Non-invasive, targeted, and non-viral ultrasound-mediated brain-derived neurotrophic factor plasmid delivery for treatment of autism in a rat model

Enhancing glioma-specific drug delivery through self-assembly of macrophage membrane and targeted polymer assisted by low-frequency ultrasound irradiation

The blood-brain Barrier (BBB), combined with immune clearance, contributes to the low efficacy of drug delivery and suboptimal treatment outcomes in glioma. Here, we propose a novel approach that combines the self-assembly of mouse bone marrow-derived macrophage membrane with a targeted positive charge polymer (An-PEI), along with low-frequency ultrasound (LFU) irradiation, to achieve efficient and safe therapy for glioma. Our findings demonstrate the efficacy of a charge-induced self-assembly strategy, resulting in a stable co-delivery nanosystem with a high drug loading efficiency of 44.2 %. Moreover, this structure triggers a significant release of temozolomide in the acidic environment of the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, the macrophage membrane coating expresses Spyproteins, which increase the amount of An-BMP-TMZ that can evade the immune system by 40 %, while LFU irradiation treatment facilitates the opening of the BBB, allowing for enormously increased entry of An-BMP-TMZ (approximately 400 %) into the brain. Furthermore, after crossing the BBB, the Angiopep-2 peptide-modified An-BMP-TMZ exhibits the ability to selectively target glioma cells. These advantages result in an obvious tumor inhibition effect in animal experiments and significantly improve the survival of glioma-bearing mice. These results suggest that combining the macrophage membrane-coated drug delivery system with LFU irradiation offers a feasible approach for the accurate, efficient and safe treatment of brain disease.

Focused ultrasound on the substantia nigra enables safe neurotensin-polyplex nanoparticle-mediated gene delivery to dopaminergic neurons intranasally and by blood circulation

Neurotensin-polyplex nanoparticles provide efficient gene transfection of nigral dopaminergic neurons when intracerebrally injected in preclinical trials of Parkinson's disease because they do not cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Therefore, this study aimed to open BBB with focused ultrasound (FUS) on the substantia nigra to attain systemic and intranasal transfections and evaluate its detrimental effect in rats. Systemically injected Evans Blue showed that a two-pulse FUS opened the nigral BBB. Accordingly, 35 μL of neurotensin-polyplex nanoparticles encompassing the green fluorescent protein plasmid (79.6 nm mean size and + 1.3 mV Zeta-potential) caused its expression in tyrosine hydroxylase(+) cells (dopaminergic neurons) of both substantiae nigrae upon delivery via internal carotid artery, retro-orbital venous sinus, or nasal mucosa 30 min after FUS. The intracarotid delivery yielded the highest transgene expression, followed by intranasal and venous administration. However, FUS caused neuroinflammation displayed by infiltrated lymphocytes (positive to cluster of differentiation 45), activated microglia (positive to ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1), neurotoxic A1 astrocytes (positive to glial fibrillary acidic protein and complement component 3), and neurotrophic A2 astrocytes (positive to glial fibrillary acidic protein and S100 calcium-binding protein A10), that ended 15 days after FUS. Dopaminergic neurons and axonal projections decreased but recuperated basal values on day 15 after transfection, correlating with a decrease and recovery of locomotor behavior. In conclusion, FUS caused transient neuroinflammation and reversible neuronal affection but allowed systemic and intranasal transfection of dopaminergic neurons in both substantiae nigrae. Therefore, FUS could advance neurotensin-polyplex nanotechnology to clinical trials for Parkinson's disease.

In vitro and in vivo characterization of human serum albumin-based PEGylated nanoparticles for BDNF and NT3 codelivery

The utilization of neurotrophins in medicine shows significant potential for addressing neurodegenerative conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, the therapeutic use of neurotrophins has been restricted due to their short half-life. Here, we aimed to synthesize PEGylated nanoparticles based on electrostatic-driven interactions between human serum albumin (HSA), a carrier for adsorption; neurotrophin-3 (NT3); and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Electrophoretic (ELS) and multi-angle dynamic light scattering (MADLS) revealed that the PEGylated HSA-NT3-BDNF nanoparticles ranged from 10 to 430 nm in diameter and exhibited a low polydispersity index (<0.4) and a zeta potential of -8 mV. Based on microscale thermophoresis (MST), the estimated dissociation constant (Kd) from the HSA molecule of BDNF was 1.6 μM, and the Kd of NT3 was 732 μM. The nanoparticles were nontoxic toward ARPE-19 and L-929 cells in vitro and efficiently delivered BDNF and NT3. Based on the biodistribution of neurotrophins after intravitreal injection into BALB/c mice, both nanoparticles were gradually released in the mouse vitreous body within 28 days. PEGylated HSA-NT3-BDNF nanoparticles stabilize neurotrophins and maintain this characteristic in vivo. Thus, given the simplicity of the system, the nanoparticles may enhance the treatment of a variety of neurological disorders in the future.

Exposure to nonylphenol in early life causes behavioural deficits related with autism spectrum disorders in rats

Early-life exposure to environmental endocrine disruptors (EDCs) is a potential risk factor for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Exposure to nonylphenol (NP), a typical EDC, is known to cause some long-term behavioural abnormalities. Moreover, these abnormal behaviours are the most frequent psychiatric co-morbidities in ASD. However, the direct evidence for the link between NP exposure in early life and ASD-like behavioural phenotypes is still missing. In the present study, typical ASD-like behaviours induced by valproic acid treatment were considered as a positive behavioural control. We investigated impacts on social behaviours following early-life exposure to NP, and explored effects of this exposure on neuronal dendritic spines, mitochondria function, oxidative stress, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Furthermore, primary cultured rat neurons were employed as in vitro model to evaluate changes in dendritic spine caused by exposure to NP, and oxidative stress and ER stress were specifically modulated to further explore their roles in these changes. Our results indicated rats exposed to NP in early life showed mild ASD-like behaviours. Moreover, we also found the activation of ER stress triggered by oxidative stress may contribute to dendritic spine decrease and synaptic dysfunction, which may underlie neurobehavioural abnormalities induced by early-life exposure to NP.

Cardioprotective effect of ultrasound-targeted destruction of Sirt3-loaded cationic microbubbles in a large animal model of pathological cardiac hypertrophy

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy occurs in response to numerous increased afterload stimuli and precedes irreversible heart failure (HF). Therefore, therapies that ameliorate pathological cardiac hypertrophy are urgently required. Sirtuin 3 (Sirt3) is a main member of histone deacetylase class III and is a crucial anti-oxidative stress agent. Therapeutically enhancing the Sirt3 transfection efficiency in the heart would broaden the potential clinical application of Sirt3. Ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) is a prospective, noninvasive, repeatable, and targeted gene delivery technique. In the present study, we explored the potential and safety of UTMD as a delivery tool for Sirt3 in hypertrophic heart tissues using adult male Bama miniature pigs. Pigs were subjected to ear vein delivery of human Sirt3 together with UTMD of cationic microbubbles (CMBs). Fluorescence imaging, western blotting, and quantitative real-time PCR revealed that the targeted destruction of ultrasonic CMBs in cardiac tissues greatly boosted Sirt3 delivery. Overexpression of Sirt3 ameliorated oxidative stress and partially improved the diastolic function and prevented the apoptosis and profibrotic response. Lastly, our data revealed that Sirt3 may regulate the potential transcription of catalase and MnSOD through Foxo3a. Combining the advantages of ultrasound CMBs with preclinical hypertrophy large animal models for gene delivery, we established a classical hypertrophy model as well as a strategy for the targeted delivery of genes to hypertrophic heart tissues. Since oxidative stress, fibrosis and apoptosis are indispensable in the evolution of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure, our findings suggest that Sirt3 is a promising therapeutic option for these diseases. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: : Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is a central prepathology of heart failure and is seen to eventually precede it. Feasible targets that may prevent or reverse disease progression are scarce and urgently needed. In this study, we developed surface-filled lipid octafluoropropane gas core cationic microbubbles that could target the release of human Sirt3 reactivating the endogenous Sirt3 in hypertrophic hearts and protect against oxidative stress in a pig model of cardiac hypertrophy induced by aortic banding. Sirt3-CMBs may enhance cardiac diastolic function and ameliorate fibrosis and apoptosis. Our work provides a classical cationic lipid-based, UTMD-mediated Sirt3 delivery system for the treatment of Sirt3 in patients with established cardiac hypertrophy, as well as a promising therapeutic target to combat pathological cardiac hypertrophy.