Nuclear localization signal peptides enhance cationic liposome-mediated gene therapy

Physiological Barriers and Strategies of Lipid-Based Nanoparticles for Nucleic Acid Drug Delivery

Lipid-based nanoparticles (LBNPs) are currently the most promising vehicles for nucleic acid drug (NAD) delivery. Although their clinical applications have achieved success, the NAD delivery efficiency and safety are still unsatisfactory, which are, to a large extent, due to the existence of multi-level physiological barriers in vivo. It is important to elucidate the interactions between these barriers and LBNPs, which will guide more rational design of efficient NAD vehicles with low adverse effects and facilitate broader applications of nucleic acid therapeutics. This review describes the obstacles and challenges of biological barriers to NAD delivery at systemic, organ, sub-organ, cellular, and subcellular levels. The strategies to overcome these barriers are comprehensively reviewed, mainly including physically/chemically engineering LBNPs and directly modifying physiological barriers by auxiliary treatments. Then the potentials and challenges for successful translation of these preclinical studies into the clinic are discussed. In the end, a forward look at the strategies on manipulating protein corona (PC) is addressed, which may pull off the trick of overcoming those physiological barriers and significantly improve the efficacy and safety of LBNP-based NADs delivery.

Nuclear Delivery of Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Systems by Nuclear Localization Signals

Nanomedicine 2.0 refers to the next generation of nanotechnology-based medical therapies and diagnostic tools. This field focuses on the development of more sophisticated and precise nanoparticles (NPs) for targeted drug delivery, imaging, and sensing. It has been established that the nuclear delivery of NP-loaded drugs can increase their therapeutic efficacy. To effectively direct the NPs to the nucleus, the attachment of nuclear localization signals (NLSs) to NPs has been employed in many applications. In this review, we will provide an overview of the structure of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) and the classic nuclear import mechanism. Additionally, we will explore various nanoparticles, including their synthesis, functionalization, drug loading and release mechanisms, nuclear targeting strategies, and potential applications. Finally, we will highlight the challenges associated with developing nucleus-targeted nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems (NDDSs) and provide insights into the future of NDDSs.

A Novel Proteomic Method Reveals NLS Tagging of T-DM1 Contravenes Classical Nuclear Transport in a Model of HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

The next breakthrough for protein therapeutics is effective intracellular delivery and accumulation within target cells. Nuclear localization signal (NLS)-tagged therapeutics have been hindered by the lack of efficient nuclear localization due to endosome entrapment. Although development of strategies for tagging therapeutics with technologies capable of increased membrane penetration has resulted in proportional increased potency, nonspecific membrane penetration limits target specificity and, hence, widespread clinical success. There is a long-standing idea that nuclear localization of NLS-tagged agents occurs exclusively via classical nuclear transport. In the present study, we modified the antibody-drug conjugate trastuzumab-emtansine (T-DM1) with a classical NLS linked to cholic acid (cell accumulator [Accum]) that enables modified antibodies to escape endosome entrapment and increase nuclear localization efficiency without abrogating receptor targeting. In parallel, we developed a proteomics-based method to evaluate nuclear transport. Accum-modified T-DM1 significantly enhanced cytotoxic efficacy in the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive SKBR3 breast cancer system. We discovered that efficacy was dependent on the nonclassical importin-7. Our evaluation reveals that when multiple classical NLS tagging occurs, cationic charge build-up as opposed to sequence dominates and becomes a substrate for importin-7. This study results in an effective target cell-specific NLS therapeutic and a general approach to guide future NLS-based development initiatives.

Nanotechnology and immunoengineering: How nanotechnology can boost CAR-T therapy

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapy has achieved remarkable clinical efficacy against hematological cancers and has been approved by FDA for treatment of B-cell tumors. However, the complex manufacturing process and limited success in solid tumors hamper its widespread applications, thus prompting the development of new strategies for overcoming the abovementioned hurdles. In the last decade, nanotechnology has provided sustainable strategies for improving cancer immunotherapy through vaccine development and delivery of immunomodulatory drugs. Nanotechnology can boost CAR-T therapy and may overcome the existing challenges by emerging as a carrier for CAR-T therapy or in combination with CAR-T, it may inhibit solid tumors more effectively than conventional approaches. The revealing of cellular mechanisms, barriers and potential strategies that could be used to manipulate and/or modify cells would enable unprecedented advances in nanotechnology for biologics delivery. This review outlines the journey and barriers of nanoparticles (NPs) across the cell. Subsequently, the approaches to tackle the barriers and strategies to modulate NPs as a carrier for CAR-T therapy are discussed. Finally, the role of NPs in CAR-T therapy and the potential challenges are summarized. This review aims to provide the readers with a detailed overview of NP-based CAR-T therapy research and distil this information into an accessible form conducive to design desired CAR-T therapy using NP approach. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is the most vibrant field in immuno-oncology today, with enormous benefits to patients with B-cell malignancies. However, a rapid and straightforward procedure for CAR-T generation is an exigent need to broaden its therapeutic avenue. Nanotechnology has emerged as a novel alternative approach for CAR-T generation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first in-depth review that briefly highlights the various aspects of nanotechnology in CAR-T therapy, including the strategies to brand NPs as an effective carrier for CAR cargo, its potential advantages, challenges, and future roadmap. It provides readers with a detailed overview of NP-based CAR-T therapy research, and researchers would be able to distill this information into an accessible form conducive to design the desired CAR therapy using the nanotechnology approach.

Lipid nanoparticle technology for therapeutic gene regulation in the liver

Hereditary genetic disorders, cancer, and infectious diseases of the liver affect millions of people around the globe and are a major public health burden. Most contemporary treatments offer limited relief as they generally aim to alleviate disease symptoms. Targeting the root cause of diseases originating in the liver by regulating malfunctioning genes with nucleic acid-based drugs holds great promise as a therapeutic approach. However, employing nucleic acid therapeutics in vivo is challenging due to their unfavorable characteristics. Lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery technology is a revolutionary development that has enabled clinical translation of gene therapies. LNPs can deliver siRNA, mRNA, DNA, or gene-editing complexes, providing opportunities to treat hepatic diseases by silencing pathogenic genes, expressing therapeutic proteins, or correcting genetic defects. Here we discuss the state-of-the-art LNP technology for hepatic gene therapy including formulation design parameters, production methods, preclinical development and clinical translation.

Engineering Nanoparticles for Targeted Delivery of Nucleic Acid Therapeutics in Tumor

In the past 10 years, with the increase of investment in clinical nano-gene therapy, there are many trials that have been discontinued due to poor efficacy and serious side effects. Therefore, it is particularly important to design a suitable gene delivery system. In this paper, we introduce the application of liposomes, polymers, and inorganics in gene delivery; also, different modifications with some stimuli-responsive systems can effectively improve the efficiency of gene delivery and reduce cytotoxicity and other side effects. Besides, the co-delivery of chemotherapy drugs with a drug tolerance-related gene or oncogene provides a better theoretical basis for clinical cancer gene therapy.

A comprehensive review on histone-mediated transfection for gene therapy

Histone has been considered to be an effective carrier in non-viral gene delivery due to its unique properties such as efficient DNA binding ability, direct translocation to cytoplasm and favorable nuclear localization ability. Meanwhile, the rapid development of genetic engineering techniques could facilitate the construction of multifunctional fusion proteins based on histone molecules to further improve the transfection efficiency. Remarkably, histone has been demonstrated to achieve gene transfection in a synergistic manner with cationic polymers, affording to a significant improvement of transfection efficiency. In the review, we highlighted the recent developments and future trends in gene delivery mediated by histones or histone-based fusion proteins/peptides. This review also discussed the mechanism of histone-mediated gene transfection and provided an outlook for future therapeutic opportunities in the viewpoint of transfection efficacy and biosafety.

Covalent linkage of the DNA repair template to the CRISPR-Cas9 nuclease enhances homology-directed repair

The CRISPR-Cas9 targeted nuclease technology allows the insertion of genetic modifications with single base-pair precision. The preference of mammalian cells to repair Cas9-induced DNA double-strand breaks via error-prone end-joining pathways rather than via homology-directed repair mechanisms, however, leads to relatively low rates of precise editing from donor DNA. Here we show that spatial and temporal co-localization of the donor template and Cas9 via covalent linkage increases the correction rates up to 24-fold, and demonstrate that the effect is mainly caused by an increase of donor template concentration in the nucleus. Enhanced correction rates were observed in multiple cell types and on different genomic loci, suggesting that covalently linking the donor template to the Cas9 complex provides advantages for clinical applications where high-fidelity repair is desired.

Self-Amplifying Replicon RNA Delivery to Dendritic Cells by Cationic Lipids

Advances in RNA technology during the past two decades have led to the construction of replication-competent RNA, termed replicons, RepRNA, or self-amplifying mRNA, with high potential for vaccine applications. Cytosolic delivery is essential for their translation and self-replication, without infectious progeny generation, providing high levels of antigen expression for inducing humoral and cellular immunity. Synthetic nanoparticle-based delivery vehicles can both protect the RNA molecules and facilitate targeting of dendritic cells—critical for immune defense development. Several cationic lipids were assessed, with RepRNA generated from classical swine fever virus encoding nucleoprotein genes of influenza A virus. The non-cytopathogenic nature of the RNA allowed targeting to dendritic cells without destroying the cells—important for prolonged antigen production and presentation. Certain lipids were more effective at delivery and at promoting translation of RepRNA than others. Selection of particular lipids provided delivery to dendritic cells that resulted in translation, demonstrating that delivery efficiency could not guarantee translation. The observed translation in vitro was reproduced in vivo by inducing immune responses against the encoded influenza virus antigens. Cationic lipid-mediated delivery shows potential for promoting RepRNA vaccine delivery to dendritic cells, particularly when combined with additional delivery elements.

Cancer cell nucleus-targeting nanocomposites for advanced tumor therapeutics

Recent advances in the chemical design and synthesis of nuclear-targeted nanotherapeutics for combating tumors are summarized and highlighted.

Journey to the Center of the Cell: Current Nanocarrier Design Strategies Targeting Biopharmaceuticals to the Cytoplasm and Nucleus

New biopharmaceutical molecules, potentially able to provide more personalized and effective treatments, are being identified through the advent of advanced synthetic biology strategies, sophisticated chemical synthesis approaches, and new analytical methods to assess biological potency. However, translation of many of these structures has been significantly limited due to the need for more efficient strategies to deliver macromolecular therapeutics to desirable intracellular sites of action. Engineered nanocarriers that encapsulate peptides, proteins, or nucleic acids are generally internalized into target cells via one of several endocytic pathways. These nanostructures, entrapped within endosomes, must navigate the intracellular milieu to orchestrate delivery to the intended destination, typically the cytoplasm or nucleus. For therapeutics active in the cytoplasm, endosomal escape continues to represent a limiting step to effective treatment, since a majority of nanocarriers trapped within endosomes are ultimately marked for enzymatic degradation in lysosomes. Therapeutics active in the nucleus have the added challenges of reaching and penetrating the nuclear envelope, and nuclear delivery remains a preeminent challenge preventing clinical translation of gene therapy applications. Herein, we review cutting-edge peptide- and polymer-based design strategies with the potential to enable significant improvements in biopharmaceutical efficacy through improved intracellular targeting. These strategies often mimic the activities of pathogens, which have developed innate and highly effective mechanisms to penetrate plasma membranes and enter the nucleus of host cells. Understanding these mechanisms has enabled advances in synthetic peptide and polymer design that may ultimately improve intracellular trafficking and bioavailability, leading to increased access to new classes of biotherapeutics.

Perspectives on Polymeric Gene Delivery

Research in the field of nonviral gene delivery is in the initial stages relative to the more commonly known viral systems. However, nonviral systems may, in the near future overcome some of the problems inherent to currently employed viral gene delivery systems. These problems range from limited payload capacity and general production issues to immune and toxic reactions, as well as the potential for catastrophic viral recombination. Self-assembling complexes of nucleic acids and synthetic polymers, commonly referred to as `polyplexes', are formed as the result of electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged phosphate groups of the DNA and the positively charged groups of the polycation. A wide array of polycations are available for such studies, including those with linear, branched, dendritic and block or graft copolymer architectures. These polycations vary greatly in chemical composition as well as the number of repeating units, providing for a wide range of different polyplexes that can be easily assembled. Some of the current gene delivery systems are described which serve as potential reagents in the field of polymer-based gene delivery.

How successful is nuclear targeting by nanocarriers?

The nucleus is ultimately the final target for many therapeutics treating various disorders including cancers, heart dysfunction and brain disorders. Owing to their specialized cell uptake and trafficking mechanisms, nanoparticles (NPs) allow drug targeting where degradation sensitive therapeutics could be delivered to their target tissues and cell in active form and sufficient concentration. However, it has recently become increasingly obvious that cytosolic internalization of a drug molecule does not entail its interaction with its subcellular target and hence careful nanoparticle design and optimization is required to enable nuclear targeting. This review, discusses the barriers to NP nuclear delivery; crossing the cell membrane, endo/lysosomal escape, cytoplasmic trafficking and finally nuclear entry focusing on how NP synthesis and modification could allow for bypassing each of the aforementioned barriers and successfully reaching the nucleus. Examples of nuclear targeted NPs are also discussed, stressing on the critical aspects of nuclear targeting and pointing out how the disease state might change the normal NP path and how such change could be exploited to increase efficiency of nuclear targeting. Finally, the criteria set for the evaluation of nanocarriers for nuclear delivery are discussed highlighting that quantitative rather than qualitative evaluation is required to evaluate how successful nanocarriers for nuclear delivery are, particularly with regards to the amount of drug delivered and released in the nucleus.

Non-viral gene therapy: Gains and challenges of non-invasive administration methods

Gene therapy is becoming an influential part of the rapidly increasing armamentarium of biopharmaceuticals for improving health and combating diseases. Currently, three gene therapy treatments are approved by regulatory agencies. While these treatments utilize viral vectors, non-viral alternative technologies are also being developed to improve the safety profile and manufacturability of gene carrier formulations. We present an overview of gene-based therapies focusing on non-viral gene delivery systems and the genetic therapeutic tools that will further revolutionize medical treatment with primary focus on the range and development of non-invasive delivery systems for dermal, transdermal, ocular and pulmonary administrations and perspectives on other administration methods such as intranasal, oral, buccal, vaginal, rectal and otic delivery.

Cell division responsive peptides for optimized plasmid DNA delivery: the mitotic window of opportunity?

The delivery of plasmid DNA remains hard to achieve, especially due to the presence of the nuclear membrane barrier. During cell division, however, the nuclear membrane is temporarily disassembled. We evaluated two different strategies to optimize plasmid DNA delivery in dividing cells: 1) phosphorylation responsive peptides that release plasmid DNA preferentially during mitosis and 2) chromatin targeting peptides to anchor plasmid DNA in newly formed nuclei upon cell division. Peptide/DNA particles alone were not efficient in penetrating cells. Upon co-delivery with lipid-based carriers, however, transfection efficiency drastically improved when compared to controls. For the phosphorylation responsive peptides, the presence of the phosphorylation sequence slightly increased transfection efficiency. For the chromatin targeting peptides, however, the chromatin targeting sequence did not seem to be the main reason for the improvement of transfection efficiency when applied in living cells. In conclusion, the pre-condensation of plasmid DNA with peptides improves lipid based delivery, but the nature of the peptides (cell responsive or not) does not seem to be the main reason for the improvement. It seems that the nuclear entry of foreign plasmid DNA is still under tight control, even during the mitotic window of opportunity.

Strategies on the nuclear-targeted delivery of genes

To improve the nuclear-targeted delivery of non-viral vectors, extensive effort has been carried out on the development of smart vectors which could overcome multiple barriers. The nuclear envelope presents a major barrier to transgene delivery. Viruses are capable of crossing the nuclear envelope to efficiently deliver their genome into the nucleus through the specialized protein components. However, non-viral vectors are preferred over viral ones because of the safety concerns associated with the latter. Non-viral delivery systems have been designed to include various types of components to enable nuclear translocation at the periphery of the nucleus. This review summarizes the progress of research regarding nuclear transport mechanisms. "Smart" non-viral vectors that have been modified by peptides and other small molecules are able to facilitate the nuclear translocation and enhance the efficacy of gene expression. The resulting technology may also enhance delivery of other macromolecules to the nucleus.

Controlling subcellular delivery to optimize therapeutic effect

This article focuses on drug targeting to specific cellular organelles for therapeutic purposes. Drugs can be delivered to all major organelles of the cell (cytosol, endosome/lysosome, nucleus, nucleolus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, peroxisomes and proteasomes) where they exert specific effects in those particular subcellular compartments. Delivery can be achieved by chemical (e.g., polymeric) or biological (e.g., signal sequences) means. Unidirectional targeting to individual organelles has proven to be immensely successful for drug therapy. Newer technologies that accommodate multiple signals (e.g., protein switch and virus-like delivery systems) mimic nature and allow for a more sophisticated approach to drug delivery. Harnessing different methods of targeting multiple organelles in a cell will lead to better drug delivery and improvements in disease therapy.

Nonviral vectors for the delivery of small interfering RNAs to the CNS

While efficient methods for cell line transfection are well described, for primary neurons a high-yield method different from those relying on viral vectors is lacking. Viral vector-based primary neuronal infection has several drawbacks, including complexity of vector preparation, safety concerns and the generation of immune and inflammatory responses, when used in vivo. This article will cover the different approaches that are being used to efficiently deliver genetic material (both DNA and small interfering RNA) to neuronal tissue using nonviral vectors, including the use of cationic lipids, polyethylenimine derivatives, dendrimers, carbon nanotubes and the combination of carbon-made nanoparticles with dendrimers. The effectiveness, both in vivo and in vitro, of the different methods to deliver genetic material to neural tissue is discussed.

Lipid-mediated delivery of RNA is more efficient than delivery of DNA in non-dividing cells

The design of appropriate gene delivery systems is essential for the successful application of gene therapy to clinical medicine. Cationic lipid-mediated delivery is a viable alternative to viral vector-mediated gene delivery in applications where transient gene expression is desirable. However, cationic lipid-mediated delivery of DNA to post-mitotic cells such as neurons is often reported to be of low efficiency, due to the presumed inability of the DNA to translocate to the nucleus. Lipid-mediated delivery of RNA is an attractive alternative to non-viral DNA delivery in some clinical applications, because transit across the nuclear membrane is not necessary. Here we report a comparative investigation of cationic lipid-mediated delivery of RNA versus DNA vectors encoding the reporter gene green fluorescent protein (GFP) in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) and NIH3T3 cells following chemical inhibition of proliferation, and in primary mixed neuronal cell cultures. Using optimized formulations and transfection procedures, we assess gene expression by flow cytometry to specifically address some of the advantages and disadvantages of lipid-mediated RNA and DNA gene transfer. Despite inhibition of cell proliferation, over 45% of CHO cells express GFP after lipid-mediated transfection with RNA vectors. Transfection efficiency of DNA encoding GFP in proliferation-inhibited CHO cells was less than 5%. Detectable expression after RNA transfection occurs at least 3h earlier than after DNA transfection, but DNA transfection eventually produces a mean level of per cell GFP expression (as assayed by flow cytometry) that is higher than after RNA transfection. Transfection of proliferation-inhibited NIH3T3 cells and primary mixed neuronal cultures produced similar results, with RNA encoded GFP expression in 2-4 times the number of cells as after DNA encoded GFP expression. These results demonstrate the increased efficiency of RNA transfection relative to DNA transfection in non-dividing cells. We used firefly luciferase encoded by RNA and DNA vectors to investigate the time course of gene expression after delivery of RNA or DNA to primary neuronal cortical cells. Delivery of mRNA resulted in rapid onset (within 1h) of luciferase expression after transfection, a peak in expression 5-7h after transfection, and a return to baseline within 12h after transfection. After DNA delivery significant luciferase activity did not appear until 7h after transfection, but peak luciferase expression was always at least one order of magnitude higher than after RNA delivery. The peak expression after luciferase-expressing DNA delivery occurred 36-48 h after transfection and remained at a significant level for at least one week before dropping to baseline. This observation is consistent with our in vivo delivery results, which are shown as well. RNA delivery may therefore be more suitable for short-term transient gene expression due to rapid onset, shorter duration of expression and greater efficiency, particularly in non-dividing cells. Higher mean levels of expression per cell obtained following DNA delivery and the longer duration of expression confirm a continuing role for DNA gene delivery in clinical applications that require longer term transient gene expression.

Peptide-mediated lipofection is governed by lipoplex physical properties and the density of surface-displayed amines

Peptides can potentiate lipid-mediated gene delivery by modifying lipoplex physiochemical properties to overcome rate-limiting steps to gene transfer. The objectives of this study were to determine the regimes over which cationic peptides enhance lipofection and to investigate the mechanism of action, such as increased cellular association resulting from changes in lipoplex physical properties. Short, cationic peptides were incorporated into lipoplexes by mixing peptide, lipid and DNA. Lipoplexes were characterized using gel retardation, dynamic light scattering, and fluorescent microscopy, and the amount of surface-displayed amines was quantified by fluorescamine. Size, zeta potential, and surface amines for lipoplexes were dependent on peptide/DNA ratio. Inclusion of peptides in lipoplexes resulted in up to a 13-fold increase in percentage of cells transfected, and up to a 76-fold increase in protein expression. This transfection enhancement corresponded to a small particle diameter and positive zeta potential of lipoplexes, as well as increased amount of surface-displayed amines. Relative to lipid alone, these properties of the peptide-modified lipoplexes enhanced cellular association, which has been reported as a rate-limiting step for transfection with lipoplexes. The addition of peptides is a simple method of lipofection enhancement, as direct chemical modification of lipids is not necessary for increased transfection.

Effect of peptides bearing nuclear localization signals on therapeutic ultrasound mediated gene delivery

BACKGROUND

One of the major limitations of nonviral gene delivery methods is nuclear transport of plasmid DNA (pDNA). Peptides bearing nuclear localization signal (NLS) were shown to mediate nuclear import of macromolecules. We have explored the use of cell-permeable peptides (CPP) bearing NLS sequences to enhance transfection mediated by a nonviral approach: therapeutic ultrasound (TUS).

METHODS

Two CPP-NLS peptides which differ in the location of the NLS relative to the CPP were used: S4 13-PV and PV-S4 13. The peptides were attached to pDNA using electrostatic interactions. Gel-electrophoresis and fluorescent assays were performed to evaluate pDNA-peptide interactions and condensation effects. Confocal microscopy was used to evaluate pDNA-peptide interaction inside cells. Transfection studies were conducted with the luciferase gene, using pDNA-peptides alone, or with the application of TUS.

RESULTS

Attachment of both peptides to pDNA condensed the pDNA, with higher affinity for the S4(13)-PV peptide. This interaction protected pDNA from endonucleases, but was also reversible. Both peptides mediated pDNA delivery to cell cytoplasm, but less significantly to the nucleus. Thus, both peptides produced transfection in cells, when added after incubation with DNA, with higher transfection-level for PV-S4 13. Application of TUS increased transfection mediated by these peptides, but was not higher compared to transfection using TUS and pDNA alone.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that CPP-NLS peptides may be used for condensing pDNA and bringing it into the cell cytoplasm, but their ability to mediate nuclear import of pDNA is insignificant.

Lipofection of Insulin-Producing RINm5F Cells: Methodological Improvements

Cationic lipid/DNA-complexes have been widely used as gene transfer vectors because they are less toxic and immunogenic than viral vectors. The aim of the present study was to improve and characterize lipofection of an insulin-producing cell line. We compared the transfection efficiency of seven commercially available lipid formulations (Lipotaxi, SuperFect, Fugene, TransFast, Dosper, GenePORTER and LipofectAMINE) by flow cytometry analysis of GFP-expression. In addition, we have determined the influences of centrifugation, serum and a nuclear localization signal peptide on the lipofection efficiency. We observed that two lipid formulations, GenePORTER and LipofectAMINE, were able to promote efficient gene transfer in RINm5F cells. However, GenePORTER exhibited the important advantage of being able to transfect cells in the presence of serum and with less cytotoxicity than LipofectAMINE. LipofectAMINE-induced RINm5F cell death could partially be counteracted by TPA, forskolin or fumonisin beta(1). Finally, both centrifugation and a nuclear localization signal peptide increased transfection efficiency.

Amphiphilic block copolymers enhance cellular uptake and nuclear entry of polyplex-delivered DNA

This work for the first time demonstrates that synthetic polymers enhance uptake and nuclear import of plasmid DNA (pDNA) through the activation of cellular trafficking machinery. Nonionic block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(propylene oxide), Pluronics, are widely used as excipients in pharmaceutics. We previously demonstrated that Pluronics increase the phosphorylation of IkappaB and subsequent NFkappaB nuclear localization as well as upregulate numerous NFkappaB-related genes. In this study, we show that Pluronics enhance gene transfer by pDNA/polycation complexes ("polyplexes") in a promoter-dependent fashion. Addition of Pluronic P123 or P85 to polyethyleneimine-based polyplexes had little effect on polyplex particle size but significantly enhanced pDNA cellular uptake, nuclear translocation, and gene expression in several cell lines. When added to polyplex-transfected cells after transfection, Pluronics enhanced nuclear import of pDNA containing NFkappaB binding sites, but have no effect on import of pDNA without these sites. Altogether, our studies suggest that Pluronics rapidly activate NFkappaB, which binds cytosolic pDNA that possesses promoters containing NFkappaB binding sites and consequently increase nuclear import of pDNA through NFkappaB nuclear translocation.

Cationic liposomes as non-viral carriers of gene medicines: resolved issues, open questions, and future promises

The clinical success of gene therapy is critically dependent on the development of efficient and safe gene delivery reagents, popularly known as "transfection vectors." The transfection vectors commonly used in gene therapy are mainly of two types: viral and non-viral. The efficiencies of viral transfection vectors are, in general, superior to their non-viral counterparts. However, the myriads of potentially adverse immunogenic aftermaths associated with the use of viral vectors are increasingly making the non-viral gene delivery reagents as the vectors of choice. Among the existing arsenal of non-viral gene delivery reagents, the distinct advantages associated with the use of cationic transfection lipids include their: (a) robust manufacture; (b) ease in handling and preparation techniques; (c) ability to inject large lipid:DNA complexes; and (d) low immunogenic response. The present review highlights the major achievements in the area of designing efficacious cationic transfection lipids, some of the more recent advances in the field of cationic liposomes-mediated gene transfer and targeted gene delivery, some unresolved issues and challenges in liposomal gene delivery, and future promises of cationic liposomes as gene-carriers in non-viral gene therapy.

Nucleocytoplasmic transport of DNA: enhancing non-viral gene transfer

Gene therapy, the correction of dysfunctional or deleted genes by supplying the lacking component, has long been awaited as a means to permanently treat or reverse many genetic disorders. To achieve this, therapeutic DNA must be delivered to the nucleus of cells using a safe and efficient delivery vector. Although viral-based vectors have been utilized extensively due to their innate ability to deliver DNA to intact cells, safety considerations, such as pathogenicity, oncogenicity and the stimulation of an immunological response in the host, remain problematical. There has, however, been much progress in the development of safe non-viral gene-delivery vectors, although they remain less efficient than the viral counterparts. The major limitations of non-viral gene transfer reside in the fact that it must be tailored to overcome the intracellular barriers to DNA delivery that viruses already master, including the cellular and nuclear membranes. In particular, nuclear transport of the therapeutic DNA is known to be the rate-limiting step in the gene-delivery process. Despite this, much progress had been made in recent years in developing novel means to overcome these barriers and efficiently deliver DNA to the nuclei of intact cells. This review focuses on the nucleocytoplasmic delivery of DNA and mechanisms to enhance to non-viral-mediated gene transfer.

Nuclear accumulation of plasmid DNA can be enhanced by non-selective gating of the nuclear pore

One of the major obstacles in non-viral gene transfer is the nuclear membrane. Attempts to improve the transport of DNA to the nucleus through the use of nuclear localization signals or importin-β have achieved limited success. It has been proposed that the nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) through which nucleocytoplasmic transport occurs are filled with a hydrophobic phase through which hydrophobic importins can dissolve. Therefore, considering the hydrophobic nature of the NPC channel, we evaluated whether a non-selective gating of nuclear pores by trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diol (TCHD), an amphipathic alcohol that reversibly collapses the permeability barrier of the NPCs, could be obtained and used as an alternative method to facilitate nuclear entry of plasmid DNA. Our data demonstrate for the first time that TCHD makes the nucleus permeable for both high molecular weight dextrans and plasmid DNA (pDNA) at non-toxic concentrations. Furthermore, in line with these observations, TCHD enhanced the transfection efficacy of both naked DNA and lipoplexes. In conclusion, based on the proposed structure of NPCs we succeeded to temporarily open the NPCs for macromolecules as large as pDNAs and demonstrated that this can significantly enhance non-viral gene delivery.

pH-sensitive liposomes--principle and application in cancer therapy

The purpose of this review is to provide an insight into the different aspects of pH-sensitive liposomes. The review consists of 6 parts: the first introduces different types of medications made in liposomal drug delivery to overcome several drawbacks; the second elaborates the development of pH-sensitive liposomes; the third explains diverse mechanisms associated with the endocytosis and the cytosolic delivery of the drugs through pH-sensitive liposomes; the fourth describes the role and importance of pH-sensitive lipid dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) and research carried on it; the fifth explains successful strategies used so far using the mechanism of pH sensitivity for fusogenic activity; the final part is a compilation of research that has played a significant role in emphasizing the success of pH-sensitive liposomes as an efficient drug delivery system in the treatment of malignant tumours. pH-Sensitive liposomes have been extensively studied in recent years as an amicable alternative to conventional liposomes in effectively targeting and accumulating anti-cancer drugs in tumours. This research suggests that pH-sensitive liposomes are more efficient in delivering anti-cancer drugs than conventional and long-circulating liposomes due to their fusogenic property. Research focused on the clinical and therapeutic side of pH-sensitive liposomes would enable their commercial utility in cancer treatment.

Noncovalently linked nuclear localization peptides for enhanced calcium phosphate transfection

The generation of cell lines stably expressing recombinant material is a lengthy process and there has thus been much interest in the use of transient expression systems to rapidly produce recombinant material. To achieve this, the DNA of interest must be delivered into the nucleus of the target cell. The mechanisms by which this process occurs are poorly understood and the efficiency of various methods differs widely. Recently, nuclear localization signals (NLSs) have been investigated to target entry of DNA into the nucleus of mammalian cells. We have used NLSs from the SV40 and Tat antigens mixed with our model luciferase reporter gene plasmid for the transfection of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells using calcium phosphate and FuGENE 6 transfection technology. The noncovalent complexation of NLSs with plasmid DNA before calcium phosphate-mediated transfection resulted in enhanced reporter gene expression with increasing ratios of NLS to plasmid until reaching a maximum. At higher ratios than maximum expression, the expression levels decreased. On the other hand, when using FuGENE 6 reagent NLSs did not enhance reporter gene expression. Cell cycle arrest in G(2)/M phase obliterated the effect of the NLS on reporter gene expression when using the calcium phosphate transfection method.

A composite gene delivery system consisting of polyethylenimine and an amphipathic peptide KALA

BACKGROUND

Animal viruses such as enveloped virus carry multi-functional proteins in the virion that can mediate more than two distinct steps of a gene delivery process during the transfer of viral genome into host cells. We tested if the aspects of the viral gene delivery mechanism could be mimicked by forming composite formulae from multi-functional synthetic gene carriers having complementary action modes.

METHODS

Polyethylenimine (PEI) was chosen as the component responsible for endosome escape and DNA condensation and KALA for cellular entry and DNA condensation. Compact DNA-carrier particles consisting of the core part where DNA chains were tightly condensed by PEI and the outer layer lined with KALA were formulated, characterized and compared with monolithic cationic formulae in terms of gene delivery efficiency and mechanism.

RESULTS

High-level gene expression was observed when C2C12 cells were transfected with DNA that was first partially condensed with PEI and, then, fully with KALA. In these formulae KALA mediated enhanced cellular entry of DNA by facilitating endocytic vesicle formation, while PEI provided an effective endosomolytic capacity. An optimal PEI/KALA formula showed transfection efficiencies better than or comparable to the commercial cationic liposome in various cell types in culture and in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

Gene delivery by combining the membrane-active property of KALA with the endosomolytic activity of PEI can be more efficient than that by either of the properties alone. It appears that, in these formulae, the predominant role of KALA is to facilitate cellular entry of DNA by providing a fusogenic capability, rather than an endosomolytic activity.

Intracellular trafficking of plasmids for gene therapy: mechanisms of cytoplasmic movement and nuclear import

Under physiologically relevant conditions, the levels of non-viral gene transfer are low at best. The reason for this is that many barriers exist for the efficient transfer of genes to cells, even before any gene expression can occur. While many transfection strategies focus on DNA condensation and overcoming the plasma membrane, events associated with the intracellular trafficking of the DNA complexes have not been as extensively studied. Once internalized, plasmids must travel potentially long distances through the cytoplasm to reach their next barrier, the nuclear envelope. This review summarizes the current progress on the cytoplasmic trafficking and nuclear transport of plasmids used for gene therapy applications. Both of these processes utilize specific and defined mechanisms to facilitate movement of DNA complexes through the cell. The continued elucidation and exploitation of these mechanisms will lead to improved strategies for transfection and successful gene therapy.

Nuclear localisation and pDNA condensation in non-viral gene delivery

BACKGROUND

Non-viral gene delivery vectors are multi-component systems reflecting various functionalities required for effective cell transfection, including DNA condensation, promotion of cell membrane interactions and provision for subcellular targeting through endosomal escape and/or nuclear delivery. Elements mediating these functions will clearly display inter-dependency. In this study we sought to explore the relationship within non-viral vectors of condensation and nuclear localisation.

METHODS

Binary, tertiary and quaternary vectors were prepared with combinations of pDNA, DOTAP lipid, the polycation peptide protamine and either SV40 nuclear localisation sequence peptide ('SV40 NLS') or a one amino acid substituted mutant of SV40 NLS ('mutant sequence'). The efficiency of pDNA condensation was determined by gel electrophoresis and quantitative fluorescence spectroscopy. Transfection efficiency was examined in mammalian cells in vitro using standard methods, by electroporation to bypass the plasma membrane barrier and in cells arrested in G0/G1 cell cycle phase to examine the effect of cell division and nuclear membrane disruption.

RESULTS

Small NLS peptide sequences, despite possessing a significant proportion of basic amino acids, display minimal pDNA-condensing ability when compared to larger polycations such as protamine. In standard in vitro cell adherent transfection studies the predominant elements affording enhanced gene expression were effective pDNA condensation and lipid enhancement of cell membrane interactions. These features conversely hinder efficient gene expression in cells that have undergone electroporation. The benefit of SV40 NLS was only apparent when used in non-dividing cell populations.

CONCLUSIONS

Whilst effective levels of non-viral-mediated gene expression generally rely on efficient condensation of pDNA and enhanced interactions with cellular membranes, non-covalently associated NLS within a multi-component non-viral gene vector appears to contribute benefit in sustaining gene expression in non-dividing cells.

Influence of plasmid DNA topology on the transfection properties of DOTAP/DOPE lipoplexes

Plasmid DNA (pDNA) can occur in the compact supercoiled (SC) form, the relaxed open circular (OC) form and the linearized form. In this paper we investigated the transfection efficiency of SC, OC and linearized pDNA complexed to DOTAP/DOPE liposomes in Vero cells. Only DOTAP/DOPE liposomes containing SC pDNA showed protein expression while DOTAP/DOPE liposomes loaded with OC or linearized pDNA failed. First we questioned if the better transfection properties of the SC pDNA-containing lipoplexes could be due to a better transcription of SC pDNA in the nuclei of the cells, compared to OC and linearized pDNA. However, microinjecting (naked) SC, OC or linearized pDNA in the nuclei of the Vero cells revealed that the transcription efficiency was independent on the pDNA topology but did depend on the intranuclear concentration of the pDNA. As the amount of pDNA that reaches the nucleus is determined by the amount of pDNA that arrives in the cytosol it could be hypothesized that SC pDNA is more efficiently released from the DOTAP/DOPE liposomes when compared to OC and linearized pDNA. However, microinjecting comparable concentrations of the pDNA topologies in the cytoplasm still resulted in a significantly higher transfection in the case of SC pDNA, especially in cells that underwent cell division in the period after injection. It seems that, compared to OC and linearized pDNA, SC pDNA is better suited to reach the perinuclear region, a prerequisite to become entrapped in the nuclei of the cells during cell division.

Poly(propylacrylic acid) enhances cationic lipid-mediated delivery of antisense oligonucleotides

The use of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) to inhibit the expression of specific mRNA targets represents a powerful technology for control of gene expression. Cationic lipids and polymers are frequently used to improve the delivery of ODNs to cells, but the resulting complexes often aggregate, bind to serum components, and are trafficked poorly within cells. We show that the addition of a synthetic, pH-sensitive, membrane-disrupting polyanion, poly(propylacrylic acid) (PPAA), improves the in vitro efficiency of the cationic lipid, DOTAP, with regard to oligonucleotide delivery and antisense activity. In characterization studies, ODN complexation with DOTAP/ODN was maintained even when substantial amounts of PPAA were added. The formulation also exhibited partial protection of phosphodiester oligonucleotides against enzymatic digestion. In Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, incorporation of PPAA in DOTAP/ODN complexes improved 2- to 3-fold the cellular uptake of fluorescently tagged oligonucleotides. DOTAP/ODN complexes containing PPAA also maintained high levels of uptake into cells upon exposure to serum. Addition of PPAA to DOTAP/ODN complexes enhanced the antisense activity (using GFP as the target) over a range of PPAA concentrations in both serum-free, and to a lesser extent, serum-containing media. Thus, PPAA is a useful adjunct that improves the lipid-mediated delivery of oligonucleotides.

Nuclear gene delivery: the Trojan horse approach

The nuclear envelope represents a formidable barrier to the transfer of plasmids to the cell nucleus, particularly in nondividing cells. The probability of intact plasmids arriving in the nucleus by a passive process is extremely low. There is substantial evidence in the literature that describes the transport of macromolecules, including plasmids, to the nucleus as a very inefficient process, and so far attempts to affect the active transport through the nuclear pores have achieved limited success. Several approaches have been attempted to improve nuclear transport of plasmids, including the condensation of plasmids to unimolecular complexes of minimal hydrodynamic diameter to favour passive transport through the nuclear pore complex, and the incorporation of nuclear localisation signals in the plasmid or in the delivery system to enhance the active transport of plasmids through the nuclear pores.

The Nuclear Pore Complex: The Gateway to Successful Nonviral Gene Delivery

One of the limiting steps in the efficiency of nonviral gene delivery is transport of genetic material across the nuclear membrane. Trafficking of nuclear proteins from the cytoplasm into the nucleus occurs via the nuclear pore complex and is mediated by nuclear localization signals and their nuclear receptors. Several strategies employing this transport mechanism have been designed and explored to improve nonviral gene delivery. In this article, we review the mechanism of nuclear import through the nuclear pore complex and the strategies used to facilitate nuclear import of exogenous DNA and improve gene expression.

Intracellular trafficking of nucleic acids

Until recently, the attention of most researchers has focused on the first and last steps of gene transfer, namely delivery to the cell and transcription, in order to optimise transfection and gene therapy. However, over the past few years, researchers have realised that the intracellular trafficking of plasmids is more than just a "black box" and is actually one of the major barriers to effective gene delivery. After entering the cytoplasm, following direct delivery or endocytosis, plasmids or other vectors must travel relatively long distances through the mesh of cytoskeletal networks before reaching the nuclear envelope. Once at the nuclear envelope, the DNA must either wait until cell division, or be specifically transported through the nuclear pore complex, in order to reach the nucleoplasm where it can be transcribed. This review focuses on recent developments in the understanding of these intracellular trafficking events as they relate to gene delivery. Hopefully, by continuing to unravel the mechanisms by which plasmids and other gene delivery vectors move throughout the cell, and by understanding the cell biology of gene transfer, superior methods of transfection and gene therapy can be developed.

Synthetic, self-assembly ABCD nanoparticles; a structural paradigm for viable synthetic non-viral vectors

Gene therapy research is still in trouble owing to a paucity of acceptable vector systems to deliver nucleic acids to patients for therapy. Viral vectors are efficient but may be too dangerous. Synthetic non-viral vectors are inherently safer but are currently not efficient enough to be clinically viable. The solution for gene therapy lies with improved synthetic non-viral vectors systems. This review is focused on synthetic cationic liposome/micelle-based non-viral vector systems and is a critical review written to illustrate the increasing importance of chemistry in gene therapy research. This review should be of primary interest to synthetic chemists and biomedical researchers keen to appreciate emerging technologies, but also to biological scientists who remain to be convinced about the relevance of chemistry to biology.

Nuclear entry of nonviral vectors

Nonviral gene delivery is limited to a large extent by multiple extracellular and intracellular barriers. One of the major barriers, especially in nondividing cells, is the nuclear envelope. Once in the cytoplasm, plasmids must make their way into the nucleus in order to be expressed. Numerous studies have demonstrated that transfections work best in dividing populations of cells in which the nuclear envelope disassembles during mitosis, thus largely eliminating the barrier. However, since many of the cells that are targets for gene therapy do not actively undergo cell division during the gene transfer process, the mechanisms of nuclear transport of plasmids in nondividing cells are of critical importance. In this review, we summarize recent studies designed to elucidate the mechanisms of plasmid nuclear import in nondividing cells and discuss approaches to either exploit or circumvent these processes to increase the efficiency of gene transfer and therapy.

Unsatisfactory gene transfer into bone-resorbing osteoclasts with liposomal transfection systems

Background

Bone-resorbing osteoclasts are multinucleated cells that are formed via fusion of their hematopoietic stem cells. Many of the details of osteoclast formation, activation and motility remain unsolved. Therefore, there is an interest among bone biologists to transfect the terminally differentiated osteoclasts and follow their responses to the transgenes in vitro. Severe difficulties in transfecting the large, adherent osteoclasts have been encountered, however, making the use of modern cell biology tools in osteoclast research challenging. Transfection of mature osteoclasts by non-viral gene transfer systems has not been reported.

Results

We have systematically screened the usefulness of several commercial DNA transfection systems in human osteoclasts and their mononuclear precursor cell cultures, and compared transfection efficacy to adenoviral DNA transfection. None of the liposome-based or endosome disruption-inducing systems could induce EGFP-actin expression in terminally differentiated osteoclasts. Instead, a massive cell death by apoptosis was found with all concentrations and liposome/DNA-ratios tested. Best transfection efficiencies were obtained by adenoviral gene delivery. Marginal DNA transfection was obtained by just adding the DNA to the cell culture medium. When bone marrow-derived CD34-positive precursor cells were transfected, some GFP-expression was found at the latest 24 h after transfection. Large numbers of apoptotic cells were found and those cells that remained alive, failed to form osteoclasts when cultured in the presence of RANKL and M-CSF, key regulators of osteoclast formation. In comparison, adenoviral gene delivery resulted in the transfection of CD34-positive cells that remained GFP-positive for up to 5 days and allowed osteoclast formation.

Conclusion

Osteoclasts and their precursors are sensitive to liposomal transfection systems, which induce osteoclast apoptosis. Gene transfer to mononuclear osteoclast precursors or differentiated osteoclasts was not possible with any of the commercial transfection systems tested. Osteoclasts are non-dividing, adherent cells that are difficult to grow as confluent cultures, which may explain problems with transfection reagents. Large numbers of α_vβ₃ integrin on the osteoclast surface allows adenovirus endocytosis and infection proceeds in dividing and non-dividing cells efficiently. Viral gene delivery is therefore currently the method of choice for osteoclast transfection.

Enhancement of gene delivery to human airway epithelial cells in vitro using a peptide from the polyoma virus protein VP1

BACKGROUND

Current liposome-based gene delivery methods for therapeutic benefit are limited by their low efficiency. One possible way to improve gene expression is to include a peptide with a nuclear localization signal (NLS) to enhance the movement of the transfection complex from the cytoplasm to the nuclei of target cells. We have tested a synthetic peptide based on the amino terminal region of the polyoma virus VP1 protein. This region has non-overlapping motifs for DNA binding and nuclear localization.

METHODS

Luciferase gene transfer efficiency was evaluated using this peptide and a control peptide with a mutated NLS in subconfluent, confluent and polarized human bronchial epithelial (16HBE) cells compared to lipoplex alone.

RESULTS

Gene transfer efficiency with a lipopolyplex containing the VP1 peptide enhanced gene delivery compared to lipoplex. Transfection with a lipopolyplex containing the control peptide failed to enhance gene delivery. The VP1 peptide increased the amount of plasmid associated with the nucleus while the mutant VP1 peptide did not. The order of lipopolyplex formation was important, with greatest enhancement when peptide was added to the plasmid before addition of the liposome. A bipartite peptide with the VP1 sequence and an integrin-binding motif (RGD) resulted in a reduction in gene transfer efficiency compared to lipoplex. Cell adhesion studies showed that the integrin binding associated with the RGD motif was lost when it was attached to the VP1 sequence. The combination of the two peptide sequences in cis may have compromised the function of both.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that the VP1 peptide represents a strategy to enhance liposome-mediated gene delivery to airway epithelia in vitro. Comparison of transfection efficiencies between the VP1 and the mutant VP1 peptides and the direct measurement of plasmid associated with the nucleus suggests that this enhancement is caused by the NLS signal sequence in the peptide.

Carrier-based strategies for targeting protein and peptide drugs to the lungs

With greater interest in delivery of protein and peptide-based drugs to the lungs for topical and systemic activity, a range of new devices and formulations are being investigated. While a great deal of recent research has focused on the development of novel devices, attention must now be paid to the formulation of these macromolecular drugs. The emphasis in this review will be on targeting of protein/peptide drugs by inhalation using carriers and ligands.

Enhanced Intracellular Mobility and Nuclear Accumulation of DNA Plasmids Associated with a Karyophilic Protein

The use of synthetic gene delivery systems in human gene transfer is hampered by poor transfection efficiencies, largely because of the inability of DNA to translocate across the nuclear pore complex. A means to overcome this barrier is to bind the DNA to nuclear localization signals (NLSs), which are recognized by shuttling receptors of the nuclear import machinery. Here, we studied the intracellular transport of plasmid DNA microinjected into HeLa cell cytoplasm, alone or as a complex with intact or NLS-deleted NFkappaB p50, using confocal microscopy imaging. We found that association of NLS-carrying p50 with DNA facilitated not only nuclear entry of the DNA but also its migration through the cytoplasm toward the nucleus. Facilitated transport of p50-DNA complexes in the cytoplasm proceeded along microtubules in a dynein-dependent manner and is mediated by the heterodimeric nuclear transport receptor that recognizes the p50-born NLS.

Comparison between the interactions of adenovirus-derived peptides with plasmid DNA and their role in gene delivery mediated by liposome-peptide-DNA virus-like nanoparticles

Previously we have described the development and applications of an important new platform system for gene delivery known as liposome-mu-DNA (LMD), prepared from cationic liposomes (L), plasmid DNA (D) and the mu(M) peptide derived from the adenovirus core. In an attempt to improve upon mu, an alternative peptide (pepV) derived from the adenovirus peptide/protein-DNA core complex was identified, synthesised and studied alongside mu using a number of biophysical techniques including gel retardation, ethidium bromide exclusion, CD binding titration, DNA melting, and plasmid protection assays. PepV binds to pDNA less efficiently than mu but is able to charge neutralise and condense pDNA into negatively charged pepVD particles comparable in dimension to MD particles. The results of CD studies and plasmid protection assays suggest that peptide-DNA interactions are likely to cause pDNA condensation by a combination of charge neutralisation, base pair tilting, double helix destabilisation and the induction of pDNA superfolding. Data suggest the pepVD particles may be formulated with cationic liposomes to give defined LpepVD particles that appear to transfect HeLa cells with marginally more efficiency than LMD particles suggesting that pepV may have some effect on the pDNA transcription process. Although pepV harbours a nuclear-nucleolar localisation sequence (NLS), transfection data show that this capacity is not being appropriately harnessed by the current LpepVD formulation. Further improvements may be required in terms of optimising LpepVD formulations--for instance, to ensure the integrity of the peptide-DNA complexes following cell entry--in order to fully exploit the full NLS capacity of the peptide, thereby facilitating the transfection of slowly dividing or quiescent cells.