The role of dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine in cationic liposome mediated gene transfer

Formation of divalent ion mediated anionic disc bicelle-DNA complexes

Disc-shaped bicelles are formed by mixing long-chain lipids with short-chain lipids at suitable molar ratios and they have a relatively uniform size, typically around a few tens of nanometers in diameter. Different from the typically formulated cationic or anionic liposome–DNA complexes, which are used as nonviral vectors for improving the transfection efficiency of gene therapy, a novel way of packing the DNA can be developed by using the much smaller disc-like bicelles. We demonstrate that anionic lipid bicelle-ion–DNA (AB–DNA) complexes can be formed with the help of divalent ions. Multi-stacked AB–DNA complexes can be formed with diameters of around 50–100 nm and lengths of around 50–150 nm as revealed by TEM. Using the anionic lipid–DNA complexes has the advantage of lower cytotoxicity than using cationic lipids. The interaction of DNA with anionic bicelles was investigated by SAXS. It was found that the anionic bicelle could not form stable complexes with DNA at low calcium ion concentrations, such as 1 mM. The AB–DNA complexes can be formed in the investigated range of 10 mM to 100 mM calcium ion concentrations. However, for an equal anionic lipid charge and DNA charge system, an ion-membrane phase (multilamellar vesicles) would gradually appear as the calcium ion concentration is increased above a critical concentration. It indicates that DNA could be packed closer at above the critical divalent ion concentration. If more DNA is added to such a two-phase coexistence system (originally with the total anionic lipid charge equal to that of DNA), the ion-membrane phase could be transformed into the AB–DNA complexes. As a result, more DNA can be packed in the form of AB–DNA complexes at above the critical calcium ion concentration.

Modulation of pyridinium cationic lipid-DNA complex properties by pyridinium gemini surfactants and its impact on lipoplex transfection properties

The study presents the effects of blending a cationic gemini surfactant into cationic lipid bilayers and its impact on the plasmid DNA compaction and delivery process. Using nanoDSC, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, and electrophoretic mobility measurements, together with transfection (2D- and 3D-) and viability assays, we identified the main physicochemical parameters of the lipid bilayers, liposomes, and lipoplexes that are affected by the gemini surfactant addition. We also correlated the cationic bilayer composition with the dynamics of the DNA compaction process and with transfection efficiency, cytotoxicity, and the internalization mechanism of the resultant nucleic acid complexes. We found that the blending of gemini surfactant into the cationic bilayers fluidized the supramolecular assemblies, reduced the amount of positive charge required to fully compact the plasmid DNA and, in certain cases, changed the internalization mechanism of the lipoplexes. The transfection efficiency of select ternary lipoplexes derived from cationic gemini surfactants and lipids was several times superior to the transfection efficiency of corresponding binary lipoplexes, also surpassing standard transfection systems. The overall impact of gemini surfactants into the formation and dynamic of cationic bilayers was found to depend heavily on the presence of colipids, their nature, and amount present in lipoplexes. The study confirmed the possibility of combining the specific properties of pyridinium gemini surfactants and cationic lipids synergistically to obtain efficient synthetic transfection systems with negligible cytotoxicity useful for therapeutic gene delivery.

Nanopreparations for organelle-specific delivery in cancer

To efficiently deliver therapeutics into cancer cells, a number of strategies have been recently investigated. The toxicity associated with the administration of chemotherapeutic drugs due to their random interactions throughout the body necessitates the development of drug-encapsulating nanopreparations that significantly mask, or reduce, the toxic side effects of the drugs. In addition to reduced side effects associated with drug encapsulation, nanocarriers preferentially accumulate in tumors as a result of its abnormally leaky vasculature via the Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect. However, simple passive nanocarrier delivery to the tumor site is unlikely to be enough to elicit a maximum therapeutic response as the drug-loaded carriers must reach the intracellular target sites. Therefore, efficient translocation of the nanocarrier through the cell membrane is necessary for cytosolic delivery of the cargo. However, crossing the cell membrane barrier and reaching cytosol might still not be enough for achieving maximum therapeutic benefit, which necessitates the delivery of drugs directly to intracellular targets, such as bringing pro-apoptotic drugs to mitochondria, nucleic acid therapeutics to nuclei, and lysosomal enzymes to defective lysosomes. In this review, we discuss the strategies developed for tumor targeting, cytosolic delivery via cell membrane translocation, and finally organelle-specific targeting, which may be applied for developing highly efficacious, truly multifunctional, cancer-targeted nanopreparations.

Stimuli-responsive polymers in gene delivery

Recent interest in clinical therapy has been directed to deliver nucleic acids (DNA, RNA or short-chain oligonucleotides) that alter gene expression within a specific cell population, thereby manipulating cellular processes and responses, which in turn stimulate immune responses or tissue regeneration, or blocks expression at the level of transcription or translation for treatment of several diseases. Both ex vivo and in vivo gene delivery can be achieved mostly by using a delivery system (vector). Viral vectors exhibit high gene expression, but also have very significant side effects. Mainly cationic polymeric systems are used as nonviral vectors, although usually with low levels of transfection. Through the use of stimuli-responsive polymers as novel vectors for gene delivery, two benefits can be obtained: high gene expression efficiency and more selective gene expression.

Cationic amino acid based lipids as effective nonviral gene delivery vectors for primary cultured neurons

The delivery of specific genes into neurons offers a potent approach for treatment of diseases as well as for the study of neuronal cell biology. Here we investigated the capabilities of cationic amino acid based lipid assemblies to act as nonviral gene delivery vectors in primary cultured neurons. An arginine-based lipid, Arg-C3-Glu2C14, and a lysine-based lipid, Lys-C3-Glu2C14, with two different types of counterion, chloride ion (Cl-) and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA-), were shown to successfully mediate transfection of primary cultured neurons with plasmid DNA encoding green fluorescent protein. Among four types of lipids, we optimized their conditions such as the lipid-to-DNA ratio and the amount of pDNA and conducted a cytotoxicity assay at the same time. Overall, Arg-C3-Glu2C14 with TFA- induced a rate of transfection in primary cultured neurons higher than that of Lys-C3-Glu2C14 using an optimal weight ratio of lipid-to-plasmid DNA of 1. Moreover, it was suggested that Arg-C3-Glu2C14 with TFA- showed the optimized value higher than that of Lipofectamine2000 in experimental conditions. Thus, Arg-C3-Glu2C14 with TFA- is a promising candidate as a reliable transfection reagent for primary cultured neurons with a relatively low cytotoxicity.

Molecular imaging and pharmacokinetics of (99m) Tc-hTERT antisense oligonucleotide as a potential tumor imaging probe

Targeting and visualization of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) represents a promising approach for providing diagnostic value. The uptake kinetics and imaging results of (99m) Tc-hTERT antisense oligonucleotides (ASON) in hTERT-expressing cells were examined in vitro and in vivo. The pharmacokinetics and acute toxicity studies of (99m) Tc-hTERT ASON were also performed. The labeling efficiencies of radiolabeled oligonucleotide reached 76 ± 5%, the specific activity was up to 1850 kBq/µg, and the radiochemical purity was above 96%. Radioactivity accumulated to a higher concentration in hTERT-expressing cells with antisense probe than with sense control (p < 0.05). Lipid carrier incorporation significantly increased the transmembrane delivery of radiolabeled probes (p < 0.05). hTERT-expressing xenografts in nude mice were clearly visualized at 6 h postinjection of the antisense probe but not the sense control probe. However, liposome did not increase the radioactivity accumulation of probes in tumors for either antisense or sense probe (p > 0.05). Radioactivity counts per minute versus time profiles for (99m) Tc-hTERT ASON were biphasic, indicative of a three-compartment model. The pharmacokinetics parameters of half-life of distribution (T1/2α ), half-life of elimination (T1/2β ), total apparent volume of distribution (Vd), and total rate of clearance were 2.04 ± 0.48 min, 24 ± 4.8 min, 109.83 ± 17.20 mL, and 3.19 ± 0.17 mL/min, respectively. The acute toxicity study results showed the safe application of (99m) Tc-hTERT ASON in vivo. This study provides further evidences that (99m) Tc-hTERT ASON should be developed as a safe, potential molecular image-guided diagnostic agent.

Aspects of nonviral gene therapy: correlation of molecular parameters with lipoplex structure and transfection efficacy in pyridinium-based cationic lipids

This study seeks correlations between the molecular structures of cationic and neutral lipids, the lipid phase behavior of the mixed-lipid lipoplexes they form with plasmid DNA, and the transfection efficacy of the lipoplexes. Synthetic cationic pyridinium lipids were co-formulated (1:1) with the cationic lipid 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-ethylphosphocholine (EPC), and these lipids were co-formulated (3:2) with the neutral lipids 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) or cholesterol. All lipoplex formulations exhibited plasmid DNA binding and a level of protection from DNase I degradation. Composition-dependent transfection (beta-galactosidase and GFP) and cytotoxicity was observed in Chinese hamster ovarian-K1 cells. The most active formulations containing the pyridinium lipids were less cytotoxic but of comparable activity to a Lipofectamine 2000™ control. Molecular structure parameters and partition coefficients were calculated for all lipids using fragment additive methods. The derived shape parameter values correctly correlated with observed hexagonal lipid phase behavior of lipoplexes as derived from small-angle X-ray scattering experiments. A transfection index applicable to hexagonal phase lipoplexes derived from calculated parameters of the lipid mixture (partition coefficient, shape parameter, lipoplex packing) produced a direct correlation with transfection efficiency.

Improving cellular uptake and in vivo tumor suppression efficacy of liposomal oligonucleotides by urea as a chemical penetration enhancer

BACKGROUND

Liposomes are among the most widely used carriers for the delivery of antisense oligonucleotides (AsODNs) to intracellular targets. Although different strategies have been employed, the question of how to improve liposomal uptake and enhance the release of AsODN into cytoplasm still remains to be answered with respect to the use of a safe, easy and economic method. In the present study, the possibility of enhancing such processes at cellular and animal levels using urea as a penetration enhancer was investigated.

METHODS

To perform this investigation, a cationic liposome containing an AsODN against protein kinase (PKC)-α was prepared, and the effect of urea on its cellular internalization and the related sequence-specific inhibition of gene expression in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells were investigated by flow cytometry and the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. In in vivo studies, a xenograft lung tumor was established in nude mice by A549 cells and the enhancement effect of urea toward the effects of liposomal AsODN on tumor growth was investigated.

RESULTS

Cellular studies revealed that urea treatment increases liposomal uptake and the release of AsODN into the cytoplasm by approximately 40%. Sequence-specific inhibition of target gene PKC-α expression was also increased by approximately two-fold by urea at 200-300 nM AsODN. In animal studies, urea significantly decreased the tumor volume (approximately 40%) and increased its doubling time from approximately 13 days to 17 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Urea, and possibly other membrane fluidizers, could be regarded as penetration enhancers for liposomal AsODN delivery and may improve the therapeutic effect of these gene-therapy vectors at both cellular and animal levels.

Cholesterol domains enhance transfection

BACKGROUND

The formation of cholesterol domains in lipoplexes has been associated with enhanced serum stability and transfection rates both in cell culture and in vivo.

RESULTS

This study utilizes the ability of saturated phosphatidylcholines to promote the formation of cholesterol domains at much lower cholesterol contents than have been utilized in previous work. The results demonstrate that lipoplexes with identical cholesterol and cationic lipid contents exhibit significantly improved transfection efficiencies when a domain is present, consistent with previous work. In addition, studies assessing transfection rates in the absence of serum demonstrate that the ability of domains to enhance transfection is not dependent on interactions with serum proteins. Consistent with this hypothesis, characterization of the adsorbed proteins composing the corona of these lipoplex formulations did not reveal a correlation between transfection and the adsorption of a specific protein.

CONCLUSION

We have demonstrated that the interaction with serum proteins can promote domain formation in some formulations, and thereby result in enhanced transfection only after serum exposure.

Stimulus-responsive nanopreparations for tumor targeting

Nanopreparations such as liposomes, micelles, polymeric and inorganic nanoparticles, and small molecule/nucleic acid/protein conjugates have demonstrated various advantages over "naked" therapeutic molecules. These nanopreparations can be further engineered with functional moieties to improve their performance in terms of circulation longevity, targetability, enhanced intracellular penetration, carrier-mediated enhanced visualization, and stimuli-sensitivity. The idea of application of a stimulus-sensitive drug or imaging agent delivery system for tumor targeting is based on the significant abnormalities in the tumor microenvironment and its cells, such as an acidic pH, altered redox potential, up-regulated proteins and hyperthermia. These internal conditions as well as external stimuli, such as magnetic field, ultrasound and light, can be used to modify the behavior of the nanopreparations that control drug release, improve drug internalization, control the intracellular drug fate and even allow for certain physical interactions, resulting in an enhanced tumor targeting and antitumor effect. This article provides a critical view of current stimulus-sensitive drug delivery strategies and possible future directions in tumor targeting with primary focus on the combined use of stimulus-sensitivity with other strategies in the same nanopreparation, including multifunctional nanopreparations and theranostics.

Design and evaluation of new pH-sensitive amphiphilic cationic lipids for siRNA delivery

Synthetic small interfering RNA (siRNA) has become the basis of a new generation of gene-silencing cancer therapeutics. However, successful implementation of this novel therapy relies on the ability to effectively deliver siRNA into target cells and to prevent degradation of siRNA in lysosomes after endocytosis. In this study, our goal was to design and optimize new amphiphilic cationic lipid carriers that exhibit selective pH-sensitive endosomal membrane disruptive capabilities to allow for the efficient release of their siRNA payload into the cytosol. The pH sensitive siRNA carriers consist of three domains (cationic head, hydrophobic tail, amino acid-based linker). A library of eight lipid carriers were synthesized using solid phase chemistry, and then studied to determine the role of (1) the number of protonable amines and overall pKa of the cationic head group, (2) the degree of unsaturation of the hydrophobic tail, and (3) the presence of histidine residues in the amino acid linker for transfection and silencing efficacy. In vitro screening evaluation of the new carriers demonstrated at least 80% knockdown of a GFP reporter in CHO cells after 72h. The carriers ECO and ECLn performed the best in a luciferase knockdown study in HT29 human colon cancer cells, which were found to be more difficult to transfect. They significantly reduced expression of this reporter to 22.7±3.31% and 23.5±5.11% after 72h post-transfection, better than Lipofectamine RNAiMax. Both ECO and ECLn carriers caused minimal cytotoxicity, preserving relative cell viabilities at 87.3±2.72% and 88.9±6.84%, respectively. A series of hemolysis assays at various pHs revealed that increasing the number of amines in the protonable head group, and removing the histidine residue from the linker, both resulted in improved membrane disruptive activity at the endosomal pH of 6.5. Meanwhile, the cellular uptake into HT29 cancer cells was improved, not only by increasing the amines of the head group, but also by increasing the degree of unsaturation in the lipid tails. Due to flexibility of the synthetic procedure, the delivery system could be modified further for different applications. The success of ECO and ECLn for in vitro siRNA delivery potentially makes them promising candidates for future in vivo studies.

Complexes containing cationic and anionic pH-sensitive liposomes: comparative study of factors influencing plasmid DNA gene delivery to tumors

pH-sensitive liposomes represent an effective gene vector in cancer therapy. However, their use is greatly hampered by their relatively low transfection efficiency. To improve the transfection efficiency of pH-sensitive liposomes, we prepared complexes containing 3β-[N-(N′,N′-dimethylaminoethane) carbamoyl] cholesterol (DC-Chol) and dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE) liposomes and pH-sensitive liposomes composed of cholesteryl hemisuccinate (CHEMS) and DOPE, and evaluated the influence of various factors on plasmid DNA (pDNA) transfection efficiency. All DC-Chol/DOPE liposome/pDNA and pH-sensitive liposome complexes showed similarly potent pH sensitivity. In the presence of serum-containing medium, two optimized complexes of DC-Chol/DOPE liposomes/pDNA and pH-sensitive PEGylated liposomes showed high transfection efficiency of 22.94% and 20.07%, respectively. Notably, DC-Chol/DOPE (2:3) liposomes/pH-sensitive PEGylated (1%) liposome complexes with a charge ratio of 1:1 (m/m [+/−]) showed enhanced accumulation in tumors in vivo. Our results show the influence of various factors on pDNA transfection efficiency in complexes of DC-Chol/DOPE liposomes and pH-sensitive PEGylated liposomes. Understanding of such mechanisms will lead to better design of complexes of DC-Chol/DOPE liposomes and pH-sensitive liposomes for gene therapy.

Synthesis, self-assembling and gene delivery potential of a novel highly unsaturated, conjugated cationic phospholipid

The synthesis and self-assembling properties of a model compound in a new class of cationic phospholipids with a highly unsaturated conjugated fatty acid are described. In addition, the potential of this new lipid as a nucleic acid carrier was evaluated through lipoplex formulations employing 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) as helper lipid with and without the polycationic peptide protamine, together with a plasmid DNA (pDNA). Lipoplexes composed of this novel unsaturated lipid exhibited pDNA binding and protection from DNase I degradation when formulated with protamine. The new cationic lipid revealed transfection efficiency comparable to the commercial reference 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-ethylphophocholine (EPC) in Chinese hamster ovary-K1 (CHO-K1) cells and performed equally to the standard reference Lipofectamine 2000 when the formulation included protamine.

siRNA delivery: from lipids to cell-penetrating peptides and their mimics

To deliver siRNA for therapeutic use, several hurdles must be addressed. Metabolic degradation must be blocked, and the RNAi cellular machinery is located in the cytoplasm, while double-stranded siRNA is large, highly charged and impermeable to cell membranes. To date, the solutions to the delivery issues have mostly involved different forms of lipid particle encapsulation. Cell-penetrating peptides and their mimics or analogues offer a different approach and this is an emerging field with the first in vivo examples now reported. Recent reports point to lipid receptors being involved in the cellular uptake of both types of transporter. This review examines the delivery of siRNA with a focus on cell-penetrating peptides and their small molecule and oligomeric mimics. The current status of siRNA delivery methods in clinical trials is examined. It now seems that the goal of delivering siRNA therapeutically is achievable but will they form part of a sustainable healthcare portfolio for the future.

Manganese-loaded lipid-micellar theranostics for simultaneous drug and gene delivery to lungs

Gadolinium (Gd) contrast agents are predominantly used for T(1) MR imaging. However, the high toxicity of Gd(3+) and potential side effects including nephrogenic systemic fibrosis have led to the search for alternative T(1) contrast agents. Since manganese (Mn) has paramagnetic properties with five unpaired electrons that permit high spin number, long electronic relaxation times, and labile water exchange, we evaluated Mn as a T(1) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent for lung imaging. Here we report on the design and synthesis of multifunctional lipid-micellar nanoparticles (LMNs) containing Mn oxide (M-LMNs) for MRI that can also be used for DNA and drug delivery. Oleic acid-coated MnO nanoparticles were encapsulated in micelles composed of polyethylene glycol (PEG-2000), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), DC-cholesterol, and dioleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE). The particles are taken up in vitro by human embryonic kidney (HEK293), Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC1), and A549 cells and are devoid of cytotoxicity. When administered to mice intranasally, they preferentially accumulate in the lungs. In vitro phantom and ex vivo lung MRI results confirmed that M-LMNs are able to enhance T(1) MRI contrast. M-LMNs loaded with plasmid DNA and/or doxorubicin are efficiently taken up by HEK293 cells in vitro and by target cells in vivo. Taken together, these results demonstrate that M-LMNs are capable of simultaneously providing MRI contrast and DNA and/or drug delivery to target cells in the lung and therefore may prove useful as a lung theranostic, especially for lung cancers.

Efficient down-regulation of PKC-α gene expression in A549 lung cancer cells mediated by antisense oligodeoxynucleotides in dendrosomes

The completion of human genome project has increased our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of many diseases, including cancer, thus providing new opportunities for gene therapy. Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AsODN) possess great potential as sequence-specific therapeutic agents, which in contrast to classic treatments provide more efficient and target-specific approach to modulate disease-related genes. To be therapeutically effective, sufficient concentrations of intact AsODN must bypass membrane barriers and access the site of action. In this study, a dendrosome delivery strategy was designed to improve the encapsulation of AsODN in non-cationic liposomes to target PKC-α in lung cancer cells in vitro. Subcellular trafficking of fluorescently labeled AsODN was visualized using confocal microscopy. Uptake and expression of mRNA and target protein after AsODN delivery was measured by flow cytometry, qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Dendrosomes showed favorable physicochemical parameters: high encapsulation efficiency and uptake in serum-containing medium with no apparent cytotoxicity. AsODN encapsulated in dendrosome efficiently and specifically suppress the target gene at both mRNA and protein levels. Additional in vivo studies on the application of dendrosome as a delivery system for nucleic acid molecules may lead to improvement of this technology and facilitate the development of therapeutic antisense techniques.

The role of the helper lipid dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) for DNA transfection cooperating with a cationic lipid bearing ethylenediamine

Gene therapy is expected to treat various incurable diseases including viral infections, autoimmune disorders, and cancers. Cationic lipids (CL) have been used as carriers of therapeutic DNAs for gene therapy because they can form a complex with DNA and such a complex can be incorporated into cells and transport the bound DNA to cytosol. The CL/DNA complexes are called lipoplexes and categorized as a non-viral vector. Lipoplexes are often prepared by adding a neutral phospholipid dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) to CL in order to enhance transfection. However, the role of DOPE is not fully understood. We synthesized a new CL having an ethylenediamine cationic head group, denoted by DA, and found that addition of DOPE to DA achieved a good efficiency, almost in the similar level of commonly used transfection reagent Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen). The composition of DA:DOPE=1:1 showed the highest efficiency. This lipoplex showed structural transition when pH was changed from 7 to 4, corresponding pH lowering in late endosome, while DOPE itself showed structural transition at more basic pH around 8. The present data showed that the DOPE/DA composition determines the structural transition pH and choosing a suitable pH, i.e., a suitable composition, is essential to increase the transfection efficiency.

RNAi-based nanomedicines for targeted personalized therapy

RNA interference (RNAi) has just made it through the pipeline to clinical trials. However, in order for RNAi to serve as an ideal personalized therapeutics and be clinically approved-safe, specific, and potent strategies must be devised for efficient delivery of RNAi payloads to specific cell types, which despite the immense potential, remains a challenge. Through evaluating the recent reported studies in this field, we introduce the progress in designing targeted nano-scaled strategies that are anticipated to overcome the delivery drawbacks and along with the exciting "omics" discipline to personalize RNAi-based therapeutics.

Lipid-based vectors for siRNA delivery

siRNA therapeutics has developed rapidly and already there are clinical trials ongoing or planned; however, the delivery of siRNA into cells, tissues or organs remains to be a major obstacle. Lipid-based vectors hold the most promising position among non-viral vectors, as they have a similar structure to cell or organelle membranes. But when used in the form of liposomes, these vectors have shown some problems. Therefore, either the nature of lipids themselves or forms used should be improved. As a novel class of lipid like materials, lipidoids have the advantages of easy synthesis and the ability for delivering siRNA to obtain excellent silencing activity. However, the toxicities of lipidoids have not been thoroughly studied. pH responsive lipids have also gained great attention recently, though some of the amine-based lipids are not novel in terms of chemical structures. More complex self-assembly structures, such as LPD (LPH) and LCP, may provide a good solution to siRNA delivery. They have demonstrated controlled particle morphology and size and siRNA delivery activity for both in vitro and in vivo.

Lipid peptide nanocomplexes for gene delivery and magnetic resonance imaging in the brain

Gadolinium-labelled nanocomplexes offer prospects for the development of real-time, non-invasive imaging strategies to visualise the location of gene delivery by MRI. In this study, targeted nanoparticle formulations were prepared comprising a cationic liposome (L) containing a Gd-chelated lipid at 10, 15 and 20% by weight of total lipid, a receptor-targeted, DNA-binding peptide (P) and plasmid DNA (D), which electrostatically self-assembled into LPD nanocomplexes. The LPD formulation containing the liposome with 15% Gd-chelated lipid displayed optimal peptide-targeted, transfection efficiency. MRI conspicuity peaked at 4h after incubation of the nanocomplexes with cells, suggesting enhancement by cellular uptake and trafficking. This was supported by time course confocal microscopy analysis of transfections with fluorescently-labelled LPD nanocomplexes. Gd-LPD nanocomplexes delivered to rat brains by convection-enhanced delivery were visible by MRI at 6 h, 24 h and 48 h after administration. Histological brain sections analysed by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) confirmed that the MRI signal was associated with the distribution of Gd(3+) moieties and differentiated MRI signals due to haemorrhage. The transfected brain cells near the injection site appeared to be mostly microglial. This study shows the potential of Gd-LPD nanocomplexes for simultaneous delivery of contrast agents and genes for real-time monitoring of gene therapy in the brain.

A biomimetic lipid library for gene delivery through thiol-yne click chemistry

The delivery of nucleic acids such as plasmid DNA and siRNA into cells is a cornerstone of biological research and is of fundamental importance for medical therapeutics. Although most gene delivery therapeutics in clinical trials are based on viral vectors, safety issues remain a major concern. Non-viral vectors, such as cationic lipids and polymers, offer safer alternatives but their gene delivery efficiencies are usually not high enough for clinical applications. Thus, there is a high demand for more efficient and safe non-viral vectors. Here, we present a facile two-step method based on thiol-yne click chemistry for parallel synthesis of libraries of new biomimetic cationic thioether lipids. A library of novel lipids was synthesized using the developed method and more than 10% of the lipids showed highly efficient transfection in different cell types, surpassing the efficiency of several popular commercial transfection reagents. One of the new lipids showed highly efficient siRNA delivery to multiple cell types and could successfully deliver DNA plasmid to difficult-to-transfect mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC). Analysis of structure-activity relationship revealed that the length of the hydrophobic alkyl groups was a key parameter for efficient cell transfection and was more important for transfection efficiency than the nature of cationic head groups. The correlation of the size and surface charge of liposomes with transfection efficiency is described.

Virosome: a novel vector to enable multi-modal strategies for cancer therapy

Despite advancements in treatments, cancer remains a life-threatening disease that is resistant to therapy. Single-modal cancer therapy is often insufficient to provide complete remission. A revolution in cancer therapy may someday be provided by vector-based gene and drug delivery systems. However, it remains difficult to achieve this aim because viral and non-viral vectors have their own advantages and limitations. To overcome these limitations, virosomes have been constructed by combining viral components with non-viral vectors or by using pseudovirions without viral genome replication. Viruses, such as influenza virus, HVJ (hemagglutinating virus of Japan; Sendai virus) and hepatitis B virus, have been used in the construction of virosomes. The HVJ-derived vector is particularly promising due to its highly efficient delivery of DNA, siRNA, proteins and anti-cancer drugs. Furthermore, the HVJ envelope (HVJ-E) vector has intrinsic anti-tumor activities including the activation of multiple anti-tumor immunities and the induction of cancer-selective apoptosis. HVJ-E is currently being clinically used for the treatment of melanoma. A promising multi-modal cancer therapy will be achieved when virosomes with intrinsic anti-tumor activities are utilized as vectors for the delivery of anti-tumor drugs and genes.

Comparative study on preparative methods of DC-Chol/DOPE liposomes and formulation optimization by determining encapsulation efficiency

Three most commonly used preparative methods, dry-film, reverse phase evaporation and ethanol injection were employed to prepare cationic liposomes composed of DC-Chol and DOPE, respectively. The resulting samples were contrasted through morphology observation, particle size and zeta potential analysis. Sephadex filtration method with high selectivity was developed to determine the encapsulation efficiency of plasmid DNA-loaded cationic vectors, on this basis, cationic liposomes formulation was further optimized by applying Box Behnken design with encapsulation efficiency as evaluation index. The results showed that liposomes prepared by dry-film method were of best quality and stability, moreover, the optimum formulation of cationic liposomes and optimal value of each influencing factors were quantitatively obtained, measured value was highly consistent with predicted results. These findings preliminarily clarified the effect of preparative methods on performance of cationic liposome, as well as formulation factors on encapsulation efficiency, and will provide important methodological reference for further study of liposomes carriers for gene delivery.

Lower rim guanidinocalix[4]arenes: macrocyclic nonviral vectors for cell transfection

Guanidinium groups were introduced through a spacer at the lower rim of calix[4]arenes in the cone conformation to give new potential nonviral vectors for gene delivery. Several structural modifications were explored, such as the presence or absence of a macrocyclic scaffold, lipophilicity of the backbone, length of the spacer, and nature of the charged groups, in order to better understand the factors which affect the DNA condensation ability and transfection efficiency of these derivatives. The most interesting compound was a calix[4]arene unsubstituted at the upper rim and having four guanidinium groups linked at the lower rim through a three carbon atom spacer. This compound, when formulated with DOPE, showed low toxicity and transfection efficiency higher than the commercially available lipofectamine LTX in the treatment of human Rhabdomiosarcoma and Vero cells. Most of the investigated compounds showed a tendency to self-aggregate in pure water or in the presence of salts, as evidenced by NMR and AFM studies, and it was found that the ability to condense DNA plasmids in nanometric globules is a necessary but not sufficient condition for transfection. The superiority of macrocyclic vectors over linear Gemini-type analogues and of guanidinium compared to other ammonium head groups in determining the biological activity of the vectors was also ascertained.

Effect of unsaturated alkyl chains on transfection activity of poly(amidoamine) dendron-bearing lipids

In an earlier study, we developed a new type of gene vector using poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendron-bearing lipids and reported that their transfection activity was affected by their structures, such as dendron generation and alkyl chain length. In this study, for improvement of their performance as gene vectors, we examined the effect of unsaturated chains of the dendron-bearing lipids using DL-G1-2C(18), which consists of PAMAM G1 dendron moiety and two octadecyl chains, and achieved the most efficient transfection activity among the dendron-bearing lipids having saturated alkyl chains, and DL-G1-2C(18)-U2, which consists of the same dendron-moiety and two octadecenyl chains. DL-G1-2C(18)-U2 showed a higher ability to form lipoplexes with plasmid DNA than DL-G1-2C(18). The DL-G1-2C(18)-U2 lipoplexes exhibited much smaller particle sizes than the DL-G1-2C(18). In addition, the DL-G1-2C(18)-U2 lipoplexes exhibited more efficient transfection of HeLa cells than DL-G1-2C(18) did. Results demonstrate the importance of unsaturated chains for the production of the dendron-bearing lipids having excellent gene transfection performance. Without the help of additional fusogenic lipids such as dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine, DL-G1-2C(18)-U2 lipoplexes achieved the highly efficient transfection of the cells without marked cellular toxicity, in the presence of serum. Therefore, DL-G1-2C(18)-U2 might be promising as a potent gene vector.

Molecular mechanisms in the dramatic enhancement of HIV-1 Tat transduction by cationic liposomes

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transactivator of transcription (Tat) protein possesses a unique membrane-transduction property. Interestingly, Tat transduction could be dramatically increased 1000-fold based on LTR-transactivation assay when complexed with cationic liposomes (lipo-Tat), compared with Tat alone. Therefore, underlining mechanisms were explored further. Microscopy and flow cytometry showed that this effect was associated with enhanced membrane binding, large particle formation (1-2 μm) and increased intracellular uptake of Tat fluorescent proteins. Using pharmacological assays and immune colocalizations, it was found that lipid raft-dependent endocytosis and macropinocytosis were major pathways involved in lipo-Tat uptake, and actin-filaments played a major role in intracellular trafficking of lipo-Tat to the nucleus. Furthermore, we found that the Tat hydrophobic domain (aa 36-47) mediated formation of two positively charged molecules into lipo-Tat complexes via hydrophobic bonds, based on LTR-transactivation inhibition assay. Thus, the hydrophobic domain may play an important role in Tat protein uptake and be useful for intracellular delivery of biomacromolecules if coupled together with Tat basic peptide, a cell-penetrating peptide.

Tuftsin-modified alginate nanoparticles as a noncondensing macrophage-targeted DNA delivery system

The main objective of this study was to evaluate macrophage-targeted alginate nanoparticles as a noncondensing gene delivery system for potential anti-inflammatory therapy. An external gelation method was employed to form plasmid DNA-encapsulated alginate nanoparticles. The nanoparticle surface was modified with a peptide sequence containing tuftsin (TKPR), and transfection efficiency was determined in J774A.1 macrophages. The effect of transfected mIL-10 in blocking expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) was evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cells. Scrambled peptide- and tuftsin-modified cross-linked alginate nanoparticles efficiently encapsulated plasmid DNA and protected against DNase I degradation. The transgene expression efficiencies, measured using GFP and mIL-10 expressing plasmid DNA, were highest with tuftsin-modified nanoparticles. Levels of TNF-α were significantly lower (p < 0.0001) in LPS-stimulated cells that were transfected with mIL-10 using alginate nanoparticles. The results of the study show that noncondensing alginate nanoparticles can efficiently deliver plasmid DNA, leading to sustained in vitro gene expression in macrophages.

Novel pH-sensitive cationic lipids with linear ortho ester linkers for gene delivery

In an effort to develop pH-sensitive lipoplexes for efficient gene delivery, we report three novel cationic lipids containing a linear ortho ester linker that conjugates either the headgroup (Type I) or one hydrocarbon chain (Type II) with the rest of the lipid molecule. The cationic lipids carry either an iodide or a chloride counterion. Compared to our previously reported cyclic ortho ester linker, the linear ortho ester linker facilitated the construction of cationic liposomes and lipoplexes with different helper lipids. The chloride counterion not only facilitated the hydration of the lipid films during liposome construction, but also enhanced the hydrolysis of the ortho ester linker in the lipoplexes. After incubation at endosomal pH 5.5, the Type I lipoplexes aggregated and destabilized the endosome-mimicking model liposomes, but not the Type II lipoplexes. The helper lipids (DOPE or cholesterol) of the lipoplexes enhanced the pH-sensitivity of the Type I lipoplexes. In CV-1 cells (monkey kidney fibroblast), the Type I ortho ester-based lipoplexes, especially those with the chloride counterion, significantly improved the gene transfection efficiency, in some cases by more than 100 fold, compared to their pH-insensitive counterparts consisting of DOTAP. The gene transfection efficiency of the ortho ester-based lipoplexes was well correlated with their rate of aggregation and membrane destabilization in response to the endosomal pH 5.5.

Polyamidoamine dendron-bearing lipids as a nonviral vector: influence of dendron generation

Recently, we demonstrated that octadecyl chains are important as alkyl chain moieties of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendron-bearing lipids for their serum-resistant transfection activity [Bioconjugate Chem.2007, 18, 1349-1354]. Toward production of highly potent vectors, we examined the influence of the generation of dendron moiety on transfection activity of PAMAM dendron-bearing lipids having two octadecyl chains. We synthesized dendron-bearing lipids with PAMAM G1, G2, and G3 dendrons, designated respectively as DL-G1-2C(18), DL-G2-2C(18), and DL-G3-2C(18). The DL-G2-2C(18) and DL-G3-2C(18) interacted with plasmid DNA effectively and formed stable lipoplexes with small sizes and spherical shape. However, DL-G1-2C(18) interacted with plasmid DNA less effectively and formed tubular-shaped lipoplexes with lower stability and larger size. Cells took up DL-G2-2C(18) and DL-G3-2C(18) lipoplexes efficiently, but cellular uptake of the DL-G1-2C(18) lipoplexes was less efficient. Nevertheless, DL-G1-2C(18) lipoplexes achieved 100-10 000 times higher levels of transgene expression, which was evaluated using luciferase gene as a reporter gene. Confocal scanning laser microscopic analysis of intracellular behaviors of the lipoplexes revealed that DL-G1-2C(18) lipoplexes generated free plasmid DNA molecules in the cytosol more effectively than other lipoplexes did. Moderate binding ability of DL-G1-2C(18) might be responsible for generation of lipoplexes which deliver plasmid DNA into cells, liberate it in the cytoplasm, and induce efficient transgene expression.

Development and use of ceramide nanoliposomes in cancer

Integration of C₆-ceramide into stealth pegylated nanoliposomes has led to the development of a promising preclinical therapeutic alone and in combination with other agents for treatment of cancer. Ceramide itself has been implicated as a bioactive lipid second messenger mediating cell senescence, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. Recent lipidomic analyses have demonstrated that specific ceramide species are differentially metabolized in individual cancers. Therapeutics that increase ceramide levels in cancer tissues have shown increased cell death and tumor inhibition. However, the use of ceramide itself as therapeutic has been problematic due to its inherent hydrophobicity and insolubility, therefore limiting the application for intravenous administration. Pegylated nanoliposomes eliminate this issue and are able to enhance the intracellular delivery of ceramide to cancer cells.

Folate-associated lipoplexes mediate efficient gene delivery and potent antitumoral activity in vitro and in vivo

The lack of suitable vectors for efficient nucleic acid delivery into target cells represents a major hurdle for the successful application of gene therapy. Cationic liposomes exhibit attractive features for gene delivery, but their efficacy is still unsatisfactory, particularly for in vivo applications, which justifies the drive to further improve their performance by developing novel and efficient formulations. In the present study, we generated a new formulation of lipoplexes through electrostatic association of folate (FA) to 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-ethylphosphocholine (EPOPC):cholesterol (Chol) liposomes, prepared at different lipid/DNA charge ratios, and explored their potential to mediate gene delivery. The optimal FA-lipoplex formulation was evaluated for its efficacy to mediate antitumoral activity upon application of HSV-tk suicide gene therapy, both in vitro and in an animal model of oral cancer. Our results demonstrate that FA-EPOPC:Chol/DNA lipoplexes were able to promote a great enhancement of transfection and high in vitro antitumoral activity compared to plain lipoplexes in two different cancer cell lines. Most importantly, a considerable reduction of tumor growth was achieved with the developed FA-lipoplexes as compared to that observed for control FA-lipoplexes or plain lipoplexes. Overall, our study shows that FA-EPOPC:Chol/DNA lipoplexes constitute a promising system for the successful application of suicide gene therapy aiming at treating solid tumors.