPR/Cas9: primary evaluation of anticancer gene editing

Aim: The CRISPR/Cas9 system is a promising gene-editing tool for various anticancer therapies; however, development of a biocompatible, nonviral and efficient delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 expression systems remains a challenge. Materials & methods: Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) were produced based on pseudo and 3D ternary plots. Obtained SLNs and their complexes with PX458 plasmid DNA were characterized and evaluated in terms of cytotoxicity and transfection efficiency. Results: SLNs were found to be nanosized, monodispersed, stable and nontoxic. Furthermore, they revealed similar transfection efficiency as the positive control. Conclusion: Overall, we have achieved a good SLN basis for CRISPR/Cas9 delivery and have the potential to produce SLNs with targeted anticancer properties by modifying production parameters and components to facilitate translating CRISPR/Cas9 into preclinical studies.

Preparation Optimization of Bovine Serum Albumin Nanoparticles and Its Application for siRNA Delivery

BACKGROUND

siRNA brings hope for cancer therapy. However, there are many obstacles for application of siRNA in clinical. Because of the excellent biocompatibility, non-toxicity and non-immunogenicity of bovine serum albumin (BSA), BSA-based nanoparticles have been widely designed as a drug carrier system.

METHODS

The optimal formula for BSA NPs preparation was investigated by central composite design response surface methodology (CCD-RSM), BSA-based survivin-siRNA delivery system (BSA NPs/siRNA) was characterized by dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscope, transmission electron microscope and Bradford method. The in vitro anti-tumor effect and mechanism of BSA NPs were investigated by confocal microscopic imaging, MTT assay, RT-qPCR and ELISA analysis. Moreover, the anti-tumor effect, distribution and biosafety of BSA NPs were studied in vivo.

RESULTS

The optimal formula for BSA NPs was settled to be 20 mg/mL for BSA concentration, 9 for pH value, 136% for crosslinking degree and 1.6 mL/min for speed of ethanol addition. BSA NPs/siRNA could remain stable at 4°C for 4 weeks and protect siRNA from degradation by RNase A. Besides, BSA NPs/siRNA could maintain a sustained release of siRNA and promote the uptake of siRNA significantly. The survivin-mRNA level and the survivin-protein level were decreased by 55% ± 1.6% and 54% ± 1.6% separately. The in vivo tumor inhibition results suggested that the tumor inhibition rate of BSA NPs/siRNA-treated group was 54% ± 12% and was similar with that of DOX-treated group (57% ± 9.2%, P > 0.05). The biosafety results confirmed that BSA NPs/siRNA could not induce significant damages to the main organs and blood in vivo.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrated that CCD-RSM was an effective tool for preparation analysis, and the BSA NPs/siRNA was a promising system for siRNA-based gene therapy.

Enhanced Cellular Uptake and Gene Silencing Activity of Survivin-siRNA via Ultrasound-Mediated Nanobubbles in Lung Cancer Cells

PURPOSE

Paclitaxel is a first-line drug for the therapy of lung cancer, however, drug resistance is a serious limiting factor, related to overexpression of anti-apoptotic proteins like survivin. To overcome this phenomenon, developing novel ultrasound responsive nanobubbles - nanosized drug delivery system- for the delivery of paclitaxel and siRNA in order to silence survivin expression in the presence of ultrasound was aimed.

METHODS

Paclitaxel-carrying nanobubble formulation was obtained by modifying the multistep method. Then, the complex formation of the nanobubbles - paclitaxel formulation with survivin-siRNA, was examined in terms of particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and morphology. Furthermore, siRNA binding and protecting ability, cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, gene silencing, and induction of apoptosis studies were investigated in terms of lung cancer cells.

RESULTS

Developed nanobubbles have particle sizes of 218.9-369.6 nm, zeta potentials of 27-34 mV, were able to protect siRNA from degradation and delivered siRNA into the lung cancer cells. Survivin expression was significantly lower compared with the control groups and enhanced apoptosis was induced by the co-delivery of survivin-siRNA and paclitaxel. Furthermore, significantly higher effects were obtained in the presence of ultrasound induction.

CONCLUSION

The ultrasound responsive nanobubble system carrying paclitaxel and survivin-siRNA is a promising and effective approach against lung cancer cells.

The role of Survivin as a biomarker and potential prognostic factor for breast cancer

SUMMARY Breast cancer (BC) is one of the primary health problems worldwide. As the most common cancer in women in the world and in Brasil, behind only non-melanoma skin cancer, this neoplasm corresponds to approximately 28% of new cases per year in the country. BC also affects men, although the incidence corresponds to only 1% of total cases. Currently, most of the chemotherapeutic agents used in BC treatment are extremely toxic and cause long-term side effects. There is also a need to obtain earlier diagnoses, more accurate prognoses and make new therapies available that are more selective and effective in order to improve the current scenario. Therefore, this work sought to evaluate the importance of the biomarker survivin (Sur) in relation to BC, through the detailing of the role of Sur as a biomarker, the correlation between this protein and the prognosis of BC patients, and a summary of therapeutic strategies that target Sur for the development of new anticancer therapies.

Local and systemic delivery of mRNA encoding survivin-T34A by lipoplex for efficient colon cancer gene therapy

Background: In vitro transcribed (IVT) mRNA has been applied as an alternative therapeutic molecule to plasmid DNA in the field of cancer therapy and biomedical research studies. mRNA-based therapy has demonstrated several advantages over its DNA counterparts. However, its further therapeutic application is largely restricted by delivery method.

Methods: In this work, a liposome-protamine lipoplex (CLPP) was prepared to deliver IVT mRNA encoding survivin-T34A gene, forming a novel core-shell structured nanoparticle formulation (CLPP/mSur-T34A).

Results: The prepared CLPP/mSur-T34A particle had an average size of 186.1±3.1 nm, displaying high mRNA transfecting and expression efficiency on C26 tumor cells through lipid rafts-mediated endocytosis. CLPP/mSur-T34A mRNA formulation demonstrated obvious therapeutic effects on various models of C26 colon cancer both in vitro and in vivo. Particularly, local and systemic administration of CLPP/mSur-T34A particle exhibited superior antitumor effect regarding its DNA plasmid counterpart with high safety.

Conclusion: Our results indicated the high delivery capacity of liposome-protamine lipoplex and further suggested CLPP/mSur-T34A mRNA formulation to be a potential candidate for colon cancer therapy.

Dual targeting of survivin and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein suppresses the growth and promotes the apoptosis of gastric cancer HGC-27 cells

Gastric cancer can be a fatal tumor and therefore represents one of the primary challenges in modern oncology. Survivin and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) are members of the IAP family, which exerts a strong inhibitory effect on cellular apoptosis. In previous studies, the expression levels of survivin and XIAP have been demonstrated to influence the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer; therefore, the present study investigated the effect of silencing survivin and XIAP on the biological activity of the gastric cancer HGC-27 cell line. It was demonstrated that the expression levels of survivin and XIAP were significantly increased in gastric cancer tissues, compared with the adjacent non-tumor tissues. Furthermore, it was observed that the expression levels of survivin and XIAP were similarly elevated in gastric cancer HGC-27 cells, compared with normal gastric epithelial GES-1cells. Furthermore, small interfering RNA-mediated surviving- or XIAP-knockdown, in addition to the dual knockdown of survivin and XIAP, inhibited the proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of HGC-27 cells. Simultaneous inhibition of XIAP and survivin expression was more effective, compared with inhibition of XIAP or survivin alone. These results indicated that the dual knockdown of survivin and XIAP may be an effective strategy for treating gastric cancer in the future.

Nanodiamonds for In Vivo Applications

Due to their unique optical properties, diamonds are the most valued gemstones. However, beyond the sparkle, diamonds have a number of unique properties. Their extreme hardness gives them outstanding performance as abrasives and cutting tools. Similar to many materials, their nanometer-sized form has yet other unique properties. Nanodiamonds are very inert but still can be functionalized on the surface. Additionally, they can be made in very small sizes and a narrow size distribution. Nanodiamonds can also host very stable fluorescent defects. Since they are protected in the crystal lattice, they never bleach. These defects can also be utilized for nanoscale sensing since they change their optical properties, for example, based on temperature or magnetic fields in their surroundings. In this Review, in vivo applications are focused upon. To this end, how different diamond materials are made and how this affects their properties are discussed first. Next, in vivo biocompatibility studies are reviewed. Finally, the reader is introduced to in vivo applications of diamonds. These include drug delivery, aiding radiology, labeling, and use in cosmetics. The field is critically reviewed and a perspective on future developments is provided.

Multifunctional nanodiamonds in regenerative medicine: Recent advances and future directions

With recent advances in the field of nanomedicine, many new strategies have emerged for diagnosing and treating diseases. At the forefront of this multidisciplinary research, carbon nanomaterials have demonstrated unprecedented potential for a variety of regenerative medicine applications including novel drug delivery platforms that facilitate the localized and sustained release of therapeutics. Nanodiamonds (NDs) are a unique class of carbon nanoparticles that are gaining increasing attention for their biocompatibility, highly functional surfaces, optical properties, and robust physical properties. Their remarkable features have established NDs as an invaluable regenerative medicine platform, with a broad range of clinically relevant applications ranging from targeted delivery systems for insoluble drugs, bioactive substrates for stem cells, and fluorescent probes for long-term tracking of cells and biomolecules in vitro and in vivo. This review introduces the synthesis techniques and the various routes of surface functionalization that allow for precise control over the properties of NDs. It also provides an in-depth overview of the current progress made toward the use of NDs in the fields of drug delivery, tissue engineering, and bioimaging. Their future outlook in regenerative medicine including the current clinical significance of NDs, as well as the challenges that must be overcome to successfully translate the reviewed technologies from research platforms to clinical therapies will also be discussed.

Inducing death in tumor cells: roles of the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins

The heterogeneous group of diseases collectively termed cancer results not just from aberrant cellular proliferation but also from a lack of accompanying homeostatic cell death. Indeed, cancer cells regularly acquire resistance to programmed cell death, or apoptosis, which not only supports cancer progression but also leads to resistance to therapeutic agents. Thus, various approaches have been undertaken in order to induce apoptosis in tumor cells for therapeutic purposes. Here, we will focus our discussion on agents that directly affect the apoptotic machinery itself rather than on drugs that induce apoptosis in tumor cells indirectly, such as by DNA damage or kinase dependency inhibition. As the roles of the Bcl-2 family have been extensively studied and reviewed recently, we will focus in this review specifically on the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family. IAPs are a disparate group of proteins that all contain a baculovirus IAP repeat domain, which is important for the inhibition of apoptosis in some, but not all, family members. We describe each of the family members with respect to their structural and functional similarities and differences and their respective roles in cancer. Finally, we also review the current state of IAPs as targets for anti-cancer therapeutics and discuss the current clinical state of IAP antagonists.

Functionalized graphene oxide for anti-VEGF siRNA delivery: preparation, characterization and evaluation in vitro and in vivo

GO–PLL–SDGR/VEGF-siRNA inhibits tumor growth as a tumor targeting delivery system.