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Narasipura EA, Fenton OS. Advances in non-viral mRNA delivery to the spleen. Biomater Sci 2024; 12:3027-3044. [PMID: 38712531 PMCID: PMC11175841 DOI: 10.1039/d4bm00038b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Developing safe and effective delivery strategies for localizing messenger RNA (mRNA) payloads to the spleen is an important goal in the field of genetic medicine. Accomplishing this goal is challenging due to the instability, size, and charge of mRNA payloads. Here, we provide an analysis of non-viral delivery technologies that have been developed to deliver mRNA payloads to the spleen. Specifically, our review begins by outlining the unique anatomy and potential targets for mRNA delivery within the spleen. Next, we describe approaches in mRNA sequence engineering that can be used to improve mRNA delivery to the spleen. Then, we describe advances in non-viral carrier systems that can package and deliver mRNA payloads to the spleen, highlighting key advances in the literature in lipid nanoparticle (LNP) and polymer nanoparticle (PNP) technology platforms. Finally, we provide commentary and outlook on how splenic mRNA delivery may afford next-generation treatments for autoimmune disorders and cancers. In undertaking this approach, our goal with this review is to both establish a fundamental understanding of drug delivery challenges associated with localizing mRNA payloads to the spleen, while also broadly highlighting the potential to use these genetic medicines to treat disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eshan A Narasipura
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | - Owen S Fenton
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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2
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Zhang H, Gao X, Sun Q, Dong X, Zhu Z, Yang C. Incorporation of poly(γ-glutamic acid) in lipid nanoparticles for enhanced mRNA delivery efficiency in vitro and in vivo. Acta Biomater 2024; 177:361-376. [PMID: 38342193 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.02.004] [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: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA)-based therapy shows immense potential for broad biomedical applications. However, the development of safe and efficacious mRNA delivery vectors remains challenging due to delivery barriers and inefficient intracellular payload release. Herein, we presented a simple strategy to boost the mRNA intracellular release by incorporation of anionic poly(γ-glutamic acid) (PGA) into an ionizable lipid-based LNP/mRNA. We systematically investigated the impact of PGA incorporation on mRNA transfection both in vitro and in vivo. The molecular weights and formulation ratios of PGA greatly affected the transfection efficacy of LNP/mRNA. From in vitro study, the optimized LNP/mRNA/PGA was formulated by incorporation of PGA with the molecular weight of 80 kDa or 200 kDa and the charge ratio (N/P/C) of 25/1/1. The optimized formulation achieved around 3-fold mRNA expression in HeLa cells compared to the bare LNP/mRNA. The intracellular releasing study using specific DNA probe revealed that this enhancement of transfection efficacy was attributed to the elevated mRNA release into cytoplasm. Moreover, the optimized LNP/mRNA/PGA achieved up to 5-fold or 3-fold increase of luciferase mRNA expression in vivo after being injected into mice systematically or intramuscularly, respectively. In addition, the incorporation of PGA did not significantly alter the biodistribution profile of the complexes on both organ and cellular levels. Therefore, our work provides a simple strategy to boost mRNA delivery, which holds great promise to improve the efficacy of mRNA therapeutics for various biomedical applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The process of designing and screening potent mRNA carriers is complicated and time-consuming, while the efficacy is not always satisfying due to the delivery barriers and inefficient mRNA release. This work presented an alternative strategy to boost the mRNA delivery efficacy by incorporating an anionic natural polymer poly(γ-glutamic acid) (PGA) into LNP/mRNA complexes. The optimized LNP/mRNA/PGA achieved up to 3-fold and 5-fold increase in transfection efficacy in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Intracellular releasing analysis revealed that the enhancement of transfection efficacy was mainly attributed to the elevated intracellular release of mRNA. In addition, the incorporation of PGA did not alter the biodistribution or the biosafety profile of the complexes. These findings indicate that PGA incorporation is a promising strategy to improve the efficacy of mRNA therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongqian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry of the Ministry of Education, and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 25010, China
| | - Xue Gao
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry of the Ministry of Education, and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 25010, China
| | - Qian Sun
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry of the Ministry of Education, and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 25010, China
| | - Xiaoxue Dong
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry of the Ministry of Education, and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 25010, China
| | - Zongwei Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry of the Ministry of Education, and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 25010, China
| | - Chuanxu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry of the Ministry of Education, and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 25010, China.
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3
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Leer K, Reichel LS, Kimmig J, Richter F, Hoeppener S, Brendel JC, Zechel S, Schubert US, Traeger A. Optimization of Mixed Micelles Based on Oppositely Charged Block Copolymers by Machine Learning for Application in Gene Delivery. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2306116. [PMID: 37794626 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202306116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 mRNA vaccines represent a milestone in developing non-viral gene carriers, and their success highlights the crucial need for continued research in this field to address further challenges. Polymer-based delivery systems are particularly promising due to their versatile chemical structure and convenient adaptability, but struggle with the toxicity-efficiency dilemma. Introducing anionic, hydrophilic, or "stealth" functionalities represents a promising approach to overcome this dilemma in gene delivery. Here, two sets of diblock terpolymers are created comprising hydrophobic poly(n-butyl acrylate) (PnBA), a copolymer segment made of hydrophilic 4-acryloylmorpholine (NAM), and either the cationic 3-guanidinopropyl acrylamide (GPAm) or the 2-carboxyethyl acrylamide (CEAm), which is negatively charged at neutral conditions. These oppositely charged sets of diblocks are co-assembled in different ratios to form mixed micelles. Since this experimental design enables countless mixing possibilities, a machine learning approach is applied to identify an optimal GPAm/CEAm ratio for achieving high transfection efficiency and cell viability with little resource expenses. After two runs, an optimal ratio to overcome the toxicity-efficiency dilemma is identified. The results highlight the remarkable potential of integrating machine learning into polymer chemistry to effectively tackle the enormous number of conceivable combinations for identifying novel and powerful gene transporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Leer
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Liên S Reichel
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Julian Kimmig
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Friederike Richter
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Stephanie Hoeppener
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Johannes C Brendel
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Stefan Zechel
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Ulrich S Schubert
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Anja Traeger
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743, Jena, Germany
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4
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Gu J, Xu Z, Liu Q, Tang S, Zhang W, Xie S, Chen X, Chen J, Yong KT, Yang C, Xu G. Building a Better Silver Bullet: Current Status and Perspectives of Non-Viral Vectors for mRNA Vaccines. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2302409. [PMID: 37964681 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines have exhibited great potential to replace conventional vaccines owing to their low risk of insertional mutagenesis, safety and efficacy, rapid and scalable production, and low-cost manufacturing. With the great achievements of chemical modification and sequence optimization methods of mRNA, the key to the success of mRNA vaccines is strictly dependent on safe and efficient gene vectors. Among various delivery platforms, non-viral mRNA vectors could represent perfect choices for future clinical translation regarding their safety, sufficient packaging capability, low immunogenicity, and versatility. In this review, the recent progress in the development of non-viral mRNA vectors is focused on. Various organic vectors including lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), polymers, peptides, and exosomes for efficient mRNA delivery are presented and summarized. Furthermore, the latest advances in clinical trials of mRNA vaccines are described. Finally, the current challenges and future possibilities for the clinical translation of these promising mRNA vectors are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Gu
- Department of Pharmacy, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan, University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, 518020, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Zhourui Xu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Qiqi Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Institute, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Shenzhen Baoan Women's and Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518102, China
| | - Shiqi Tang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Wenguang Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Shouxia Xie
- Department of Pharmacy, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan, University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, 518020, China
- Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518020, China
| | - Xiaoyan Chen
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Institute, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Shenzhen Baoan Women's and Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518102, China
| | - Jiajie Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Ken-Tye Yong
- School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Chengbin Yang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Gaixia Xu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
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Uchida S, Lau CYJ, Oba M, Miyata K. Polyplex designs for improving the stability and safety of RNA therapeutics. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 199:114972. [PMID: 37364611 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Nanoparticle-based delivery systems have contributed to the recent clinical success of RNA therapeutics, including siRNA and mRNA. RNA delivery using polymers has several distinct properties, such as enabling RNA delivery into extra-hepatic organs, modulation of immune responses to RNA, and regulation of intracellular RNA release. However, delivery systems should overcome safety and stability issues to achieve widespread therapeutic applications. Safety concerns include direct damage to cellular components, innate and adaptive immune responses, complement activation, and interaction with surrounding molecules and cells in the blood circulation. The stability of the delivery systems should balance extracellular RNA protection and controlled intracellular RNA release, which requires optimization for each RNA species. Further, polymer designs for improving safety and stability often conflict with each other. This review covers advances in polymer-based approaches to address these issues over several years, focusing on biological understanding and design concepts for delivery systems rather than material chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Uchida
- Department of Advanced Nanomedical Engineering, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan; Medical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 1-5 Shimogamohangi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-0823, Japan; Innovation Center of NanoMedicine (iCONM), Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 3-25-14 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, 210-0821, Japan.
| | - Chun Yin Jerry Lau
- Department of Materials Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Makoto Oba
- Medical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 1-5 Shimogamohangi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-0823, Japan
| | - Kanjiro Miyata
- Department of Materials Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan.
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6
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Chehelgerdi M, Chehelgerdi M. The use of RNA-based treatments in the field of cancer immunotherapy. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:106. [PMID: 37420174 PMCID: PMC10401791 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01807-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past several decades, mRNA vaccines have evolved from a theoretical concept to a clinical reality. These vaccines offer several advantages over traditional vaccine techniques, including their high potency, rapid development, low-cost manufacturing, and safe administration. However, until recently, concerns over the instability and inefficient distribution of mRNA in vivo have limited their utility. Fortunately, recent technological advancements have mostly resolved these concerns, resulting in the development of numerous mRNA vaccination platforms for infectious diseases and various types of cancer. These platforms have shown promising outcomes in both animal models and humans. This study highlights the potential of mRNA vaccines as a promising alternative approach to conventional vaccine techniques and cancer treatment. This review article aims to provide a thorough and detailed examination of mRNA vaccines, including their mechanisms of action and potential applications in cancer immunotherapy. Additionally, the article will analyze the current state of mRNA vaccine technology and highlight future directions for the development and implementation of this promising vaccine platform as a mainstream therapeutic option. The review will also discuss potential challenges and limitations of mRNA vaccines, such as their stability and in vivo distribution, and suggest ways to overcome these issues. By providing a comprehensive overview and critical analysis of mRNA vaccines, this review aims to contribute to the advancement of this innovative approach to cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Chehelgerdi
- Novin Genome (NG) Lab, Research and Development Center for Biotechnology, Shahrekord, Iran.
- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran.
| | - Matin Chehelgerdi
- Novin Genome (NG) Lab, Research and Development Center for Biotechnology, Shahrekord, Iran
- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
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7
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Tang M, Sagawa A, Inoue N, Torii S, Tomita K, Hattori Y. Efficient mRNA Delivery with mRNA Lipoplexes Prepared Using a Modified Ethanol Injection Method. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15041141. [PMID: 37111627 PMCID: PMC10146866 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15041141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA)-based therapies are a novel class of therapeutics used in vaccination and protein replacement therapies for monogenic diseases. Previously, we developed a modified ethanol injection (MEI) method for small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection, in which cationic liposome/siRNA complexes (siRNA lipoplexes) were prepared by mixing a lipid-ethanol solution with a siRNA solution. In this study, we applied the MEI method to prepare mRNA lipoplexes and evaluated the in vitro and in vivo protein expression efficiencies. We selected six cationic lipids and three neutral helper lipids to generate 18 mRNA lipoplexes. These were composed of cationic lipids, neutral helper lipids, and polyethylene glycol-cholesteryl ether (PEG-Chol). Among them, mRNA lipoplexes containing N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethylhexadecan-1-aminium bromide (DC-1-16) or 11-((1,3-bis(dodecanoyloxy)-2-((dodecanoyloxy)methyl) propan-2-yl) amino)-N,N,N-trimethyl-11-oxoundecan-1-aminium bromide (TC-1-12) with 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) and PEG-Chol exhibited high protein expression in cells. Furthermore, mRNA lipoplexes composed of DC-1-16, DOPE, and PEG-Chol exhibited high protein expression in the lungs and spleen of mice after systemic injection and induced high antigen-specific IgG1 levels upon immunization. These results suggest that the MEI method can potentially increase the efficiency of mRNA transfection, both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Tang
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hoshi University, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa, Tokyo 142-8501, Japan
| | - Ayane Sagawa
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hoshi University, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa, Tokyo 142-8501, Japan
| | - Nodoka Inoue
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hoshi University, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa, Tokyo 142-8501, Japan
| | - Satomi Torii
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hoshi University, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa, Tokyo 142-8501, Japan
| | - Kana Tomita
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hoshi University, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa, Tokyo 142-8501, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Hattori
- Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hoshi University, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa, Tokyo 142-8501, Japan
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Rajendran AP, Ogundana O, Morales LC, Meenakshi Sundaram DN, Kucharski C, Kc R, Uludağ H. Transfection Efficacy and Cellular Uptake of Lipid-Modified Polyethyleneimine Derivatives for Anionic Nanoparticles as Gene Delivery Vectors. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2023; 6:1105-1121. [PMID: 36853230 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Cationic polyethylenimine (PEI)-based nonviral gene carriers have been desirable to overcome the limitations of viral vectors in gene therapy. A range of PEI derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for nonviral delivery applications of plasmid DNA (pDNA). Linolenic acid, lauric acid, and oleic acid were covalently conjugated with low-molecular-weight PEI (Mw ∼ 1200 Da) via two different linkers, gallic acid (GA) and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHPA), that allows a differential loading of lipids per modified amine (3 vs 1, respectively). 1H NMR spectrum confirmed the expected structure of the conjugates as well as the level of lipid substitution. SYBR Green binding assay performed to investigate the 50% binding concentration (BC50) of lipophilic polymers to pDNA revealed increased BC50 with an increased level of lipid substitution. The particle analysis determined that GA- and PHPA-modified lipopolymers gave pDNA complexes with ∼300 and ∼100 nm in size, respectively. At the polymer/pDNA ratio of 5.0, the ζ-potentials of the complexes were negative (-6.55 to -10.6 mV) unlike the complexes with the native PEI (+11.2 mV). The transfection experiments indicated that the prepared lipopolymers showed higher transfection in attachment-dependent cells than in suspension cells based on the expression of the reporter green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene. When loaded with Cy3-labeled pDNA, the lipopolymers exhibited effective cellular uptake in attachment-dependent cells while the cellular uptake was limited in suspension cells. These results demonstrate the potential of lipid-conjugated PEI via GA and PHPA linkers, which are promising for the modification of anchorage-dependent cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amarnath Praphakar Rajendran
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Oluwanifemi Ogundana
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Luis Carlos Morales
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | | | - Cezary Kucharski
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Remant Kc
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Hasan Uludağ
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H1, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
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9
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Geng L, Kato N, Kodama Y, Mukai H, Kawakami S. Influence of lipid composition of messenger RNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles on the protein expression via intratracheal administration in mice. Int J Pharm 2023; 637:122896. [PMID: 36972778 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.122896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2023]
Abstract
Intratracheal (i.t.) administration, which takes advantage of the specific structure of the respiratory system, can effectively deliver nanoparticles to the lung. Much remains unknown about the i.t. administration of messenger RNA (mRNA)-lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and the effect of lipid composition. In this study, we administered minute amounts of mRNA-LNP solutions into mice intratracheally and investigated the effect of lipid composition on protein expression in the lungs. We first validated higher protein expression with mRNA-LNP compared to that with mRNA-PEI complex and naked mRNA. Then, we evaluated the influence of lipid composition of LNPs on the protein expression and found that: 1) decreasing the PEG molarity from 1.5% to 0.5% could significantly increase the protein expression; 2) replacing DMG-PEG with DSG-PEG could slightly increase the protein expression; 3) using DOPE instead of DSPC could increase protein expression by an order of magnitude. We successfully prepared an mRNA-LNP with optimal lipid compositions that led to robust protein expression following i.t. administration, thus providing meaningful insights into advanced development of mRNA-LNPs for therapeutic i.t. administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longjian Geng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Informatics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki 852-8588, Japan.
| | - Naoya Kato
- Department of Pharmaceutical Informatics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki 852-8588, Japan.
| | - Yukinobu Kodama
- Department of Hospital Pharmacy, Nagasaki University Hospital, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki 852-8501, Japan.
| | - Hidefumi Mukai
- Department of Pharmaceutical Informatics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki 852-8588, Japan; Laboratory for Molecular Delivery and Imaging Technology, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 6-7-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan.
| | - Shigeru Kawakami
- Department of Pharmaceutical Informatics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki 852-8588, Japan.
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10
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Intradermal delivery of mRNA using cryomicroneedles. Acta Biomater 2022; 148:133-141. [PMID: 35697200 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Microneedles can realize the intradermal and transdermal delivery of drugs. However, most conventional microneedles made of metal, polymer and ceramics are unsuitable for the delivery of mRNA drugs that are fragile and temperature-sensitive. This study explores the usage of cryomicroneedles (CryoMNs) for the intradermal delivery of mRNA molecules. Taking luciferase mRNA as an example, we first optimize the formulation of CryoMNs to maximize mRNA stability. Later, in the mouse model, we compare the delivery efficiency with the conventional subcutaneous injection for both the luciferase mRNA and COVID-19 Comirnaty mRNA vaccines, where CryoMNs delivered mRNA vaccines successfully induce specific B-cell antibody, neutralizing activity and T-cell responses. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: mRNA vaccines are fragile and temperature-sensitive, so they are mainly delivered by intramuscular injection that often causes pain and requires clinical expertise to immunize patients. Microneedles permit convenient, fast and safe vaccination. However, existing microneedle platforms are ineffective to protect the integrity of mRNA vaccines in fabrication, storage, and administration. This work utilizes cryomicroneedles (CryoMNs) technology to intradermally deliver mRNA. In the mouse model, CryoMNs are compared with the subcutaneous injection for the delivery efficiency of both the luciferase mRNA and COVID-19 Comirnaty mRNA vaccines, where CryoMNs delivered mRNA vaccines successfully produce specific B-cell antibodies, T-cell responses, and neutralizing activity. This work is expected to provide a new delivery strategy for the emerging mRNA therapeutics.
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11
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Byun MJ, Lim J, Kim SN, Park DH, Kim TH, Park W, Park CG. Advances in Nanoparticles for Effective Delivery of RNA Therapeutics. BIOCHIP JOURNAL 2022; 16:128-145. [PMID: 35261724 PMCID: PMC8891745 DOI: 10.1007/s13206-022-00052-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
RNA therapeutics, including messenger RNA (mRNA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA), are genetic materials that mediate the translation of genetic direction from genes to induce or inhibit specific protein production. Although the interest in RNA therapeutics is rising globally, the absence of an effective delivery system is an obstacle to the clinical application of RNA therapeutics. Additionally, immunogenicity, short duration of protein expression, unwanted enzymatic degradation, and insufficient cellular uptake could limit the therapeutic efficacy of RNA therapeutics. In this regard, novel platforms based on nanoparticles are crucial for delivering RNAs to the targeted site to increase efficiency without toxicity. In this review, the most recent status of nanoparticles as RNA delivery vectors, with a focus on polymeric nanoparticles, peptide-derived nanoparticles, inorganic nanoparticles, and hybrid nanoparticles, is discussed. These nanoparticular platforms can be utilized for safe and effective RNA delivery to augment therapeutic effects. Ultimately, RNA therapeutics encapsulated in nanoparticle-based carriers will be used to treat many diseases and save lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Ji Byun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, SKKU Institute for Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Gyeonggi 16419 Republic of Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, SKKU Institute for Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Gyeonggi 16419 Republic of Korea
| | - Jaesung Lim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, SKKU Institute for Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Gyeonggi 16419 Republic of Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, SKKU Institute for Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Gyeonggi 16419 Republic of Korea
| | - Se-Na Kim
- Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080 Republic of Korea
| | - Dae-Hwan Park
- Department of Engineering Chemistry, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk 28644 Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Hyung Kim
- School of Integrative Engineering, Chung-Ang University, 84, Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 06974 Republic of Korea
| | - Wooram Park
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Gyeonggi 16419 Republic of Korea
| | - Chun Gwon Park
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, SKKU Institute for Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Gyeonggi 16419 Republic of Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, SKKU Institute for Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Gyeonggi 16419 Republic of Korea
- Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU (BICS), Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi 16419 Republic of Korea
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon, Gyeonggi 16419 Republic of Korea
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Steinle H, Weber J, Stoppelkamp S, Große-Berkenbusch K, Golombek S, Weber M, Canak-Ipek T, Trenz SM, Schlensak C, Avci-Adali M. Delivery of synthetic mRNAs for tissue regeneration. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 179:114007. [PMID: 34710530 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.114007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, nucleic acid-based therapeutics have gained increasing importance as novel treatment options for disease prevention and treatment. Synthetic messenger RNAs (mRNAs) are promising nucleic acid-based drugs to transiently express desired proteins that are missing or defective. Recently, synthetic mRNA-based vaccines encoding viral proteins have been approved for emergency use against COVID-19. Various types of vehicles, such as lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and liposomes, are being investigated to enable the efficient uptake of mRNA molecules into desired cells. In addition, the introduction of novel chemical modifications into mRNAs increased the stability, enabled the modulation of nucleic acid-based drugs, and increased the efficiency of mRNA-based therapeutic approaches. In this review, novel and innovative strategies for the delivery of synthetic mRNA-based therapeutics for tissue regeneration are discussed. Moreover, with this review, we aim to highlight the versatility of synthetic mRNA molecules for various applications in the field of regenerative medicine and also discuss translational challenges and required improvements for mRNA-based drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidrun Steinle
- University Hospital Tuebingen, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Calwerstraße 7/1, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Josefin Weber
- University Hospital Tuebingen, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Calwerstraße 7/1, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Sandra Stoppelkamp
- University Hospital Tuebingen, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Calwerstraße 7/1, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Katharina Große-Berkenbusch
- University Hospital Tuebingen, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Calwerstraße 7/1, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Sonia Golombek
- University Hospital Tuebingen, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Calwerstraße 7/1, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Marbod Weber
- University Hospital Tuebingen, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Calwerstraße 7/1, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Tuba Canak-Ipek
- University Hospital Tuebingen, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Calwerstraße 7/1, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Sarah-Maria Trenz
- University Hospital Tuebingen, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Calwerstraße 7/1, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Christian Schlensak
- University Hospital Tuebingen, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Calwerstraße 7/1, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Meltem Avci-Adali
- University Hospital Tuebingen, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Calwerstraße 7/1, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
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Ibba ML, Ciccone G, Esposito CL, Catuogno S, Giangrande PH. Advances in mRNA non-viral delivery approaches. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 177:113930. [PMID: 34403751 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.113930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Messenger RNAs (mRNAs) present a great potential as therapeutics for the treatment and prevention of a wide range of human pathologies, allowing for protein replacement, vaccination, cancer immunotherapy, and genomic engineering. Despite advances in the design of mRNA-based therapeutics, a key aspect for their widespread translation to clinic is the development of safe and effective delivery strategies. To this end, non-viral delivery systems including peptide-based complexes, lipidic or polymeric nanoparticles, and hybrid formulations are attracting growing interest. Despite displaying somewhat reduced efficacy compared to viral-based systems, non-viral carriers offer important advantages in terms of biosafety and versatility. In this review, we provide an overview of current mRNA therapeutic applications and discuss key biological barriers to delivery and recent advances in the development of non-viral systems. Challenges and future applications of this novel therapeutic modality are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria L Ibba
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, "Federico II" University of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ciccone
- Institute Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology "Gaetano Salvatore" (IEOS), National Research Council (CNR), 80145 Naples, Italy
| | - Carla L Esposito
- Institute Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology "Gaetano Salvatore" (IEOS), National Research Council (CNR), 80145 Naples, Italy.
| | - Silvia Catuogno
- Institute Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology "Gaetano Salvatore" (IEOS), National Research Council (CNR), 80145 Naples, Italy.
| | - Paloma H Giangrande
- University of Iowa, Department of Internal Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA; Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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Serra AS, Eusébio D, Neves AR, Albuquerque T, Bhatt H, Biswas S, Costa D, Sousa Â. Synthesis and Characterization of Mannosylated Formulations to Deliver a Minicircle DNA Vaccine. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:673. [PMID: 34067176 PMCID: PMC8150592 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13050673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA vaccines still represent an emergent area of research, giving rise to continuous progress towards several biomedicine demands. The formulation of delivery systems to specifically target mannose receptors, which are overexpressed on antigen presenting cells (APCs), is considered a suitable strategy to improve the DNA vaccine immunogenicity. The present study developed binary and ternary carriers, based on polyethylenimine (PEI), octa-arginine peptide (R8), and mannose ligands, to specifically deliver a minicircle DNA (mcDNA) vaccine to APCs. Systems were prepared at various nitrogen to phosphate group (N/P) ratios and characterized in terms of their morphology, size, surface charge, and complexation capacity. In vitro studies were conducted to assess the biocompatibility, cell internalization ability, and gene expression of formulated carriers. The high charge density and condensing capacity of both PEI and R8 enhance the interaction with the mcDNA, leading to the formation of smaller particles. The addition of PEI polymer to the R8-mannose/mcDNA binary system reduces the size and increases the zeta potential and system stability. Confocal microscopy studies confirmed intracellular localization of targeting systems, resulting in sustained mcDNA uptake. Furthermore, the efficiency of in vitro transfection can be influenced by the presence of R8-mannose, with great implications for gene expression. R8-mannose/PEI/mcDNA ternary systems can be considered valuable tools to instigate further research, aiming for advances in the DNA vaccine field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sofia Serra
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (A.S.S.); (D.E.); (A.R.N.); (T.A.)
| | - Dalinda Eusébio
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (A.S.S.); (D.E.); (A.R.N.); (T.A.)
| | - Ana Raquel Neves
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (A.S.S.); (D.E.); (A.R.N.); (T.A.)
| | - Tânia Albuquerque
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (A.S.S.); (D.E.); (A.R.N.); (T.A.)
| | - Himanshu Bhatt
- Department of Pharmacy, Nanomedicine Research Laboratory, Birla Institute of Technology & Science-Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Jawahar Nagar, Medchal, Hyderabad, Telangana 500078, India; (H.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Swati Biswas
- Department of Pharmacy, Nanomedicine Research Laboratory, Birla Institute of Technology & Science-Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Jawahar Nagar, Medchal, Hyderabad, Telangana 500078, India; (H.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Diana Costa
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (A.S.S.); (D.E.); (A.R.N.); (T.A.)
| | - Ângela Sousa
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (A.S.S.); (D.E.); (A.R.N.); (T.A.)
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