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Barolo L, Gigante Y, Mautone L, Ghirga S, Soloperto A, Giorgi A, Ghirga F, Pitea M, Incocciati A, Mura F, Ruocco G, Boffi A, Baiocco P, Di Angelantonio S. Ferritin nanocage-enabled detection of pathological tau in living human retinal cells. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11533. [PMID: 38773170 PMCID: PMC11109090 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62188-8] [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: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease and Frontotemporal Dementia, are debilitating neurodegenerative disorders marked by cognitive decline. Despite extensive research, achieving effective treatments and significant symptom management remains challenging. Accurate diagnosis is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies, with hyperphosphorylated protein units and tau oligomers serving as reliable biomarkers for these conditions. This study introduces a novel approach using nanotechnology to enhance the diagnostic process for tauopathies. We developed humanized ferritin nanocages, a novel nanoscale delivery system, designed to encapsulate and transport a tau-specific fluorophore, BT1, into human retinal cells for detecting neurofibrillary tangles in retinal tissue, a key marker of tauopathies. The delivery of BT1 into living cells was successfully achieved through these nanocages, demonstrating efficient encapsulation and delivery into retinal cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Our experiments confirmed the colocalization of BT1 with pathological forms of tau in living retinal cells, highlighting the method's potential in identifying tauopathies. Using ferritin nanocages for BT1 delivery represents a significant contribution to nanobiotechnology, particularly in neurodegenerative disease diagnostics. This method offers a promising tool for the early detection of tau tangles in retinal tissue, with significant implications for improving the diagnosis and management of tauopathies. This study exemplifies the integration of nanotechnology with biomedical science, expanding the frontiers of nanomedicine and diagnostic techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Barolo
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Ylenia Gigante
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161, Rome, Italy
- D-Tails Srl BC, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenza Mautone
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161, Rome, Italy
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Ghirga
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161, Rome, Italy
- D-Tails Srl BC, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Soloperto
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Giorgi
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Ghirga
- Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, Sapienza-University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Pitea
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161, Rome, Italy
- D-Tails Srl BC, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessio Incocciati
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Mura
- Research Center on Nanotechnologies Applied to Engineering of Sapienza (CNIS), Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Ruocco
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161, Rome, Italy
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Boffi
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161, Rome, Italy
- D-Tails Srl BC, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Baiocco
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy.
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Silvia Di Angelantonio
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161, Rome, Italy.
- D-Tails Srl BC, 00165, Rome, Italy.
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy.
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2
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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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3
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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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4
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Sevieri M, Sottani C, Chesi A, Bonizzi A, Sitia L, Robustelli Della Cuna FS, Grignani E, Corsi F, Mazzucchelli S. Deciphering the Role of H-Ferritin Nanocages in Improving Tumor-Targeted Delivery of Indocyanine Green: Combined Analysis of Murine Tissue Homogenates with UHPLC-MS/MS and Fluorescence. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:48735-48741. [PMID: 38162787 PMCID: PMC10753538 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c05566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
We investigated the relevance of encapsulation in H-ferritin nanocages (HFn) in determining an improved tumor-targeted delivery of indocyanine green (ICG). Since from previous experiments, the administration of HFn loaded with ICG (HFn-ICG) resulted in an increased fluorescence signal of ICG, our aim was to uncover if the nanoformulation could have a major role in driving a specific targeting of the dye to the tumor or rather a protective action on ICG's fluorescence. Here, we took advantage of a combined analysis involving ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) on murine tissue homogenates matched with fluorescence intensities analysis detected by ex vivo optical imaging. The quantification of ICG content performed on different organs over time combined with the fluorescent signal detection confirmed the superior delivery of ICG thanks to the nanoformulation. Our results showed that HFn-ICG drives a real accumulation at the tumor instead of only having a role in the preservation of ICG's fluorescence, further supporting its use as a delivery system of ICG for fluorescence-guided surgery applications in oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Sevieri
- Nanomedicine
Laboratory, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Università di Milano, Milan 20157, Italy
| | - Cristina Sottani
- Environmental
Research Center, Istituti Clinici Scientifici
Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Arianna Chesi
- Nanomedicine
Laboratory, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Università di Milano, Milan 20157, Italy
| | - Arianna Bonizzi
- Nanomedicine
Laboratory, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Università di Milano, Milan 20157, Italy
- Breast
Unit, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri
IRCCS, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Leopoldo Sitia
- Nanomedicine
Laboratory, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Università di Milano, Milan 20157, Italy
| | | | - Elena Grignani
- Environmental
Research Center, Istituti Clinici Scientifici
Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Fabio Corsi
- Nanomedicine
Laboratory, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Università di Milano, Milan 20157, Italy
- Breast
Unit, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri
IRCCS, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Serena Mazzucchelli
- Nanomedicine
Laboratory, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Università di Milano, Milan 20157, Italy
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Kaltbeitzel J, Wich PR. Protein-based Nanoparticles: From Drug Delivery to Imaging, Nanocatalysis and Protein Therapy. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202216097. [PMID: 36917017 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202216097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Proteins and enzymes are versatile biomaterials for a wide range of medical applications due to their high specificity for receptors and substrates, high degradability, low toxicity, and overall good biocompatibility. Protein nanoparticles are formed by the arrangement of several native or modified proteins into nanometer-sized assemblies. In this review, we will focus on artificial nanoparticle systems, where proteins are the main structural element and not just an encapsulated payload. While under natural conditions, only certain proteins form defined aggregates and nanoparticles, chemical modifications or a change in the physical environment can further extend the pool of available building blocks. This allows the assembly of many globular proteins and even enzymes. These advances in preparation methods led to the emergence of new generations of nanosystems that extend beyond transport vehicles to diverse applications, from multifunctional drug delivery to imaging, nanocatalysis and protein therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Kaltbeitzel
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Peter R Wich
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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Mattioli R, Ilari A, Colotti B, Mosca L, Fazi F, Colotti G. Doxorubicin and other anthracyclines in cancers: Activity, chemoresistance and its overcoming. Mol Aspects Med 2023; 93:101205. [PMID: 37515939 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2023.101205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Anthracyclines have been important and effective treatments against a number of cancers since their discovery. However, their use in therapy has been complicated by severe side effects and toxicity that occur during or after treatment, including cardiotoxicity. The mode of action of anthracyclines is complex, with several mechanisms proposed. It is possible that their high toxicity is due to the large set of processes involved in anthracycline action. The development of resistance is a major barrier to successful treatment when using anthracyclines. This resistance is based on a series of mechanisms that have been studied and addressed in recent years. This work provides an overview of the anthracyclines used in cancer therapy. It discusses their mechanisms of activity, toxicity, and chemoresistance, as well as the approaches used to improve their activity, decrease their toxicity, and overcome resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Mattioli
- Dept. Biochemical Sciences A. Rossi Fanelli, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Ilari
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, Italian National Research Council IBPM-CNR, Rome, Italy
| | - Beatrice Colotti
- Dept. Biochemical Sciences A. Rossi Fanelli, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Luciana Mosca
- Dept. Biochemical Sciences A. Rossi Fanelli, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Fazi
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic & Orthopaedic Sciences, Section of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianni Colotti
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, Italian National Research Council IBPM-CNR, Rome, 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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8
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Tapia D, Reyes-Sandoval A, Sanchez-Villamil JI. Protein-based Nanoparticle Vaccine Approaches Against Infectious Diseases. Arch Med Res 2023; 54:168-175. [PMID: 36894463 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2023.02.003] [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: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
The field of vaccine development has seen an increase in the number of rationally designed technologies that increase effectiveness against vaccine-resistant pathogens, while not compromising safety. Yet, there is still an urgent need to expand and further understand these platforms against complex pathogens that often evade protective responses. Nanoscale platforms have been at the center of new studies, especially in the wake of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with the aim of deploying safe and effective vaccines in a short time period. The intrinsic properties of protein-based nanoparticles, such as biocompatibility, flexible physicochemical characteristics, and variety have made them an attractive platform against different infectious disease agents. In the past decade, several studies have tested both lumazine synthase-, ferritin-, and albumin-based nanoplatforms against a wide range of complex pathogens in pre-clinical studies. Owed to their success in pre-clinical studies, several studies are undergoing human clinical trials or are near an initial phase. In this review we highlight the different protein-based platforms, mechanisms of synthesis, and effectiveness of these over the past decade. In addition, some challenges, and future directions to increase their effectiveness are also highlighted. Taken together, protein-based nanoscaffolds have proven to be an effective means to design rationally designed vaccines, especially against complex pathogens and emerging infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Tapia
- The Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Arturo Reyes-Sandoval
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Laboratorio Nacional de Vacunología y Virus Tropicales, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Javier I Sanchez-Villamil
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro de Investigación en Ciencia Aplicada y Tecnología Avanzada, Unidad Morelos, Atlacholoaya, Morelos, México.
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9
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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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10
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Ferritin nanocage based delivery vehicles: From single-, co- to compartmentalized- encapsulation of bioactive or nutraceutical compounds. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 61:108037. [PMID: 36152892 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.108037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Bioactive or nutraceutical ingredients have been widely used in pursuit of health and well-being. However, the environmental instability, poor solubility and bioavailability, and unspecific delivery highly limited their practical values. By virtue of the unique shell-like structure, definite disassembly/reassembly behavior, and excellent safety profile of ferritin protein, it stands out among of various nano-materials and is emerging as one of the most promising vehicles for the encapsulation and delivery of bioactive ingredients or drugs. In this review, we present a systematic overview of recent advances of ferritin-based delivery systems from single-encapsulation, co-encapsulation, to compartmentalized-encapsulation of bioactive ingredients or drugs. Different encapsulation strategies for cargo loading as well as their advantages and drawbacks have been critically reviewed. This study emphasized the importance of the construction of compartmentalized delivery systems through the usage of ferritin nanocages, which exhibit great potential for facilitating the synergistic functionality of different types of cargos. Lastly, the applications of ferritin nanocages for physicochemical improvements and functionality achievements of loaded cargos are summarized. In conclusion, ferritin protein nanocages not only are excellent nanocarriers, but also can act as"multi-seated" vehicles for co-encapsulation and compartmentalized encapsulation of different cargos simultaneously.
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11
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Gagliardi S, Truffi M, Tinelli V, Garofalo M, Pandini C, Cotta Ramusino M, Perini G, Costa A, Negri S, Mazzucchelli S, Bonizzi A, Sitia L, Busacca M, Sevieri M, Mocchi M, Ricciardi A, Prosperi D, Corsi F, Cereda C, Morasso C. Bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDC)-Loaded H-Ferritin-Nanocages Mediate the Regulation of Inflammation in Alzheimer's Disease Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:9237. [PMID: 36012501 PMCID: PMC9409287 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDC) might be an inflammation inhibitor in Alzheimer's Disease (AD). However, BDC is almost insoluble in water, poorly absorbed by the organism, and degrades rapidly. We thus developed a new nanoformulation of BDC based on H-Ferritin nanocages (BDC-HFn). METHODS We tested the BDC-HFn solubility, stability, and ability to cross a blood-brain barrier (BBB) model. We tested the effect of BDC-HFn on AD and control (CTR) PBMCs to evaluate the transcriptomic profile by RNA-seq. RESULTS We developed a nanoformulation with a diameter of 12 nm to improve the solubility and stability. The comparison of the transcriptomics analyses between AD patients before and after BDC-HFn treatment showed a major number of DEG (2517). The pathway analysis showed that chemokines and macrophages activation differed between AD patients and controls after BDC-HFn treatment. BDC-HFn binds endothelial cells from the cerebral cortex and crosses through a BBB in vitro model. CONCLUSIONS Our data showed how BDC-Hfn could improve the stability of BDC. Significant differences in genes associated with inflammation between the same patients before and after BDC-Hfn treatment have been found. Inflammatory genes that are upregulated between AD and CTR after BDC-HFn treatment are converted and downregulated, suggesting a possible therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marta Truffi
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS Spa SB, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Veronica Tinelli
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Alfredo Costa
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Sara Negri
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS Spa SB, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Serena Mazzucchelli
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milano, Italy
| | - Arianna Bonizzi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milano, Italy
| | - Leopoldo Sitia
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milano, Italy
| | | | - Marta Sevieri
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milano, Italy
| | - Michela Mocchi
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS Spa SB, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Davide Prosperi
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Fabio Corsi
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS Spa SB, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milano, Italy
| | | | - Carlo Morasso
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS Spa SB, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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12
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Unlocking the Treasure Box: The Role of HEPES Buffer in Disassembling an Uncommon Ferritin Nanoparticle. SEPARATIONS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/separations9080222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ferritins are ideal nanoparticles as drug delivery systems due to their hollow-sphere structure and the ability to target specific receptors on the cell surface. Here, we develop and characterize a new ferritin derived from the chimeric humanized A. fulgidus one, already designed to recognize the TfR1 receptor. Starting from the synthetic gene of this chimeric protein, we replaced two positively charged amino acids with two alanine residues to close the large triangular pores on its surface. These mutations make the protein nanoparticle suitable to incorporate even small therapeutics without leakage. Size-exclusion chromatography shows that the assembling/disassembling of this new protein cage can be easily fine-tuned by varying the HEPES buffer and MgCl2 concentration. The protein cage can be opened using 150 mM HEPES buffer without magnesium ions. Adding this divalent cation to the solution promotes the quick assembly of the ferritin as a 24-mer. The development of this new protein cage paves the way for encapsulation and delivery studies of small molecules for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes.
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13
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Mazzucchelli S. Natural Nanoparticles: A Safe Bullet for Treatment and Detection of Solid Tumors. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14061126. [PMID: 35745699 PMCID: PMC9230549 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14061126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Serena Mazzucchelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Università di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy
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14
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Xu X, Tian K, Lou X, Du Y. Potential of Ferritin-Based Platforms for Tumor Immunotherapy. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27092716. [PMID: 35566065 PMCID: PMC9104857 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27092716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [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
- Correspondence: (X.L.); (Y.D.); Tel.: +86-571-88208435 (Y.D.); Fax: +86-571-88208435 (Y.D.)
| | - Yongzhong Du
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Correspondence: (X.L.); (Y.D.); Tel.: +86-571-88208435 (Y.D.); Fax: +86-571-88208435 (Y.D.)
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