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Novorolsky RJ, Kasheke GDS, Hakim A, Foldvari M, Dorighello GG, Sekler I, Vuligonda V, Sanders ME, Renden RB, Wilson JJ, Robertson GS. Preserving and enhancing mitochondrial function after stroke to protect and repair the neurovascular unit: novel opportunities for nanoparticle-based drug delivery. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1226630. [PMID: 37484823 PMCID: PMC10360135 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1226630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The neurovascular unit (NVU) is composed of vascular cells, glia, and neurons that form the basic component of the blood brain barrier. This intricate structure rapidly adjusts cerebral blood flow to match the metabolic needs of brain activity. However, the NVU is exquisitely sensitive to damage and displays limited repair after a stroke. To effectively treat stroke, it is therefore considered crucial to both protect and repair the NVU. Mitochondrial calcium (Ca2+) uptake supports NVU function by buffering Ca2+ and stimulating energy production. However, excessive mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake causes toxic mitochondrial Ca2+ overloading that triggers numerous cell death pathways which destroy the NVU. Mitochondrial damage is one of the earliest pathological events in stroke. Drugs that preserve mitochondrial integrity and function should therefore confer profound NVU protection by blocking the initiation of numerous injury events. We have shown that mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and efflux in the brain are mediated by the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter complex (MCUcx) and sodium/Ca2+/lithium exchanger (NCLX), respectively. Moreover, our recent pharmacological studies have demonstrated that MCUcx inhibition and NCLX activation suppress ischemic and excitotoxic neuronal cell death by blocking mitochondrial Ca2+ overloading. These findings suggest that combining MCUcx inhibition with NCLX activation should markedly protect the NVU. In terms of promoting NVU repair, nuclear hormone receptor activation is a promising approach. Retinoid X receptor (RXR) and thyroid hormone receptor (TR) agonists activate complementary transcriptional programs that stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis, suppress inflammation, and enhance the production of new vascular cells, glia, and neurons. RXR and TR agonism should thus further improve the clinical benefits of MCUcx inhibition and NCLX activation by increasing NVU repair. However, drugs that either inhibit the MCUcx, or stimulate the NCLX, or activate the RXR or TR, suffer from adverse effects caused by undesired actions on healthy tissues. To overcome this problem, we describe the use of nanoparticle drug formulations that preferentially target metabolically compromised and damaged NVUs after an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. These nanoparticle-based approaches have the potential to improve clinical safety and efficacy by maximizing drug delivery to diseased NVUs and minimizing drug exposure in healthy brain and peripheral tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn J. Novorolsky
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Brain Repair Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Gracious D. S. Kasheke
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Brain Repair Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Antoine Hakim
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Marianna Foldvari
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Gabriel G. Dorighello
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Brain Repair Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Israel Sekler
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University, Beersheva, Israel
| | | | | | - Robert B. Renden
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States
| | - Justin J. Wilson
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - George S. Robertson
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Brain Repair Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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Narsineni L, Chen DW, Foldvari M. BDNF gene delivery to the retina by cell adhesion peptide-conjugated Gemini Nanoplexes in vivo. J Control Release 2023:S0168-3659(23)00346-2. [PMID: 37257566 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.05.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) neurodegeneration in glaucoma is not prevented by controlling the elevated intraocular pressure alone. Neuroprotective gene therapy approaches could be an essential part of a combination treatment. Five cell adhesion peptide (CAP)-gemini surfactants (18-7 N(p1-5)-18) were synthesized as building blocks for BDNF gene carrier nanoparticles (CAP-NPXs). The composition of CAP-NPXs was optimized, physicochemically characterized and evaluated for in vitro transfection efficiency (TE) in A7 astrocytes and 3D retinal neurospheres; and for gene expression in vivo in CD1 mice using RFP reporter gene and BDNF levels after intravitreal (IVT) injection. The IgSF-binding 18-7 N(pFASNKL)-18 pNPXs treated cells demonstrated 1.4-fold higher TE compared to integrin-binding 18-7 N(pRGD)-18 pNPXs and parent 18-7NH-18 NPXs with overall viability between 86 and 95%. The 18-7 N(pFASNKL)-18 pNPXs selectively transfected RGCs in 3D MiEye8 neurospheres. In the in vivo CD1 mouse model 18-7 N(pFASNKL)-18 pNPXs administered by IVT injection delivered tdTomato/BDNF plasmid to retinal cells and produced higher gene expression than the 18-7 N(pRGD)-18 pNPXs, the parent 18-7NH-18 NPXs and Lipofectamine® 3000 as demonstrated by confocal microscopy of whole mount retinas. The BDNF gene expression, assessed by ELISA, showed significantly high levels of BDNF with 18-7 N(pFASNKL)-18 (422.60 ± 42.60 pg/eye), followed by 18-7 N(pRGD)-18 pNPXs (230.62 ± 24.47 pg/eye), 18-7NH-18 NPXs (245.90 ± 39.72 pg/eye), Lipofectamine® 3000 (199.99 ± 29.90 pg/eye) and untreated controls (131.33 ± 20.30 pg/eye). In sum, the 18-7 N(pFASNKL)-18 pNPXs induced 3.4-fold higher BDNF level compared to controls and 2-fold higher than 18-7 N(pRGD)-18 pNPXs. The in vivo efficacy of 18-7 N(pFASNKL)-18 NPXs to produce BDNF levels at pharmacologically relevant levels supports further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lokesh Narsineni
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Ding-Wen Chen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Marianna Foldvari
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada; Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada; Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada.
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Hakim A, Guido B, Narsineni L, Chen DW, Foldvari M. Gene therapy strategies for glaucoma from IOP reduction to retinal neuroprotection: progress towards non-viral systems. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 196:114781. [PMID: 36940751 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Glaucoma is the result of the gradual death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) whose axons form the optic nerve. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a major risk factors thatcontributes to RGC apoptosis and axonal loss at the lamina cribrosa, resulting in progressive reduction and eventual anterograde-retrograde transport blockade of neurotrophic factors. Current glaucoma management mainly focuses on pharmacological or surgical lowering of IOP, to manage the only modifiable risk factor. Although IOP reduction delays disease progression, it does not address previous and ongoing optic nerve degeneration. Gene therapy is a promising direction to control or modify genes involved in the pathophysiology of glaucoma. Both viral and non-viral gene therapy delivery systems are emerging as promising alternatives or add-on therapies to traditional treatments for improving IOP control and provide neuroprotection. The specific spotlight on non-viral gene delivery systems shows further progress towards improving the safety of gene therapy and implementing neuroprotection by targeting specific tissues and cells in the eye and specifically in the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Hakim
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1
| | - Benjamin Guido
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1
| | - Lokesh Narsineni
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1
| | - Ding-Wen Chen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1
| | - Marianna Foldvari
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1; Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology and Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1.
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Huh H, Chen DW, Foldvari M, Slavcev R, Blay J. EGFR-targeted bacteriophage lambda penetrates model stromal and colorectal carcinoma tissues, is taken up into carcinoma cells, and interferes with 3-dimensional tumor formation. Front Immunol 2022; 13:957233. [PMID: 36591314 PMCID: PMC9800840 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.957233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Colorectal cancer and other adult solid cancers pose a significant challenge for successful treatment because the tumor microenvironment both hinders the action of conventional therapeutics and suppresses the immune activities of infiltrating leukocytes. The immune suppression is largely the effect of enhanced local mediators such as purine nucleosides and eicosanoids. Genetic approaches have the promise of interfering with these mechanisms of local immunosuppression to allow both intrinsic and therapeutic immunological anticancer processes. Bacterial phages offer a novel means of enabling access into tissues for therapeutic genetic manipulations. Methods We generated spheroids of fibroblastic and CRC cancer cells to model the 3-dimensional stromal and parenchymal components of colorectal tumours. We used these to examine the access and effects of both wildtype (WT) and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-presenting bacteriophage λ (WT- λ and EGF-λ) as a means of delivery of targeted genetic interventions in solid cancers. We used both confocal microscopy of spheroids exposed to AF488-tagged phages, and the recovery of viable phages as measured by plaque-forming assays to evaluate access; and measures of mitochondrial enzyme activity and cellular ATP to evaluate the outcome on the constituent cells. Results Using flourescence-tagged derivatives of these bacteriophages (AF488-WT-λ and AF488-EGF-λ) we showed that phage entry into these tumour microenvironments was possible and that the EGF ligand enabled efficient and persistent uptake into the cancer cell mass. EGF-λ became localized in the intracellular portion of cancer cells and was subjected to subsequent cellular processing. The targeted λ phage had no independent effect upon mature tumour spheroids, but interfered with the early formation and growth of cancer tissues without the need for addition of a toxic payload, suggesting that it might have beneficial effects by itself in addition to any genetic intervention delivered to the tumour. Interference with spheroid formation persisted over the duration of culture. Discussion We conclude that targeted phage technology is a feasible strategy to facilitate delivery into colorectal cancer tumour tissue (and by extension other solid carcinomas) and provides an appropriate delivery vehicle for a gene therapeutic that can reduce local immunosuppression and/or deliver an additional direct anticancer activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haein Huh
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Ding-Wen Chen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | | | - Roderick Slavcev
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada,*Correspondence: Jonathan Blay, ; Roderick Slavcev,
| | - Jonathan Blay
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada,Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada,*Correspondence: Jonathan Blay, ; Roderick Slavcev,
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Narsineni L, Rao PPN, Pham AT, Foldvari M. Peptide-Modified Gemini Surfactants as Delivery System Building Blocks with Dual Functionalities for Glaucoma Treatment: Gene Carriers and Amyloid-Beta (Aβ) Self-Aggregation Inhibitors. Mol Pharm 2022; 19:2737-2753. [PMID: 35802484 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c00088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) neurodegeneration in glaucoma has potential links with amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition. Targeting the Aβ pathway was shown to reduce RGC apoptosis and protect RGCs from degeneration. We report exploratory studies on the amyloid Aβ40 aggregation inhibition properties of four cell adhesion peptide (CAP)-gemini surfactants that are intended as building blocks for gene carrier nanoparticles for glaucoma treatment. The CAP-gemini surfactants (18-7N(p1-4)-18) were evaluated as potential Aβ40 peptide aggregation inhibitors by a fluorescence kinetic assay and for their binding interactions with Aβ40 dimers by molecular docking studies. In vitro Aβ40 peptide aggregation inhibition studies showed that the 18-7N(p3)-18 and 18-7N(p1)-18 ligands inhibit Aβ40 peptide aggregation and prevent the formation of higher order structures. CDOCKER energies and CDOCKER interaction energies demonstrated that the CAP-gemini surfactants formed more stable complexes in the Aβ40 dimer assembly and underwent both polar and nonpolar interactions compared to CAP peptides alone. Also, 18-7N(p3)-18 showed a significantly lower CDOCKER energy compared to that of the unmodified gemini surfactant 18-7NH-18 (p < 0.0001) and 18-7N(p4)-18 (p < 0.001), 18-7N(p1)-18, and 18-7N(p2)-18. Similarly, 18-7N(p3)-18 showed a significantly lower CDOCKER interaction energy compared to that of 18-7NH-18, 18-7N(p4)-18 (p < 0.0001), and 18-7N(p2)-18 (p < 0.001), while 18-7N(p3)-18 and 18-7N(p1)-18 showed similar CDOCKER interaction energies. These studies suggest that a combination of both hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions contributes to the anti-Aβ40 aggregation activity of CAP-gemini surfactants. CAP-gemini surfactants showed 10-fold better Aβ40 peptide aggregation inhibition compared to previously reported values and could provide a new opportunity for glaucoma treatment as dual-functional gene carriers.
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Narsineni L, Foldvari M. Dicationic Amino Substituted Gemini Surfactants and their Nanoplexes: Improved Synthesis and Characterization of Transfection Efficiency and Corneal Penetration In Vitro. Pharm Res 2020; 37:144. [PMID: 32666411 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-020-02836-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To formulate and characterize nanoparticles from m-7NH-m gemini surfactants, synthesized by a new improved method, for non-invasive gene delivery including optimization of composition for transfection efficiency and corneal penetration. METHODS A one-pot, solvent-free, DMAP-free method was developed for the synthesis of m-7NH-m (m = 12-18) gemini surfactant series. Lipoplexes (LPXs) and nanoplexes (NPXs) of gemini surfactant-plasmid DNA were formulated with and without DOPE helper lipid, respectively, at various charge ratios and characterized by dynamic light scattering and zeta potential measurements. Transfection efficiency, cellular toxicity, effect of DOPE and gene expression kinetic studies were carried out in A7 astrocytes by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Corneal penetration studies of 18-7NH-18 NPXs were carried out using 3D EpiCorneal® tissue model. RESULTS The new synthesis method provides a two-fold improved yield and the production of a pure species of m-7NH-m without DMAP and trimeric m-7N(m)-m surfactants as impurities. Structure and purity was confirmed by ESI-MS, 1H NMR spectroscopy and surface tension measurements. Particle size of 199.80 ± 1.83 nm ± S.D. and a zeta potential value of +30.18 ± 1.17 mV ± S.D. was obtained for 18-7NH-18 5:1 ratio NPXs showed optimum transfection efficiency (10.97 ± 0.11%) and low toxicity (92.97 ± 0.57% viability) at the 48-h peak expression. Inclusion of DOPE at 1: 0.5 and 1:1 ratios to gemini surfactant reduced transfection efficiency and increased toxicity. Treatment of EpiCorneal® tissue model showed deep penetration of up to 100 μm with 18-7NH-18 NPXs. CONCLUSION Overall, 18-7NH-18 NPXs are potential gene delivery systems for ophthalmic gene delivery and for further in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lokesh Narsineni
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Marianna Foldvari
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada. .,School of Pharmacy, Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada.
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Goonewardene KB, Popowich S, Gunawardana T, Gupta A, Kurukulasuriya S, Karunarathna R, Chow-Lockerbie B, Ahmed KA, Tikoo SK, Foldvari M, Willson P, Gomis S. Intrapulmonary Delivery of CpG-ODN Microdroplets Provides Protection Against Escherichia coli Septicemia in Neonatal Broiler Chickens. Avian Dis 2019; 61:503-511. [PMID: 29337617 DOI: 10.1637/11684-060617-reg.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing unmethylated cytosine phosphodiester guanine (CpG) motifs (CpG-ODN) are effective immunostimulatory agents against a variety of viral, bacterial, and protozoan diseases in different animals including poultry. We have recently demonstrated that in ovo injection of CpG-ODN confers protection in neonatal chickens against bacterial septicemias. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of needle-free intrapulmonary (IPL) delivery of CpG-ODN microdroplets against Escherichia coli infection in neonatal chicks. In the present study, we used 880 chicks in total keeping 40 chicks per group. Chicks were delivered CpG-ODN or saline by IPL at the day 1 of hatch. Three days later, chicks were challenged with two doses (1 × 104 CFU, n = 20 or 1 × 105 CFU, n = 20) of E. coli. Chicks treated with CpG-ODN by the IPL route had significantly lower clinical signs and bacterial load compared to the group treated with saline ( P < 0.05). CpG-ODN-treated groups were significantly protected against E. coli septicemia. We observed dose- and exposure time-dependent immunoprotective effects of IPL CpG-ODN in chicks. We found that IPL delivery of CpG-ODN can induce protective immunity as early as 6 hr that remains effective at least until day 5 post-treatment. Moreover, there were no adverse effects of IPL delivery of CpG-ODN on growth or mortality up to 42 days of age. Based on these findings, it can be suggested that CpG-ODN delivery by IPL route can be a promising alternative to antibiotics for inducing protective immunity in chicks during the critical first week of neonatal life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalhari Bandara Goonewardene
- A Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Shelly Popowich
- A Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Thushari Gunawardana
- A Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Ashish Gupta
- A Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Shanika Kurukulasuriya
- A Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Ruwani Karunarathna
- A Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Betty Chow-Lockerbie
- A Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Khawaja Ashfaque Ahmed
- A Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Suresh K Tikoo
- B Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, 120 Veterinary Road, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E3, Canada.,C Vaccinology and Immunotherapy, School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, 7N 5E3, Canada
| | - Marianna Foldvari
- D School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Philip Willson
- E Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, SK S7N 5E5 Canada
| | - Susantha Gomis
- A Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
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Gunawardana T, Ahmed KA, Goonewardene K, Popowich S, Kurukulasuriya S, Karunarathna R, Gupta A, Lockerbie B, Foldvari M, Tikoo SK, Willson P, Gomis S. Synthetic CpG-ODN rapidly enriches immune compartments in neonatal chicks to induce protective immunity against bacterial infections. Sci Rep 2019; 9:341. [PMID: 30674918 PMCID: PMC6344490 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36588-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Oligodeoxynucleotides containing CpG motifs (CpG-ODN) induce innate immunity against bacterial infections. Despite recent advances, how CpG-ODN alone protects against bacterial infections remained elusive. Here, we report for the first time, to our knowledge, that CpG-ODN orchestrates anti-microbial protective immunity by inducing a rapid enrichment of various immune compartments in chickens. In this study, eighteen-day-old embryonated eggs were injected with either 50 µg of CpG-ODN or saline (~n = 90 per group). In the first experiment, four days after CpG-ODN treatment, chicks were challenged subcutaneously with a virulent strain of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and mortality was monitored for 8 days. We found significant protection, and reduced clinical scores in CpG-ODN treated chicks. To gain insights into mechanisms of protection induced by CpG-ODN, first we investigated cytokine expression kinetics elicited by CpG-ODN. The spleen and lung were collected from embryos or chicks (n = 3-4 per group) at 10 time points post-CpG-ODN inoculation. Multiplex gene analysis (interleukin (IL)-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, interferon (IFN)-γ, IFN-α, and lipopolysaccharide induced tumor necrosis factor (LITAF), revealed a significantly higher expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines following CpG-ODN treatment compared to the saline controls. In our study, LITAF stands out in the cytokine profiles of spleen and lungs, underscoring its role in CpG-ODN-induced protection. The third experiment was designed to examine the effects of CpG-ODN on immune cell populations in spleen, lungs, and thymus. Flow cytometry analysis was conducted at 24, 48 and 72 hrs (thymus only collected at 72 hr) after CpG-ODN administration to examine the changes in CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subsets, monocyte/macrophage cell populations and their expression of maturation markers (CD40 and CD86). Flow cytometry data indicated a significant enrichment of macrophages, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subsets in both spleen and lungs of CpG-ODN treated embryos and chicks. Macrophages in spleen and lungs showed an upregulation of CD40 but not CD86, whereas thymocytes revealed significantly high CD4 and CD8 expression. Overall, the present study has demonstrated that CpG-ODN provides protection in neonatal chicks against E. coli infection not only by eliciting cytokine responses and stimulating immune cells but also through enriching immunological niches in spleen and lungs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thushari Gunawardana
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Khawaja Ashfaque Ahmed
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada.
| | - Kalhari Goonewardene
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Shelly Popowich
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Shanika Kurukulasuriya
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Ruwani Karunarathna
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Ashish Gupta
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Betty Lockerbie
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Marianna Foldvari
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Suresh K Tikoo
- Vaccinology and Immunotherapy, School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E3, Canada
| | - Philip Willson
- Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Susantha Gomis
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada.
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Taheri-Araghi S, Chen DW, Kohandel M, Sivaloganathan S, Foldvari M. Tuning optimum transfection of gemini surfactant-phospholipid-DNA nanoparticles by validated theoretical modeling. Nanoscale 2019; 11:1037-1046. [PMID: 30569915 DOI: 10.1039/c8nr06442c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Gemini nanoparticles (NPs) are a family of non-viral gene delivery systems with potential for applications in non-invasive gene therapy. Translation of these non-viral gene delivery systems requires improvement of transfection efficiency (TE) through fine-tuning of their physicochemical properties such as electric charge and exact ratios of their components. Since high-throughput experimental screening of minute differences in NP compositions is not routinely feasible, we have developed a coarse-grained model to quantitatively study the energetics of the formation of gene delivery complexes with cationic gemini surfactants (G) (m-s-m type) and helper lipids (H) (1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) and DOPE/1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine (DPPC)), in order to use it as a tool to predict effective compositions. The model is based on the polymorphic structural conformational flip of NPs and incorporates the electrostatic, entropic and elastic energies, to predict the formation energy and stability of different polymorphic structures as a function of the electric charge of cationic surfactants and concentration of constituent helper lipids. Our results show that these two factors are intertwined in determining the behavior of gene delivery vectors. Specifically, we show that increasing H/G lowers free energy per DNA base pair and increases the stability of the complex. At pH 7, low H/G and charge ratio (ρ±), where the lamellar structure is favored, the formation free energy per DNA base pair is between 0 and -14kBT. At higher values of H/G (2-3) and ρ±, where HII and cubic structures are formed, the formation free energy drops down to values ≈-50kBT, indicating the stable existence of these polymorphic structures in the NPs. At pH 5, the structural transformation of NPs in the endosomes to the lamellar/HII structure with free energy values of about -40kBT is beneficial for endosomal escape, and correlates with increased transfection efficiency. The theoretical model is supported by transfection data in A7 astrocytes with a panel of 16-3-16 gemini NPs, which validates the mathematical model and supports the hypothesis that the NP polymorphic phase transition increases transfection efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sattar Taheri-Araghi
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 10 Victoria St S., Kitchener, ON N2G 1C5, Canada.
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Chen DW, Foldvari M. Retinal Multipotent Stem-Cell Derived “MiEye” Spheroid 3D Culture Model for Preclinical Screening of Non-viral Gene Delivery Systems. PRNANO 2018. [DOI: 10.29016/180711.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-viral retinal gene therapy is a promising therapeutic approach towards the management of retinal degenerative diseases especially glaucoma. Current methods of in vitro preclinical screening of candidate nanoparticle systems in monolayer cell cultures are not reliable in predicting in vivo performance. In this paper, we describe the development of a multipotent stem-cell derived three-dimensional “mini-retina” culture model (MiEye) that aims to simulate an in vivo clinical model for more reliable gene delivery system screening. Through the utilization of multiplex gene expression profiling, we have shown that retinal stem cells can be differentiated in 3D culture to generate retinal neurospheres comprising of multiple retinal cell types. The 3D cell culture model combined with confocal microscopy imaging and fluorescence profiling techniques is a powerful tool as a retinal gene and drug delivery screening model.
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Abstract
The feasibility of a two-layer contact-independent 3D neuronal co-culture model to test the bioactivity of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), produced by non-virally transfected A7 astrocytes (trA7), on neurite growth in a second cell population of SH-SY5Y (CRL-2266) neuroblastoma cells with (oxSH-SY5Y) or without oxidative damage (SH-SY5Y) was evaluated. Transfection of A7 astrocytes was carried out with BDNF-encoding plasmid using K2® nanoparticle gene delivery system (K2-NPs). The physicochemical characteristics of K2-NPs, transfection efficiency, and BDNF production were evaluated using dynamic light scattering, flow cytometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Neurite counts and length measurements were performed after anti-neuron-specific β-III tubulin antibody immunostaining using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Transfection efficiency of A7 astrocytes by K2-NPs (diameter 83.9 ± 0.4 nm, zeta potential +57.3 ± 2.8 mV) was 39.5 ± 4.6 % with cell viability of 73 ± 2 %. BDNF levels produced were 3750.8 ± 251.1, 9052.6 ± 1391.2, and 10,367.1 ± 390.8 pg/mL at 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. The increased number of neurites with higher neurite lengths confirmed the bioactivity of BDNF secreted from the transfected A7 astrocytes over 72 h. Neurite count comparisons showed that both trA7/oxSH-SY5Y and trA7/SH-SY5Y consistently produced higher neurite counts compared to A7/oxSH-SY5Y and oxSH-SY5Y only experimental conditions. The results of this study demonstrate that neurite outgrowth quantitation in astrocyte-SH-SY5Y cell co-culture is a suitable bioassay model for evaluating non-viral gene delivery systems. Furthermore, it also demonstrates a proof-of-concept for nanoparticle-based neurotrophic factor gene delivery to astrocytes and stimulation of neurite outgrowth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ding Wen Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology and Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Marianna Foldvari
- School of Pharmacy, Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology and Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
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Abstract
Regeneration of damaged retinal ganglion cells (RGC) and their axons is an important aspect of reversing vision loss in glaucoma patients. While current therapies can effectively lower intraocular pressure, they do not provide extrinsic support to RGCs to actively aid in their protection and regeneration. The unmet need could be addressed by neurotrophic factor gene therapy, where plasmid DNA, encoding neurotrophic factors, is delivered to retinal cells to maintain sufficient levels of neurotrophins in the retina. In this review, we aim to describe the intricacies in the design of the therapy including: the choice of neurotrophic factor, the site and route of administration and target cell populations for gene delivery. Furthermore, we also discuss the challenges currently being faced in RGC-related therapy development with special considerations to the existence of multiple RGC subtypes and the lack of efficient and representative in vitro models for rapid and reliable screening in the drug development process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Foldvari
- School of Pharmacy, Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology and Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Ding Wen Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology and Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
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Bottini M, Foldvari M. Targeted nanosystems as therapeutic and diagnostic tools: The beautiful voyage of nanomedicine. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine 2016; 12:253-4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2015.12.358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Foldvari M, Chen DW, Nafissi N, Calderon D, Narsineni L, Rafiee A. Non-viral gene therapy: Gains and challenges of non-invasive administration methods. J Control Release 2015; 240:165-190. [PMID: 26686079 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2015.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Revised: 11/26/2015] [Accepted: 12/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Gene therapy is becoming an influential part of the rapidly increasing armamentarium of biopharmaceuticals for improving health and combating diseases. Currently, three gene therapy treatments are approved by regulatory agencies. While these treatments utilize viral vectors, non-viral alternative technologies are also being developed to improve the safety profile and manufacturability of gene carrier formulations. We present an overview of gene-based therapies focusing on non-viral gene delivery systems and the genetic therapeutic tools that will further revolutionize medical treatment with primary focus on the range and development of non-invasive delivery systems for dermal, transdermal, ocular and pulmonary administrations and perspectives on other administration methods such as intranasal, oral, buccal, vaginal, rectal and otic delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Foldvari
- School of Pharmacy, Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada; Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada.
| | - Ding Wen Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada; Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Nafiseh Nafissi
- School of Pharmacy, Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada; Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Daniella Calderon
- School of Pharmacy, Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada; Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Lokesh Narsineni
- School of Pharmacy, Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada; Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Amirreza Rafiee
- School of Pharmacy, Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada; Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
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Abstract
Neurotrophic factor genome engineering could have many potential applications not only in the deeper understanding of neurodegenerative disorders but also in improved therapeutics. The fields of nanomedicine, regenerative medicine, and gene/cell-based therapy have been revolutionized by the development of safer and efficient non-viral technologies for gene delivery and genome editing with modern techniques for insertion of the neurotrophic factors into clinically relevant cells for a more sustained pharmaceutical effect. It has been suggested that the long-term expression of neurotrophic factors is the ultimate approach to prevent and/or treat neurodegenerative disorders such as glaucoma in patients who do not respond to available treatments or are at the progressive stage of the disease. Recent preclinical research suggests that novel neuroprotective gene and cell therapeutics could be promising approaches for both non-invasive neuroprotection and regenerative functions in the eye. Several progenitor and retinal cell types have been investigated as potential candidates for glaucoma neurotrophin therapy either as targets for gene therapy, options for cell replacement therapy, or as vehicles for gene delivery. Therefore, in parallel with deeper understanding of the specific protective effects of different neurotrophic factors and the potential therapeutic cell candidates for glaucoma neuroprotection, the development of non-invasive and highly specific gene delivery methods with safe and effective technologies to modify cell candidates for life-long neuroprotection in the eye is essential before investing in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marianna Foldvari
- School of Pharmacy and Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology, University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON, Canada
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Dong C, Badea I, Poorghorban M, Verrall R, Foldvari M. Impact of phospholipids on plasmid packaging and toxicity of gemini nanoparticles. J Mater Chem B 2015; 3:8806-8822. [PMID: 26693021 DOI: 10.1039/c5tb01400j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the relationship of structural modifications on the assembly and disassembly of synthetic or non-viral gene delivery is crucial with regard to their rational development. This study describes the use of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), as a new tool, to investigate the effect of systematic chemical modifications to dicationic N,N-bis(dimethylalkyl)-α,ω-alkanediammonium surfactants (gemini surfactants) on the self-assembly and physical properties of a series of gemini nanoparticles (gemini NPs). A systematic screening of 27 gemini-plasmid (GP) complexes and gemini NPs showed that their final morphology is governed by the pre-compaction of plasmid by the gemini surfactants. The assembly process of gemini-plasmid intermediate complex (GP) and the final gemini NP (or gemini-plasmid-lipid complex, GPL) was monitored by the tracking of the Cy5-labeled plasmid. Based on diffusion properties, GP complexes were larger than gemini NPs (300-500 nm for GP and 200-300 nm for GPLs). Stoichiometric analysis of the raw intensity histograms showed that both GPs and GPLs particles were composed of multiple plasmids. The final GPLs contain fewer plasmids (2-20 per particle) compared to the intermediate GP (5-35 per particle). The addition of phospholipids dispersed and stabilized GPs to form GPL, but the type of phospholipid (DOPE or DD 1:3) had little effect on the final size of the particles. The FCS data were both validated and complemented by the results of studies of dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray scattering and dye-exclusion assays. A model for gemini NP assembly involving supramolecular aggregate intermediates is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chilbert Dong
- School of Pharmacy and Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1
| | - Ildiko Badea
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK. Canada S7N 2Z4
| | - Masoomeh Poorghorban
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK. Canada S7N 2Z4
| | - Ronald Verrall
- Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK. Canada S7N 5C9
| | - Marianna Foldvari
- School of Pharmacy and Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1 ; The Centre for Bioengineering & Biotechnology University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1
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Gharagozloo M, Rafiee A, Chen DW, Foldvari M. A flow cytometric approach to study the mechanism of gene delivery to cells by gemini-lipid nanoparticles: an implication for cell membrane nanoporation. J Nanobiotechnology 2015; 13:62. [PMID: 26415935 PMCID: PMC4587676 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-015-0125-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 07/03/2015] [Accepted: 09/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gemini-lipid nanoparticles have been received major attention recently as non-viral delivery systems due to their successful non-invasive gene delivery through tough barriers such as eye and skin. The aim of this study was to evaluate non-viral gene delivery by a series of dicationic gemini surfactant-phospholipid nanoparticles (GL-NPs) and to explore their mechanism of interaction with cellular membranes of murine PAM212 epidermal keratinocytes. METHODS NPs containing pCMV-tdTomato plasmid encoding red fluorescent protein (RFP) were prepared using 12 different gemini surfactants (m-s-m, with m = 12, 16 and 18C alkyl tail and s = 3 and 7C polymethylene spacer group and 7C substituted spacers with 7NH and 7NCH3) and dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine helper lipid. RFP gene expression and cell viability status were evaluated using flow cytometry. MitoTracker Deep Red mitochondrial stain and the cell impermeable Sytox red nuclear stain were used as indicators of cell viability and cell membrane integrity, respectively. RESULTS No significant viability loss was detected in cells transfected with 18-3-18, 18-7-18, 18-7NH-18, and 18-7NCH3-18 NPs, whereas a significant reduction of viability was detected in cells treated with 12-3-12, 12-7-12, 12-7NH-12, 16-7NH-16, or 16-7NCH3-16 GL-NPs. Compared to Lipofectamine Plus, 18-3-18 GL-NPs showed higher transfection efficiency and comparable viability profile by evaluation using MitoTracker Deep Red in PAM212 cells. Flow cytometric analysis of PAM212 cells stained with Sytox red revealed two cell populations with low and high fluorescent intensity, representing cells with partially-porated and highly-porated membranes, respectively. Additional combined staining with MitoTracker and ethidium homodimer showed that that 18-3-18 GL-NPs disturbed cell membrane integrity, while cells were still alive and had mitochondrial activity. CONCLUSION Taken together, this study demonstrated that 18-3-18 GL-NPs have higher transfection efficiency and comparable viability profile to the commercial Lipofectamine Plus, and the interaction of 18-3-18 GL-NPs with PAM212 cell membranes involves a permeability increase, possibly through the formation of nanoscale pores, which could explain efficient gene delivery. This novel nanoconstruct appears to be a promising delivery system for further skin gene therapy studies in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjan Gharagozloo
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
| | - Amirreza Rafiee
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
| | - Ding Wen Chen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
| | - Marianna Foldvari
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
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Gunawardana T, Foldvari M, Zachar T, Popowich S, Chow-Lockerbie B, Ivanova MV, Tikoo S, Kurukulasuriya S, Willson P, Gomis S. Protection of Neonatal Broiler Chickens Following in ovo Delivery of Oligodeoxynucleotides Containing CpG Motifs (CpG-ODN) Formulated with Carbon Nanotubes or Liposomes. Avian Dis 2015; 59:31-7. [PMID: 26292531 DOI: 10.1637/10832-032814-reg] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Unformulated oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing CpG motifs (CpG-ODN) have been shown to stimulate the innate immune system against a variety of bacterial, viral, and protozoan infections in a variety of vertebrate species. We have previously shown that in ovo delivery of unformulated CpG-ODN was able to significantly protect neonatal broiler chickens against Escherichia coli or Salmonella Typhimurium infections. The objectives of this study were to examine the safety and immunoprotective effects of CpG-ODN formulated with 2 types of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or 2 types of lipid-surfactant (LSC) delivery systems in neonatal broilers against E. coli septicemia. Embryonated eggs, which had been incubated for 18 days, received either 50 μg of CNT-CpG-ODN, 50 μg of LSC-CpG-ODN, 50 μg of unformulated CpG-ODN, or saline. Four days after exposure to CpG-ODN (day 1 posthatch), 1 x 10(4) or 1 x 10(5) colony-forming units of a virulent strain of E. coli isolated from a turkey with septicemia were inoculated subcutaneously in the neck. Clinical signs, pathology, bacterial isolations from the air sacs, and mortality were observed for 8 days following challenge with E. coli. Bacterial isolations and pathologic observations were conducted immediately after birds were dead or euthanatized. The survival rate of birds in groups receiving saline following E. coli infection was 20% to 30%. In contrast, birds receiving CpG-ODN formulations had a significantly higher survival rate of 60% to 80% (P < 0.01). Bacterial loads and clinical scores were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in groups treated with CNT- or LSC-CpG-ODN compared to the groups receiving CpG-ODN or saline. Moreover, there is no evidence of any adverse effects of these formulations in any organs or in growth rates of birds until 42 days of age. This is the first time that CpG-ODN formulated with CNT and LSC have been demonstrated to have an immunomodulatory effect against an E. coli infection in neonatal broiler chickens following in ovo delivery.
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Nafissi N, Foldvari M. Neuroprotective therapies in glaucoma: I. Neurotrophic factor delivery. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2015; 8:240-54. [PMID: 26306832 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2015] [Revised: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 07/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative eye disease that causes permanent blindness at the progressive stage and the number of people affected worldwide is expected to reach over 79 million by 2020. Currently, glaucoma management relies on pharmacological and invasive surgical treatments mainly by reducing the intraocular pressure (IOP), which is the most important risk factor for the progression of the visual field loss. Recent research suggests that neuroprotective or neuroregenerative approaches are necessary to prevent retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) loss and visual impairment over time. Neuroprotection is a new therapeutic strategy that attempts to keep RGCs alive and functional. New gene and cell therapeutics encoding neurotrophic factors (NTFs) are emerging for both neuroprotection and regenerative treatments for retinal diseases. This article briefly reviews the role of NTFs in glaucoma and the potential delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nafiseh Nafissi
- School of Pharmacy and Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marianna Foldvari
- School of Pharmacy and Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
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Gendelman HE, Balogh LP, Bawa R, Bradbury M, Chang EH, Chiu W, Farokhzad O, Foldvari M, Lanza G, Wang K. The 4th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Nanomedicine. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2015; 9 Suppl 1:S1-3. [PMID: 24573530 PMCID: PMC3951957 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-014-9526-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Abstract
Early intermediate structures of liposome-liposome fusion events were captured by freeze-fracture electron microscopic (EM) technique. The images show the morphology of the fusion interface at several different stages of the fusion event. One of the intermediates was captured at a serendipitous stage of two vesicles’ membranes (both leaflets) merging and their contents starting to intermix clearly showing the fusion interface with a previously unseen fusion rim. From the morphological information a hypothetical sequence of the fusion event and corresponding lipid structural arrangements are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Foldvari
- School of Pharmacy, Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
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Elsabahy M, Foldvari M. Needle-free Gene Delivery Through the Skin: An Overview of Recent Strategies. Curr Pharm Des 2013; 19:7301-15. [DOI: 10.2174/13816128113199990369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Moghadam SH, Saliaj E, Wettig SD, Dong C, Ivanova MV, Huzil JT, Foldvari M. Effect of Chemical Permeation Enhancers on Stratum Corneum Barrier Lipid Organizational Structure and Interferon Alpha Permeability. Mol Pharm 2013; 10:2248-60. [PMID: 23587061 DOI: 10.1021/mp300441c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shadi H. Moghadam
- School of Pharmacy,
University of Waterloo, 200 University
Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1
| | - Evi Saliaj
- School of Pharmacy,
University of Waterloo, 200 University
Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1
| | - Shawn D. Wettig
- School of Pharmacy,
University of Waterloo, 200 University
Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1
| | - Chilbert Dong
- School of Pharmacy,
University of Waterloo, 200 University
Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1
| | - Marina V. Ivanova
- School of Pharmacy,
University of Waterloo, 200 University
Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1
| | - J. Torin Huzil
- School of Pharmacy,
University of Waterloo, 200 University
Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1
| | - Marianna Foldvari
- School of Pharmacy,
University of Waterloo, 200 University
Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1
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King M, Kumar P, Michel D, Batta R, Foldvari M. In vivo sustained dermal delivery and pharmacokinetics of interferon alpha in biphasic vesicles after topical application. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2013; 84:532-9. [PMID: 23500117 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2013.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2012] [Revised: 12/04/2012] [Accepted: 01/21/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Biphasic vesicles, a novel nanostructured lipid-based delivery system show potential for topical application of interferon alpha (IFN α) for the treatment of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections (anogenital warts). Dermal delivery of IFN α encapsulated in biphasic vesicles (BPV-IFN α), applied topically to the skin, was characterized in a guinea pig model. BPV-IFN α (1g, 2 MIU/g) was topically applied either as a single or multiple treatments on the skin of guinea pigs. As a comparison with currently used regimens, IFN α solution was administered intravenously or intradermally. Skin and serum samples were collected over 96 h, IFN α levels were determined by an antiviral assay, and half-life (t₁/₂) and elimination (k) rates were calculated. Topical BPV-IFN α treatment resulted in maximum skin levels (about 100,000 U/100 cm(2)) of IFN α within 6h and maintained for 72-96 h. Clearance from the skin after intradermal injections was initially fast (t₁/₂ 0.62 h, k 1.1179 h(-1)), followed by a slower steady decrease after 6h. After intravenous and intradermal administration, IFN α was rapidly cleared from the serum, t₁/₂ 0.75 h, k 0.9271 h(-1) and t₁/₂ 1.28 h, k 0.5421 h(-1), respectively, whereas after topical application, IFN α levels remained below 100 U/mL. Topical application of BPV- IFN α resulted in sustained delivery of biologically active IFN α locally into skin with minimal systemic exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin King
- Helix BioPharma Corp., Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 3R2
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Alqawlaq S, Huzil JT, Ivanova MV, Foldvari M. Challenges in neuroprotective nanomedicine development: progress towards noninvasive gene therapy of glaucoma. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2012; 7:1067-83. [PMID: 22846092 DOI: 10.2217/nnm.12.69] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade the application of gene therapy of retinal diseases such as glaucoma has produced promising results. However, optic nerve regeneration and restoration of vision in patients with glaucoma is still far from reality. Neuroprotective approaches in the form of gene therapy may provide significant advantages, but are still limited by many factors both at the organ and cellular levels. In general, gene delivery systems for eye diseases range from simple eye drops and ointments to more advanced bio- and nanotechnology-based systems such as muco-adhesive systems, polymers, liposomes and ocular inserts. Most of these technologies were developed for front-of-the-eye ophthalmic therapies and are not applicable as back-of-the-eye delivery systems. Currently, only the invasive intravitreal injections are capable of successfully delivering genes to the retina. Here we review the challenges and possible strategies for the noninvasive gene therapy of glaucoma including the barriers in the eye and in neural cells, and present a cross-sectional view of gene delivery as it pertains to the prevention and treatment of glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samih Alqawlaq
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - J Torin Huzil
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Marina V Ivanova
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Marianna Foldvari
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
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Foldvari M. HPV infections: Can they be eradicated using nanotechnology? Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine 2012; 8:131-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2011.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2011] [Accepted: 11/04/2011] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
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Ivanova MV, Lamprecht C, Loureiro MJ, Huzil JT, Foldvari M. Pharmaceutical characterization of solid and dispersed carbon nanotubes as nanoexcipients. Int J Nanomedicine 2012; 7:403-15. [PMID: 22334774 PMCID: PMC3273976 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s27442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [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] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are novel materials with considerable potential in many areas related to nanomedicine. However, a major limitation in the development of CNT-based therapeutic nanomaterials is a lack of reliable and reproducible data describing their chemical and structural composition. Knowledge of properties including purity, structural quality, dispersion state, and concentration are essential before CNTs see widespread use in in vitro and in vivo experiments. In this work, we describe the characterization of several commercially available and two in-house-produced CNT samples and discuss the physicochemical profiles that will support their use in nanomedicine. Methods Eighteen single-walled and multi-walled CNT raw materials were characterized using established analytical techniques. Solid CNT powders were analyzed for purity and structural quality using thermogravimetric analysis and Raman spectroscopy. Extinction coefficients for each CNT sample were determined by ultraviolet-visible near infrared absorption spectroscopy. Standard curves for each CNT sample were generated in the 0–5 μg/mL concentration range for dispersions prepared in 1,2-dichlorobenzene. Results Raman spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis results demonstrated that CNT purity and overall quality differed substantially between samples and manufacturer sources, and were not always in agreement with purity levels claimed by suppliers. Absorbance values for individual dispersions were found to have significant variation between individual single-walled CNTs and multi-walled CNTs and sources supplying the same type of CNT. Significant differences (P < 0.01) in extinction coefficients were observed between and within single-walled CNTs (24.9–53.1 mL·cm−1·mg−1) and multi-walled CNTs (49.0–68.3 mL·cm−1·mg−1). The results described here suggest a considerable role for impurities and structural inhomogeneities within individual CNT preparations and the resulting spectroscopic properties of their dispersions. Conclusion Raw CNT materials require thorough analytical workup before they can be used as nanoexcipients. This applies especially to the determination of CNT purity, structure, and concentration. The results presented here clearly demonstrate that extinction coefficients must be determined for individual CNT preparations prior to their use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina V Ivanova
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
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Donkuru M, Wettig SD, Verrall RE, Badea I, Foldvari M. Designing pH-sensitive gemini nanoparticles for non-viral gene delivery into keratinocytes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1039/c2jm15719e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Singh J, Yang P, Michel D, Verrall RE, Foldvari M, Badea I. Amino acid-substituted gemini surfactant-based nanoparticles as safe and versatile gene delivery agents. Curr Drug Deliv 2011; 8:299-306. [PMID: 21291379 DOI: 10.2174/156720111795256200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2010] [Accepted: 11/27/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Gene based therapy represents an important advance in the treatment of diseases that heretofore have had either no treatment or cure. To capitalize on the true potential of gene therapy, there is a need to develop better delivery systems that can protect these therapeutic biomolecules and deliver them safely to the target sites. Recently, we have designed and developed a series of novel amino acid-substituted gemini surfactants with the general chemical formula C(12)H(25) (CH(3))(2)N(+)-(CH(2))(3)-N(AA)-(CH(2))(3)-N(+) (CH(3))(2)-C(12)H(25) (AA= glycine, lysine, glycyl-lysine and, lysyl-lysine). These compounds were synthesized and tested in rabbit epithelial cells using a model plasmid and a helper lipid. Plasmid/gemini/lipid (P/G/L) nanoparticles formulated using these novel compounds achieved higher gene expression than the nanoparticles containing the parent unsubstituted compound. In this study, we evaluated the cytotoxicity of P/G/L nanoparticles and explored the relationship between transfection efficiency/toxicity and their physicochemical characteristics (such as size, binding properties, etc.). An overall low toxicity is observed for all complexes with no significant difference among substituted and unsubstituted compounds. An interesting result revealed by the dye exclusion assay suggests a more balanced protection of the DNA by the glycine and glycyl-lysine substituted compounds. Thus, the higher transfection efficiency is attributed to the greater biocompatibility and flexibility of the amino acid/peptide-substituted gemini surfactants and demonstrates the feasibility of using amino acid-substituted gemini surfactants as gene carriers for the treatment of diseases affecting epithelial tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jagbir Singh
- Drug Design and Discovery Research Group, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
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Foldvari M, Badea I, Kumar P, Wettig S, Batta R, King MJ, He Z, Yeboah E, Gaspar K, Hull P, Shear NH. Biphasic vesicles for topical delivery of interferon alpha in human volunteers and treatment of patients with human papillomavirus infections. Curr Drug Deliv 2011; 8:307-19. [PMID: 21291377 DOI: 10.2174/156720111795256129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2010] [Accepted: 11/24/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE. Topical biphasic vesicle delivery system encapsulating interferon alpha (IFN α) was developed as an alternative to injections used to treat human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. METHODS. Biphasic lipid vesicles encapsulating increasing doses of IFN α (biphasic IFN α) were characterized for encapsulation efficiency, size, zeta potential and vesicle structure by centrifugation, dynamic light scattering, confocal microscopy and small-angle x-ray scattering. Biphasic IFN-α delivery into human skin in vivo and topical efficacy in patients with genital warts were evaluated. RESULTS. Average encapsulation efficiency of IFN α was 81-91%. The average particle size was 1000-1100 nm and zeta potential +70 to +78 mV. After application of 5, 15 and 40MU/g biphasic IFN α formulation in a topical patch on the upper inner arm in healthy volunteers, skin IFN α levels increased to 120±30, 380±60 and 400±80 IU/mg protein in skin homogenates (n=5, 5, and 7), respectively. Topical application of biphasic IFN α (1 MU/dose) twice daily for two weeks in a pilot study with 12 patients with external condylomata acuminata resulted in a decrease in lesion size, in 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase activity and in tissue viral load. CONCLUSIONS. Biphasic vesicles delivered clinically significant levels of IFN α across intact human skin and elicited marked therapeutic effect in patients.
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Torin Huzil J, Sivaloganathan S, Kohandel M, Foldvari M. Drug delivery through the skin: molecular simulations of barrier lipids to design more effective noninvasive dermal and transdermal delivery systems for small molecules, biologics, and cosmetics. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2011; 3:449-462. [PMID: 21595050 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The delivery of drugs through the skin provides a convenient route of administration that is often preferable to injection because it is noninvasive and can typically be self-administered. These two factors alone result in a significant reduction of medical complications and improvement in patient compliance. Unfortunately, a significant obstacle to dermal and transdermal drug delivery alike is the resilient barrier that the epidermal layers of the skin, primarily the stratum corneum, presents for the diffusion of exogenous chemical agents. Further advancement of transdermal drug delivery requires the development of novel delivery systems that are suitable for modern, macromolecular protein and nucleotide therapeutic agents. Significant effort has already been devoted to obtain a functional understanding of the physical barrier properties imparted by the epidermis, specifically the membrane structures of the stratum corneum. However, structural observations of membrane systems are often hindered by low resolutions, making it difficult to resolve the molecular mechanisms related to interactions between lipids found within the stratum corneum. Several models describing the molecular diffusion of drug molecules through the stratum corneum have now been postulated, where chemical permeation enhancers are thought to disrupt the underlying lipid structure, resulting in enhanced permeability. Recent investigations using biphasic vesicles also suggested a possibility for novel mechanisms involving the formation of complex polymorphic lipid phases. In this review, we discuss the advantages and limitations of permeation-enhancing strategies and how computational simulations, at the atomic scale, coupled with physical observations can provide insight into the mechanisms of diffusion through the stratum corneum.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Torin Huzil
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Siv Sivaloganathan
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mohammad Kohandel
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marianna Foldvari
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
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Elsabahy M, Nazarali A, Foldvari M. Non-Viral Nucleic Acid Delivery: Key Challenges and Future Directions. Curr Drug Deliv 2011; 8:235-44. [DOI: 10.2174/156720111795256174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2010] [Accepted: 11/27/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Foldvari M, Badea I, Wettig S, Baboolal D, Kumar P, Creagh AL, Haynes CA. Topical delivery of interferon alpha by biphasic vesicles: evidence for a novel nanopathway across the stratum corneum. Mol Pharm 2010; 7:751-62. [PMID: 20349952 DOI: 10.1021/mp900283x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Noninvasive delivery of macromolecules across intact skin is challenging but would allow for needle-free administration of many pharmaceuticals. Biphasic vesicles, a novel lipid-based topical delivery system, have been shown to deliver macromolecules into the skin. Investigation of the delivery mechanism of interferon alpha (IFN alpha), as a model protein, by biphasic vesicles could improve understanding of molecular transport through the stratum corneum and allow for the design of more effective delivery systems. The interaction of biphasic vesicles with human skin and isolated stratum corneum membrane was investigated by confocal microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS and WAXS). Confocal microscopy revealed that biphasic vesicles delivered IFN alpha intercellularly, to a depth of 70 microm, well below the stratum corneum and into the viable epidermis. DSC and SAXS/WAXS data suggest that the interaction of biphasic vesicles with SC lipids resulted in the formation of a three-dimensional cubic Pn3m polymorphic phase by the molecular rearrangement of intercellular lipids. This cubic phase could be an intercellular permeation nanopathway that may explain the increased delivery of IFN alpha by biphasic vesicles. Liposomes and submicrometer emulsion (the individual building blocks of biphasic vesicles) separately and methylcellulose gel, an alternative topical vehicle, did not induce a cubic phase and delivered low amounts of IFN alpha below the stratum corneum. Molecular modeling of the cubic Pn3m phase and lamellar-to-cubic phase transitions provides a plausible mechanism for transport of IFN alpha. It is hypothesized that induction of a Pn3m cubic phase in stratum corneum lipids could make dermal and transdermal delivery of other macromolecules also possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Foldvari
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada.
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Donkuru M, Badea I, Wettig S, Verrall R, Elsabahy M, Foldvari M. Advancing nonviral gene delivery: lipid- and surfactant-based nanoparticle design strategies. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2010; 5:1103-27. [DOI: 10.2217/nnm.10.80] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy is a technique utilized to treat diseases caused by missing, defective or overexpressing genes. Although viral vectors transfect cells efficiently, risks associated with their use limit their clinical applications. Nonviral delivery systems are safer, easier to manufacture, more versatile and cost effective. However, their transfection efficiency lags behind that of viral vectors. Many groups have dedicated considerable effort to improve the efficiency of nonviral gene delivery systems and are investigating complexes composed of DNA and soft materials such as lipids, polymers, peptides, dendrimers and gemini surfactants. The bottom-up approach in the design of these nanoparticles combines components essential for high levels of transfection, biocompatibility and tissue-targeting ability. This article provides an overview of the strategies employed to improve in vitro and in vivo transfection, focusing on the use of cationic lipids and surfactants as building blocks for nonviral gene delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- McDonald Donkuru
- College of Pharmacy & Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5C9, Canada
| | - Ildiko Badea
- College of Pharmacy & Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5C9, Canada
| | - Shawn Wettig
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Ronald Verrall
- Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5C9, Canada
| | - Mahmoud Elsabahy
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
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Yang P, Singh J, Wettig S, Foldvari M, Verrall RE, Badea I. Enhanced gene expression in epithelial cells transfected with amino acid-substituted gemini nanoparticles. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2010; 75:311-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2010.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2009] [Revised: 04/12/2010] [Accepted: 04/16/2010] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Abstract
Abstract
The cutaneous delivery pathway through the lymphatics of a novel transdermal lipid-based delivery system (biphasic vesicles), which was previously shown to deliver sustained physiological levels of basal insulin in a pain-free manner across the skin, was evaluated in a diabetic rat model. Transdermal patches (one per rat) containing insulin in biphasic vesicles (1–10 mg recombinant human insulin dose) were applied to the shaved abdominal skin of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats for 73 h. Blood glucose was monitored approximately every 2–10 h using a Lifescan glucose meter. Inguinal lymph node insulin levels were analysed by ELISA. Insulin in the lymph nodes increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Maximal transdermal insulin concentrations in the lymph nodes were observed with both 140 IU (5 mg: 43.0 + 18.0 μIU mg−1 (mean + s.e.m., n = 4)) and 280 IU (10 mg: 48.0 + 19.6 μIU mg−1 (mean + s.e.m., n = 4)) doses of recombinant insulin at t = 73 h. The level of insulin in the lymph nodes after subcutaneous injection of 1 mg insulin at the peak blood glucose response was 35.8 μIU mg−1 (n = 2), before falling to 0.35 μIU mg−1 by t = 48 h (n = 2). The lymphatics is involved in the transdermal insulin delivery by biphasic vesicles. This is the first report on the lymphatic transport of a protein after non-invasive topical application on the skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin J King
- PharmaDerm Laboratories Ltd., #109-111 Research Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 3R2, Canada
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Badea I, Babiuk S, Babiuk L, Foldvari M. Gemini nanoparticles as a co-delivery system for antigen – CpG oligodeoxynucleotide adjuvant combination. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1504/ijbnn.2010.034656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Foldvari M, Jaafari MR, Mezei M, Mezei C. Targeting Liposomes Through Immunoglobulin Superfamily Domains: P0Protein as a Model. Drug Deliv 2009; 5:183-95. [DOI: 10.3109/10717549809052034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Taghavi A, Allan B, Mutwiri G, Foldvari M, Van Kessel A, Willson P, Babiuk L, Potter A, Gomis S. Enhancement of immunoprotective effect of CpG-ODN by formulation with polyphosphazenes against E. coli septicemia in neonatal chickens. Curr Drug Deliv 2009; 6:76-82. [PMID: 19418959 DOI: 10.2174/156720109787048221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing CpG motifs (CpG-ODN) have been shown to be effective immunoprotective agents and vaccine adjuvants in a variety of bacterial and protozoan diseases in different animal species. The objective of this study was to investigate the immunoprotective effect of formulated CpG-ODN with polyphosphazene, liposome or oil-in-water emulsion against E. coli infections in neonatal chickens. Eighteen-day-old embryonating eggs were inoculated with 50 microg CpG-ODN or formulated CpG-ODN with polyphophazene, liposome or oil-in-water emulsion. Four days after exposure to formulated CpG-ODN or day-1 post-hatch, 1 x 10(4) or 1 x l0(5) cfu of a virulent isolate of E. coli was inoculated by the subcutaneous route in the neck. Clinical signs, pathology, bacterial isolations from the air sacs, and mortality were observed for eight days following challenge with E. coli. The survival rate of birds following E. coli infection was 0% in groups receiving either non-CpG-ODN or saline. In contrast, birds receiving either CpG-ODN or CpG-ODN formulated with polyphosphazene had significantly higher survival of 55% (P<0.0001). The relative risk of mortality was significantly reduced for birds treated with CpG-ODN formulated in PCPP (0.25), in PCEP (0.33), or unformulated CpG-ODN (0.39) in comparison to the group treated with saline (p<0.01). Although formulation of CpG-ODN with liposomes or oil-in-water emulsion did not increase the immunoprotective effect against E. coli infection, no adverse reactions or poor hatchability were observed in embryos. This is the first time that CpG-ODN formulated with polyphosphazene has been demonstrated to have an immunoprotective effect against an extra cellular bacterial infection in neonatal broiler chickens following in ovo delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azita Taghavi
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 5B4
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Badea I, Taylor M, Rosenberg A, Foldvari M. Pathogenesis and therapeutic approaches for improved topical treatment in localized scleroderma and systemic sclerosis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2008; 48:213-21. [PMID: 19022832 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/ken405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
SSc is a chronic progressive disorder of unknown aetiology characterized by excess synthesis and deposition of collagen and other extracellular matrix components in a variety of tissues and organs. Localized scleroderma (LS) differs from SSc in that with LS only skin and occasionally subcutaneous tissues are involved. Although rarely life threatening, LS can be disfiguring and disabling and, consequently, can adversely affect quality of life. There is no known effective treatment for LS, and various options, including, as examples, corticosteroids and other immunomodulatory agents, ultraviolet radiation and vitamin D analogues, are of unproven efficacy. Clinical trials evaluating combination therapy such as corticosteroids with MTX or UVA1 exposure with psoralens have not been established as consistently effective. New immunomodulators such as tacrolimus and thalidomide are also being evaluated. A better understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of LS has led to evaluation of new treatments that modulate profibrotic cytokines such as TGF-beta and IL-4, regulate assembly and deposition of extracellular matrix components, and restore Th1/Th2 immune balance by administering IL-12 or IFN-gamma. IFN-gamma acts by directly inhibiting collagen synthesis and by restoring immune balance. In this review, we evaluate current and future treatment options for LS and cutaneous involvement in SSc. Recent advances in therapy focus mainly on anti-fibrotic agents. Delivery of these drugs into the skin as the target tissue might be a key factor in developing more effective and safer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Badea
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
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Foldvari M, Gesztes A, Mezei M, Cardinal L, Kowalczyk I, Behl M. Topical Liposomal local Anesthetics: Design, Optimization and Evaluation of Formulations. Drug Dev Ind Pharm 2008. [DOI: 10.3109/03639049309047198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Foldvari M, Moreland A. Clinical Observations with Topical Liposome-Encapsulated Interferon Alpha for the Treatment of Genital Papillomavirus Infections. J Liposome Res 2008. [DOI: 10.3109/08982109709035489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Foldvari M, Bagonluri M. Carbon nanotubes as functional excipients for nanomedicines: II. Drug delivery and biocompatibility issues. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine 2008; 4:183-200. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2008.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 228] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2007] [Accepted: 04/04/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Foldvari M, Bagonluri M. Carbon nanotubes as functional excipients for nanomedicines: I. pharmaceutical properties. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine 2008; 4:173-82. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2008.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2007] [Accepted: 04/04/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Foldvari M, Wettig S. Application of SWAXS in nanomedicine: characterizing nanoparticles and their interaction with skin. Acta Crystallogr A 2008. [DOI: 10.1107/s0108767308096037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
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Abstract
Gemini surfactants provide a significant opportunity in the development of new non-viral delivery systems designed for gene therapy applications. This review summarizes the wide range of gemini surfactant structures that have been employed for DNA transfection in vitro. A general observation is that those structures capable of inducing a wide variety of polymorphic structures (lamellar, hexagonal, or cubic phases) demonstrate higher transfection efficiencies. Those compounds whose structures result in pH-dependent changes in aggregate structure similarly show higher levels of transfection. In vivo transfection using gemini surfactants has been demonstrated in only three cases, and in a recent study the transfection was linked to a specific therapeutic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn D Wettig
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue W., Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
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Wang C, Wettig SD, Foldvari M, Verrall RE. Synthesis, characterization, and use of asymmetric pyrenyl-gemini surfactants as emissive components in DNA-lipoplex systems. Langmuir 2007; 23:8995-9001. [PMID: 17637001 DOI: 10.1021/la0635911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Gemini surfactants are potential candidates as synthetic vectors for the delivery of genes into cells to induce protein expression. With the ultimate objective of obtaining a better understanding of the mechanism of DNA transfection, two new asymmetric gemini surfactants (py-3-12 and py-6-12) have been synthesized as fluorescence probes. The physicochemical properties and morphologies of the self-assembled aggregates formed in aqueous solution have been studied using surface tension, specific conductance, dynamic light scattering (DLS), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and fluorescence techniques. The interaction between pyrene-based gemini surfactants and DNA was investigated by using UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Binding constants for the DNA (salmon sperm)-gemini lipoplexes were measured. Fluorescence studies show that excimer emission occurs upon complexation with DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanzhong Wang
- Central Equipment Laboratory, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9, Canada
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