Biosafety materials: Ushering in a new era of infectious disease diagnosis and treatment with the CRISPR/Cas system

Advances in nanoplatform-based multimodal combination therapy activating STING pathway for enhanced anti-tumor immunotherapy

Activation of the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase(cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) has great potential to promote antitumor immunity. As a major effector of the cell to sense and respond to the aberrant presence of cytoplasmic double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), inducing the expression and secretion of type I interferons (IFN) and STING, cGAS-STING signaling pathway establishes an effective natural immune response, which is one of the fundamental mechanisms of host defense in organisms. In addition to the release of heterologous DNA due to pathogen invasion and replication, mitochondrial damage and massive cell death can also cause abnormal leakage of the body's own dsDNA, which is then recognized by the DNA receptor cGAS and activates the cGAS-STING signaling pathway. However, small molecule STING agonists suffer from rapid excretion, low bioavailability, non-specificity and adverse effects, which limits their therapeutic efficacy and in vivo application. Various types of nano-delivery systems, on the other hand, make use of the different unique structures and surface modifications of nanoparticles to circumvent the defects of small molecule STING agonists such as fast metabolism and low bioavailability. Also, the nanoparticles are precisely directed to the focal site, with their own appropriate particle size combined with the characteristics of passive or active targeting. Herein, combined with the cGAS-STING pathway to activate the immune system and kill tumor tissues directly or indirectly, which help maximize the use of the functions of chemotherapy, photothermal therapy(PTT), chemodynamic therapy(CDT), and radiotherapy(RT). In this review, we will discuss the mechanism of action of the cGAS-STING pathway and introduce nanoparticle-mediated tumor combination therapy based on the STING pathway. Collectively, the effective multimodal nanoplatform, which can activate cGAS-STING pathway for enhanced anti-tumor immunotherapy, has promising avenue clinical applications for cancer treatment.

Photothermal therapy combined with a STING agonist induces pyroptosis, and gasdermin D could be a new biomarker for guiding the treatment of pancreatic cancer

PURPOSE

Although photothermal therapy (PTT) can induce antitumour immunity, the mechanisms underlying its effects in pancreatic cancer (PC) require further exploration. In this study, the mechanism of action of PTT and its connection to pyroptosis as well as the therapeutic potential of PTT alone and in combination with STING agonists, were investigated. In addition, a biomarker of PC was found to stratify patients who are suitable for PTT.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We explored whether PTT can induce pyroptosis in vitro and evaluated the therapeutic efficacy and antitumour immunity-inducing ability of PTT combined with STING agonist (c-di-GMP) as immune adjuvant in vivo in PC. We also evaluated gasdermin D (GSDMD) expression in tumour tissues and investigated drug sensitivity in patient-derived organoids (PDOs) with differential GSDMD expression.

RESULTS

Our study demonstrated that local PTT induces pyroptosis via the caspase-1/GSDMD pathway and elicits antitumour immunity. PTT combined with a STING agonist exhibits better therapeutic efficacy than PTT alone while limiting distant tumour metastasis, and enhances the immune response by promoting dendritic cell maturation, increasing the frequency of tumour infiltrating T cells, and converting macrophages from the M2 to the M1 phenotype. In addition, we found that GSDMD is highly expressed in tumour tissues and that overexpression of GSDMD in PC might suggest increased resistance to chemotherapy and the potential benefits of local therapy. We further confirmed that PDOs with higher GSDMD expression are less sensitive to a chemotherapeutic agent (5-Fluorouracil) than PDOs with lower GSDMD expression, making GSDMD a new biomarker for identifying patients who may benefit from PTT.

CONCLUSIONS

In this work, c-di-GMP was used as an immune adjuvant for PTT to treat PC for the first time, and the results provide clues for the development of novel combination immunotherapies that simultaneously suppress primary tumours and distant metastases. GSDMD has great potential as a new biomarker for the selection of individualized treatment modalities.

CRISPR technology in human diseases

Gene editing is a growing gene engineering technique that allows accurate editing of a broad spectrum of gene-regulated diseases to achieve curative treatment and also has the potential to be used as an adjunct to the conventional treatment of diseases. Gene editing technology, mainly based on clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein systems, which is capable of generating genetic modifications in somatic cells, provides a promising new strategy for gene therapy for a wide range of human diseases. Currently, gene editing technology shows great application prospects in a variety of human diseases, not only in therapeutic potential but also in the construction of animal models of human diseases. This paper describes the application of gene editing technology in hematological diseases, solid tumors, immune disorders, ophthalmological diseases, and metabolic diseases; focuses on the therapeutic strategies of gene editing technology in sickle cell disease; provides an overview of the role of gene editing technology in the construction of animal models of human diseases; and discusses the limitations of gene editing technology in the treatment of diseases, which is intended to provide an important reference for the applications of gene editing technology in the human disease.

Antibody-platinum (IV) prodrugs conjugates for targeted treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a new type of targeting antibodies that conjugate with highly toxic anticancer drugs via chemical linkers to exert high specificity and efficient killing of tumor cells, thereby attracting considerable attention in precise oncology therapy. Cetuximab (Cet) is a typical antibody that offers the benefits of good targeting and safety for individuals with advanced and inoperable cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC); however, its anti-tumor activity is limited to a single use. Cisplatin (CisPt) shows good curative effects; however, its adverse effects and non-tumor-targeting ability are major drawbacks. In this study, we designed and developed a new ADC based on a new cytotoxic platinum (IV) prodrug (C8Pt(IV)) and Cet. The so-called antibody-platinum (IV) prodrugs conjugates, named Cet-C8Pt(IV), showed excellent tumor targeting in cSCC. Specifically, it accurately delivered C8Pt(IV) into tumor cells to exert the combined anti-tumor effect of Cet and CisPt. Herein, metabolomic analysis showed that Cet-C8Pt(IV) promoted cellular apoptosis and increased DNA damage in cSCC cells by affecting the vitamin B6 metabolic pathway in tumor cells, thereby further enhancing the tumor-killing ability and providing a new strategy for clinical cancer treatment using antibody-platinum (IV) prodrugs conjugates.

Simultaneous Activation of Pyroptosis and cGAS-STING Pathway with Epigenetic/ Photodynamic Nanotheranostic for Enhanced Tumor Photoimmunotherapy

Promoting innate immunity through pyroptosis induction or the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon gene (cGAS-STING) pathway activation has emerged as a potent approach to counteract the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and elicit systemic antitumor immunity. However, current pyroptosis inducers and STING agonists often suffer from limitations including instability, unpredictable side effects, or inadequate intracellular expression of gasdermin and STING. Here, a tumor-specific nanotheranostic platform that combines photodynamic therapy (PDT) with epigenetic therapy to simultaneously activate pyroptosis and the cGAS-STING pathway in a light-controlled manner is constructed. This approach involves the development of oxidation-sensitive nanoparticles (NP1) loaded with the photosensitizer TBE, along with decitabine nanomicelles (NP2). NP2 enables the restoration of STING and gasdermin E (GSDME) expression, while NP1-mediated PDT facilitates the release of DNA fragments from damaged mitochondria to potentiate the cGAS-STING pathway, and promotes the activation of caspase-3 to cleave the upregulated GSDME into pore-forming GSDME-N terminal. Subsequently, the released inflammatory cytokines facilitate the maturation of antigen-presentation cells, triggering T cell-mediated antitumor immunity. Overall, this study presents an elaborate strategy for simultaneous photoactivation of pyroptosis and the cGAS-STING pathway, enabling targeted photoimmunotherapy in immunotolerant tumors. This innovative approach holds significant promise in overcoming the limitations associated with existing therapeutic modalities and represents a valuable avenue for future clinical applications.

Design of biodegradable polyurethanes and post-modification with long alkyl chains via inhibiting biofilm formation and killing drug-resistant bacteria for the treatment of wound bacterial infection

The development of cationic polymers that simulate antimicrobial peptides to treat bacterial infections has received much research interest. In order to obtain polymers that can not only eradicate bacteria but also inhibit biofilm formation, without inducing bacterial drug resistance, a series of cationic polymers have been developed. Despite recent progress, the chemical structures of these polymers are stable, making them recalcitrant to biodegradation and metabolism within organisms, potentially inducing long-term toxicity. To overcome this limitation, herein, a novel strategy of designing biodegradable polyurethanes with tertiary amines and quaternary ammonium salts via condensation polymerization and post-functionalizing them is reported. These polymers were found to exhibit potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, effectively prevent the formation of Staphylococcus aureus biofilms, act quickly and effectively against bacteria and display no resistance after repeated use. In addition, the potent in vivo antibacterial effects of these antimicrobial polyurethanes in a mouse model with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin infection are demonstrated.

Bioorthogonal Guided Activation of cGAS-STING by AIE Photosensitizer Nanoparticles for Targeted Tumor Therapy and Imaging

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) leverage reactive oxygen species (ROS) and control local hyperthermia by photosensitizer to perturb intracellular redox equilibrium, inducing DNA damage in both mitochondria and nucleus, activating the cGAS-STING pathway, ultimately eliciting antitumor immune responses. However, current photosensitizers are encumbered by limitations such as suboptimal tumor targeting, aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ), and restricted excitation and emission wavelengths. Here, this work designs novel nanoparticles based on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) photosensitizer (BODTPE) for targeted tumor therapy and near-infrared II fluorescence imaging (NIR-II FLI) with enhanced PDT/PTT effects. BODTPE is employed as a monomer, dibenzocyclooctyne (DBCO)-PEG2k -amine serving as an end-capping polymer, to synthesize a BODTPE-containing polymer (DBD). Further, through self-assembly, DBD and mPEG-DSPE2k combined to form nanoparticles (NP-DBD). Notably, the DBCO on the surface of NP-DBD can react with azide groups on cancer cells pretreated with Ac4 ManNAz through a copper-free click reaction. This innovative formulation led to targeted accumulation of NP-DBD within tumor sites, a phenomenon convincingly demonstrated in murine tumor models subjected to N-azidoacetylmannosamine-tetraacylated (Ac4 ManNAz) pretreatment. Significantly, NP-DBD exhibits a multifaceted effect encompassing PDT/PTT/NIR-II FLI upon 808 nm laser irradiation, thereby better activating the cGAS-STING pathway, culminating in a compelling tumor inhibition effect augmented by robust immune modulation.

Copper Increases the Sensitivity of Cholangiocarcinoma Cells to Tripterine by Inhibiting TMX2-Mediated Unfolded Protein Reaction Activation

Chemotherapy-induced adaptive resistance is a significant factor that contributes to low therapeutic efficacy in tumor cells. The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a key mechanism in the development of drug resistance and serves as a critical reactive system for endoplasmic reticulum stress. Cu(II) can reduce the abundance of 60S ribosomal subunits and inhibit rRNA processing, leading to a decrease in the translation efficiency of the GRP78/BiP mRNA, which serves as a primary sensor for UPR activation. In this study, CuET-Lipid@Cela, composed of CuET and tripterine (Cela), demonstrates a significant synergistic antitumor effect on cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cells. RNA-Seq is used to investigate the underlying mechanism, which suggests that the transmembrane protein 2 (TMX2) gene may be crucial in Cu(II) regulation of UPR by inhibiting the activation of GRP78/BiP and PERK/eIF2α. The synergistic antitumor efficacy of CuET-Lipid@Cela via inhibition of TMX2 is also confirmed in a myrAKT/YapS127A plasmid-induced primary CCA mouse model, providing new insights into the reversal of acquired chemotherapy-induced resistance in CCA.

Lipid-based nanocarrier mediated CRISPR/Cas9 delivery for cancer therapy

CRISPR/Cas mediated gene-editing has opened new avenues for therapies that show great potential for treating or curing cancers, genetic disorders, and microbial infections such as HIV. CRISPR/Cas9 tool is highly efficacious in revolutionizing the advent of genome editing; however, its efficient and safe delivery is a major hurdle due to its cellular impermeability and instability. Nano vectors could be explored to scale up the safe and effective delivery of CRISPR/Cas9. This review highlights the importance of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system in cancer treatment along with the effect of lipid-based nanoparticles in its safe delivery to cancer cells. The solid-lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carrier, lipid nanoparticles and niosomes have shown great effect in the delivery of CRISPR compounds to the cancer cells. The design and genome editing application in cancer therapy has been discussed along with the future concern and prospects of lipid nanoparticle based CRISPR/Cas9 has been focused toward the end.

mRNA-based modalities for infectious disease management

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still rampant all over the world, causing incalculable losses to the world. Major pharmaceutical organizations around the globe are focusing on vaccine research and drug development to prevent further damage caused by the pandemic. The messenger RNA (mRNA) technology has got ample of attention after the success of the two very effective mRNA vaccines during the recent pandemic of COVID-19. mRNA vaccine has been promoted to the core stage of pharmaceutical industry, and the rapid development of mRNA technology has exceeded expectations. Beyond COVID-19, the mRNA vaccine has been tested for various infectious diseases and undergoing clinical trials. Due to the ability of constant mutation, the viral infections demand abrupt responses and immediate production, and therefore mRNA-based technology offers best answers to sudden outbreaks. The need for mRNA-based vaccine became more obvious due to the recent emergence of new Omicron variant. In this review, we summarized the unique properties of mRNA-based vaccines for infectious diseases, delivery technologies, discussed current challenges, and highlighted the prospects of this promising technology in the future. We also discussed various clinical studies as well preclinical studies conducted on mRNA therapeutics for diverse infectious diseases.