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Skandalis A, Sentoukas T, Selianitis D, Balafouti A, Pispas S. Using RAFT Polymerization Methodologies to Create Branched and Nanogel-Type Copolymers. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 17:1947. [PMID: 38730753 PMCID: PMC11084462 DOI: 10.3390/ma17091947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
This review aims to highlight the most recent advances in the field of the synthesis of branched copolymers and nanogels using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. RAFT polymerization is a reversible deactivation radical polymerization technique (RDRP) that has gained tremendous attention due to its versatility, compatibility with a plethora of functional monomers, and mild polymerization conditions. These parameters lead to final polymers with good control over the molar mass and narrow molar mass distributions. Branched polymers can be defined as the incorporation of secondary polymer chains to a primary backbone, resulting in a wide range of complex macromolecular architectures, like star-shaped, graft, and hyperbranched polymers and nanogels. These subcategories will be discussed in detail in this review in terms of synthesis routes and properties, mainly in solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Skandalis
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece; (D.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Theodore Sentoukas
- Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, 34 M. Curie-Sklodowska Street, 41-819 Zabrze, Poland
| | - Dimitrios Selianitis
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece; (D.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Anastasia Balafouti
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece; (D.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Stergios Pispas
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece; (D.S.); (A.B.)
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Dong L, Li Y, Cong H, Yu B, Shen Y. A review of chitosan in gene therapy: Developments and challenges. Carbohydr Polym 2024; 324:121562. [PMID: 37985064 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy, as a revolutionary treatment, has been gaining more and more attention. The key to gene therapy is the selection of suitable vectors for protection of exogenous nucleic acid molecules and enabling their specific release in target cells. While viral vectors have been widely used in researches, non-viral vectors are receiving more attention due to its advantages. Chitosan (CS) has been widely used as non-viral organic gene carrier because of its good biocompatibility and its ability to load large amounts of nucleic acids. This paper summarizes and evaluates the potential of chitosan and its derivatives as gene delivery vector materials, along with factors influencing transfection efficiency, performance evaluation, ways to optimize infectious efficiency, and the current main research development directions. Additionally, it provides an outlook on its future prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Dong
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Yanan Li
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Hailin Cong
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China.
| | - Bing Yu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.
| | - Youqing Shen
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Center for Bionanoengineering, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
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Casper J, Schenk SH, Parhizkar E, Detampel P, Dehshahri A, Huwyler J. Polyethylenimine (PEI) in gene therapy: Current status and clinical applications. J Control Release 2023; 362:667-691. [PMID: 37666302 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Polyethlyenimine (PEI) was introduced 1995 as a cationic polymer for nucleic acid delivery. PEI and its derivatives are extensively used in basic research and as reference formulations in the field of polymer-based gene delivery. Despite its widespread use, the number of clinical applications to date is limited. Thus, this review aims to consolidate the past applications of PEI in DNA delivery, elucidate the obstacles that hinder its transition to clinical use, and highlight potential prospects for novel iterations of PEI derivatives. The present review article is divided into three sections. The first section examines the mechanism of action employed by PEI, examining fundamental aspects of cellular delivery including uptake mechanisms, release from endosomes, and transport into the cell nucleus, along with potential strategies for enhancing these delivery phases. Moreover, an in-depth analysis is conducted concerning the mechanism underlying cellular toxicity, accompanied with approaches to overcome this major challenge. The second part is devoted to the in vivo performance of PEI and its application in various therapeutic indications. While systemic administration has proven to be challenging, alternative localized delivery routes hold promise, such as treatment of solid tumors, application as a vaccine, or serving as a therapeutic agent for pulmonary delivery. In the last section, the outcome of completed and ongoing clinical trials is summarized. Finally, an expert opinion is provided on the potential of PEI and its future applications. PEI-based formulations for nucleic acid delivery have a promising potential, it will be an important task for the years to come to introduce innovations that address PEI-associated shortcomings by introducing well-designed PEI formulations in combination with an appropriate route of administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Casper
- Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Susanne H Schenk
- Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Elahehnaz Parhizkar
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Pascal Detampel
- Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ali Dehshahri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Jörg Huwyler
- Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
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Karayianni M, Sentoukas T, Skandalis A, Pippa N, Pispas S. Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles for Nucleic Acid Delivery: Technological Aspects, Applications, and Future Perspectives. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1849. [PMID: 37514036 PMCID: PMC10383118 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15071849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Chitosan is a naturally occurring polymer derived from the deacetylation of chitin, which is an abundant carbohydrate found mainly in the shells of various marine and terrestrial (micro)organisms. Chitosan has been extensively used to construct nanoparticles (NPs), which are biocompatible, biodegradable, non-toxic, easy to prepare, and can function as effective drug delivery systems. Moreover, chitosan NPs have been employed in gene and vaccine delivery, as well as advanced cancer therapy, and they can also serve as new therapeutic tools against viral infections. In this review, we summarize the most recent developments in the field of chitosan-based NPs intended as nucleic acid delivery vehicles and gene therapy vectors. Special attention is given to the technological aspects of chitosan complexes for nucleic acid delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Karayianni
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Ave., 11635 Athens, Greece
| | - Theodore Sentoukas
- Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, 34, M. Curie-Sklodowska St., 41-819 Zabrze, Poland
| | - Athanasios Skandalis
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Ave., 11635 Athens, Greece
| | - Natassa Pippa
- Section of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Panepistimioupolis Zografou, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Stergios Pispas
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Ave., 11635 Athens, Greece
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Farahpour A, Ramezanian N, Gholami L, Askarian S, Banisadr A, Kazemi Oskuee R. Synthesis and characterization of polyethyleneimine-terminated poly( β-amino esters) conjugated with pullulan for gene delivery. Pharm Dev Technol 2022; 27:606-614. [PMID: 35766268 DOI: 10.1080/10837450.2022.2096069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Cationic polymers endowed with a flexible system for condensing DNA, are regarded as effective materials for gene delivery. The synthesis of poly(β-amino esters) (pBAEs) based on 1,4-butanediol diacrylate-ethanolamine monomer (1.2:1 molar ratio) and 1,4-butanediol diacrylate-ethylene diamine (1:2 molar ratio) were carried out and modification with 1800 Da polyethyleneimine (PEI) at different weight ratios (3 and 1) as well as conjugation with pullulan in various weight ratios of (0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, and 1) performed. Gel-retardation assay demonstrated that the synthesized polymers were able to condense DNA at low carrier/plasmid (C/P) ratios. The polyplexes with ratio 3 of PEI (pβ1/PEI3) were restricted in all C/P ratios and the polyplexes of pβ1/PEI3/pull0.125 were condensed at C/P ratios higher than 0.5. The particle size at C/P were approximately about 200 nm with a positive surface charge. The presence of the pullulan in the structure of the synthesized pBAEs could be effective in reducing toxicity of the base polymer. Highest metabolic activity dedicated to C/P2 of pβ2/PEI3/pull0.125 with 80.6 percent viability. Furthermore, the most efficient gene reporter delivery was seen at C/P ratio of 6 in pβ2/PEI3/pull0.125 nanoparticles. Therefore, pullulan grafting could enhance the cellular response of cells in terms of cytotoxicity and transfection efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atena Farahpour
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Navid Ramezanian
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Leila Gholami
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Saeedeh Askarian
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
| | - Arsham Banisadr
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Reza Kazemi Oskuee
- Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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Chitosan nanoparticles synthesis and surface modification using histidine/ polyethylenimine and evaluation of their gene transfection efficiency in breast cancer cells. Biologia (Bratisl) 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-021-00984-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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Nicolle L, Journot CMA, Gerber-Lemaire S. Chitosan Functionalization: Covalent and Non-Covalent Interactions and Their Characterization. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:4118. [PMID: 34883621 PMCID: PMC8659004 DOI: 10.3390/polym13234118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chitosan (CS) is a natural biopolymer that has gained great interest in many research fields due to its promising biocompatibility, biodegradability, and favorable mechanical properties. The versatility of this low-cost polymer allows for a variety of chemical modifications via covalent conjugation and non-covalent interactions, which are designed to further improve the properties of interest. This review aims at presenting the broad range of functionalization strategies reported over the last five years to reflect the state-of-the art of CS derivatization. We start by describing covalent modifications performed on the CS backbone, followed by non-covalent CS modifications involving small molecules, proteins, and metal adjuvants. An overview of CS-based systems involving both covalent and electrostatic modification patterns is then presented. Finally, a special focus will be given on the characterization techniques commonly used to qualify the composition and physical properties of CS derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sandrine Gerber-Lemaire
- Group for Functionalized Biomaterials, Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL SB ISIC SCI-SB-SG, Station 6, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; (L.N.); (C.M.A.J.)
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Application of Non-Viral Vectors in Drug Delivery and Gene Therapy. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13193307. [PMID: 34641123 PMCID: PMC8512075 DOI: 10.3390/polym13193307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Vectors and carriers play an indispensable role in gene therapy and drug delivery. Non-viral vectors are widely developed and applied in clinical practice due to their low immunogenicity, good biocompatibility, easy synthesis and modification, and low cost of production. This review summarized a variety of non-viral vectors and carriers including polymers, liposomes, gold nanoparticles, mesoporous silica nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes from the aspects of physicochemical characteristics, synthesis methods, functional modifications, and research applications. Notably, non-viral vectors can enhance the absorption of cargos, prolong the circulation time, improve therapeutic effects, and provide targeted delivery. Additional studies focused on recent innovation of novel synthesis techniques for vector materials. We also elaborated on the problems and future research directions in the development of non-viral vectors, which provided a theoretical basis for their broad applications.
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