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Bennie LA, Feng J, Emmerson C, Hyland WB, Matchett KB, McCarthy HO, Coulter JA. Formulating RALA/Au nanocomplexes to enhance nanoparticle internalisation efficiency, sensitising prostate tumour models to radiation treatment. J Nanobiotechnology 2021; 19:279. [PMID: 34538237 PMCID: PMC8451112 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-021-01019-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gold nanoparticles (AuNP) are effective radiosensitisers, however, successful clinical translation has been impeded by short systemic circulation times and poor internalisation efficiency. This work examines the potential of RALA, a short amphipathic peptide, to enhance the uptake efficiency of negatively charged AuNPs in tumour cells, detailing the subsequent impact of AuNP internalisation on tumour cell radiation sensitivity. RESULTS RALA/Au nanoparticles were formed by optimising the ratio of RALA to citrate capped AuNPs, with assembly occurring through electrostatic interactions. Physical nanoparticle characteristics were determined by UV-vis spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering. Nano-complexes successfully formed at w:w ratios > 20:1 (20 µg RALA:1 µg AuNP) yielding positively charged nanoparticles, sized < 110 nm with PDI values < 0.52. ICP-MS demonstrated that RALA enhanced AuNP internalisation by more than threefold in both PC-3 and DU145 prostate cancer cell models, without causing significant toxicity. Importantly, all RALA-AuNP formulations significantly increased prostate cancer cell radiosensitivity. This effect was greatest using the 25:1 RALA-AuNP formulation, producing a dose enhancement effect (DEF) of 1.54 in PC3 cells. Using clinical radiation energies (6 MV) RALA-AuNP also significantly augmented radiation sensitivity. Mechanistic studies support RALA-AuNP nuclear accumulation resulting in increased DNA damage yields. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to demonstrate meaningful radiosensitisation using low microgram AuNP treatment concentrations. This effect was achieved using RALA, providing functional evidence to support our previous imaging study indicating RALA-AuNP nuclear accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey A Bennie
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Jie Feng
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Christopher Emmerson
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Wendy B Hyland
- Western Health & Social Care Trust, North West Cancer Centre, Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry/Londonderry, BT47 6SB, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Kyle B Matchett
- Northern Ireland Centre for Stratified Medicine, C-TRIC, Altnagelvin Hospital Campus, Derry/Londonderry, BT47 6SB, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Helen O McCarthy
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
- School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Jonathan A Coulter
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK.
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Jena LN, Bennie LA, McErlean EM, Pentlavalli S, Glass K, Burrows JF, Kett VL, Buckley NE, Coulter JA, Dunne NJ, McCarthy HO. Exploiting the anticancer effects of a nitrogen bisphosphonate nanomedicine for glioblastoma multiforme. J Nanobiotechnology 2021; 19:127. [PMID: 33947409 PMCID: PMC8097796 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-021-00856-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an incurable aggressive brain cancer in which current treatment strategies have demonstrated limited survival benefit. In recent years, nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (N-BPs) have demonstrated direct anticancer effects in a number of tumour types including GBM. In this study, a nano-formulation with the RALA peptide was used to complex the N-BP, alendronate (ALN) into nanoparticles (NPs) < 200 nm for optimal endocytic uptake. Fluorescently labelled AlexaFluor®647 Risedronate was used as a fluorescent analogue to visualise the intracellular delivery of N-BPs in both LN229 and T98G GBM cells. RALA NPs were effectively taken up by GBM where a dose-dependent response was evidenced with potentiation factors of 14.96 and 13.4 relative to ALN alone after 72 h in LN229 and T98G cells, respectively. Furthermore, RALA/ALN NPs at the IC50, significantly decreased colony formation, induced apoptosis and slowed spheroid growth in vitro. In addition, H-Ras membrane localisation was significantly reduced in the RALA/ALN groups compared to ALN or controls, indicative of prenylation inhibition. The RALA/ALN NPs were lyophilised to enhance stability without compromising the physiochemical properties necessary for functionality, highlighting the suitability of the NPs for scale-up and in vivo application. Collectively, these data show the significant potential of RALA/ALN NPs as novel therapeutics in the treatment of GBM. ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn N Jena
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Lindsey A Bennie
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Emma M McErlean
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Sreekanth Pentlavalli
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Kim Glass
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - James F Burrows
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Vicky L Kett
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Niamh E Buckley
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Jonathan A Coulter
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Nicholas J Dunne
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland.,Centre for Medical Engineering Research, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland.,Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.,Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (I-Form), School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.,Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research Centre (AMBER), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,Advanced Processing Technology Research Centre, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland.,Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Helen O McCarthy
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK. .,School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland.
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Anderson SD, Hobbs RJ, Gwenin VV, Ball P, Bennie LA, Coulter JA, Gwenin CD. Cell-Penetrating Peptides as a Tool for the Cellular Uptake of a Genetically Modified Nitroreductase for use in Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy. J Funct Biomater 2019; 10:E45. [PMID: 31581475 PMCID: PMC6963571 DOI: 10.3390/jfb10040045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Directed enzyme prodrug therapy (DEPT) involves the delivery of a prodrug-activating enzyme to a solid tumour site, followed by the subsequent activation of an administered prodrug. One of the most studied enzyme-prodrug combinations is the nitroreductase from Escherichia coli (NfnB) with the prodrug CB1954 [5-(aziridin-1-yl)-2,4-dinitro-benzamide]. One of the major issues faced by DEPT is the ability to successfully internalize the enzyme into the target cells. NfnB has previously been genetically modified to contain cysteine residues (NfnB-Cys) which bind to gold nanoparticles for a novel DEPT therapy called magnetic nanoparticle directed enzyme prodrug therapy (MNDEPT). One cellular internalisation method is the use of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), which aid cellular internalization of cargo. Here the cell-penetrating peptides: HR9 and Pep-1 were tested for their ability to conjugate with NfnB-Cys. The conjugates were further tested for their potential use in MNDEPT, as well as conjugating with the delivery vector intended for use in MNDEPT and tested for the vectors capability to penetrate into cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon D Anderson
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DG Wales, UK.
| | - Robert J Hobbs
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DG Wales, UK.
| | - Vanessa V Gwenin
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DG Wales, UK.
| | - Patrick Ball
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DG Wales, UK.
| | - Lindsey A Bennie
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, BT7 1NN Belfast, UK.
| | | | - Chris D Gwenin
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DG Wales, UK.
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