1
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Zhao B, Kamanzi A, Zhang Y, Chan KYT, Robertson M, Leslie S, Cullis PR. Determination of the interior pH of lipid nanoparticles using a pH-sensitive fluorescent dye-based DNA probe. Biosens Bioelectron 2024; 251:116065. [PMID: 38330772 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116065] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) containing ionizable cationic lipids are proven delivery systems for therapeutic nucleic acids, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA). It is important to understand the relationship between the interior pH of LNPs and the pH of the external environment to understand LNP formulation and function. Here, we developed a simple and rapid approach for determining the pH of the LNP core using a pH-sensitive fluorescent dye-based DNA probe. LNP siRNA systems containing pH-responsive DNA probes (LNP-siRNA&DNA) were generated by rapid mixing of lipids in ethanol and pH 4 aqueous buffer containing siRNA and DNA probes. We demonstrated that DNA probes were readily encapsulated in LNP systems and were sequestered into an environment at a high concentration as evidenced by an inter-probe FRET signal. It was shown that the pH of LNP encapsulated probes closely follows the pH increase or decrease of the external environment. This indicates that the clinically approved LNP RNA systems with similar lipid compositions (e.g., Onpattro and Comirnaty) are highly permeable to protons and that the pH of the interior environment closely mirrors the external environment. The pH-dependent response of the probe in LNPs was also confirmed under buffer conditions at various pHs. Furthermore, we showed that the pH-sensitive DNA probe can be incorporated into LNP systems at levels that allow the pH response to be monitored at a single LNP level using convex lens-induced confinement (CLiC) confocal microscopy. Direct visualization of the internal pH of single particles with the fluorescent DNA probe was achieved by CLiC for LNP-siRNA&DNA systems formulated under both high and normal ionic strength conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | - Albert Kamanzi
- Michael Smith Laboratories and Department of Physics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Yao Zhang
- Michael Smith Laboratories and Department of Physics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada; School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Karen Y T Chan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Madelaine Robertson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Sabrina Leslie
- Michael Smith Laboratories and Department of Physics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
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2
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Short L, Holt RA, Cullis PR, Evgin L. Direct in vivo CAR T cell engineering. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2024; 45:406-418. [PMID: 38614815 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2024.03.004] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
T cells modified to express intelligently designed chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) are exceptionally powerful therapeutic agents for relapsed and refractory blood cancers and have the potential to revolutionize therapy for many other diseases. To circumvent the complexity and cost associated with broad-scale implementation of ex vivo manufactured adoptive cell therapy products, alternative strategies to generate CAR T cells in vivo by direct infusion of nanoparticle-formulated nucleic acids or engineered viral vectors under development have received a great deal of attention in the past few years. Here, we outline the ex vivo manufacturing process as a motivating framework for direct in vivo strategies and discuss emerging data from preclinical models to highlight the potency of the in vivo approach, the applicability for new disease indications, and the remaining challenges associated with clinical readiness, including delivery specificity, long term efficacy, and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauralie Short
- Michael Smith Genome Sciences Department, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Interdisciplinary Oncology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Robert A Holt
- Michael Smith Genome Sciences Department, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Interdisciplinary Oncology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Laura Evgin
- Michael Smith Genome Sciences Department, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Interdisciplinary Oncology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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3
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Anwar MA, Keshteli AH, Yang H, Wang W, Li X, Messier HM, Cullis PR, Borchers CH, Fraser R, Wishart DS. Blood-Based Multiomics-Guided Detection of a Precancerous Pancreatic Tumor. OMICS 2024; 28:182-192. [PMID: 38634790 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2023.0278] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Over a decade ago, longitudinal multiomics analysis was pioneered for early disease detection and individually tailored precision health interventions. However, high sample processing costs, expansive multiomics measurements along with complex data analysis have made this approach to precision/personalized medicine impractical. Here we describe in a case report, a more practical approach that uses fewer measurements, annual sampling, and faster decision making. We also show how this approach offers promise to detect an exceedingly rare and potentially fatal condition before it fully manifests. Specifically, we describe in the present case report how longitudinal multiomics monitoring (LMOM) helped detect a precancerous pancreatic tumor and led to a successful surgical intervention. The patient, enrolled in an annual blood-based LMOM since 2018, had dramatic changes in the June 2021 and 2022 annual metabolomics and proteomics results that prompted further clinical diagnostic testing for pancreatic cancer. Using abdominal magnetic resonance imaging, a 2.6 cm lesion in the tail of the patient's pancreas was detected. The tumor fluid from an aspiration biopsy had 10,000 times that of normal carcinoembryonic antigen levels. After the tumor was surgically resected, histopathological findings confirmed it was a precancerous pancreatic tumor. Postoperative omics testing indicated that most metabolite and protein levels returned to patient's 2018 levels. This case report illustrates the potentials of blood LMOM for precision/personalized medicine, and new ways of thinking medical innovation for a potentially life-saving early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Blood LMOM warrants future programmatic translational research with the goals of precision medicine, and individually tailored cancer diagnoses and treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Haiyan Yang
- Molecular You Corporation, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Windy Wang
- Molecular You Corporation, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Xukun Li
- Molecular You Corporation, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Helen M Messier
- Molecular You Corporation, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Fountain Life, Naples, Florida, USA
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Molecular You Corporation, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Life Sciences Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Christoph H Borchers
- Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Segal Cancer Proteomics Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Pathology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Robert Fraser
- Molecular You Corporation, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - David S Wishart
- Molecular You Corporation, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Computing Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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4
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Francia V, Zhang Y, Cheng MHY, Schiffelers RM, Witzigmann D, Cullis PR. A magnetic separation method for isolating and characterizing the biomolecular corona of lipid nanoparticles. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2307803120. [PMID: 38437542 PMCID: PMC10945860 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2307803120] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations are a proven method for the delivery of nucleic acids for gene therapy as exemplified by the worldwide rollout of LNP-based RNAi therapeutics and mRNA vaccines. However, targeting specific tissues or cells is still a major challenge. After LNP administration, LNPs interact with biological fluids (i.e., blood), components of which adsorb onto the LNP surface forming a layer of biomolecules termed the "biomolecular corona (BMC)" which affects LNP stability, biodistribution, and tissue tropism. The mechanisms by which the BMC influences tissue- and cell-specific targeting remains largely unknown, due to the technical challenges in isolating LNPs and their corona from complex biological media. In this study, we present a new technique that utilizes magnetic LNPs to isolate LNP-corona complexes from unbound proteins present in human serum. First, we developed a magnetic LNP formulation, containing >40 superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs)/LNP, the resulting LNPs containing iron oxide nanoparticles (IOLNPs) displayed a similar particle size and morphology as LNPs loaded with nucleic acids. We further demonstrated the isolation of the IOLNPs and their corresponding BMC from unbound proteins using a magnetic separation (MS) system. The BMC profile of LNP from the MS system was compared to size exclusion column chromatography and further analyzed via mass spectrometry, revealing differences in protein abundances. This new approach enabled a mild and versatile isolation of LNPs and its corona, while maintaining its structural integrity. The identification of the BMC associated with an intact LNP provides further insight into LNP interactions with biological fluids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Francia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BCV6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht3584, Netherlands
| | - Yao Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BCV6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Miffy Hok Yan Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BCV6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Raymond M. Schiffelers
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht3584, Netherlands
| | - Dominik Witzigmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BCV6T 1Z3, Canada
- NanoVation Therapeutics, Vancouver, BCV6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Pieter R. Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BCV6T 1Z3, Canada
- NanoVation Therapeutics, Vancouver, BCV6T 1Z3, Canada
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5
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Strilchuk AW, Hur WS, Batty P, Sang Y, Abrahams SR, Yong ASM, Leung J, Silva LM, Schroeder JA, Nesbitt K, de Laat B, Moutsopoulos NM, Bugge TH, Shi Q, Cullis PR, Merricks EP, Wolberg AS, Flick MJ, Lillicrap D, Nichols TC, Kastrup CJ. Lipid nanoparticles and siRNA targeting plasminogen provide lasting inhibition of fibrinolysis in mouse and dog models of hemophilia A. Sci Transl Med 2024; 16:eadh0027. [PMID: 38381848 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adh0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Antifibrinolytic drugs are used extensively for on-demand treatment of severe acute bleeding. Controlling fibrinolysis may also be an effective strategy to prevent or lessen chronic recurring bleeding in bleeding disorders such as hemophilia A (HA), but current antifibrinolytics have unfavorable pharmacokinetic profiles. Here, we developed a long-lasting antifibrinolytic using small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting plasminogen packaged in clinically used lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and tested it to determine whether reducing plasmin activity in animal models of HA could decrease bleeding frequency and severity. Treatment with the siRNA-carrying LNPs reduced circulating plasminogen and suppressed fibrinolysis in wild-type and HA mice and dogs. In HA mice, hemostatic efficacy depended on the injury model; plasminogen knockdown improved hemostasis after a saphenous vein injury but not tail vein transection injury, suggesting that saphenous vein injury is a murine bleeding model sensitive to the contribution of fibrinolysis. In dogs with HA, LNPs carrying siRNA targeting plasminogen were as effective at stabilizing clots as tranexamic acid, a clinical antifibrinolytic, and in a pilot study of two dogs with HA, the incidence of spontaneous or excess bleeding was reduced during 4 months of prolonged knockdown. Collectively, these data demonstrate that long-acting antifibrinolytic therapy can be achieved and that it provides hemostatic benefit in animal models of HA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy W Strilchuk
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 2A1, Canada
| | - Woosuk S Hur
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and UNC Blood Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Paul Batty
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Yaqiu Sang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and UNC Blood Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Sara R Abrahams
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and UNC Blood Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Alyssa S M Yong
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Jerry Leung
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 2A1, Canada
| | - Lakmali M Silva
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jocelyn A Schroeder
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Kate Nesbitt
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Bas de Laat
- Synapse Research Institute, Maastricht 6217 KM, Netherlands
| | - Niki M Moutsopoulos
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Thomas H Bugge
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Qizhen Shi
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 2A1, Canada
| | - Elizabeth P Merricks
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and UNC Blood Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Alisa S Wolberg
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and UNC Blood Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Matthew J Flick
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and UNC Blood Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - David Lillicrap
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Timothy C Nichols
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and UNC Blood Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Christian J Kastrup
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 2A1, Canada
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- Departments of Surgery, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, and Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
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6
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Meulewaeter S, Zhang Y, Wadhwa A, Fox K, Lentacker I, Harder KW, Cullis PR, De Smedt SC, Cheng MHY, Verbeke R. Considerations on the Design of Lipid-based mRNA Vaccines Against Cancer. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168385. [PMID: 38065276 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168385] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Throughout the last decades, mRNA vaccines have been developed as a cancer immunotherapeutic and the technology recently gained momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent promising results obtained from clinical trials investigating lipid-based mRNA vaccines in cancer therapy further highlighted the potential of this therapy. Interestingly, while the technologies being used in authorized mRNA vaccines for the prevention of COVID-19 are relatively similar, mRNA vaccines in clinical development for cancer vaccination show marked differences in mRNA modification, lipid carrier, and administration route. In this review, we describe findings on how these factors can impact the potency of mRNA vaccines in cancer therapy and provide insights into the complex interplay between them. We discuss how lipid carrier composition can affect passive targeting to immune cells to improve the efficacy and safety of mRNA vaccines. Finally, we summarize strategies that are established or still being explored to improve the efficacy of mRNA cancer vaccines and include next-generation vaccines that are on the horizon in clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Meulewaeter
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Yao Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Abishek Wadhwa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Kevin Fox
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Ine Lentacker
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Kenneth W Harder
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Stefaan C De Smedt
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Miffy H Y Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | - Rein Verbeke
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium.
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7
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Uzel A, Agiotis L, Baron A, Zhigaltsev IV, Cullis PR, Hasanzadeh Kafshgari M, Meunier M. Single Pulse Nanosecond Laser-Stimulated Targeted Delivery of Anti-Cancer Drugs from Hybrid Lipid Nanoparticles Containing 5 nm Gold Nanoparticles. Small 2023; 19:e2305591. [PMID: 37936336 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202305591] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Encapsulating chemotherapeutic drugs like doxorubicin (DOX) inside lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) can overcome their acute, systematic toxicity. However, a precise drug release at the tumor microenvironment for improving the maximum tolerated dose and reducing side effects has yet to be well-established by implementing a safe stimuli-responsive strategy. This study proposes an integrated nanoscale perforation to trigger DOX release from hybrid plasmonic multilamellar LNPs composed of 5 nm gold (Au) NPs clustered at the internal lamellae interfaces. To promote site-specific DOX release, a single pulse irradiation strategy is developed by taking advantage of the resonant interaction between nanosecond pulsed laser radiation (527 nm) and the plasmon mode of the hybrid nanocarriers. This approach enlarges the amount of DOX in the target cells up to 11-fold compared to conventional DOX-loaded LNPs, leading to significant cancer cell death. The simulation of the pulsed laser interactions of the hybrid nanocarriers suggests a release mechanism mediated by either explosive vaporization of thin water layers adjacent to AuNP clusters or thermo-mechanical decomposition of overheated lipid layers. This simulation indicates an intact DOX integrity following irradiation since the temperature distribution is highly localized around AuNP clusters and highlights a controlled light-triggered drug delivery system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Uzel
- Department of Engineering Physics, Polytechnique Montréal, Montreal, QC, H3C 3A7, Canada
| | - Leonidas Agiotis
- Department of Engineering Physics, Polytechnique Montréal, Montreal, QC, H3C 3A7, Canada
| | - Amélie Baron
- Department of Engineering Physics, Polytechnique Montréal, Montreal, QC, H3C 3A7, Canada
| | - Igor V Zhigaltsev
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | | | - Michel Meunier
- Department of Engineering Physics, Polytechnique Montréal, Montreal, QC, H3C 3A7, Canada
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8
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Leung J, Strong C, Badior KE, Robertson M, Wu X, Meledeo MA, Kang E, Paul M, Sato Y, Harashima H, Cap AP, Devine DV, Jan E, Cullis PR, Kastrup CJ. Genetically engineered transfusable platelets using mRNA lipid nanoparticles. Sci Adv 2023; 9:eadi0508. [PMID: 38039367 PMCID: PMC10691771 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi0508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Platelet transfusions are essential for managing bleeding and hemostatic dysfunction and could be expanded as a cell therapy due to the multifunctional role of platelets in various diseases. Creating these cell therapies will require modifying transfusable donor platelets to express therapeutic proteins. However, there are currently no appropriate methods for genetically modifying platelets collected from blood donors. Here, we describe an approach using platelet-optimized lipid nanoparticles containing mRNA (mRNA-LNP) to enable exogenous protein expression in human and rat platelets. Within the library of mRNA-LNP tested, exogenous protein expression did not require nor correlate with platelet activation. Transfected platelets retained hemostatic function and accumulated in regions of vascular damage after transfusion into rats with hemorrhagic shock. We expect this technology will expand the therapeutic potential of platelets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerry Leung
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- NanoMedicines Research Group, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Colton Strong
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | | | - Madelaine Robertson
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- NanoMedicines Research Group, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Xiaowu Wu
- Blood and Shock Resuscitation Program, United States Army Institute of Surgical Research, JBSA-FT Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX 78234, USA
| | - Michael A. Meledeo
- Blood and Shock Resuscitation Program, United States Army Institute of Surgical Research, JBSA-FT Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX 78234, USA
| | - Emma Kang
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 2B5, Canada
| | - Manoj Paul
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee,WI 53226, USA
| | - Yusuke Sato
- Laboratory for Molecular Design of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, 060-0812, Japan
| | - Hideyoshi Harashima
- Laboratory for Molecular Design of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, 060-0812, Japan
| | - Andrew P. Cap
- Blood and Shock Resuscitation Program, United States Army Institute of Surgical Research, JBSA-FT Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX 78234, USA
| | - Dana V. Devine
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 2B5, Canada
- Centre for Innovation, Canadian Blood Services, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Eric Jan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Pieter R. Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- NanoMedicines Research Group, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Christian J. Kastrup
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee,WI 53226, USA
- Departments of Surgery, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, and Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
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9
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Bolsoni J, Liu D, Mohabatpour F, Ebner R, Sadhnani G, Tafech B, Leung J, Shanta S, An K, Morin T, Chen Y, Arguello A, Choate K, Jan E, Ross CJ, Brambilla D, Witzigmann D, Kulkarni J, Cullis PR, Hedtrich S. Lipid Nanoparticle-Mediated Hit-and-Run Approaches Yield Efficient and Safe In Situ Gene Editing in Human Skin. ACS Nano 2023; 17:22046-22059. [PMID: 37918441 PMCID: PMC10655174 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c08644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Despite exciting advances in gene editing, the efficient delivery of genetic tools to extrahepatic tissues remains challenging. This holds particularly true for the skin, which poses a highly restrictive delivery barrier. In this study, we ran a head-to-head comparison between Cas9 mRNA or ribonucleoprotein (RNP)-loaded lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver gene editing tools into epidermal layers of human skin, aiming for in situ gene editing. We observed distinct LNP composition and cell-specific effects such as an extended presence of RNP in slow-cycling epithelial cells for up to 72 h. While obtaining similar gene editing rates using Cas9 RNP and mRNA with MC3-based LNPs (10-16%), mRNA-loaded LNPs proved to be more cytotoxic. Interestingly, ionizable lipids with a pKa ∼ 7.1 yielded superior gene editing rates (55%-72%) in two-dimensional (2D) epithelial cells while no single guide RNA-dependent off-target effects were detectable. Unexpectedly, these high 2D editing efficacies did not translate to actual skin tissue where overall gene editing rates between 5%-12% were achieved after a single application and irrespective of the LNP composition. Finally, we successfully base-corrected a disease-causing mutation with an efficacy of ∼5% in autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis patient cells, showcasing the potential of this strategy for the treatment of monogenic skin diseases. Taken together, this study demonstrates the feasibility of an in situ correction of disease-causing mutations in the skin that could provide effective treatment and potentially even a cure for rare, monogenic, and common skin diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Bolsoni
- Faculty
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Danny Liu
- Faculty
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Fatemeh Mohabatpour
- Faculty
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Ronja Ebner
- Faculty
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Gaurav Sadhnani
- Berlin
Institute of Health @ Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Belal Tafech
- Faculty
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Jerry Leung
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University
of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Selina Shanta
- Faculty
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Kevin An
- NanoVation
Therapeutics, 2405 Wesbrook
Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Tessa Morin
- Faculty
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Yihang Chen
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University
of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Alfonso Arguello
- University
of Montréal, Faculty of Pharmacy, Montréal H3T 1J4, Quebec, Canada
| | - Keith Choate
- Departments
of Dermatology, Genetics, and Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven 06510, Connecticut, United States
| | - Eric Jan
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University
of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Colin J.D. Ross
- Faculty
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Davide Brambilla
- University
of Montréal, Faculty of Pharmacy, Montréal H3T 1J4, Quebec, Canada
| | - Dominik Witzigmann
- NanoVation
Therapeutics, 2405 Wesbrook
Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Jayesh Kulkarni
- NanoVation
Therapeutics, 2405 Wesbrook
Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Pieter R. Cullis
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University
of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Sarah Hedtrich
- Faculty
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
- Berlin
Institute of Health @ Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin 10117, Germany
- Department
of Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine, Charité -
Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate
member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität, Berlin 10117, Germany
- Max-Delbrück
Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin 13125, Germany
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10
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Chander N, Basha G, Yan Cheng MH, Witzigmann D, Cullis PR. Lipid nanoparticle mRNA systems containing high levels of sphingomyelin engender higher protein expression in hepatic and extra-hepatic tissues. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 30:235-245. [PMID: 37564393 PMCID: PMC10410000 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.06.005] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for delivery of mRNA usually contain ionizable lipid/helper lipid/cholesterol/PEG-lipid in molar ratios of 50:10:38.5:1.5, respectively. These LNPs are rapidly cleared from the circulation following intravenous (i.v.) administration, limiting uptake into other tissues. Here, we investigate the properties of LNP mRNA systems prepared with high levels of "helper" lipids such as 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (DSPC) or N-(hexadecanoyl)-sphing-4-enine-1-phosphocholine (egg sphingomyelin [ESM]). We show that LNP mRNAs containing 40 mol % DSPC or ESM have a unique morphology with a small interior "solid" core situated in an aqueous compartment that is bounded by a lipid bilayer. The encapsulated mRNA exhibits enhanced stability in the presence of serum. LNP mRNA systems containing 40 mol % DSPC or ESM exhibit significantly improved transfection properties in vitro compared with systems containing 10 mol % DSPC or ESM. When injected i.v., LNP mRNAs containing 40 mol % ESM exhibit extended circulation lifetimes compared with LNP mRNA systems containing 10 mol % DSPC, resulting in improved accumulation in extrahepatic tissues. Systems containing 40 mol % ESM result in significantly improved gene expression in spleen and bone marrow as well as liver post i.v. injection compared with 10 mol % DSPC LNP mRNAs. We conclude that LNP mRNAs containing high levels of helper lipid provide a new approach for transfecting hepatic and extrahepatic tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha Chander
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Genc Basha
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Miffy Hok Yan Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Dominik Witzigmann
- NanoVation Therapeutics, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Pieter R. Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
- NanoVation Therapeutics, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
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11
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Cheng MHY, Leung J, Zhang Y, Strong C, Basha G, Momeni A, Chen Y, Jan E, Abdolahzadeh A, Wang X, Kulkarni JA, Witzigmann D, Cullis PR. Induction of Bleb Structures in Lipid Nanoparticle Formulations of mRNA Leads to Improved Transfection Potency. Adv Mater 2023:e2303370. [PMID: 37172950 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202303370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The transfection potency of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) mRNA systems is critically dependent on the ionizable cationic lipid component. LNP mRNA systems composed of optimized ionizable lipids often display distinctive mRNA rich "bleb" structures. Here we show that such structures can also be induced for LNP containing nominally less active ionizable lipids by formulating in the presence of high concentrations of pH 4 buffers such as sodium citrate, leading to improved transfection potencies both in vitro and in vivo. Induction of bleb structure and improved potency is dependent on the type of pH 4 buffer employed, with LNP mRNA systems prepared using 300 mM sodium citrate buffer displaying maximum transfection. The improved transfection potencies of LNP mRNA systems displaying bleb structure can be attributed, at least in part, to enhanced integrity of the encapsulated mRNA. It is concluded that enhanced transfection can be achieved by optimizing formulation parameters to improve mRNA stability and that optimization of ionizable lipids to achieve enhanced potency may well lead to improvements in mRNA integrity through formation of bleb structure rather than enhanced intracellular delivery. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miffy Hok Yan Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Jerry Leung
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Yao Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Colton Strong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Genc Basha
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Arash Momeni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Yihang Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Eric Jan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Amir Abdolahzadeh
- NanoVation Therapeutics Inc., 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Xinying Wang
- NanoVation Therapeutics Inc., 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jayesh A Kulkarni
- NanoVation Therapeutics Inc., 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Dominik Witzigmann
- NanoVation Therapeutics Inc., 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- NanoVation Therapeutics Inc., 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada
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12
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Meulewaeter S, Nuytten G, Cheng MHY, De Smedt SC, Cullis PR, De Beer T, Lentacker I, Verbeke R. Continuous freeze-drying of messenger RNA lipid nanoparticles enables storage at higher temperatures. J Control Release 2023; 357:149-160. [PMID: 36958400 PMCID: PMC10062427 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.03.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged at the forefront during the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Despite their tremendous success, mRNA vaccines currently require storage at deep freeze temperatures which complicates their storage and distribution, and ultimately leads to lower accessibility to low- and middle-income countries. To elaborate on this challenge, we investigated freeze-drying as a method to enable storage of mRNA LNPs at room- and even higher temperatures. More specifically, we explored a novel continuous freeze-drying technique based on spin-freezing, which has several advantages compared to classical batch freeze-drying including a much shorter drying time and improved process and product quality controlling. Here, we give insight into the variables that play a role during freeze-drying by evaluating the impact of the buffer and mRNA LNP formulation (ionizable lipid to mRNA weight ratio) on properties such as size, morphology and mRNA encapsulation. We found that a sufficiently high ionizable lipid to mRNA weight ratio was necessary to prevent leakage of mRNA during freeze-drying and that phosphate and Tris, but not PBS, were appropriate buffers for lyophilization of mRNA LNPs. We also studied the stability of optimally lyophilized mRNA LNPs at 4 °C, 22 °C, and 37 °C and found that transfection properties of lyophilized mRNA LNPs were maintained during at least 12 weeks. To our knowledge, this is the first study that demonstrates that optimally lyophilized mRNA LNPs can be safely stored at higher temperatures for months without losing their transfection properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Meulewaeter
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium.; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Gust Nuytten
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Process Analytical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Miffy H Y Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Stefaan C De Smedt
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium.; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Thomas De Beer
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Process Analytical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Ine Lentacker
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium.; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium.
| | - Rein Verbeke
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium.; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium.
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13
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Mo Y, Cheng MHY, D'Elia A, Doran K, Ding L, Chen J, Cullis PR, Zheng G. Light-Activated siRNA Endosomal Release (LASER) by Porphyrin Lipid Nanoparticles. ACS Nano 2023; 17:4688-4703. [PMID: 36853331 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c10936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have achieved clinical success in delivering small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) for targeted gene therapy. However, endosomal escape of siRNA into the cytosol remains a fundamental challenge for LNPs. Herein, we report a strategy termed light-activated siRNA endosomal release (LASER) to address this challenge. We established a porphyrin-LNP by incorporating porphyrin-lipids into the clinically approved Onpattro formulation. The porphyrin-LNP maintained the physical properties of an LNP and generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) when irradiated with near-infrared (NIR) light. Using confocal microscopy, we revealed that porphyrin-lipids within the LNP translocate to endosomal membranes during endocytosis. The translocated porphyrin-lipids generated ROS under light irradiation and enabled LASER through endosomal membranes disruption as observed through GAL-9 recruitment and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). By establishing a quantitative confocal imaging method, we confirmed that porphyrin-LNPs can increase siRNA endosomal escape efficiency by up to 2-fold via LASER and further enhance luciferase target knockdown by 4-fold more in luciferase-transfected prostate cancer cells. Finally, we formulated porphyrin-LNPs encapsulated with gold nanoparticles (GNP) and visualized the LASER effect within prostate tumors via TEM, confirming the light-activated endosomal membrane disruption and subsequent GNP release into cytosols in vivo. Overall, porphyrin-LNPs and the LASER approach enhanced siRNA endosomal escape and significantly improved knockdown efficacy. We believe the versatility of this technology could be applied to various LNP-based RNA therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulin Mo
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Miffy H Y Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Andrew D'Elia
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Katie Doran
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Lili Ding
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Juan Chen
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Gang Zheng
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
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14
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Abstract
Liposomes, which consist of bilayer lipids surrounding interior aqueous compartment(s), were first characterized nearly 60 years ago. Remarkably, many fundamental properties of liposomes and their micellar-like "solid core" counterparts (a lipid monolayer surrounding a hydrophobic core) and transitions between these structures remain poorly understood. In this work, we examine the effects of basic variables on the morphology adopted by lipid-based systems produced by rapid mixing of lipids in ethanol with aqueous media. We show that, for lipids such as distearolyphosphatidylcholine (DSPC)-cholesterol mixtures that form bilayer vesicles on hydration, osmotic stress can induce regions of high positive membrane curvature, leading to fusion between unilamellar vesicles to produce bilamellar vesicles. Addition of lyso PC, an "inverted cone"-shaped lipid that supports regions of high positive curvature, can inhibit the formation of these bilamellar vesicles by stabilizing a hemifused intermediate structure. Conversely, the presence of "cone"-shaped lipids such as dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) that results in negative membrane curvature promotes fusion events subsequent to vesicle formation (during the ethanol dialysis stage), leading to bilamellar and multilamellar systems even in the absence of osmotic stress. Alternatively, the presence of increasing amounts of triolein, a lipid that is insoluble in lipid bilayers, results in increasing internal solid core structures until micellar-like systems with a hydrophobic core of triolein are achieved. These results are interpreted in terms of the intrinsic membrane curvature that bilayer vesicles can stably maintain as well as the ability of bilayer lipids to first form a monolayer around a solid core of hydrophobic material such as triolein and then, as the proportion of bilayer lipids is increased, progressively form bilayer structures that can eventually form a complete bilayer encapsulating both a hydrophobic core and an aqueous compartment. These hybrid intermediate structures may have utility as novel drug delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor V Zhigaltsev
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
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15
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An K, Kurek D, Mahadeo M, Zhang Y, Thewalt JL, Cullis PR, Kulkarni JA. On the Influence of Nucleic Acid Backbone Modifications on Lipid Nanoparticle Morphology. Langmuir 2022; 38:14036-14043. [PMID: 36367350 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c01492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid therapeutics represent a major advance toward treating diseases at their root cause. However, nucleic acids are prone to degradation by serum endonucleases, clearance through the immune system, and rapid degradation in complex medium. To overcome these barriers, nucleic acids frequently include chemical modifications to improve stability or decrease immune responses. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have enabled a dramatic reduction in the dose required to achieve a therapeutic effect by protecting these nucleic acids and improving their intracellular delivery. It has been assumed thus far that nonspecific ionic interactions drive LNP formation and chemical modifications to the nucleic acid backbone to confer improved stability do not impact LNP delivery in any way. Here, we demonstrate that these chemical modifications do impact LNP morphology substantially, and phosphorothioate modifications produce stronger interactions with ionizable amino lipids, resulting in enhanced entrapment. This work represents a major first step toward greater understanding of the interaction between the lipid components and nucleic acids within an LNP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin An
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British ColumbiaV6T 1Z3, Canada
- NanoVation Therapeutics, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British ColumbiaV6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Daniel Kurek
- NanoVation Therapeutics, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British ColumbiaV6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Mark Mahadeo
- Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British ColumbiaV5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Yao Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British ColumbiaV6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jenifer L Thewalt
- Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British ColumbiaV5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British ColumbiaV6T 1Z3, Canada
- NanoVation Therapeutics, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British ColumbiaV6T 1Z3, Canada
- NanoMedicines Innovation Network, VancouverV6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jayesh A Kulkarni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British ColumbiaV6T 1Z3, Canada
- NanoVation Therapeutics, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British ColumbiaV6T 1Z3, Canada
- NanoMedicines Innovation Network, VancouverV6T 1Z3, Canada
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16
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Basha G, Cottle AG, Pretheeban T, Chan KY, Witzigmann D, Young RN, Rossi FM, Cullis PR. Lipid nanoparticle-mediated silencing of osteogenic suppressor GNAS leads to osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells in vivo. Mol Ther 2022; 30:3034-3051. [PMID: 35733339 PMCID: PMC9481989 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.06.012] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Approved drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis can prevent further bone loss but do not stimulate bone formation. Approaches that improve bone density in metabolic diseases are needed. Therapies that take advantage of the ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to differentiate into various osteogenic lineages to treat bone disorders are of particular interest. Here we examine the ability of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to enhance osteoblast differentiation and bone formation by silencing the negative suppressor gene GNAS in bone MSCs. Using clinically validated lipid nanoparticle (LNP) siRNA delivery systems, we show that silencing the suppressor gene GNAS in vitro in MSCs leads to molecular and phenotypic changes similar to those seen in osteoblasts. Further, we demonstrate that these LNP-siRNAs can transfect a large proportion of mice MSCs in the compact bone following intravenous injection. Transfection of MSCs in various animal models led to silencing of GNAS and enhanced differentiation of MSCs into osteoblasts. These data demonstrate the potential for LNP delivery of siRNA to enhance the differentiation of MSCs into osteoblasts, and suggests that they are a promising approach for the treatment of osteoporosis and other bone diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genc Basha
- NanoMedicines Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
| | - Andrew G Cottle
- NanoMedicines Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Thavaneetharajah Pretheeban
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Medical Genetics, Biomedical Research Centre University of British Columbia, 2222 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Karen Yt Chan
- NanoMedicines Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Dominik Witzigmann
- NanoMedicines Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Robert N Young
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Fabio Mv Rossi
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Medical Genetics, Biomedical Research Centre University of British Columbia, 2222 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- NanoMedicines Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
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17
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Al Fayez N, Rouhollahi E, Ong CY, Wu J, Nguyen A, Böttger R, Cullis PR, Witzigmann D, Li SD. Hepatocyte-targeted delivery of imiquimod reduces hepatitis B virus surface antigen. J Control Release 2022; 350:630-641. [PMID: 36058352 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.08.058] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can rapidly replicate in the hepatocytes after transmission, leading to chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and eventually hepatocellular carcinoma. Interferon-α (IFN-α) is included in the standard treatment for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, this therapy causes serious side effects. Delivering IFN-α selectively to the liver may enhance its efficacy and safety. Imiquimod (IMQ), a Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) 7 agonist, stimulates the release of IFN-α that exhibits potent antiviral activity. However, the poor solubility and tissue selectivity of IMQ limits its clinical use. Here, we demonstrated the use of lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver IMQ and increase the production of IFN-α in the liver. We encapsulated IMQ in two liver-targeted LNP formulations: phospholipid-free small unilamellar vesicles (PFSUVs) and DSPG-liposomes targeting the hepatocytes and the Kupffer cells, respectively. In vitro drug release/retention, in vivo pharmacokinetics, intrahepatic distribution, IFN-α production, and suppression of serum HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) were evaluated and compared for these two formulations. PFSUVs provided >95% encapsulation efficiency for IMQ at a drug-to-lipid ratio (D/L) of 1/20 (w/w) and displayed stable drug retention in the presence of serum. DSPG-IMQ showed 79% encapsulation of IMQ at 1/20 (D/L) and exhibited ∼30% burst release when incubated with serum. Within the liver, PFSUVs showed high selectivity for the hepatocytes while DSPG-liposomes targeted the Kupffer cells. Finally, in an experimental HBV mouse model, PFSUVs significantly reduced serum levels of HBsAg by 12-, 6.3- and 2.2-fold compared to the control, IFN-α, and DSPG-IMQ groups, respectively. The results suggest that the hepatocyte-targeted PFSUVs loaded with IMQ exhibit significant potential for enhancing therapy of CHB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nojoud Al Fayez
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada; King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Elham Rouhollahi
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Chun Yat Ong
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jiamin Wu
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Anne Nguyen
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Roland Böttger
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada; NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Dominik Witzigmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada; NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Shyh-Dar Li
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada; NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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18
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Al Fayez N, Böttger R, Ghosh S, Nakajima Y, Chao PH, Rouhollahi E, Nguyen A, Cullis PR, Witzigmann D, Li SD. Development of a child-friendly oral drug formulation using liposomal multilamellar vesicle technology. Int J Pharm 2022; 625:122107. [PMID: 35964828 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.122107] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Many medicines are only available in solid dosage forms suitable for adults, and extemporaneous compounding is required to prepare formulations for children. However, this common practice often results in inaccurate dosing and unpleasant taste, reducing the medication adherence. Here, we report the development of a new method to prepare and compound child-friendly oral formulations based on a liposomal multilamellar vesicle (MLV) platform. MLVs composed of a phospholipid (DSPC) and cholesterol (55/45, molar ratio) were prepared using the standard thin film hydration method with 300 mM citric acid (pH 2), followed by an addition of aqueous sodium carbonate to adjust the exterior pH to 8-10 for creating a transmembrane pH gradient. Weak-base drugs, such as chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), could be actively and completely loaded into the MLVs at a drug-to-lipid ratio of 15-20 wt%. This technique formulated weak-base drugs from the powder or tablet form into a liquid preparation, and the complete drug encapsulation would prevent contact between the drug molecules and the taste buds. The gradient MLV formulation could be preserved by lyophilization and stored at room temperature for at least 8 weeks. Upon reconstitution with water, the MLV formulation could completely encapsulate CQ at 20 wt%, which was comparable to the freshly prepared MLVs. The CQ-loaded MLV formulation could be stored at 4 °C for 2 weeks without drug leakage. In vitro release studies indicated that MLV could retain CQ in the simulated saliva, but released up to 50% and 30% of the drug in the simulated gastric and intestinal fluids, respectively. The orally delivered MLV-CQ formulation displayed higher CQ absorption in mice, with a 2-fold increase in the area under the curve (AUC) of the plasma profile compared to CQ solution. Our data suggest that the new MLV method could serve as a platform to prepare child-friendly oral formulation for weak-base drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nojoud Al Fayez
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Roland Böttger
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Sreemoyee Ghosh
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Yushi Nakajima
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Po-Han Chao
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Elham Rouhollahi
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Anne Nguyen
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada; NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), Canada
| | - Dominik Witzigmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada; NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), Canada
| | - Shyh-Dar Li
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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19
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Quick J, Santos ND, Cheng MHY, Chander N, Brimacombe CA, Kulkarni J, van der Meel R, Tam YYC, Witzigmann D, Cullis PR. Lipid nanoparticles to silence androgen receptor variants for prostate cancer therapy. J Control Release 2022; 349:174-183. [PMID: 35780952 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.06.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Advanced-stage prostate cancer remains an incurable disease with poor patient prognosis. There is an unmet clinical need to target androgen receptor (AR) splice variants, which are key drivers of the disease. Some AR splice variants are insensitive to conventional hormonal or androgen deprivation therapy due to loss of the androgen ligand binding domain at the C-terminus and are constitutively active. Here we explore the use of RNA interference (RNAi) to target a universally conserved region of all AR splice variants for cleavage and degradation, thereby eliminating protein level resistance mechanisms. To this end, we tested five siRNA sequences designed against exon 1 of the AR mRNA and identified several that induced potent knockdown of full-length and truncated variant ARs in the 22Rv1 human prostate cancer cell line. We then demonstrated that 2'O methyl modification of the top candidate siRNA (siARvm) enhanced AR and AR-V7 mRNA silencing potency in both 22Rv1 and LNCaP cells, which represent two different prostate cancer models. For downstream in vivo delivery, we formulated siARvm-LNPs and functionally validated these in vitro by demonstrating knockdown of AR and AR-V7 mRNA in prostate cancer cells and loss of AR-mediated transcriptional activation of the PSA gene in both cell lines following treatment. We also observed that siARvm-LNP induced cell viability inhibition was more potent compared to LNP containing siRNA targeting full-length AR mRNA (siARfl-LNP) in 22Rv1 cells as their proliferation is more dependent on AR splice variants than LNCaP and PC3 cells. The in vivo biodistribution of siARvm-LNPs was determined in 22Rv1 tumor-bearing mice by incorporating 14C-radiolabelled DSPC in LNP formulation, and we observed a 4.4% ID/g tumor accumulation following intravenous administration. Finally, treatment of 22Rv1 tumor bearing mice with siARvm-LNP resulted in significant tumor growth inhibition and survival benefit compared to siARfl-LNP or the siLUC-LNP control. To best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating therapeutic effects of LNP-siRNA targeting AR splice variants in prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joslyn Quick
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Nancy Dos Santos
- BC Cancer Research Institute, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Miffy H Y Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Nisha Chander
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Cedric A Brimacombe
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jayesh Kulkarni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Roy van der Meel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Yuen Yi C Tam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Dominik Witzigmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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20
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Zhigaltsev IV, Tam YYC, Kulkarni JA, Cullis PR. Synthesis and Characterization of Hybrid Lipid Nanoparticles Containing Gold Nanoparticles and a Weak Base Drug. Langmuir 2022; 38:7858-7866. [PMID: 35708310 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c01221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Hybrid lipid nanoparticles containing gold nanoparticles (LNP-GNPs) and drugs have potential for imaging applications as well as triggered release of LNP contents in response to pulsed laser or X-ray radiation mediated by the GNPs. However, methods to synthesize LNP-GNP systems that efficiently entrap GNPs (the potential triggered release and imaging agent) and then load and retain the drug cargo in a manner that may have clinical applications have proven elusive. Here, we develop a straightforward "bottom-up" approach to manufacture drug-loaded LNP-GNP systems. We show that negatively charged GNPs of 5 nm diameter can be stably loaded into LNPs containing 10 mol % ionizable cationic lipid using an ethanol dilution, rapid mixing approach and that these systems also exhibit aqueous compartments. Further, we show that such systems can also entrap ammonium sulfate, enabling pH-dependent loading of the weak base anti-cancer drug doxorubicin into the aqueous compartments. Cryo-transmission electron microscopy (Cryo-TEM) imaging clearly demonstrates the presence of GNPs in the interior of the resulting hybrid nanostructures as well as the formation of electron-dense drug precipitates in the aqueous core of the LNP-GNPs. The approach described here is a robust and straightforward method to generate hybrid LNP-GNP-drug and other LNP-metal nanoparticle-drug systems with potential applications for a variety of triggered release protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor V Zhigaltsev
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Life Sciences Centre, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Yuen Yi C Tam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Life Sciences Centre, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jayesh A Kulkarni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Life Sciences Centre, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Life Sciences Centre, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
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21
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Tam A, Kulkarni J, An K, Li L, Dorscheid DR, Singhera GK, Bernatchez P, Reid G, Chan K, Witzigmann D, Cullis PR, Sin DD, Lim CJ. Lipid nanoparticle formulations for optimal RNA-based topical delivery to murine airways. Eur J Pharm Sci 2022; 176:106234. [PMID: 35688311 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2022.106234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Lipid nanoparticles (LNP) have been successfully used as a platform technology for delivering nucleic acids to the liver. To broaden the application of LNPs in targeting non-hepatic tissues, we developed LNP-based RNA therapies (siRNA or mRNA) for the respiratory tract. Such optimized LNP systems could offer an early treatment strategy for viral respiratory tract infections such as COVID-19. METHODS We generated a small library of six LNP formulations with varying helper lipid compositions and characterized their hydrodynamic diameter, size distribution and cargo entrapment properties. Next, we screened these LNP formulations for particle uptake and evaluated their potential for transfecting mRNA encoding green fluorescence protein (GFP) or SARS-CoV2 nucleocapsid-GFP fusion reporter gene in a human airway epithelial cell line in vitro. Following LNP-siGFP delivery, GFP protein knockdown efficiency was assessed by flow cytometry to determine %GFP+ cells and median fluorescence intensity (MFI) for GFP. Finally, lead LNP candidates were validated in Friend leukemia virus B (FVB) male mice via intranasal delivery of an mRNA encoding luciferase, using in vivo bioluminescence imaging. RESULTS Dynamic light scattering revealed that all LNP formulations contained particles with an average diameter of <100 nm and a polydispersity index of <0.2. Human airway epithelial cell lines in culture internalized LNPs with differential GFP transfection efficiencies (73-97%). The lead formulation LNP6 entrapping GFP or Nuc-GFP mRNA demonstrated the highest transfection efficiency (97%). Administration of LNP-GFP siRNA resulted in a significant reduction of GFP protein expression. For in vivo studies, intranasal delivery of LNPs containing helper lipids (DSPC, DOPC, ESM or DOPS) with luciferase mRNA showed significant increase in luminescence expression in nasal cavity and lungs by at least 10 times above baseline control. CONCLUSION LNP formulations enable the delivery of RNA payloads into human airway epithelial cells, and in the murine respiratory system; they can be delivered to nasal mucosa and lower respiratory tract via intranasal delivery. The composition of helper lipids in LNPs crucially modulates transfection efficiencies in airway epithelia, highlighting their importance in effective delivery of therapeutic products for airways diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Tam
- NanoVation Therapeutics Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Michael Cuccione Childhood Cancer Research Program, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; University of British Columbia (UBC) Center for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - J Kulkarni
- NanoVation Therapeutics Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; NanoMedicines Innovation Network, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; University of British Columbia (UBC), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - K An
- NanoVation Therapeutics Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; University of British Columbia (UBC), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - L Li
- Michael Cuccione Childhood Cancer Research Program, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - D R Dorscheid
- University of British Columbia (UBC) Center for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - G K Singhera
- University of British Columbia (UBC) Center for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Medicine (Division of Respirology), UBC, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - P Bernatchez
- University of British Columbia (UBC) Center for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Medicine (Division of Respirology), UBC, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, 217-2176 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Gsd Reid
- Michael Cuccione Childhood Cancer Research Program, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kyt Chan
- NanoMedicines Innovation Network, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; University of British Columbia (UBC), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - D Witzigmann
- NanoVation Therapeutics Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; NanoMedicines Innovation Network, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; University of British Columbia (UBC), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - P R Cullis
- NanoVation Therapeutics Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; NanoMedicines Innovation Network, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; University of British Columbia (UBC), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - D D Sin
- University of British Columbia (UBC) Center for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - C J Lim
- Michael Cuccione Childhood Cancer Research Program, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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22
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Abstract
In this brief perspective, we describe key events in the history of the lipid-based nanomedicine field, highlight Canadian contributions, and outline areas where lipid nanoparticle technology is poised to have a transformative effect on the future of medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miffy H Y Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | | | - Rein Verbeke
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada.,Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
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23
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Pattipeiluhu R, Arias-Alpizar G, Basha G, Chan KYT, Bussmann J, Sharp TH, Moradi MA, Sommerdijk N, Harris EN, Cullis PR, Kros A, Witzigmann D, Campbell F. Anionic Lipid Nanoparticles Preferentially Deliver mRNA to the Hepatic Reticuloendothelial System. Adv Mater 2022; 34:e2201095. [PMID: 35218106 PMCID: PMC9461706 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202201095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are the leading nonviral technologies for the delivery of exogenous RNA to target cells in vivo. As systemic delivery platforms, these technologies are exemplified by Onpattro, an approved LNP-based RNA interference therapy, administered intravenously and targeted to parenchymal liver cells. The discovery of systemically administered LNP technologies capable of preferential RNA delivery beyond hepatocytes has, however, proven more challenging. Here, preceded by comprehensive mechanistic understanding of in vivo nanoparticle biodistribution and bodily clearance, an LNP-based messenger RNA (mRNA) delivery platform is rationally designed to preferentially target the hepatic reticuloendothelial system (RES). Evaluated in embryonic zebrafish, validated in mice, and directly compared to LNP-mRNA systems based on the lipid composition of Onpattro, RES-targeted LNPs significantly enhance mRNA expression both globally within the liver and specifically within hepatic RES cell types. Hepatic RES targeting requires just a single lipid change within the formulation of Onpattro to switch LNP surface charge from neutral to anionic. This technology not only provides new opportunities to treat liver-specific and systemic diseases in which RES cell types play a key role but, more importantly, exemplifies that rational design of advanced RNA therapies must be preceded by a robust understanding of the dominant nano-biointeractions involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy Pattipeiluhu
- Supramolecular and Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, 2333 CC, The Netherlands
- BioNanoPatterning, Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2333 RC, The Netherlands
| | - Gabriela Arias-Alpizar
- Supramolecular and Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, 2333 CC, The Netherlands
- Division of BioTherapeutics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, 2333 CC, The Netherlands
| | - Genc Basha
- NanoMedicines Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Karen Y T Chan
- NanoMedicines Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jeroen Bussmann
- Division of BioTherapeutics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, 2333 CC, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas H Sharp
- BioNanoPatterning, Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2333 RC, The Netherlands
| | - Mohammad-Amin Moradi
- Materials and Interface Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, 5600 MB, The Netherlands
| | - Nico Sommerdijk
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, 6500 HB, The Netherlands
| | - Edward N Harris
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- NanoMedicines Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- NanoVation Therapeutics Inc., 2405 Wesbrook Mall 4th Floor, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Alexander Kros
- Supramolecular and Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, 2333 CC, The Netherlands
| | - Dominik Witzigmann
- NanoMedicines Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- NanoVation Therapeutics Inc., 2405 Wesbrook Mall 4th Floor, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Frederick Campbell
- Supramolecular and Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, 2333 CC, The Netherlands
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24
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Juang LJ, Hur WS, Silva LM, Strilchuk AW, Francisco B, Leung J, Robertson MK, Groeneveld DJ, La Prairie B, Chun EM, Cap AP, Luyendyk JP, Palumbo JS, Cullis PR, Bugge TH, Flick MJ, Kastrup CJ. Suppression of fibrin(ogen)-driven pathologies in disease models through controlled knockdown by lipid nanoparticle delivery of siRNA. Blood 2022; 139:1302-1311. [PMID: 34958662 PMCID: PMC8900269 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2021014559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrinogen plays a pathologic role in multiple diseases. It contributes to thrombosis and modifies inflammatory and immune responses, supported by studies in mice expressing fibrinogen variants with altered function or with a germline fibrinogen deficiency. However, therapeutic strategies to safely and effectively tailor plasma fibrinogen concentration are lacking. Here, we developed a strategy to tune fibrinogen expression by administering lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting the fibrinogen α chain (siFga). Three distinct LNP-siFga reagents reduced both hepatic Fga messenger RNA and fibrinogen levels in platelets and plasma, with plasma levels decreased to 42%, 16%, and 4% of normal within 1 week of administration. Using the most potent siFga, circulating fibrinogen was controllably decreased to 32%, 14%, and 5% of baseline with 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg doses, respectively. Whole blood from mice treated with siFga formed clots with significantly decreased clot strength ex vivo, but siFga treatment did not compromise hemostasis following saphenous vein puncture or tail transection. In an endotoxemia model, siFga suppressed the acute phase response and decreased plasma fibrinogen, D-dimer, and proinflammatory cytokine levels. In a sterile peritonitis model, siFga restored normal macrophage migration in plasminogen-deficient mice. Finally, treatment of mice with siFga decreased the metastatic potential of tumor cells in a manner comparable to that observed in fibrinogen-deficient mice. The results indicate that siFga causes robust and controllable depletion of fibrinogen and provides the proof-of-concept that this strategy can modulate the pleiotropic effects of fibrinogen in relevant disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lih Jiin Juang
- Michael Smith Laboratories
- Centre for Blood Research, and
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Woosuk S Hur
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Lakmali M Silva
- Proteases and Tissue Remodeling Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Amy W Strilchuk
- Michael Smith Laboratories
- Centre for Blood Research, and
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Brenton Francisco
- Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Jerry Leung
- Michael Smith Laboratories
- Centre for Blood Research, and
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Madelaine K Robertson
- Michael Smith Laboratories
- Centre for Blood Research, and
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Dafna J Groeneveld
- Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
| | - Bridget La Prairie
- Michael Smith Laboratories
- Centre for Blood Research, and
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Elizabeth M Chun
- Proteases and Tissue Remodeling Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Andrew P Cap
- The United States Army Institute of Surgical Research, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX
- Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD
| | - James P Luyendyk
- Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
| | - Joseph S Palumbo
- Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Thomas H Bugge
- Proteases and Tissue Remodeling Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Matthew J Flick
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Christian J Kastrup
- Michael Smith Laboratories
- Centre for Blood Research, and
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI; and
- Department of Surgery, Department of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
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25
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Labouta HI, Langer R, Cullis PR, Merkel OM, Prausnitz MR, Gomaa Y, Nogueira SS, Kumeria T. Role of drug delivery technologies in the success of COVID-19 vaccines: a perspective. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2022; 12:2581-2588. [PMID: 35290656 PMCID: PMC8923087 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-022-01146-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The triumphant success of mRNA vaccines is a testimony to the important role drug delivery technologies have played in protecting billions of people against SARS-CoV-2 (or the Corona Virus Disease 2019; COVID-19). Several lipid nanoparticle (LNP) mRNA vaccines were developed and have been instrumental in preventing the disease by boosting the immune system against the pathogen, SARS-CoV-2. These vaccines have been built on decades of scientific research in drug delivery of mRNA, vaccines, and other biologicals. In this manuscript, several leading and emerging scientists in the field of drug delivery share their perspective on the role of drug delivery technologies in developing safe and efficacious vaccines, in a roundtable discussion. The authors also discussed their viewpoint on the current challenges, and the key research questions that should drive this important area of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hagar I. Labouta
- grid.21613.370000 0004 1936 9609College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0T5 Canada ,grid.21613.370000 0004 1936 9609Biomedical Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB Canada ,grid.460198.20000 0004 4685 0561Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P4 Canada ,grid.7155.60000 0001 2260 6941Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521 Egypt
| | - Robert Langer
- grid.116068.80000 0001 2341 2786David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA ,grid.116068.80000 0001 2341 2786Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
| | - Pieter R. Cullis
- grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
| | - Olivia M. Merkel
- grid.5252.00000 0004 1936 973XDepartment of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 81337 Munich, Germany
| | - Mark R. Prausnitz
- grid.213917.f0000 0001 2097 4943School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332 USA
| | - Yasmine Gomaa
- grid.213917.f0000 0001 2097 4943School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332 USA
| | - Sara S. Nogueira
- grid.1005.40000 0004 4902 0432School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia ,grid.1005.40000 0004 4902 0432Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia
| | - Tushar Kumeria
- grid.1005.40000 0004 4902 0432School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia ,grid.1005.40000 0004 4902 0432Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia
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26
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Kamanzi A, Gu Y, Tahvildari R, Friedenberger Z, Zhu X, Berti R, Kurylowicz M, Witzigmann D, Kulkarni JA, Leung J, Andersson J, Dahlin A, Höök F, Sutton M, Cullis PR, Leslie S. Simultaneous, Single-Particle Measurements of Size and Loading Give Insights into the Structure of Drug-Delivery Nanoparticles. ACS Nano 2021; 15:19244-19255. [PMID: 34843205 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c04862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Nanoparticles are a promising solution for delivery of a wide range of medicines and vaccines. Optimizing their design depends on being able to resolve, understand, and predict biophysical and therapeutic properties, as a function of design parameters. While existing tools have made great progress, gaps in understanding remain because of the inability to make detailed measurements of multiple correlated properties. Typically, an average measurement is made across a heterogeneous population, obscuring potentially important information. In this work, we develop and apply a method for characterizing nanoparticles with single-particle resolution. We use convex lens-induced confinement (CLiC) microscopy to isolate and quantify the diffusive trajectories and fluorescent intensities of individual nanoparticles trapped in microwells for long times. First, we benchmark detailed measurements of fluorescent polystyrene nanoparticles against prior data to validate our approach. Second, we apply our method to investigate the size and loading properties of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) vehicles containing silencing RNA (siRNA), as a function of lipid formulation, solution pH, and drug-loading. By taking a comprehensive look at the correlation between the intensity and size measurements, we gain insights into LNP structure and how the siRNA is distributed in the LNP. Beyond introducing an analytic for size and loading, this work allows for future studies of dynamics with single-particle resolution, such as LNP fusion and drug-release kinetics. The prime contribution of this work is to better understand the connections between microscopic and macroscopic properties of drug-delivery vehicles, enabling and accelerating their discovery and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Kamanzi
- Department of Physics, McGill University, 3600 University, Montreal Quebec, Canada H3A2T8
- Department of Physics Astronomy, University of British Columbia, 6224 Agricultural Road, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z1
- Michael Smith Laboratories and Department of Physics, University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - Yifei Gu
- Department of Physics, McGill University, 3600 University, Montreal Quebec, Canada H3A2T8
| | - Radin Tahvildari
- Department of Physics, McGill University, 3600 University, Montreal Quebec, Canada H3A2T8
| | - Zachary Friedenberger
- Department of Physics, McGill University, 3600 University, Montreal Quebec, Canada H3A2T8
| | - Xingqi Zhu
- Department of Physics, McGill University, 3600 University, Montreal Quebec, Canada H3A2T8
| | - Romain Berti
- Department of Physics, McGill University, 3600 University, Montreal Quebec, Canada H3A2T8
- Michael Smith Laboratories and Department of Physics, University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
- ScopeSys Inc., 33 Rue Prince, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3C 2M7
| | - Marty Kurylowicz
- Department of Physics, McGill University, 3600 University, Montreal Quebec, Canada H3A2T8
- ScopeSys Inc., 33 Rue Prince, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3C 2M7
| | - Dominik Witzigmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - Jayesh A Kulkarni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - Jerry Leung
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - John Andersson
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Andreas Dahlin
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Höök
- Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mark Sutton
- Department of Physics, McGill University, 3600 University, Montreal Quebec, Canada H3A2T8
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - Sabrina Leslie
- Department of Physics, McGill University, 3600 University, Montreal Quebec, Canada H3A2T8
- Department of Physics Astronomy, University of British Columbia, 6224 Agricultural Road, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z1
- Michael Smith Laboratories and Department of Physics, University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
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27
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Al Fayez N, Böttger R, Rouhollahi E, Cullis PR, Witzigmann D, Li SD. Improved Liver Delivery of Primaquine by Phospholipid-Free Small Unilamellar Vesicles with Reduced Hemolytic Toxicity. Mol Pharm 2021; 19:1778-1785. [PMID: 34546758 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.1c00520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Hemolytic toxicity caused by primaquine (PQ) is a high-risk condition that hampers the wide use of PQ to treat liver-stage malaria. This study demonstrated that phospholipid-free small unilamellar vesicles (PFSUVs) composed of Tween80 and cholesterol could encapsulate and deliver PQ to the hepatocytes with reduced exposure to the red blood cells (RBCs). Nonionic surfactant (Tween80) and cholesterol-forming SUVs with a mean diameter of 50 nm were fabricated for delivering PQ. Drug release/retention, drug uptake by RBCs, pharmacokinetics, and liver uptake of PFSUVs-PQ were evaluated in in vitro and in vivo models in comparison to free drugs. Additionally, the stress effect on RBCs induced by free PQ and PFSUVs-PQ was evaluated by examining RBC morphology. PFSUVs provided >95% encapsulation efficiency for PQ at a drug-to-lipid ratio of 1:20 (w/w) and stably retained the drug in the presence of serum. When incubated with RBCs, PQ uptake in the PFSUVs group was reduced by 4- to 8-folds compared to free PQ. As a result, free PQ induced significant RBC morphology changes, while PFSUVs-PQ showed no such adverse effect. Intravenously (i.v.) delivered PFSUVs-PQ produced a comparable plasma profile as free PQ, given i.v. and orally, while the liver uptake was increased by 4.8 and 1.6-folds, respectively, in mice. Within the liver, PFSUVs selectively targeted the hepatocytes, with no significant blood or liver toxicity in mice. PFSUVs effectively targeted PQ to the liver and reduced RBC uptake compared to free PQ, leading to reduced RBC toxicity. PFSUVs exhibited potential in improving the efficacy of PQ for treating liver-stage malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nojoud Al Fayez
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Roland Böttger
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Elham Rouhollahi
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada.,NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Dominik Witzigmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada.,NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Shyh-Dar Li
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada.,NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
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28
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van der Meel R, Chen S, Zaifman J, Kulkarni JA, Zhang XRS, Tam YK, Bally MB, Schiffelers RM, Ciufolini MA, Cullis PR, Tam YYC. Modular Lipid Nanoparticle Platform Technology for siRNA and Lipophilic Prodrug Delivery. Small 2021; 17:e2103025. [PMID: 34337865 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202103025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Successfully employing small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutics requires the use of nanotechnology for efficient intracellular delivery. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have enabled the approval of various nucleic acid therapeutics. A major advantage of LNPs is the interchangeability of its building blocks and RNA payload, which allow it to be a highly modular system. In addition, drug derivatization approaches can be used to synthesize lipophilic small molecule prodrugs that stably incorporate in LNPs. This provides ample opportunities to develop combination therapies by co-encapsulating multiple therapeutic agents in a single formulation. Here, it is described how the modular LNP platform is applied for combined gene silencing and chemotherapy to induce additive anticancer effects. It is shown that various lipophilic taxane prodrug derivatives and siRNA against the androgen receptor, a prostate cancer driver, can be efficiently and stably co-encapsulated in LNPs without compromising physicochemical properties or gene-silencing ability. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the combination therapy induces additive therapeutic effects in vitro. Using a double-radiolabeling approach, the pharmacokinetic properties and biodistribution of LNPs and prodrugs following systemic administration in tumor-bearing mice are quantitatively determined. These results indicate that co-encapsulating siRNA and lipophilic prodrugs into LNPs is an attractive and straightforward plug-and-play approach for combination therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy van der Meel
- Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584 CX, The Netherlands
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Sam Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Integrated Nanotherapeutics, Burnaby, BC, V5G 4X4, Canada
| | - Josh Zaifman
- Integrated Nanotherapeutics, Burnaby, BC, V5G 4X4, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Jayesh A Kulkarni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3N1, Canada
| | - Xu Ran S Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Ying K Tam
- Acuitas Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Marcel B Bally
- Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1L3, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z7, Canada
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Centre for Drug Research and Development, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Raymond M Schiffelers
- Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584 CX, The Netherlands
| | - Marco A Ciufolini
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- NanoMedicines Innovation Network, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Yuen Yi C Tam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Integrated Nanotherapeutics, Burnaby, BC, V5G 4X4, Canada
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29
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Kulkarni JA, Witzigmann D, Thomson SB, Chen S, Leavitt BR, Cullis PR, van der Meel R. Author Correction: The current landscape of nucleic acid therapeutics. Nat Nanotechnol 2021; 16:841. [PMID: 34194013 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-021-00937-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jayesh A Kulkarni
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- NanoMedicines Innovation Network, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- NanoVation Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Dominik Witzigmann
- NanoMedicines Innovation Network, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- NanoVation Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sarah B Thomson
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sam Chen
- Integrated Nanotherapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Blair R Leavitt
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- NanoMedicines Innovation Network, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Roy van der Meel
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
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30
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Tam A, Leclair P, Li LV, Yang CX, Li X, Witzigmann D, Kulkarni JA, Hackett TL, Dorscheid DR, Singhera GK, Hogg JC, Cullis PR, Sin DD, Lim CJ. FAM13A as potential therapeutic target in modulating TGF-β-induced airway tissue remodeling in COPD. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2021; 321:L377-L391. [PMID: 34105356 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00477.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies have shown that a gene variant in the Family with sequence similarity 13, member A (FAM13A) is strongly associated with reduced lung function and the appearance of respiratory symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A key player in smoking-induced tissue injury and airway remodeling is the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). To determine the role of FAM13A in TGF-β1 signaling, FAM13A-/- airway epithelial cells were generated using CRISPR-Cas9, whereas overexpression of FAM13A was achieved using lipid nanoparticles. Wild-type (WT) and FAM13A-/- cells were treated with TGF-β1, followed by gene and/or protein expression analyses. FAM13A-/- cells augmented TGF-β1-induced increase in collagen type 1 (COL1A1), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), expression compared with WT cells. This effect was mediated by an increase in β-catenin (CTNNB1) expression in FAM13A-/- cells compared with WT cells after TGF-β1 treatment. FAM13A overexpression was partially protective from TGF-β1-induced COL1A1 expression. Finally, we showed that airway epithelial-specific FAM13A protein expression is significantly increased in patients with severe COPD compared with control nonsmokers, and negatively correlated with lung function. In contrast, β-catenin (CTNNB1), which has previously been linked to be regulated by FAM13A, is decreased in the airway epithelium of smokers with COPD compared with non-COPD subjects. Together, our data showed that FAM13A may be protective from TGF-β1-induced fibrotic response in the airway epithelium via sequestering CTNNB1 from its regulation on downstream targets. Therapeutic increase in FAM13A expression in the airway epithelium of smokers at risk for COPD, and those with mild COPD, may reduce the extent of airway tissue remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Tam
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Center for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Pascal Leclair
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ling Vicky Li
- Department of Pathology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Chen X Yang
- Center for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Xuan Li
- Center for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Dominik Witzigmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,NanoMedicines Innovation Network, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jayesh A Kulkarni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,NanoMedicines Innovation Network, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Tillie-Louise Hackett
- Center for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Delbert R Dorscheid
- Center for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Gurpreet K Singhera
- Center for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - James C Hogg
- Center for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,NanoMedicines Innovation Network, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Don D Sin
- Center for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Chinten James Lim
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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31
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Kulkarni JA, Witzigmann D, Thomson SB, Chen S, Leavitt BR, Cullis PR, van der Meel R. The current landscape of nucleic acid therapeutics. Nat Nanotechnol 2021; 16:630-643. [PMID: 34059811 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-021-00898-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 465] [Impact Index Per Article: 155.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The increasing number of approved nucleic acid therapeutics demonstrates the potential to treat diseases by targeting their genetic blueprints in vivo. Conventional treatments generally induce therapeutic effects that are transient because they target proteins rather than underlying causes. In contrast, nucleic acid therapeutics can achieve long-lasting or even curative effects via gene inhibition, addition, replacement or editing. Their clinical translation, however, depends on delivery technologies that improve stability, facilitate internalization and increase target affinity. Here, we review four platform technologies that have enabled the clinical translation of nucleic acid therapeutics: antisense oligonucleotides, ligand-modified small interfering RNA conjugates, lipid nanoparticles and adeno-associated virus vectors. For each platform, we discuss the current state-of-the-art clinical approaches, explain the rationale behind its development, highlight technological aspects that facilitated clinical translation and provide an example of a clinically relevant genetic drug. In addition, we discuss how these technologies enable the development of cutting-edge genetic drugs, such as tissue-specific nucleic acid bioconjugates, messenger RNA and gene-editing therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayesh A Kulkarni
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- NanoMedicines Innovation Network, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- NanoVation Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Dominik Witzigmann
- NanoMedicines Innovation Network, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- NanoVation Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sarah B Thomson
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sam Chen
- Integrated Nanotherapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Blair R Leavitt
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- NanoMedicines Innovation Network, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Roy van der Meel
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
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32
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Vogler J, Böttger R, Al Fayez N, Zhang W, Qin Z, Hohenwarter L, Chao PH, Rouhollahi E, Bilal N, Chen N, Lee B, Chen C, Wilkinson B, Kieffer TJ, Kulkarni JA, Cullis PR, Witzigmann D, Li SD. Altering the intra-liver distribution of phospholipid-free small unilamellar vesicles using temperature-dependent size-tunability. J Control Release 2021; 333:151-161. [PMID: 33771624 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 08/29/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
We demonstrated that phospholipid-free small unilamellar vesicles (PFSUVs) composed of TWEEN 80 and cholesterol (25/75, mol%) could be fabricated using a staggered herringbone micromixer with precise controlling of their mean size between 54 nm and 147 nm. Increasing the temperature or decreasing the flow rate led to an increase in the resulting particle diameter. In zebrafish embryos, 120-nm PFSUVs showed 3-fold higher macrophage clearance compared to the 60-nm particles, which exhibited prolonged blood circulation. In mice, the 60-nm particles showed dominant accumulation in the liver hepatocytes (66% hepatocytes positive), while the 120-nm particles were delivered equally to the liver and spleen macrophages. Accordingly, in a murine model of acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity the 60-nm particles loaded with chlorpromazine reduced the serum alanine aminotransferase level and liver necrosis 2- to 4-fold more efficiently than their 120-nm counterparts and the free drug, respectively. This work showed that the intra-liver distribution of PFSUVs was largely determined by the size. Most other nanoparticles published to date are predominantly cleared by the liver Kupffer cells. The 60-nm PFSUVs, on the other hand, focused the delivery to the hepatocytes with significant advantages for the therapy of liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Vogler
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Roland Böttger
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Nojoud Al Fayez
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Wunan Zhang
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Zhu Qin
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Lukas Hohenwarter
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Po-Han Chao
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Elham Rouhollahi
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Nida Bilal
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Naliangzi Chen
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Brandon Lee
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Christine Chen
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Brayden Wilkinson
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Timothy J Kieffer
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jayesh A Kulkarni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada; NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada; NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Dominik Witzigmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada; NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Shyh-Dar Li
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada; NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Chander N, Morstein J, Bolten JS, Shemet A, Cullis PR, Trauner D, Witzigmann D. Optimized Photoactivatable Lipid Nanoparticles Enable Red Light Triggered Drug Release. Small 2021; 17:e2008198. [PMID: 33880882 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202008198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Encapsulation of small molecule drugs in long-circulating lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) can reduce toxic side effects and enhance accumulation at tumor sites. A fundamental problem, however, is the slow release of encapsulated drugs from these liposomal systems at the disease site resulting in limited therapeutic benefit. Methods to trigger release at specific sites are highly warranted. Here, it is demonstrated that incorporation of ultraviolet (UV-A) or red-light photoswitchable-phosphatidylcholine analogs (AzoPC and redAzoPC) in conventional LNPs generates photoactivatable LNPs (paLNPs) having comparable structural integrity, drug loading capacity, and size distribution to the parent DSPC-cholesterol liposomes. It is shown that 65-70% drug release (doxorubicin) can be induced from these systems by irradiation with pulsed light based on trans-to-cis azobenzene isomerization. In vitro it is confirmed that paLNPs are non-toxic in the dark but convey cytotoxicity upon irradiation in a human cancer cell line. In vivo studies in zebrafish embryos demonstrate prolonged blood circulation and extravasation of paLNPs comparable to clinically approved formulations, with enhanced drug release following irradiation with pulsed light. Conclusively, paLNPs closely mimic the properties of clinically approved LNPs with the added benefit of light-induced drug release making them promising candidates for clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha Chander
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Johannes Morstein
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, Room 712, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Jan S Bolten
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, Basel, 4056, Switzerland
| | - Andrej Shemet
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, Room 712, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Room 5451, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Dirk Trauner
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, Room 712, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Dominik Witzigmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Room 5451, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
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Henrickson A, Kulkarni JA, Zaifman J, Gorbet GE, Cullis PR, Demeler B. Density Matching Multi-wavelength Analytical Ultracentrifugation to Measure Drug Loading of Lipid Nanoparticle Formulations. ACS Nano 2021; 15:5068-5076. [PMID: 33617224 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c10069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Previous work suggested that lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations, encapsulating nucleic acids, display electron-dense morphology when examined by cryogenic-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). Critically, the employed cryo-TEM method cannot differentiate between loaded and empty LNP formulations. Clinically relevant formulations contain high lipid-to-nucleic acid ratios (10-25 (w/w)), and for systems that contain mRNA or DNA, it is anticipated that a substantial fraction of the LNP population does not contain a payload. Here, we present a method based on the global analysis of multi-wavelength sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation, using density matching with heavy water, that not only measures the standard sedimentation and diffusion coefficient distributions of LNP mixtures, but also reports the corresponding partial specific volume distributions and optically separates signal contributions from nucleic acid cargo and lipid shell. This makes it possible to reliably predict molar mass and anisotropy distributions, in particular, for systems that are heterogeneous in partial specific volume and have low to intermediate densities. Our method makes it possible to unambiguously measure the density of nanoparticles and is motivated by the need to characterize the extent to which lipid nanoparticles are loaded with nucleic acid cargoes. Since the densities of nucleic acids and lipids substantially differ, the measured density is directly proportional to the loading of nanoparticles. Hence, different loading levels will produce particles with variable density and partial specific volume. An UltraScan software module was developed to implement this approach for routine analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Henrickson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada T1K 3M4
| | - Jayesh A Kulkarni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z3
| | - Josh Zaifman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z3
| | | | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z3
| | - Borries Demeler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada T1K 3M4
- AUC Solutions, Houston, Texas 77494, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, United States
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35
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Terada T, Kulkarni JA, Huynh A, Chen S, van der Meel R, Tam YYC, Cullis PR. Characterization of Lipid Nanoparticles Containing Ionizable Cationic Lipids Using Design-of-Experiments Approach. Langmuir 2021; 37:1120-1128. [PMID: 33439022 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c03039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) containing short-interfering RNA (LNP-siRNA systems) are a promising approach for silencing disease-causing genes in hepatocytes following intravenous administration. LNP-siRNA systems are generated by rapid mixing of lipids in ethanol with siRNA in aqueous buffer (pH 4.0) where the ionizable lipid is positively charged, followed by dialysis to remove ethanol and to raise the pH to 7.4. Ionizable cationic lipids are the critical excipient in LNP systems as they drive entrapment and intracellular delivery. A recent study on the formation of LNP-siRNA systems suggested that ionizable cationic lipids segregate from other lipid components upon charge neutralization to form an amorphous oil droplet in the core of LNPs. This leads to a decrease in intervesicle electrostatic repulsion, thereby engendering fusion of small vesicles to form final LNPs of increased size. In this study, we prepared LNP-siRNA systems containing four lipid components (hydrogenated soy phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, PEG-lipid, and 1,2-dioleoyl-3-dimethylammonium propane) by microfluidic mixing. The effects of preparation parameters [lipid concentration, flow rate ratio (FRR), and total flow rate], dialysis process, and complex formation between siRNA and ionizable cationic lipids on the physicochemical properties [siRNA entrapment on the particle size and polydispersity index (PDI)] were investigated using a design of experiments approach. The results for the preparation parameters showed no impact on siRNA encapsulation, but lipid concentration and FRR significantly affected the particle size and PDI. In addition, the effect of FRR on the particle size was suppressed in the presence of anionic polymers such as siRNA as compared to the case of LNPs alone. More intriguingly, unlike empty LNPs, a decrease in the PDI and an increase in the particle size occurred after dialysis in the LNP-siRNA systems. Such changes by dialysis were suppressed at FRR = 1. These findings provide useful information to guide the development and manufacturing conditions for LNP-siRNA systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Terada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jayesh A Kulkarni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Ariel Huynh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Sam Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Roy van der Meel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Yuen Yi C Tam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
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36
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Morozko EL, Smith-Geater C, Monteys AM, Pradhan S, Lim RG, Langfelder P, Kachemov M, Kulkarni JA, Zaifman J, Hill A, Stocksdale JT, Cullis PR, Wu J, Ochaba J, Miramontes R, Chakraborty A, Hazra TK, Lau A, St-Cyr S, Orellana I, Kopan L, Wang KQ, Yeung S, Leavitt BR, Reidling JC, Yang XW, Steffan JS, Davidson BL, Sarkar PS, Thompson LM. PIAS1 modulates striatal transcription, DNA damage repair, and SUMOylation with relevance to Huntington's disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2021836118. [PMID: 33468657 PMCID: PMC7848703 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2021836118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [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] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA damage repair genes are modifiers of disease onset in Huntington's disease (HD), but how this process intersects with associated disease pathways remains unclear. Here we evaluated the mechanistic contributions of protein inhibitor of activated STAT-1 (PIAS1) in HD mice and HD patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and find a link between PIAS1 and DNA damage repair pathways. We show that PIAS1 is a component of the transcription-coupled repair complex, that includes the DNA damage end processing enzyme polynucleotide kinase-phosphatase (PNKP), and that PIAS1 is a SUMO E3 ligase for PNKP. Pias1 knockdown (KD) in HD mice had a normalizing effect on HD transcriptional dysregulation associated with synaptic function and disease-associated transcriptional coexpression modules enriched for DNA damage repair mechanisms as did reduction of PIAS1 in HD iPSC-derived neurons. KD also restored mutant HTT-perturbed enzymatic activity of PNKP and modulated genomic integrity of several transcriptionally normalized genes. The findings here now link SUMO modifying machinery to DNA damage repair responses and transcriptional modulation in neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva L Morozko
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Charlene Smith-Geater
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Alejandro Mas Monteys
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cell and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Subrata Pradhan
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555
| | - Ryan G Lim
- Institute of Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Peter Langfelder
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Marketta Kachemov
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Jayesh A Kulkarni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3
| | - Josh Zaifman
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z1
| | - Austin Hill
- Incisive Genetics Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada V6A 0H9
| | | | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3
- NanoMedicines Innovation Network, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Joseph Ochaba
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Ricardo Miramontes
- Institute of Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Anirban Chakraborty
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555
| | - Tapas K Hazra
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555
| | - Alice Lau
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Sophie St-Cyr
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cell and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Iliana Orellana
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Institute, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Lexi Kopan
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Keona Q Wang
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Sylvia Yeung
- Institute of Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Blair R Leavitt
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 4H4
| | - Jack C Reidling
- Institute of Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - X William Yang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Joan S Steffan
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
- Institute of Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Beverly L Davidson
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cell and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Partha S Sarkar
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555
| | - Leslie M Thompson
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697;
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
- Institute of Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Institute, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
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37
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Kulkarni JA, Thomson SB, Zaifman J, Leung J, Wagner PK, Hill A, Tam YYC, Cullis PR, Petkau TL, Leavitt BR. Spontaneous, solvent-free entrapment of siRNA within lipid nanoparticles. Nanoscale 2020; 12:23959-23966. [PMID: 33241838 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr06816k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations of nucleic acid are leading vaccine candidates for COVID-19, and enabled the first approved RNAi therapeutic, Onpattro. LNPs are composed of ionizable cationic lipids, phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-lipids, and are produced using rapid-mixing techniques. These procedures involve dissolution of the lipid components in an organic phase and the nucleic acid in an acidic aqueous buffer (pH 4). These solutions are then combined using a continuous mixing device such as a T-mixer or microfluidic device. In this mixing step, particle formation and nucleic acid entrapment occur. Previous work from our group has shown that, in the absence of nucleic acid, the particles formed at pH 4 are vesicular in structure, a portion of these particles are converted to electron-dense structures in the presence of nucleic acid, and the proportion of electron-dense structures increases with nucleic acid content. What remained unclear from previous work was the mechanism by which vesicles form electron-dense structures. In this study, we use cryogenic transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering to show that efficient siRNA entrapment occurs in the absence of ethanol (contrary to the established paradigm), and suggest that nucleic acid entrapment occurs through inversion of preformed vesicles. We also leverage this phenomenon to show that specialized mixers are not required for siRNA entrapment, and that preformed particles at pH 4 can be used for in vitro transfection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayesh A Kulkarni
- NanoMedicines Innovation Network, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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38
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Abstract
Gene therapy holds great potential for treating almost any disease by gene silencing, protein expression, or gene correction. To efficiently deliver the nucleic acid payload to its target tissue, the genetic material needs to be combined with a delivery platform. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have proven to be excellent delivery vectors for gene therapy and are increasingly entering into routine clinical practice. Over the past two decades, the optimization of LNP formulations for nucleic acid delivery has led to a well-established body of knowledge culminating in the first-ever RNA interference therapeutic using LNP technology, i.e., Onpattro, and many more in clinical development to deliver various nucleic acid payloads. Screening a lipid library in vivo for optimal gene silencing potency in hepatocytes resulted in the identification of the Onpattro formulation. Subsequent studies discovered that the key to Onpattro's liver tropism is its ability to form a specific "biomolecular corona". In fact, apolipoprotein E (ApoE), among other proteins, adsorbed to the LNP surface enables specific hepatocyte targeting. This proof-of-principle example demonstrates the use of the biomolecular corona for targeting specific receptors and cells, thereby opening up the road to rationally designing LNPs. To date, however, only a few studies have explored in detail the corona of LNPs, and how to efficiently modulate the corona remains poorly understood. In this review, we summarize recent discoveries about the biomolecular corona, expanding the knowledge gained with other nanoparticles to LNPs for nucleic acid delivery. In particular, we address how particle stability, biodistribution, and targeting of LNPs can be influenced by the biological environment. Onpattro is used as a case study to describe both the successful development of an LNP formulation for gene therapy and the key influence of the biological environment. Moreover, we outline the techniques available to isolate and analyze the corona of LNPs, and we highlight their advantages and drawbacks. Finally, we discuss possible implications of the biomolecular corona for LNP delivery and we examine the potential of exploiting the corona as a targeting strategy beyond the liver to develop next-generation gene therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Francia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Raymond M Schiffelers
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), University of British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Dominik Witzigmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), University of British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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39
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Ramezanpour M, Schmidt ML, Bashe BYM, Pruim JR, Link ML, Cullis PR, Harper PE, Thewalt JL, Tieleman DP. Structural Properties of Inverted Hexagonal Phase: A Hybrid Computational and Experimental Approach. Langmuir 2020; 36:6668-6680. [PMID: 32437159 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c00600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Inverted/reverse hexagonal (HII) phases are of special interest in several fields of research, including nanomedicine. We used molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to study HII systems composed of dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) and palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (POPE) at several hydration levels and temperatures. The effect of the hydration level on several HII structural parameters, including deuterium order parameters, was investigated. We further used MD simulations to estimate the maximum hydrations of DOPE and POPE HII lattices at several given temperatures. Finally, the effect of acyl chain unsaturation degree on the HII structure was studied via comparing the DOPE with POPE HII systems. In addition to MD simulations, we used deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance (2H NMR) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments to measure the DOPE acyl chain order parameters, lattice plane distances, and the water core radius in HII phase DOPE samples at several temperatures in the presence of excess water. Structural parameters calculated from MD simulations are in excellent agreement with the experimental data. Dehydration decreases the radius of the water core. An increase in hydration level slightly increased the deuterium order parameter of lipids acyl chains, whereas an increase in temperature decreased it. Lipid cylinders undulated along the cylinder axis as a function of hydration level. The maximum hydration levels of PE HII phases at different temperatures were successfully predicted by MD simulations based on a single experimental measurement for the lattice plane distance in the presence of excess water. An increase in temperature decreases the maximum hydration and consequently the radius of the water core and lattice plane distances. Finally, DOPE formed HII structures with a higher curvature compared to POPE, as expected. We propose a general protocol for constructing computational HII systems that correspond to the experimental systems. This protocol could be used to study HII systems composed of molecules other than the PE systems used here and to improve and validate force field parameters by using the target data in the HII phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ramezanpour
- Centre for Molecular Simulation, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - M L Schmidt
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - B Y M Bashe
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - J R Pruim
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Calvin University, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546, United States
| | - M L Link
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Calvin University, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546, United States
| | - P R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - P E Harper
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Calvin University, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546, United States
| | - J L Thewalt
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
- Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - D P Tieleman
- Centre for Molecular Simulation, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
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Roberts ME, Barvalia M, Silva JAFD, Cederberg RA, Chu W, Wong A, Tai DC, Chen S, Matos I, Priatel JJ, Cullis PR, Harder KW. Deep Phenotyping by Mass Cytometry and Single-Cell RNA-Sequencing Reveals LYN-Regulated Signaling Profiles Underlying Monocyte Subset Heterogeneity and Lifespan. Circ Res 2020; 126:e61-e79. [PMID: 32151196 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.119.315708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Monocytes are key effectors of the mononuclear phagocyte system, playing critical roles in regulating tissue homeostasis and coordinating inflammatory reactions, including those involved in chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis. Monocytes have traditionally been divided into 2 major subsets termed conventional monocytes and patrolling monocytes (pMo) but recent systems immunology approaches have identified marked heterogeneity within these cells, and much of what regulates monocyte population homeostasis remains unknown. We and others have previously identified LYN tyrosine kinase as a key negative regulator of myeloid cell biology; however, LYN's role in regulating specific monocyte subset homeostasis has not been investigated. OBJECTIVE We sought to comprehensively profile monocytes to elucidate the underlying heterogeneity within monocytes and dissect how Lyn deficiency affects monocyte subset composition, signaling, and gene expression. We further tested the biological significance of these findings in a model of atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS Mass cytometric analysis of monocyte subsets and signaling pathway activation patterns in conventional monocytes and pMos revealed distinct baseline signaling profiles and far greater heterogeneity than previously described. Lyn deficiency led to a selective expansion of pMos and alterations in specific signaling pathways within these cells, revealing a critical role for LYN in pMo physiology. LYN's role in regulating pMos was cell-intrinsic and correlated with an increased circulating half-life of Lyn-deficient pMos. Furthermore, single-cell RNA sequencing revealed marked perturbations in the gene expression profiles of Lyn-/- monocytes with upregulation of genes involved in pMo development, survival, and function. Lyn deficiency also led to a significant increase in aorta-associated pMos and protected Ldlr-/- mice from high-fat diet-induced atherosclerosis. CONCLUSIONS Together our data identify LYN as a key regulator of pMo development and a potential therapeutic target in inflammatory diseases regulated by pMos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan E Roberts
- From the Department of Microbiology and Immunology (M.E.R., M.B., J.A.F.D.S., R.A.C., W.C., A.W., I.M., K.W.H.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Maunish Barvalia
- From the Department of Microbiology and Immunology (M.E.R., M.B., J.A.F.D.S., R.A.C., W.C., A.W., I.M., K.W.H.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jessica A F D Silva
- From the Department of Microbiology and Immunology (M.E.R., M.B., J.A.F.D.S., R.A.C., W.C., A.W., I.M., K.W.H.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Rachel A Cederberg
- From the Department of Microbiology and Immunology (M.E.R., M.B., J.A.F.D.S., R.A.C., W.C., A.W., I.M., K.W.H.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - William Chu
- From the Department of Microbiology and Immunology (M.E.R., M.B., J.A.F.D.S., R.A.C., W.C., A.W., I.M., K.W.H.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Amanda Wong
- From the Department of Microbiology and Immunology (M.E.R., M.B., J.A.F.D.S., R.A.C., W.C., A.W., I.M., K.W.H.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Daven C Tai
- Department of Pediatrics (D.C.T.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada (D.C.T., J.J.P.)
| | - Sam Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (S.C., P.R.C.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Israel Matos
- From the Department of Microbiology and Immunology (M.E.R., M.B., J.A.F.D.S., R.A.C., W.C., A.W., I.M., K.W.H.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - John J Priatel
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (J.J.P.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada (D.C.T., J.J.P.)
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (S.C., P.R.C.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Kenneth W Harder
- From the Department of Microbiology and Immunology (M.E.R., M.B., J.A.F.D.S., R.A.C., W.C., A.W., I.M., K.W.H.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Witzigmann D, Kulkarni JA, Leung J, Chen S, Cullis PR, van der Meel R. Lipid nanoparticle technology for therapeutic gene regulation in the liver. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2020; 159:344-363. [PMID: 32622021 PMCID: PMC7329694 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2020.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Hereditary genetic disorders, cancer, and infectious diseases of the liver affect millions of people around the globe and are a major public health burden. Most contemporary treatments offer limited relief as they generally aim to alleviate disease symptoms. Targeting the root cause of diseases originating in the liver by regulating malfunctioning genes with nucleic acid-based drugs holds great promise as a therapeutic approach. However, employing nucleic acid therapeutics in vivo is challenging due to their unfavorable characteristics. Lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery technology is a revolutionary development that has enabled clinical translation of gene therapies. LNPs can deliver siRNA, mRNA, DNA, or gene-editing complexes, providing opportunities to treat hepatic diseases by silencing pathogenic genes, expressing therapeutic proteins, or correcting genetic defects. Here we discuss the state-of-the-art LNP technology for hepatic gene therapy including formulation design parameters, production methods, preclinical development and clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Witzigmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jayesh A. Kulkarni
- NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Evonik Canada, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jerry Leung
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sam Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Integrated Nanotherapeutics, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Pieter R. Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Corresponding author
| | - Roy van der Meel
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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Akinc A, Maier MA, Manoharan M, Fitzgerald K, Jayaraman M, Barros S, Ansell S, Du X, Hope MJ, Madden TD, Mui BL, Semple SC, Tam YK, Ciufolini M, Witzigmann D, Kulkarni JA, van der Meel R, Cullis PR. The Onpattro story and the clinical translation of nanomedicines containing nucleic acid-based drugs. Nat Nanotechnol 2019; 14:1084-1087. [PMID: 31802031 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-019-0591-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 678] [Impact Index Per Article: 135.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Akin Akinc
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Xinyao Du
- Acuitas Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Ying K Tam
- Acuitas Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Pieter R Cullis
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- NanoMedicines Innovation Network, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Uhl P, Grundmann C, Sauter M, Storck P, Tursch A, Özbek S, Leotta K, Roth R, Witzigmann D, Kulkarni JA, Fidelj V, Kleist C, Cullis PR, Fricker G, Mier W. Coating of PLA-nanoparticles with cyclic, arginine-rich cell penetrating peptides enables oral delivery of liraglutide. Nanomedicine 2019; 24:102132. [PMID: 31783138 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2019.102132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Until today, the oral delivery of peptide drugs is hampered due to their instability in the gastrointestinal tract and low mucosal penetration. To overcome these hurdles, PLA (polylactide acid)-nanoparticles were coated with a cyclic, polyarginine-rich, cell penetrating peptide (cyclic R9-CPP). These surface-modified nanoparticles showed a size and polydispersity index comparable to standard PLA-nanoparticles. The zeta potential showed a significant increase indicating successful CPP-coupling to the surface of the nanoparticles. Cryo-EM micrographs confirmed the appropriate size and morphology of the modified nanoparticles. A high encapsulation efficiency of liraglutide could be achieved. In vitro tests using Caco-2 cells showed high viability indicating the tolerability of this novel formulation. A strongly enhanced mucosal binding and penetration was demonstrated by a Caco-2 binding and uptake assay. In Wistar rats, the novel nanoparticles showed a substantial, 4.5-fold increase in the oral bioavailability of liraglutide revealing great potential for the oral delivery of peptide drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Uhl
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - C Grundmann
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - M Sauter
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - P Storck
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - A Tursch
- University of Heidelberg, Centre for Organismal Studies, Department of Molecular Evolution and Genomics, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - S Özbek
- University of Heidelberg, Centre for Organismal Studies, Department of Molecular Evolution and Genomics, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - K Leotta
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - R Roth
- Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - D Witzigmann
- Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - J A Kulkarni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - V Fidelj
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Ruprecht-Karls University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - C Kleist
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - P R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - G Fricker
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Ruprecht-Karls University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - W Mier
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Kulkarni JA, Witzigmann D, Leung J, Tam YYC, Cullis PR. On the role of helper lipids in lipid nanoparticle formulations of siRNA. Nanoscale 2019; 11:21733-21739. [PMID: 31713568 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr09347h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Onpattro, the first RNAi-based therapeutic to receive FDA approval, is enabled by a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) system that facilitates siRNA delivery into the cytoplasm of target cells (hepatocytes) following intravenous (i.v.) administration. These LNP-siRNA systems consist of four lipid components (ionizable cationic lipid, distearolyphosphatidycholine or DSPC, cholesterol, and PEG-lipid) and siRNA. The ionizable cationic lipid has been optimised for RNA encapsulation and intracellular delivery, and the PEG-lipids have been engineered to regulate LNP size and transfection potency. The roles of the other "helper" lipids, DSPC and cholesterol, remain less clear. Here we show that in empty LNP systems that do not contain siRNA, DSPC-cholesterol resides in outer layers, whereas in loaded systems a portion of the DSPC-cholesterol is internalised together with siRNA. It is concluded that the presence of internalised helper lipid is vital to the stable encapsulation of siRNA in the LNP and thus to LNP-siRNA function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayesh A Kulkarni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaV6T 1Z3.
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Zhang W, Böttger R, Qin Z, Kulkarni JA, Vogler J, Cullis PR, Li SD. Phospholipid-Free Small Unilamellar Vesicles for Drug Targeting to Cells in the Liver. Small 2019; 15:e1901782. [PMID: 31490617 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201901782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
It is reported that cholesterol (Chol) and TWEEN 80 at a molar ratio of 5:1 can form small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) using a staggered herringbone micromixer. These phospholipid-free SUVs (PFSUVs) can be actively loaded with a model drug for targeting hepatocytes via the endogenous apolipoprotein mechanism. PFSUVs particles with compositions of Chol:TWEEN 80 ranging between 1.5:1 and 5:1 (mol/mol) can be produced with a mean diameter of ≈80 nm, but only the high-Chol formulations (3:1 and 5:1) can retain a transmembrane gradient of ammonium sulfate for active loading of doxorubicin (DOX). Under cryo-transmission electron microscopy, PFSUVs-DOX displays a unilamellar bilayer structure with DOX molecules forming spindle-shape aggregates inside the aqueous core. Relative to PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) that exhibits little interaction with cells in various conditions, the cellular uptake of PFSUVs-DOX is dependent on the presence of serum and enhanced with an increased concentration of apolipoproteins. After intravenous injection, the vast majority of PFSUVs-DOX accumulates in the liver and DOX is detected in all liver cells (predominantly the hepatocytes), while PLD is captured only by the sinusoidal cells (i.e., macrophages). This report discloses an innovative lipid bilayer vesicle for highly efficient and selective hepatocyte targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wunan Zhang
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Roland Böttger
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Zhu Qin
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jayesh A Kulkarni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Julian Vogler
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Shyh-Dar Li
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada
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Abstract
Delivering nucleic acid-based therapeutics to cells is an attractive approach to target the genetic cause of various diseases. In contrast to conventional small molecule drugs that target gene products (i.e., proteins), genetic drugs induce therapeutic effects by modulating gene expression. Gene silencing, the process whereby protein production is prevented by neutralizing its mRNA template, is a potent strategy to induce therapeutic effects in a highly precise manner. Importantly, gene silencing has broad potential as theoretically any disease-causing gene can be targeted. It was demonstrated two decades ago that introducing synthetic small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) into the cytoplasm results in specific degradation of complementary mRNA via a process called RNA interference (RNAi). Since then, significant efforts and investments have been made to exploit RNAi therapeutically and advance siRNA drugs to the clinic. Utilizing (unmodified) siRNA as a therapeutic, however, is challenging due to its limited bioavailability following systemic administration. Nuclease activity and renal filtration result in siRNA's rapid clearance from the circulation and its administration induces (innate) immune responses. Furthermore, siRNA's unfavorable physicochemical characteristics largely prevent its diffusion across cellular membranes, impeding its ability to reach the cytoplasm where it can engage the RNAi machinery. The clinical translation of siRNA therapeutics has therefore been dependent on chemical modifications and developing sophisticated delivery platforms to improve their stability, limit immune activation, facilitate internalization, and increase target affinity. These developments have resulted in last year's approval of the first siRNA therapeutic, called Onpattro (patisiran), for treatment of hereditary amyloidogenic transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis. This disease is characterized by a mutation in the gene encoding TTR, a serum protein that transports retinol in circulation following secretion by the liver. The mutation leads to production of misfolded proteins that deposit as amyloid fibrils in multiple organs, resulting in progressive neurodegeneration. Patisiran's therapeutic effect relies on siRNA-mediated TTR gene silencing, preventing mutant protein production and halting or even reversing disease progression. For efficient therapeutic siRNA delivery to hepatocytes, patisiran is critically dependent on lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology. In this Account, we provide an overview of key advances that have been crucial for developing LNP delivery technology, and we explain how these developments have contributed to the clinical translation of siRNA therapeutics for parenteral administration. We discuss optimization of the LNP formulation, particularly focusing on the rational design of ionizable cationic lipids and poly(ethylene glycol) lipids. These components have proven to be instrumental for highly efficient siRNA encapsulation, favorable LNP pharmacokinetic parameters, and hepatocyte internalization. Additionally, we pay attention to the development of rapid mixing-based methods that provide robust and scalable LNP production procedures. Finally, we highlight patisiran's clinical translation and LNP delivery technology's potential to enable the development of genetic drugs beyond the current state-of-the-art, such as mRNA and gene editing therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayesh A. Kulkarni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Dominik Witzigmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Sam Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Integrated Nanotherapeutics, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Pieter R. Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Roy van der Meel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht 3584 CX, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven 5612 AE, The Netherlands
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Hamano N, Böttger R, Lee SE, Yang Y, Kulkarni JA, Ip S, Cullis PR, Li SD. Robust Microfluidic Technology and New Lipid Composition for Fabrication of Curcumin-Loaded Liposomes: Effect on the Anticancer Activity and Safety of Cisplatin. Mol Pharm 2019; 16:3957-3967. [PMID: 31381352 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.9b00583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Curcumin exhibits potent anticancer activity via various mechanisms, but its in vivo efficacy has been hampered by poor solubility. Nanotechnology has been employed to deliver curcumin, but most of the reported systems suffered from low drug loading capacity and poor stability. Here, we report the development and optimization of a liposomal formulation for curcumin (Lipo-Cur) using an automated microfluidic technology. Lipo-Cur exhibited a mean diameter of 120 nm with a low polydispersity index (<0.2) and superior loading capacity (17 wt %) compared to other reported liposomal systems. Lipo-Cur increased the water solubility of curcumin by 700-fold, leading to 8-20-fold increased systemic exposure compared to the standard curcumin suspension formulation. When coadministered with cisplatin to tumor-bearing mice, Lipo-Cur augmented the antitumor efficacy of cisplatin in multiple mouse tumor models and decreased the nephrotoxicity. This is the first report demonstrating the dual effects of curcumin enabled by a nanoformulation in enhancing the efficacy and reducing the toxicity of a chemo-drug in animal models under a single and low dose administration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Shell Ip
- Precision NanoSystems Inc , Vancouver , British Columbia V6P 6T7 , Canada
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Ramezanpour M, Schmidt ML, Bodnariuc I, Kulkarni JA, Leung SSW, Cullis PR, Thewalt JL, Tieleman DP. Ionizable amino lipid interactions with POPC: implications for lipid nanoparticle function. Nanoscale 2019; 11:14141-14146. [PMID: 31334542 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr02297j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) composed of ionizable cationic lipids are currently the leading systems for siRNA delivery in liver disease, with the major limitation of low siRNA release efficacy into the cytoplasm. Ionizable cationic lipids are known to be of critical importance in LNP structure and stability, siRNA entrapment, and endosomal disruption. However, their distribution inside the LNPs and their exact role in cytoplasmic delivery remain unclear. A recent study [Kulkarni et al., On the formation and morphology of lipid nanoparticles containing ionizable cationic lipids and siRNA, ACS Nano, 2018, 12(5), 4787-4795] on LNP-siRNA systems containing the ionizable lipid DLin-KC2-DMA (also known as KC2 with an apparent pKa of ca. 6.7) suggested that neutral KC2 segregates from other components and forms an amorphous oil droplet in the core of LNPs. In this paper, we present evidence supporting the model proposed by Kulkarni et al. We studied KC2 segregation in the presence of POPC using molecular dynamics simulation, deuterium NMR, SAXS, and cryo-TEM experiments, and found that neutral KC2 has a high tendency to separate from POPC dispersions. KC2 confinement, upon raising the pH during the formulation process, could result in rearrangement of the internal structure of LNPs. As interactions between cationic KC2 and anionic endosomal lipids are thought to be a key factor in cargo release, KC2 confinement inside the LNP may be responsible for the observed low release efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ramezanpour
- Centre for Molecular Simulation, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
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Kulkarni JA, Witzigmann D, Leung J, van der Meel R, Zaifman J, Darjuan MM, Grisch-Chan HM, Thöny B, Tam YYC, Cullis PR. Fusion-dependent formation of lipid nanoparticles containing macromolecular payloads. Nanoscale 2019; 11:9023-9031. [PMID: 31021343 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr02004g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The success of Onpattro™ (patisiran) clearly demonstrates the utility of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) systems for enabling gene therapies. These systems are composed of ionizable cationic lipids, phospholipid, cholesterol, and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-lipids, and are produced through rapid-mixing of an ethanolic-lipid solution with an acidic aqueous solution followed by dialysis into neutralizing buffer. A detailed understanding of the mechanism of LNP formation is crucial to improving LNP design. Here we use cryogenic transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence techniques to further demonstrate that LNP are formed through the fusion of precursor, pH-sensitive liposomes into large electron-dense core structures as the pH is neutralized. Next, we show that the fusion process is limited by the accumulation of PEG-lipid on the emerging particle. Finally, we show that the fusion-dependent mechanism of formation also applies to LNP containing macromolecular payloads including mRNA, DNA vectors, and gold nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayesh A Kulkarni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z3.
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Abstract
Gene therapy is a promising strategy for the treatment of monogenic disorders. Non-viral gene delivery systems including lipid-based DNA therapeutics offer the opportunity to deliver an encoding gene sequence specifically to the target tissue and thus enable the expression of therapeutic proteins in diseased cells. Currently, available gene delivery approaches based on DNA are inefficient and require improvements to achieve clinical utility. In this Review, we discuss state-of-the-art lipid-based DNA delivery systems that have been investigated in a preclinical setting. We emphasize factors influencing the delivery and subsequent gene expression in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. In addition, we cover aspects of nanoparticle engineering and optimization for DNA therapeutics. Finally, we highlight achievements of lipid-based DNA therapies in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Buck
- Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Basel , Klingelbergstrasse 50 , 4056 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Philip Grossen
- Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Basel , Klingelbergstrasse 50 , 4056 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Pieter R Cullis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , University of British Columbia , 2350 Health Sciences Mall , Vancouver , British Columbia V6T 1Z3 , Canada
| | - Jörg Huwyler
- Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Basel , Klingelbergstrasse 50 , 4056 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Dominik Witzigmann
- Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Basel , Klingelbergstrasse 50 , 4056 Basel , Switzerland
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , University of British Columbia , 2350 Health Sciences Mall , Vancouver , British Columbia V6T 1Z3 , Canada
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