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Dorogin J, Benz MA, Moore CJ, Benoit DSW, Hettiaratchi MH. Recombinant and Synthetic Affibodies Function Comparably for Modulating Protein Release. Cell Mol Bioeng 2024; 17:305-312. [PMID: 39372554 PMCID: PMC11450113 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-024-00815-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 10/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Affibodies are a class of versatile affinity proteins with a wide variety of therapeutic applications, ranging from contrast agents for imaging to cell-targeting therapeutics. We have identified several affibodies specific to bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) with a range of binding affinities and demonstrated the ability to tune release rate of BMP-2 from affibody-conjugated poly(ethylene glycol) maleimide (PEG-mal) hydrogels based on affibody affinity strength. In this work, we compare the purity, structure, and activity of recombinant, bacterially-expressed BMP-2-specific affibodies with affibodies synthesized via solid-phase peptide synthesis. Methods High- and low-affinity BMP-2-specific affibodies were recombinantly expressed using BL21(DE3) E. coli and chemically synthesized using microwave-assisted solid-phase peptide synthesis with Fmoc-Gly-Wang resin. The secondary structures of the affibodies and dissociation constants of affibody-BMP-2 binding were characterized by circular dichroism and biolayer interferometry, respectively. Endotoxin levels were measured using chromogenic limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assays. Affibody-conjugated PEG-mal hydrogels were fabricated and loaded with BMP-2 to evaluate hydrogel capacity for controlled release, quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Results Synthetic and recombinant affibodies were determined to be α-helical by circular dichroism. The synthetic high- and low-affinity BMP-2-specific affibodies demonstrated comparable BMP-2 binding dissociation constants to their recombinant counterparts. Recombinant affibodies retained some endotoxins after purification, while endotoxins were not detected in the synthetic affibodies above FDA permissible limits. High-affinity affibody-conjugated hydrogels reduced cumulative BMP-2 release compared to the low-affinity affibody-conjugated hydrogels and hydrogels without affibodies. Conclusions Synthetic affibodies demonstrate comparable structure and function to recombinant affibodies while reducing endotoxin contamination and increasing product yield, indicating that solid-phase peptide synthesis is a viable method of producing affibodies for controlled protein release and other applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Dorogin
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Oregon, Knight Campus, Eugene, Oregon USA
| | - Morrhyssey A. Benz
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Oregon, Knight Campus, Eugene, Oregon USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon USA
| | - Cameron J. Moore
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Oregon, Knight Campus, Eugene, Oregon USA
| | - Danielle S. W. Benoit
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Oregon, Knight Campus, Eugene, Oregon USA
| | - Marian H. Hettiaratchi
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Oregon, Knight Campus, Eugene, Oregon USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon USA
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Sitia L, Saccomandi P, Bianchi L, Sevieri M, Sottani C, Allevi R, Grignani E, Mazzucchelli S, Corsi F. Combined Ferritin Nanocarriers with ICG for Effective Phototherapy Against Breast Cancer. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:4263-4278. [PMID: 38766663 PMCID: PMC11102096 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s445334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a promising, minimally invasive treatment for cancer with high immunostimulatory potential, no reported drug resistance, and reduced side effects. Indocyanine Green (ICG) has been used as a photosensitizer (PS) for PDT, although its poor stability and low tumor-target specificity strongly limit its efficacy. To overcome these limitations, ICG can be formulated as a tumor-targeting nanoparticle (NP). Methods We nanoformulated ICG into recombinant heavy-ferritin nanocages (HFn-ICG). HFn has a specific interaction with transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), which is overexpressed in most tumors, thus increasing HFn tumor tropism. First, we tested the properties of HFn-ICG as a PS upon irradiation with a continuous-wave diode laser. Then, we evaluated PDT efficacy in two breast cancer (BC) cell lines with different TfR1 expression levels. Finally, we measured the levels of intracellular endogenous heavy ferritin (H-Fn) after PDT treatment. In fact, it is known that cells undergoing ROS-induced autophagy, as in PDT, tend to increase their ferritin levels as a defence mechanism. By measuring intracellular H-Fn, we verified whether this interplay between internalized HFn and endogenous H-Fn could be used to maximize HFn uptake and PDT efficacy. Results We previously demonstrated that HFn-ICG stabilized ICG molecules and increased their delivery to the target site in vitro and in vivo for fluorescence guided surgery. Here, with the aim of using HFn-ICG for PDT, we showed that HFn-ICG improved treatment efficacy in BC cells, depending on their TfR1 expression. Our data revealed that endogenous H-Fn levels were increased after PDT treatment, suggesting that this defence reaction against oxidative stress could be used to enhance HFn-ICG uptake in cells, increasing treatment efficacy. Conclusion The strong PDT efficacy and peculiar Trojan horse-like mechanism, that we revealed for the first time in literature, confirmed the promising application of HFn-ICG in PDT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leopoldo Sitia
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Saccomandi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Leonardo Bianchi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Sevieri
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Sottani
- Environmental Research Center, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia, Italy
| | - Raffaele Allevi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Grignani
- Environmental Research Center, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia, Italy
| | - Serena Mazzucchelli
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Corsi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia, Italy
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Sevieri M, Andreata F, Mainini F, Signati L, Piccotti F, Truffi M, Bonizzi A, Sitia L, Pigliacelli C, Morasso C, Tagliaferri B, Corsi F, Mazzucchelli S. Impact of doxorubicin-loaded ferritin nanocages (FerOX) vs. free doxorubicin on T lymphocytes: a translational clinical study on breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:184. [PMID: 38622644 PMCID: PMC11020177 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02441-4] [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: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the advent of numerous targeted therapies in clinical practice, anthracyclines, including doxorubicin (DOX), continue to play a pivotal role in breast cancer (BC) treatment. DOX directly disrupts DNA replication, demonstrating remarkable efficacy against BC cells. However, its non-specificity toward cancer cells leads to significant side effects, limiting its clinical utility. Interestingly, DOX can also enhance the antitumor immune response by promoting immunogenic cell death in BC cells, thereby facilitating the presentation of tumor antigens to the adaptive immune system. However, the generation of an adaptive immune response involves highly proliferative processes, which may be adversely affected by DOX-induced cytotoxicity. Therefore, understanding the impact of DOX on dividing T cells becomes crucial, to deepen our understanding and potentially devise strategies to shield anti-tumor immunity from DOX-induced toxicity. Our investigation focused on studying DOX uptake and its effects on human lymphocytes. We collected lymphocytes from healthy donors and BC patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Notably, patient-derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) promptly internalized DOX when incubated in vitro or isolated immediately after NAC. These DOX-treated PBMCs exhibited significant proliferative impairment compared to untreated cells or those isolated before treatment initiation. Intriguingly, among diverse lymphocyte sub-populations, CD8 + T cells exhibited the highest uptake of DOX. To address this concern, we explored a novel DOX formulation encapsulated in ferritin nanocages (FerOX). FerOX specifically targets tumors and effectively eradicates BC both in vitro and in vivo. Remarkably, only T cells treated with FerOX exhibited reduced DOX internalization, potentially minimizing cytotoxic effects on adaptive immunity.Our findings underscore the importance of optimizing DOX delivery to enhance its antitumor efficacy while minimizing adverse effects, highlighting the pivotal role played by FerOX in mitigating DOX-induced toxicity towards T-cells, thereby positioning it as a promising DOX formulation. This study contributes valuable insights to modern cancer therapy and immunomodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Sevieri
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Università di Milano, Milan, 20157, Italy
| | - Francesco Andreata
- Division of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Mainini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Università di Milano, Milan, 20157, Italy
| | - Lorena Signati
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Università di Milano, Milan, 20157, Italy
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | | | - Marta Truffi
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Arianna Bonizzi
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Leopoldo Sitia
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Università di Milano, Milan, 20157, Italy
| | - Claudia Pigliacelli
- Laboratory of Supramolecular and Bio-Nanomaterials (SBNLab), Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Milano, 20131, Italy
| | - Carlo Morasso
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | | | - Fabio Corsi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Università di Milano, Milan, 20157, Italy.
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia, 27100, Italy.
| | - Serena Mazzucchelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Università di Milano, Milan, 20157, Italy.
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Sevieri M, Mazzucchelli S, Barbieri L, Garbujo S, Carelli S, Bonizzi A, Rey F, Recordati C, Recchia M, Allevi R, Sitia L, Morasso C, Zerbi P, Prosperi D, Corsi F, Truffi M. Ferritin nanoconjugates guide trastuzumab brain delivery to promote an antitumor response in murine HER2 + breast cancer brain metastasis. Pharmacol Res 2023; 196:106934. [PMID: 37734460 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Brain metastasis (BM) represents a clinical challenge for patients with advanced HER2 + breast cancer (BC). The monoclonal anti-HER2 antibody trastuzumab (TZ) improves survival of BC patients, but it has low central nervous system penetrance, being ineffective in treating BM. Previous studies showed that ferritin nanoparticles (HFn) may cross the blood brain barrier (BBB) through binding to the transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1). However, whether this has efficacy in promoting the trans-BBB delivery of TZ and combating BC BM was not studied yet. Here, we investigated the potential of HFn to drive TZ brain delivery and promote a targeted antitumor response in a murine model of BC BM established by stereotaxic injection of engineered BC cells overexpressing human HER2. HFn were covalently conjugated with TZ to obtain a nanoconjugate endowed with HER2 and TfR1 targeting specificity (H-TZ). H-TZ efficiently achieved TZ brain delivery upon intraperitoneal injection and triggered stable targeting of cancer cells. Treatment with H-TZ plus docetaxel significantly reduced tumor growth and shaped a protective brain microenvironment by engaging macrophage activation toward cancer cells. H-TZ-based treatment also avoided TZ-associated cardiotoxicity by preventing drug accumulation in the heart and did not induce any other major side effects when combined with docetaxel. These results provided in vivo demonstration of the pharmacological potential of H-TZ, able to tackle BC BM in combination with docetaxel. Indeed, upon systemic administration, the nanoconjugate guides TZ brain accumulation, reduces BM growth and limits side effects in off-target organs, thus showing promise for the management of HER2 + BC metastatic to the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Sevieri
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Serena Mazzucchelli
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Linda Barbieri
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, P.zza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Stefania Garbujo
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, P.zza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Stephana Carelli
- Pediatric Clinical Research Center "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Department of Biomedical and Clinical Science, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy; Center of Functional Genomics and Rare Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Arianna Bonizzi
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, via Maugeri 4, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Federica Rey
- Pediatric Clinical Research Center "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Department of Biomedical and Clinical Science, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy; Center of Functional Genomics and Rare Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Camilla Recordati
- Mouse and Animal Pathology Laboratory, Fondazione Unimi, viale Ortles 22/4, 20139 Milano, Italy; Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, Università di Milano, via dell'Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - Matteo Recchia
- Mouse and Animal Pathology Laboratory, Fondazione Unimi, viale Ortles 22/4, 20139 Milano, Italy; Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, Università di Milano, via dell'Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - Raffaele Allevi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Leopoldo Sitia
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Carlo Morasso
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, via Maugeri 4, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Pietro Zerbi
- Anatomia Patologica, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, via Pio II, 3, Milano, Italy
| | - Davide Prosperi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, P.zza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Fabio Corsi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy; Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, via Maugeri 4, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
| | - Marta Truffi
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, via Maugeri 4, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
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João J, Prazeres DMF. Manufacturing of non-viral protein nanocages for biotechnological and biomedical applications. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1200729. [PMID: 37520292 PMCID: PMC10374429 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1200729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein nanocages are highly ordered nanometer scale architectures, which are typically formed by homo- or hetero-self-assembly of multiple monomers into symmetric structures of different size and shape. The intrinsic characteristics of protein nanocages make them very attractive and promising as a biological nanomaterial. These include, among others, a high surface/volume ratio, multi-functionality, ease to modify or manipulate genetically or chemically, high stability, mono-dispersity, and biocompatibility. Since the beginning of the investigation into protein nanocages, several applications were conceived in a variety of areas such as drug delivery, vaccine development, bioimaging, biomineralization, nanomaterial synthesis and biocatalysis. The ability to generate large amounts of pure and well-folded protein assemblies is one of the keys to transform nanocages into clinically valuable products and move biomedical applications forward. This calls for the development of more efficient biomanufacturing processes and for the setting up of analytical techniques adequate for the quality control and characterization of the biological function and structure of nanocages. This review concisely covers and overviews the progress made since the emergence of protein nanocages as a new, next-generation class of biologics. A brief outline of non-viral protein nanocages is followed by a presentation of their main applications in the areas of bioengineering, biotechnology, and biomedicine. Afterwards, we focus on a description of the current processes used in the manufacturing of protein nanocages with particular emphasis on the most relevant aspects of production and purification. The state-of-the-art on current characterization techniques is then described and future alternative or complementary approaches in development are also discussed. Finally, a critical analysis of the limitations and drawbacks of the current manufacturing strategies is presented, alongside with the identification of the major challenges and bottlenecks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge João
- iBB–Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB–Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Duarte Miguel F. Prazeres
- iBB–Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB–Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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Ezike TC, Okpala US, Onoja UL, Nwike CP, Ezeako EC, Okpara OJ, Okoroafor CC, Eze SC, Kalu OL, Odoh EC, Nwadike UG, Ogbodo JO, Umeh BU, Ossai EC, Nwanguma BC. Advances in drug delivery systems, challenges and future directions. Heliyon 2023; 9:e17488. [PMID: 37416680 PMCID: PMC10320272 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 88.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in molecular pharmacology and an improved understanding of the mechanism of most diseases have created the need to specifically target the cells involved in the initiation and progression of diseases. This is especially true for most life-threatening diseases requiring therapeutic agents which have numerous side effects, thus requiring accurate tissue targeting to minimize systemic exposure. Recent drug delivery systems (DDS) are formulated using advanced technology to accelerate systemic drug delivery to the specific target site, maximizing therapeutic efficacy and minimizing off-target accumulation in the body. As a result, they play an important role in disease management and treatment. Recent DDS offer greater advantages when compared to conventional drug delivery systems due to their enhanced performance, automation, precision, and efficacy. They are made of nanomaterials or miniaturized devices with multifunctional components that are biocompatible, biodegradable, and have high viscoelasticity with an extended circulating half-life. This review, therefore, provides a comprehensive insight into the history and technological advancement of drug delivery systems. It updates the most recent drug delivery systems, their therapeutic applications, challenges associated with their use, and future directions for improved performance and use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobechukwu Christian Ezike
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Ugochukwu Solomon Okpala
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Ufedo Lovet Onoja
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Chinenye Princess Nwike
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Emmanuel Chimeh Ezeako
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Osinachi Juliet Okpara
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Charles Chinkwere Okoroafor
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Shadrach Chinecherem Eze
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Onyinyechi Loveth Kalu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | | | - Ugochukwu Gideon Nwadike
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - John Onyebuchi Ogbodo
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
- Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Bravo Udochukwu Umeh
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Emmanuel Chekwube Ossai
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Bennett Chima Nwanguma
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria
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Sitia L, Galbiati V, Bonizzi A, Sevieri M, Truffi M, Pinori M, Corsini E, Marinovich M, Corsi F, Mazzucchelli S. In Vitro Immunoreactivity Evaluation of H-Ferritin-Based Nanodrugs. Bioconjug Chem 2023; 34:845-855. [PMID: 36827653 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
Biological nanoparticles, such as proteins and extracellular vesicles, are rapidly growing as nanobased drug-delivery agents due to their biocompatibility, high loading efficiency, and bioavailability. However, most of the candidates emerging preclinically hardly confirm their potential when entering clinical trials. Among other reasons, this is due to the low control of synthesis processes and the limited characterization of their potential immunoreactivity profiles. Here, we propose a combined method that allow us to fully characterize H-ferritin nanoparticles' immunoreactivity during their production, purification, endotoxin removal, and drug loading. H-Ferritin is an extremely interesting nanocage that is being under evaluation for cancer therapy due to its innate cancer tropism, favorable size, and high stability. However, being a recombinant protein, its immunoreactivity should be carefully evaluated preclinically to enable further clinical translation. Surprisingly, this aspect is often underestimated by the scientific community. By measuring proinflammatory cytokine release as a function of endotoxin content, we found that even removing all pyrogenic contaminants from the nanocage, a mild immunoreactivity was still left. When we further purified H-ferritin by loading doxorubicin through a highly standardized loading method, proinflammatory cytokine release was eliminated. This confirmed the safety of H-ferritin nanocages to be used for drug delivery in cancer therapy. Our approach demonstrated that when evaluating the safety of nanodrugs, a combined analysis of acute toxicity and immunoreactivity is necessary to guarantee the safety of newly developed products and to unveil their real translational potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leopoldo Sitia
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli studi di Milano, via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Galbiati
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Arianna Bonizzi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli studi di Milano, via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Sevieri
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli studi di Milano, via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Truffi
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Mattia Pinori
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli studi di Milano, via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuela Corsini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Marina Marinovich
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Corsi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli studi di Milano, via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy.,Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Serena Mazzucchelli
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli studi di Milano, via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy
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Xu X, Tian K, Lou X, Du Y. Potential of Ferritin-Based Platforms for Tumor Immunotherapy. Molecules 2022; 27:2716. [PMID: 35566065 PMCID: PMC9104857 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27092716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Ferritin is an iron storage protein that plays a key role in iron homeostasis and cellular antioxidant activity. Ferritin has many advantages as a tumor immunotherapy platform, including a small particle size that allows for penetration into tumor-draining lymph nodes or tumor tissue, a unique structure consisting of 24 self-assembled subunits, cavities that can encapsulate drugs, natural targeting functions, and a modifiable outer surface. In this review, we summarize related research applying ferritin as a tumor immune vaccine or a nanocarrier for immunomodulator drugs based on different targeting mechanisms (including dendritic cells, tumor-associated macrophages, tumor-associated fibroblasts, and tumor cells). In addition, a ferritin-based tumor vaccine expected to protect against a wide range of coronaviruses by targeting multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 has entered phase I clinical trials, and its efficacy is described in this review. Although ferritin is already on the road to transformation, there are still many difficulties to overcome. Therefore, three barriers (drug loading, modification sites, and animal models) are also discussed in this paper. Notwithstanding, the ferritin-based nanoplatform has great potential for tumor immunotherapy, with greater possibility of clinical transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoling Xu
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China; (X.X.); (K.T.)
| | - Kewei Tian
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China; (X.X.); (K.T.)
| | - Xuefang Lou
- School of Medicine, Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Yongzhong Du
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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Mainini F, Bonizzi A, Sevieri M, Sitia L, Truffi M, Corsi F, Mazzucchelli S. Protein-Based Nanoparticles for the Imaging and Treatment of Solid Tumors: The Case of Ferritin Nanocages, a Narrative Review. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13122000. [PMID: 34959283 PMCID: PMC8708614 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13122000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein nanocages have been studied extensively, due to their unique architecture, exceptional biocompatibility and highly customization capabilities. In particular, ferritin nanocages (FNs) have been employed for the delivery of a vast array of molecules, ranging from chemotherapeutics to imaging agents, among others. One of the main favorable characteristics of FNs is their intrinsic targeting efficiency toward the Transferrin Receptor 1, which is overexpressed in many tumors. Furthermore, genetic manipulation can be employed to introduce novel variants that are able to improve the loading capacity, targeting capabilities and bio-availability of this versatile drug delivery system. In this review, we discuss the main characteristics of FN and the most recent applications of this promising nanotechnology in the field of oncology with a particular emphasis on the imaging and treatment of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Mainini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche “L. Sacco”, Università di Milano, 20157 Milano, Italy; (F.M.); (A.B.); (M.S.); (L.S.)
| | - Arianna Bonizzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche “L. Sacco”, Università di Milano, 20157 Milano, Italy; (F.M.); (A.B.); (M.S.); (L.S.)
| | - Marta Sevieri
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche “L. Sacco”, Università di Milano, 20157 Milano, Italy; (F.M.); (A.B.); (M.S.); (L.S.)
| | - Leopoldo Sitia
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche “L. Sacco”, Università di Milano, 20157 Milano, Italy; (F.M.); (A.B.); (M.S.); (L.S.)
| | - Marta Truffi
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | - Fabio Corsi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche “L. Sacco”, Università di Milano, 20157 Milano, Italy; (F.M.); (A.B.); (M.S.); (L.S.)
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
- Correspondence: (F.C.); (S.M.)
| | - Serena Mazzucchelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche “L. Sacco”, Università di Milano, 20157 Milano, Italy; (F.M.); (A.B.); (M.S.); (L.S.)
- Correspondence: (F.C.); (S.M.)
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10
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Song N, Zhang J, Zhai J, Hong J, Yuan C, Liang M. Ferritin: A Multifunctional Nanoplatform for Biological Detection, Imaging Diagnosis, and Drug Delivery. Acc Chem Res 2021; 54:3313-3325. [PMID: 34415728 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.1c00267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Ferritins are spherical iron storage proteins within cells that are composed of a combination of 24 subunits of two types, heavy-chain ferritin (HFn) and light-chain ferritin (LFn). They autoassemble naturally into a spherical hollow nanocage with an outer diameter of 12 nm and an interior cavity that is 8 nm in diameter. In recent years, with the constantly emerging safety issues and the concerns about unfavorable uniformity and indefinite in vivo behavior of traditional nanomedicines, the characteristics of native ferritin nanocages, such as the unique nanocage structure, excellent safety profile, and definite in vivo behavior, make ferritin-based formulations uniquely attractive for nanomedicine development. To date, a variety of cargo molecules, including therapeutic drugs (e.g., cisplatin, carboplatin, paclitaxel, curcumin, atropine, quercetin, gefitinib, daunomycin, epirubicin, doxorubicin, etc.), imaging agents (e.g., fluorescence dyes, radioisotopes, and MRI contrast agents), nucleic acids (e.g., siRNA and miRNA), and metal nanoparticles (e.g., Fe3O4, CeO2, AuPd, CuS, CoPt, FeCo, Ag, etc.) have been loaded into the interior cavity of ferritin nanocages for a broad range of biomedical applications from in vitro biosensing to targeted delivery of cargo molecules in living systems with the aid of modified targeting ligands either genetically or chemically. We reported that human HFn could selectively deliver a large amount of cargo into tumors in vivo via transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1)-mediated tumor-cell-specific targeting followed by rapid internalization. By the use of the intrinsic tumor-targeting property and unique nanocage structure of human HFn, a broad variety of cargo-loaded HFn formulations have been developed for biological analysis, imaging diagnosis, and medicine development. In view of the intrinsic tumor-targeting property, unique nanocage structure, lack of immunogenicity, and definite in vivo behavior, human HFn holds promise to promote therapeutic drugs, diagnostic imaging agents, and targeting moieties into multifunctional nanomedicines.Since the report of the intrinsic tumor-targeting property of human HFn, we have extensively explored human HFn as an ideal nanocarrier for tumor-targeted delivery of anticancer drugs, MRI contrast agents, inorganic nanoparticles, and radioisotopes. In particular, by the use of genetic tools, we also have genetically engineered human HFn nanocages to recognize a broader range of disease biomarkers. In this Account, we systematically review human ferritins from characterizing their tumor-binding property and understanding their mechanism and kinetics for cargo loading to exploring their biomedical applications. We finally discuss the prospect of ferritin-based formulations to become next-generation nanomedicines. We expect that ferritin formulations with unique physicochemical characteristics and intrinsic tumor-targeting property will attract broad interest in fundamental drug research and offer new opportunities for nanomedicine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningning Song
- Experimental Center of Advanced Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Jianlin Zhang
- Experimental Center of Advanced Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Jiao Zhai
- Tung Foundation Biomedical Sciences Centre/Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Juanji Hong
- Experimental Center of Advanced Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Chang Yuan
- Experimental Center of Advanced Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Minmin Liang
- Experimental Center of Advanced Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
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11
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Ghasemi M, Bakhshi B, Khashei R, Soudi S, Boustanshenas M. Vibrio cholerae toxin coregulated pilus provokes inflammatory responses in Coculture model of Caco-2 and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) leading to increased colonization. Microbiol Immunol 2021; 65:238-244. [PMID: 33913531 DOI: 10.1111/1348-0421.12889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the modulatory effect of TcpA in the expression of CEACAM1 adhesin molecule and IL-1, IL-8, and TNF-α pro-inflammatory cytokines in the Coculture model of Caco-2/PBMC (peripheral blood mononuclear cell) that can mimic the intestinal milieu. The TcpA gene from Vibrio cholerae ATCC14035 was cloned in pET-28a and transformed into Escherichia coli Bl-21. The recombinant TcpA-His6 protein was expressed and purified using Ni-column chromatography. The sequencing of transformed plasmid and Western blot analysis of purified protein confirmed the identity of rTcp. The cytotoxicity of different concentrations of recombinant protein for human colon carcinoma cell line (human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell [Caco-2 cell]) was assessed by MTT assay and showed viability of 92%, 82%, and 70%, for 10 µg/mL of TcpA after 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. Co-cultures of Caco-2 and PBMCs were used to mimic the intestinal milieu and treated with different concentrations of rTcpA (1, 5, 10, and 50 µg/mL). Our data showed about 2.04-, 3.37-, 3.68-, and 42.7-fold increase in CEACAM1 gene expression, respectively, compared with the nontreated Caco-2/PBMC Coculture. Moreover, the expression of IL-1, IL-8, and TNF-α genes was significantly increased up to 15.75-, 7.04-, and 80.95-folds, respectively. In conclusion, V. cholerae TcpA induces statistically significant dose-dependent stimulatory effect on TNF-α, IL-,1, and IL-8 pro-inflammatory cytokines expression. Of these, TNF-α was much more affected which, consequently, elevated the CEACAM1 expression level in IECs. This suggests that TcpA protein is a critical effector as an inducer of increased adhesion potential of V. cholera as well as inflammatory responses of host intestinal tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Ghasemi
- Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bita Bakhshi
- Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Khashei
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Sara Soudi
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mina Boustanshenas
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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12
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Nanosized Particles Assembled by a Recombinant Virus Protein Are Able to Encapsulate Negatively Charged Molecules and Structured RNA. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13060858. [PMID: 33799623 PMCID: PMC7998283 DOI: 10.3390/polym13060858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA-based molecules have recently become hot candidates to be developed into therapeutic agents. However, successful applications of RNA-based therapeutics might require suitable carriers to protect the RNA from enzymatic degradation by ubiquitous RNases in vivo. Because of their better biocompatibility and biodegradability, protein-based nanoparticles are considered to be alternatives to their synthetic polymer-based counterparts for drug delivery. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein has been suggested to be able to self-assemble into nucleocapsid-like particles in vitro. In this study, the genomic RNA-binding domain of HCV core protein consisting of 116 amino acids (p116) was overexpressed with E. coli for investigation. The recombinant p116 was able to assemble into particles with an average diameter of approximately 27 nm, as visualized by electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Measurements with fluorescence spectroscopy, flow cytometry, and fluorescence quenching indicated that the p116-assembled nanoparticles were able to encapsulate small anionic molecules and structured RNA. This study demonstrates methods that exploit the self-assembly nature of a virus-derived protein for nanoparticle production. This study also suggests that the virus-derived protein-assembled particles could possibly be developed into potential carriers for anionic molecular drugs and structured RNA-based therapeutics.
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