mRNA Delivery Using Bioreducible Lipidoid Nanoparticles Facilitates Neural Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Applications of Gene Editing and Nanotechnology in Stem Cell-Based Therapies for Human Diseases

Stem cell research is a dynamic and fast-advancing discipline with great promise for the treatment of diverse human disorders. The incorporation of gene editing technologies, including ZFNs, TALENs, and the CRISPR/Cas system, in conjunction with progress in nanotechnology, is fundamentally transforming stem cell therapy and research. These innovations not only provide a glimmer of optimism for patients and healthcare practitioners but also possess the capacity to radically reshape medical treatment paradigms. Gene editing and nanotechnology synergistically enhance stem cell-based therapies' precision, efficiency, and applicability, offering transformative potential for treating complex diseases and advancing regenerative medicine. Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge that these technologies also give rise to ethical considerations and possible hazards, such as inadvertent genetic modifications and the development of genetically modified organisms, therefore creating a new age of designer infants. This review emphasizes the crucial significance of gene editing technologies and nanotechnology in the progress of stem cell treatments, particularly for degenerative pathologies and injuries. It emphasizes their capacity to restructure and comprehensively revolutionize medical treatment paradigms, providing fresh hope and optimism for patients and healthcare practitioners.

Development of non-viral targeted RNA delivery vehicles - a key factor in success of therapeutic RNA

Decade-long efforts in medicinal biotechnology have enabled large-scale in-vitro production of optimised therapeutic RNA constructs for stable in-vivo delivery and modify the expression of disease-related genes. The success of lipid nanoparticle-formulated mRNA vaccines against Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-Cov2) has opened a new era of RNA therapeutics and non-viral drug delivery systems. The major limiting factor in the clinical translation of RNA-based drugs is the availability of suitable delivery vehicles that can protect RNA payloads from degradation, offer controlled release, and pose minimal inherent toxicity. Unwanted immune response, payload size constraints, genome integration, and non-specific tissue targeting limit the application of conventional viral drug-delivery vehicles. This review summarises current research on nano-sized drug carriers, including lipid nanoparticles, polymer-based formulations, cationic nanoemulsion, and cell-penetrating peptides, for targeted therapeutic RNA delivery. Further, this paper highlights the biomimetic approaches (i.e. mimicking naturally occurring bio-compositions, molecular designs, and systems), including virus-like particles (VLPs), exosomes, and selective endogenous eNcapsidation (SEND) technology being explored as safer and more efficient alternatives.

Advances in the study of LNPs for mRNA delivery and clinical applications

Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was discovered in 1961 as an intermediary for transferring genetic information from DNA to ribosomes for protein synthesis. The COVID-19 pandemic brought worldwide attention to mRNA vaccines. The emergency use authorization of two COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273, were major achievements in the history of vaccine development. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), one of the most superior non-viral delivery vectors available, have made many exciting advances in clinical translation as part of the COVID-19 vaccine and therefore has the potential to accelerate the clinical translation of many gene drugs. In addition, due to these small size, biocompatibility and excellent biodegradability, LNPs can efficiently deliver nucleic acids into cells, which is particularly important for current mRNA therapeutic regimens. LNPs are composed cationic or pH-dependent ionizable lipid bilayer, polyethylene glycol (PEG), phospholipids, and cholesterol, represents an advanced system for the delivery of mRNA vaccines. Furthermore, optimization of these four components constituting the LNPs have demonstrated enhanced vaccine efficacy and diminished adverse effects. The incorporation of biodegradable lipids enhance the biocompatibility of LNPs, thereby improving its potential as an efficacious therapeutic approach for a wide range of challenging and intricate diseases, encompassing infectious diseases, liver disorders, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular conditions, among others. Consequently, this review aims to furnish the scientific community with the most up-to-date information regarding mRNA vaccines and LNP delivery systems.

Navigating the intricate in-vivo journey of lipid nanoparticles tailored for the targeted delivery of RNA therapeutics: a quality-by-design approach

RNA therapeutics, such as mRNA, siRNA, and CRISPR-Cas9, present exciting avenues for treating diverse diseases. However, their potential is commonly hindered by vulnerability to degradation and poor cellular uptake, requiring effective delivery systems. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged as a leading choice for in vivo RNA delivery, offering protection against degradation, enhanced cellular uptake, and facilitation of endosomal escape. However, LNPs encounter numerous challenges for targeted RNA delivery in vivo, demanding advanced particle engineering, surface functionalization with targeting ligands, and a profound comprehension of the biological milieu in which they function. This review explores the structural and physicochemical characteristics of LNPs, in-vivo fate, and customization for RNA therapeutics. We highlight the quality-by-design (QbD) approach for targeted delivery beyond the liver, focusing on biodistribution, immunogenicity, and toxicity. In addition, we explored the current challenges and strategies associated with LNPs for in-vivo RNA delivery, such as ensuring repeated-dose efficacy, safety, and tissue-specific gene delivery. Furthermore, we provide insights into the current clinical applications in various classes of diseases and finally prospects of LNPs in RNA therapeutics.

FGF18 encoding circular mRNA-LNP based on glycerolipid engineering of mesenchymal stem cells for efficient amelioration of osteoarthritis

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exhibit substantial potential for osteoarthritis (OA) therapy through cartilage regeneration, yet the realization of optimal therapeutic outcomes is hampered by their limited intrinsic reparative capacities. Herein, MSCs are engineered with circular mRNA (cmRNA) encoding fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF18) encapsulated within lipid nanoparticles (LNP) derived from a glycerolipid to facilitate OA healing. A proprietary biodegradable and ionizable glycerolipid, TG6A, with branched tails and five ester bonds, forms LNP exhibiting above 9-fold and 41-fold higher EGFP protein expression in MSCs than commercial LNP from DLin-MC3-DMA and ALC-0315, respectively. The introduction of FGF18 not only augmented the proliferative capacity of MSCs but also upregulated the expression of chondrogenic genes and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content. Additionally, FGF18 enhanced the production of proteoglycans and type II collagen in chondrocyte pellet cultures in a three-dimensional culture. In an OA rat model, transplantation with FGF18-engineered MSCs remarkably preserved cartilage integrity and facilitated functional repair of cartilage lesions, as evidenced by thicker cartilage layers, reduced histopathological scores, maintenance of zone structure, and incremental type II collagen and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. Taken together, our findings suggest that TG6A-based LNP loading with cmRNA for engineering MSCs present an innovative strategy to overcome the current limitations in OA treatment.

Advancing mRNA Therapeutics: The Role and Future of Nanoparticle Delivery Systems

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has underscored the critical role of mRNA-based vaccines as powerful, adaptable, readily manufacturable, and safe methodologies for prophylaxis. mRNA-based treatments are emerging as a hopeful avenue for a plethora of conditions, encompassing infectious diseases, cancer, autoimmune diseases, genetic diseases, and rare disorders. Nonetheless, the in vivo delivery of mRNA faces challenges due to its instability, suboptimal delivery, and potential for triggering undesired immune reactions. In this context, the development of effective drug delivery systems, particularly nanoparticles (NPs), is paramount. Tailored with biophysical and chemical properties and susceptible to surface customization, these NPs have demonstrated enhanced mRNA delivery in vivo and led to the approval of several NPs-based formulations for clinical use. Despite these advancements, the necessity for developing a refined, targeted NP delivery system remains imperative. This review comprehensively surveys the biological, translational, and clinical progress in NPs-mediated mRNA therapeutics for both the prevention and treatment of diverse diseases. By addressing critical factors for enhancing existing methodologies, it aims to inform the future development of precise and efficacious mRNA-based therapeutic interventions.

A Lung-Expressing mRNA Delivery Platform with Tunable Activity in Hypoxic Environments

Messenger RNA (mRNA) delivery platforms often facilitate protein expression in the liver following intravenous injection and have been optimized for use in normally oxygenated cells (21% O2 atmosphere). However, there is a growing need for mRNA therapy in diseases affecting non-liver organs, such as the lungs. Additionally, many diseases are characterized by hypoxia (<21% O2 atmosphere), a state of abnormally low oxygenation in cells and tissues that can reduce the efficacy of mRNA therapies by upwards of 80%. Here, we report a Tunable Lung-Expressing Nanoparticle Platform (TULEP) for mRNA delivery, whose properties can be readily tuned for optimal expression in hypoxic environments. Briefly, our study begins with the synthesis and characterization of a novel amino acrylate polymer that can be effectively complexed with mRNA payloads into TULEPs. We study the efficacy and mechanism of mRNA delivery using TULEP, including analysis of the cellular association, endocytosis mechanisms, endosomal escape, and protein expression in a lung cell line. We then evaluate TULEP under hypoxic conditions and address hypoxia-related deficits in efficacy by making our system tunable with adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Finally, we conclude our study with an in vivo analysis of mRNA expression, biodistribution, and tolerability of the TULEP platform in mice. In presenting these data, we hope that our work highlights the utility of TULEPs for tunable and effective mRNA delivery while more broadly highlighting the utility of considering oxygen levels when developing mRNA delivery platforms.

LNP-RNA-engineered adipose stem cells for accelerated diabetic wound healing

Adipose stem cells (ASCs) have attracted considerable attention as potential therapeutic agents due to their ability to promote tissue regeneration. However, their limited tissue repair capability has posed a challenge in achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes. Herein, we conceive a series of lipid nanoparticles to reprogram ASCs with durable protein secretion capacity for enhanced tissue engineering and regeneration. In vitro studies identify that the isomannide-derived lipid nanoparticles (DIM1T LNP) efficiently deliver RNAs to ASCs. Co-delivery of self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) and E3 mRNA complex (the combination of saRNA and E3 mRNA is named SEC) using DIM1T LNP modulates host immune responses against saRNAs and facilitates the durable production of proteins of interest in ASCs. The DIM1T LNP-SEC engineered ASCs (DS-ASCs) prolong expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12), which show superior wound healing efficacy over their wild-type and DIM1T LNP-mRNA counterparts in the diabetic cutaneous wound model. Overall, this work suggests LNPs as an effective platform to engineer ASCs with enhanced protein generation ability, expediting the development of ASCs-based cell therapies.

Lipid-based nanoparticles for drug delivery in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that predominantly affects dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area, resulting in symptoms such as tremors, muscle rigidity, bradykinesia, and potential cognitive and affective disturbances. The effective delivery of pharmacological agents to the central nervous system is hindered by various factors, including the restrictive properties of the blood‒brain barrier and blood‒spinal cord barrier, as well as the physicochemical characteristics of the drugs. Traditional drug delivery methods may not provide the therapeutic concentrations necessary for functional restoration in PD patients. However, lipid-based nanoparticles (NPs) offer new possibilities for enhancing the bioavailability of established treatment regimens and developing innovative therapies that can modify the course of the disease. This review provides a concise overview of recent advances in lipid-based NP strategies aimed at mitigating specific pathological mechanisms relevant to PD progression. This study also explores the potential applications of nanotechnological innovations in the development of advanced treatment modalities for individuals with PD.

Deciphering Structural Determinants Distinguishing Active from Inactive Cell-Penetrating Peptides for Cytosolic mRNA Delivery

The formation of noncovalent complexes by mixing of positively charged polymers with negatively charged oligonucleotides (ONs) is a widely explored concept in nanomedicine to achieve cellular delivery of ONs. Uptake of ON complexes occurs through endocytosis, which then requires release of ON from endosomes. As one type of polymer, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are being used which are peptides of about 8-30 amino acids in length. However, only a few CPPs yield effective cytosolic ON delivery and activity. Several strategies have been devised to increase cellular uptake and enhance endosomal release, among which an increase of osmotic pressure through the so-called proton sponge effect, disruption of membrane integrity through membrane activity, and disulfide-mediated polymerization. Here, we address the relevance of these concepts for mRNA delivery by incorporating structural features into the human lactoferrin-derived CPP, which shows uptake but not delivery. The incorporation of histidines was explored to address osmotic pressure and structural motifs of the delivery-active CPP PepFect14 (PF14) to address membrane disturbance, and finally, the impact of polymerization was explored. Whereas oligomerization increased the stability of polyplexes against heparin-induced decomplexation, neither this approach nor the incorporation of histidine residues to promote a proton-sponge effect yielded activity. Also, the replacement of arginine residues with lysine or ornithine residues, as in PF14, was without effect, even though all polyplexes showed cellular uptake. Ultimately, sufficient activity could only be achieved by transferring amphipathic sequence motifs from PF14 into the hLF context with some benefit of oligomerization demonstrating overarching principles of delivery for CPPs, lipid nanoparticles, and other types of delivery polymers.

REST Is Not Resting: REST/NRSF in Health and Disease

Chromatin modifications play a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression. The repressor element-1 (RE1) silencing transcription factor (REST), also known as neuron-restrictive silencer factor (NRSF) and X2 box repressor (XBR), was found to regulate gene transcription by binding to chromatin and recruiting chromatin-modifying enzymes. Earlier studies revealed that REST plays an important role in the development and disease of the nervous system, mainly by repressing the transcription of neuron-specific genes. Subsequently, REST was found to be critical in other tissues, such as the heart, pancreas, skin, eye, and vascular. Dysregulation of REST was also found in nervous and non-nervous system cancers. In parallel, multiple strategies to target REST have been developed. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive summary of the research progress made over the past 28 years since the discovery of REST, encompassing both physiological and pathological aspects. These insights into the effects and mechanisms of REST contribute to an in-depth understanding of the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of genes and their roles in the development and progression of disease, with a view to discovering potential therapeutic targets and intervention strategies for various related diseases.

Theranostic Lipid Nanoparticles for Renal Cell Carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common urological malignancy and represents a leading threat to healthcare. Recent years have seen a series of progresses in the early diagnosis and management of RCC. Theranostic lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are increasingly becoming one of the focuses in this field, because of their suitability for tumor targeting and multimodal therapy. LNPs can be precisely fabricated with desirable chemical compositions and biomedical properties, which closely match the physiological characteristics and clinical needs of RCC. Herein, a comprehensive review of theranostic LNPs is presented, emphasizing the generic tool nature of LNPs in developing advanced micro-nano biomaterials. It begins with a brief overview of the compositions and formation mechanism of LNPs, followed with an introduction to kidney-targeting approaches, such as passive, active, and stimulus responsive targeting. With examples provided, a series of modification strategies for enhancing the tumor targeting and functionality of LNPs are discussed. Thereafter, research advances on applications of these LNPs for RCC including bioimaging, liquid biopsy, drug delivery, physical therapy, and gene therapy are summarized and discussed from an interdisciplinary perspective. The final part highlights the milestone achievements of translation medicine, current challenges as well as future development directions of LNPs for the diagnosis and treatment of RCC.

Biomaterials for in situ cell therapy

Cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment of various diseases, such as cancers, genetic disorders, and autoimmune diseases. Currently, most cell therapy products rely on ex vivo cell engineering, which requires sophisticated manufacturing processes and poses safety concerns. The implementation of in situ cell therapy holds the potential to overcome the current limitations of cell therapy and provides a broad range of applications and clinical feasibility in the future. A variety of biomaterials have been developed to improve the function and target delivery to specific cell types due to their excellent biocompatibility, tunable properties, and other functionalities, which provide a reliable method to achieve in vivo modulation of cell reprogramming. In this article, we summarize recent advances in biomaterials for in situ cell therapy including T cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, and stem cells reprogramming leveraging lipid nanoparticles, polymers, inorganic materials, and other biomaterials. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and future perspectives of biomaterials for in situ cell therapy.

Nanotherapeutic and Stem Cell Therapeutic Strategies in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Promising Therapeutic Approach

Neurodegeneration is characterized by progressive, disabling, and incurable neurological disorders with the massive loss of specific neurons. As one of the most promising potential therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases, stem cell therapy exerts beneficial effects through different mechanisms, such as direct replacement of damaged or lost cells, secretion of neurotrophic and growth factors, decreased neuroinflammation, and activation of endogenous stem cells. However, poor survival and differentiation rates of transplanted stem cells, insufficient homing ability, and difficulty tracking after transplantation limit their further clinical use. The rapid development of nanotechnology provides many promising nanomaterials for biomedical applications, which already have many applications in neurodegenerative disease treatment and seem to be able to compensate for some of the deficiencies in stem cell therapy, such as transport of stem cells/genes/drugs, regulating stem cell differentiation, and real-time tracking in stem cell therapy. Therefore, nanotherapeutic strategies combined with stem cell therapy is a promising therapeutic approach to treating neurodegenerative diseases. The present review systematically summarizes recent advances in stem cell therapeutics and nanotherapeutic strategies and highlights how they can be combined to improve therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

High-Precision Synthesis of RNA-Loaded Lipid Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

The recent development of RNA-based therapeutics in delivering nucleic acids for gene editing and regulating protein translation has led to the effective treatment of various diseases including cancer, inflammatory and genetic disorder, as well as infectious diseases. Among these, lipid nanoparticles (LNP) have emerged as a promising platform for RNA delivery and have shed light by resolving the inherent instability issues of naked RNA and thereby enhancing the therapeutic potency. These LNP consisting of ionizable lipid, helper lipid, cholesterol, and poly(ethylene glycol)-anchored lipid can stably enclose RNA and help them release into the cells' cytosol. Herein, the significant progress made in LNP research starting from the LNP constituents, formulation, and their diverse applications is summarized first. Moreover, the microfluidic methodologies which allow precise assembly of these newly developed constituents to achieve LNP with controllable composition and size, high encapsulation efficiency as well as scalable production are highlighted. Furthermore, a short discussion on current challenges as well as an outlook will be given on emerging approaches to resolving these issues.

Innovative nonviral gene delivery strategies for engineering human mesenchymal stem cell phenotypes toward clinical applications

Although human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have been used in many clinical trials, variable outcomes have resulted in no FDA-approved hMSC treatment. However, research into developing hMSC therapies for many diseases continues. An approach to manipulate hMSCs for therapeutic applications is gene delivery. Nonviral gene delivery is safer and more flexible than viral vectors, but much less efficient, especially in hMSCs. It is not understood why hMSCs are more difficult to transfect than cell lines, but innate features of hMSCs may present unique barriers to transfection. Recently, strategies to improve hMSC transfection have been developed by innovating nanocarriers, nucleic acid cargos, and by 'priming' hMSCs chemically and physically for more efficient transfection. These strategies aim to engineer hMSCs with new phenotypes mediated by transgenic secreted factors, receptors, transcription factors, and genome editing systems for clinical applications requiring enhanced immunomodulation and/or tissue regeneration, or for functions such as tumor-killing and tissue engineering.

Development of amino acid-modified biodegradable lipid nanoparticles for siRNA delivery

The use of siRNA therapeutics to treat cancer is a very promising approach. However, specific delivery of siRNAs to tumors remains a major challenge. The recent success of siRNA delivery to the liver has incentivized the development of biomaterials for siRNA delivery into tumors. Here, we report a new class of amino acid-modified lipids for siRNA delivery to cancer cells. Eight lipids were developed by headgroup modification with histidine and lysine. The lipids were screened in PC3-luciferase stable cells for gene silencing and cellular cytotoxicity study. The best lipid LHHK shows a pKa of 6.08, which is within the optimal pKa range of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for siRNA delivery. The LHHK LNP protects siRNA from serum degradation for up to 24 h and shows higher endosomal release and better cellular uptake compared to other lysine-modified lipids in PC3 cells. The LHHK LNP exhibits significant silencing activity of IKKα and IKBKE in prostate cancer and pancreatic cancer, respectively. Moreover, the LHHK LNP encapsulating IKBKE siRNA inhibits cell proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells and suppresses the tumor progression in a pancreatic cancer mouse model. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Lipid nanoparticle (LNP) is a promising platform for siRNA delivery. However, LNP is generally associated with high systemic toxicity. As a result, efficient and biodegradable lipids are highly needed for siRNA-based cancer therapy. Herein, we develop amino acid-modified biodegradable lipids. These lipids show very low cellular toxicity and high transfection efficiency. The best lipid LHHK shows a pKa of 6.08, which is within the optimal pKa range of LNPs for siRNA delivery. The LHHK LNP efficiently silences IKKα and IKBKE in prostate and pancreatic cancer, respectively. Moreover, the LHHK LNP encapsulating IKBKE siRNA inhibits cell proliferation and suppresses tumor growth of pancreatic cancer in vivo. These results suggest that amino acid-modified lipids possess a great potential for siRNA delivery in cancer therapy.

Tailoring combinatorial lipid nanoparticles for intracellular delivery of nucleic acids, proteins, and drugs

Lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-based drug delivery systems have become the most clinically advanced non-viral delivery technology. LNPs can encapsulate and deliver a wide variety of bioactive agents, including the small molecule drugs, proteins and peptides, and nucleic acids. However, as the physicochemical properties of small- and macromolecular cargos can vary drastically, every LNP carrier system needs to be carefully tailored in order to deliver the cargo molecules in a safe and efficient manner. Our group applied the combinatorial library synthesis approach and in vitro and in vivo screening strategy for the development of LNP delivery systems for drug delivery. In this Review, we highlight our recent progress in the design, synthesis, characterization, evaluation, and optimization of combinatorial LNPs with novel structures and properties for the delivery of small- and macromolecular therapeutics both in vitro and in vivo. These delivery systems have enormous potentials for cancer therapy, antimicrobial applications, gene silencing, genome editing, and more. We also discuss the key challenges to the mechanistic study and clinical translation of new LNP-enabled therapeutics.

Potential Method of Autophagy Imaging with Cationized Gelatin Nanospheres Incorporating Molecular Beacon

The objective of this research is to develop an imaging method with cationized gelatin nanospheres incorporating molecular beacon (cGNS_MB) to visualize an autophagy activity in living cells. Cationized gelatin nanospheres (cGNS) were prepared by the conventional coacervation method, and then molecular beacon (MB) was incorporated into them. The cGNS_MB prepared were internalized into cells at a high efficiency. In this study, a starvation medium of serum and amino acids-free was used to induce autophagy. The autophagy activity was confirmed by an immunofluorescence staining for microtubule-associated proteins light chain 3B (LC3B) of an autophagy specific protein. With the autophagy induction time, the number of LC3 fluorescent dots increased, which indicated an increased autophagy activity. As the autophagy-related genes, sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1) and cathepsin F (CTSF), which up-regulate after autophagy induction, were chosen as the targets of cGNS_MB. The fluorescence intensity of cGNS_MB targeting to SQSTM1 and CTSF increased with the starvation treatment time, which well corresponded with the gene expression results. When applied to cells in different autophagy conditions, the cGNS_MB visualized the autophagy activity corresponding with the autophagy condition of cells. From the results obtained, it was concluded that the cGNS_MB provide a promising method to visualize the autophagy of cells. The advantage of cGNS_MB visualization is to obtain the temporal and spatial information without destroying sample cells.

Chitosan Hydrogel Supplemented with Metformin Promotes Neuron-like Cell Differentiation of Gingival Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Human gingival mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) are derived from migratory neural crest stem cells and have the potential to differentiate into neurons. Metformin can inhibit stem–cell aging and promotes the regeneration and development of neurons. In this study, we investigated the potential of metformin as an enhancer on neuronal differentiation of GMSCs in the growth environment of chitosan hydrogel. The crosslinked chitosan/β–glycerophosphate hydrogel can form a perforated microporous structure that is suitable for cell growth and channels to transport water and macromolecules. GMSCs have powerful osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic abilities in the induction medium supplemented with metformin. After induction in an induction medium supplemented with metformin, Western blot and immunofluorescence results showed that GMSCs differentiated into neuron–like cells with a significantly enhanced expression of neuro–related markers, including Nestin (NES) and β–Tubulin (TUJ1). Proteomics was used to construct protein profiles in neural differentiation, and the results showed that chitosan hydrogels containing metformin promoted the upregulation of neural regeneration–related proteins, including ATP5F1, ATP5J, NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) Fe–S protein 3 (NDUFS3), and Glutamate Dehydrogenase 1 (GLUD1). Our results help to promote the clinical application of stem–cell neural regeneration.

Nanoparticle-based non-viral CRISPR delivery for enhanced immunotherapy

The CRISPR Cas9 system has received considerable attention due to its simplicity, efficiency, and high precision for gene editing. The development of various therapeutic applications of the CRISPR system is under active research. In particular, its proven effects and promise in immunotherapy are of note. CRISPR/Cas9 components can be transported in various forms, such as plasmid DNA, mRNA of the Cas9 protein with gRNA, or a ribonucleoprotein complex. Even with its proven gene editing superiority, there are limitations in delivering the CRISPR system to target cells. CRISPR systems can be delivered via physical methods, viral vectors, or non-viral carriers. The development of diverse types of nanoparticles that could be used as non-viral carriers could overcome the disadvantages of physical techniques and viral vectors such as low cell viability, induction of immune response, limited loading capacity, and lack of targeting ability. Herein, we review the recent developments in applications of CRISPR system-mediated non-viral carriers in immunotherapy, depending on the targeting cell types, and discuss future research directions.

Recent advances of biomaterials in stem cell therapies

Stem cells have been utilized as 'living drugs' in clinics for decades. Their self-renewal, differentiation, and immunomodulating properties provide potential solutions for a variety of malignant diseases and disorders. However, the pathological environment may diminish the therapeutic functions and survival of the transplanted stem cells, causing failure in clinical translation. To overcome these challenges, researchers have developed biomaterial-based strategies that facilitatein vivotracking, functional engineering, and protective delivery of stem cells, paving the way for next-generation stem cell therapies. In this perspective, we briefly overview different types of stem cells and the major clinical challenges and summarize recent progress of biomaterials applied to boost stem cell therapies.

Non-viral delivery of the CRISPR/Cas system: DNA versus RNA versus RNP

Since its discovery, the CRISPR/Cas technology has rapidly become an essential tool in modern biomedical research. The opportunities to specifically modify and correct genomic DNA has also raised big hope...

Developing Biodegradable Lipid Nanoparticles for Intracellular mRNA Delivery and Genome Editing

Since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization for two mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, mRNA-based technology has attracted broad attention from the scientific community to investors. When delivered intracellularly, mRNA has the ability to produce various therapeutic proteins, enabling the treatment of a variety of illnesses, including but not limited to infectious diseases, cancers, and genetic diseases. Accordingly, mRNA holds significant therapeutic potential and provides a promising means to target historically hard-to-treat diseases. Current clinical efforts harnessing mRNA-based technology are focused on vaccination, cancer immunotherapy, protein replacement therapy, and genome editing. The clinical translation of mRNA-based technology has been made possible by leveraging nanoparticle delivery methods. However, the application of mRNA for therapeutic purposes is still challenged by the need for specific, efficient, and safe delivery systems.This Account highlights key advances in designing and developing combinatorial synthetic lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) with distinct chemical structures and properties for in vitro and in vivo intracellular mRNA delivery. LNPs represent the most advanced nonviral nanoparticle delivery systems that have been extensively investigated for nucleic acid delivery. The aforementioned COVID-19 mRNA vaccines and one LNP-based small interfering RNA (siRNA) drug (ONPATTRO) have received clinical approval from the FDA, highlighting the success of synthetic ionizable lipids for in vivo nucleic acid delivery. In this Account, we first summarize the research efforts from our group on the development of bioreducible and biodegradable LNPs by leveraging the combinatorial chemistry strategy, such as the Michael addition reaction, which allows us to easily generate a large set of lipidoids with diverse chemical structures. Next, we discuss the utilization of a library screening strategy to identify optimal LNPs for targeted mRNA delivery and showcase the applications of the optimized LNPs in cell engineering and genome editing. Finally, we outline key challenges to the clinical translation of mRNA-based therapies and propose an outlook for future directions of the chemical design and optimization of LNPs to improve the safety and specificity of mRNA drugs. We hope this Account provides insight into the rational design of LNPs for facilitating the development of mRNA therapeutics, a transformative technology that promises to revolutionize future medicine.

Lipid nanoparticles for mRNA delivery

Messenger RNA (mRNA) has emerged as a new category of therapeutic agent to prevent and treat various diseases. To function in vivo, mRNA requires safe, effective and stable delivery systems that protect the nucleic acid from degradation and that allow cellular uptake and mRNA release. Lipid nanoparticles have successfully entered the clinic for the delivery of mRNA; in particular, lipid nanoparticle-mRNA vaccines are now in clinical use against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which marks a milestone for mRNA therapeutics. In this Review, we discuss the design of lipid nanoparticles for mRNA delivery and examine physiological barriers and possible administration routes for lipid nanoparticle-mRNA systems. We then consider key points for the clinical translation of lipid nanoparticle-mRNA formulations, including good manufacturing practice, stability, storage and safety, and highlight preclinical and clinical studies of lipid nanoparticle-mRNA therapeutics for infectious diseases, cancer and genetic disorders. Finally, we give an outlook to future possibilities and remaining challenges for this promising technology.

Lipophilic Polyamines as Promising Components of Liposomal Gene Delivery Systems

Gene therapy requires an effective and safe delivery vehicle for nucleic acids. In the case of non-viral vehicles, including cationic liposomes, the structure of compounds composing them determines the efficiency a lot. Currently, cationic amphiphiles are the most frequently used compounds in liposomal formulations. In their structure, which is a combination of hydrophobic and cationic domains and includes spacer groups, each component contributes to the resulting delivery efficiency. This review focuses on polycationic and disulfide amphiphiles as prospective cationic amphiphiles for gene therapy and includes a discussion of the mutual influence of structural components.

Therapeutic Genome Editing and In Vivo Delivery

Improvements in the understanding of human genetics and its roles in disease development and prevention have led to an increased interest in therapeutic genome editing via the use of engineered nucleases. Various approaches have been explored in the past focusing on the development of an effective and safe system for sequence-specific editing. Compared to earlier nucleases such as zinc finger nuclease and transcription activator-like effector nuclease, the relatively low cost and ease of producing clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) systems have made therapeutic genome editing significantly more feasible. CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing has shown great potential to correct genetic mutations implicated in monogenic diseases and to eradicate latent or chronic viral infections in preclinical studies. Several CRISPR/Cas9-based therapeutics have reached the clinical stage, including treatments for inherited red blood cell disorders and Leber Congenital Amaurosis 10, as well as CRISPR/Cas9-edited T cells designed to target and destroy cancer cells. Further advances in therapeutic genome editing will rely on a safe and more efficient method of in vivo CRISPR/Cas9 delivery and improved efficiency of homology-directed repair for site-specific gene insertion or replacement. While other reviews have focused on one or two aspects of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, this review aims to provide a summary of the mechanisms of genome editing, the reasons for the emerging interest in CRISPR/Cas9 compared to other engineered nucleases, the current progress in developing CRISPR/Cas9 delivery systems, and the current preclinical and clinical applications of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing.