The recent progresses in shRNA-nanoparticle conjugate as a therapeutic approach

Significance of gene therapy in neurodegenerative diseases

Gene therapy is an approach that employs vectors to deliver genetic material to target cells, aiming to correct genes with pathogenic mutations and modulate one or more genes responsible for disease progression. It holds significant value for clinical applications and offers broad market potential due to the large patient population affected by various conditions. For instance, in 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 55 new drugs, including five specifically for gene therapy targeting hematologic and rare diseases. Recently, with advancements in understanding the pathogenesis and development of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), gene therapy has emerged as a promising avenue for treating Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), particularly in personalized medicine. Notably, the FDA has approved three clinical applications for combating SMA, utilizing viral vectors delivered via intravenous and intrathecal injections. However, gene therapy for other NDDs remains in clinical trials, necessitating improvements in viral vectors, exploration of new vectors, optimization of delivery routes, and further investigation into pathogenesis to identify novel targets. This review discusses recent advancements in gene therapy for NDDs, offering insights into developing new therapeutic strategies.

Non-Coding RNAs in Cancer: Structure, Function, and Clinical Application

We are on the brink of a paradigm shift in both theoretical and clinical oncology. Genomic and transcriptomic profiling, alongside personalized approaches that account for individual patient variability, are increasingly shaping discourse. Discussions on the future of personalized cancer medicine are mainly dominated by the potential of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which play a prominent role in cancer progression and metastasis formation by regulating the expression of oncogenic or tumor suppressor proteins at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels; furthermore, their cell-free counterparts might be involved in intercellular communication. Non-coding RNAs are considered to be promising biomarker candidates for early diagnosis of cancer as well as potential therapeutic agents. This review aims to provide clarity amidst the vast body of literature by focusing on diverse species of ncRNAs, exploring the structure, origin, function, and potential clinical applications of miRNAs, siRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs, snRNAs, snoRNAs, eRNAs, paRNAs, YRNAs, vtRNAs, and piRNAs. We discuss molecular methods used for their detection or functional studies both in vitro and in vivo. We also address the challenges that must be overcome to enter a new era of cancer diagnosis and therapy that will reshape the future of oncology.

Nanoparticles Bounded to Interfering RNAs as a Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review

Pancreatic cancer is one of the tumors with poor prognosis and low survival due to late diagnosis, high resistance, and very limited effective therapeutic options. Thus, new pharmacological treatments are necessary to improve the prognosis of patients. In this context, nanoparticles represent an efficient system for transporting and administering therapeutic molecules. Furthermore, siRNA can be used in cancer treatment to selectively inhibit the expression of any target gene. Therefore, nanoparticles associated with siRNA have been tested as a new therapeutic strategy to solve the pancreatic cancer treatment failure in the clinical setting. The current article presents a systematic revision of the literature of the last 10 years in which nanoparticles loading siRNA are used in pancreatic cancer. This research was carried out in three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) obtaining 164 articles from which 37 were selected. Our results show an overall view of the high effectiveness of this new therapy that combines nanoparticles with genetic therapy in pancreatic cancer suggesting that siRNA-based medicines will likely open up a new therapeutic era in the treatment of this type of tumors.

Unlocking Therapeutic Potential: Enhanced shRNA Delivery with Tat Peptide in the Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Treatment

PURPOSE

This research investigated the development of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules designed to target specific regions of the human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) M and F genes. The study aimed to assess the therapeutic potential of these shRNAs and evaluate the effectiveness of Tat peptide-mediated delivery in enhancing their functionality.

METHODS

We acquired isolates from pediatric patients experiencing respiratory illness then cultured in HEp-2 cells. We constructed plasmids expressing shRNAs. Tat peptide as a facilitator for shRNA plasmid delivery was used. The cytotoxicity of ribavirin, shRNA constructs, and control agents was assessed using the MTT assay. The transfection efficiency of Tat peptide-mediated shRNA delivery with that of lipofectamine 3000TM were compared. Finally, real-time PCR was employed to quantify HRSV replication in the treated cells.

RESULTS

Tat peptide-mediated delivery of shRNA plasmids significantly suppressed the expression of the M and F genes of HRSV compared to lipofectamine 3000TM. This suppression was evident in both short-term experiments and scenarios involving stable shRNA expression. Furthermore, the combination of ribavirin with shRNA treatment resulted in a substantial reduction in viral load. Notably, the most pronounced antiviral effect was observed when both shRNAs were employed simultaneously.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that Tat peptide-mediated delivery of shRNA plasmids holds significant potential for achieving stable suppression of HRSV genes. This approach warrants further investigation as a potential gene therapy strategy for HRSV. By demonstrating promising results in vitro, this study highlights the need for future in vivo studies to comprehensively evaluate the therapeutic potential of this approach in a clinical setting.

Advanced nanoparticle strategies for optimizing RNA therapeutic delivery in neurodegenerative disorders

Neurodegenerative diseases affect many people worldwide, and as the population ages, the incidence of these conditions increases. Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders worldwide. Different medicines are being used to control symptoms related to these conditions, but no treatment has yet been approved. Both genetic and environmental factors are involved in disease pathogenesis, and research on the pathophysiological pathways is still ongoing. The role of subcellular pathways and dysregulation in RNA pathways has been highlighted in pathophysiological studies, and treatment strategies focused on these pathways can be a promising approach. Many experiments have been conducted on delivering RNA cargo to the CNS to modulate various pathways involved. Yet another challenge to be faced is the effective transport of desired molecules to targets, which can be greatly hindered by distinct barriers limiting transport to the CNS, most noticeably the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Nanotechnology and the use of different nano-carriers for the delivery of nucleotides, peptides, proteins, and drug molecules are currently of great interest as these carriers help with better delivery and protection and, as a result, improve the effectiveness of the cargo. Nanocarriers can protect susceptible RNA molecules from possible degradation or destruction and improve their ability to reach the brain by enhancing BBB penetration. Different mechanisms for this process have been hypothesized. This review will go through the therapeutic application of RNA molecules in the treatment of AD and PD and the role of nanocarriers in overcoming delivery challenges and enhancing efficacy.

Types of RNA therapeutics

RNA therapy is one of the new treatments using small RNA molecules to target and regulate gene expression. It involves the application of synthetic or modified RNA molecules to inhibit the expression of disease-causing genes specifically. In other words, it silences genes and suppresses the transcription process. The main theory behind RNA therapy is that RNA molecules can prevent the translation into proteins by binding to specific messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules. By targeting disease-related mRNA molecules, RNA therapy can effectively silence or reduce the development of harmful proteins. There are different types of RNA molecules used in therapy, including small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), aptamer, ribozyme, and antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs). These molecules are designed to complement specific mRNA sequences, allowing them to bind and degrade the targeted mRNA or prevent its translation into protein. Nanotechnology is also highlighted to increase the efficacy of RNA-based drugs. In this chapter, while examining various methods of RNA therapy, we discuss the advantages and challenges of each.

Unraveling the Nrf2-ARE Signaling Pathway in the DF-1 Chicken Fibroblast Cell Line: Insights into T-2 Toxin-Induced Oxidative Stress Regulation

The T-2 toxin (T2) poses a major threat to the health and productivity of animals. The present study aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanism of Nrf2 derived from broilers against T2-induced oxidative damage. DF-1 cells, including those with normal characteristics, as well as those overexpressing or with a knockout of specific components, were exposed to a 24 h treatment of 50 nM T2. The primary objective was to evaluate the indicators associated with oxidative stress and the expression of downstream antioxidant factors regulated by the Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway, at both the mRNA and protein levels. The findings of this study demonstrated a noteworthy relationship between the up-regulation of the Nrf2 protein and a considerable reduction in the oxidative stress levels within DF-1 cells (p < 0.05). Furthermore, this up-regulation was associated with a notable increase in the mRNA and protein levels of antioxidant factors downstream of the Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway (p < 0.05). Conversely, the down-regulation of the Nrf2 protein was linked to a marked elevation in oxidative stress levels in DF-1 cells (p < 0.05). Additionally, this down-regulation resulted in a significant decrease in both the mRNA and protein expression of antioxidant factors (p < 0.05). This experiment lays a theoretical foundation for investigating the detrimental impacts of T2 on broiler chickens. It also establishes a research framework for employing the Nrf2 protein in broiler chicken production and breeding. Moreover, it introduces novel insights for the prospective management of oxidative stress-related ailments in the livestock and poultry industry.

Preclinical study of LMP1-RNAi-based anti-tumor therapy in EBV-positive nasopharyngeal carcinoma

RNA interference (RNAi) treatment has been proven to be an important therapeutic approach in cancer based on downregulation of target-oncogenes, but its clinical efficacy still needs further investigation. LMP1 is usually presented by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive tumor cells like EBV-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and acts as an oncogene in tumorigenesis. However, the mechanism of LMP1 as a proto-oncogene in nasopharyngeal carcinoma is still unclear. Two sequence-specific shRNAs 1 and 2 were designed to target the different nucleotide loci of EBV latent antigen LMP1 gene and a series of in vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to investigate the therapeutic effect of sequence-specific shRNAs targeting LMP1 and its related molecular mechanisms in EBV-positive NPC. LMP1-shRNA2 generated a truncated LMP1 mRNA and protein, whereas LMP1-shRNA1 completely blocked LMP1 mRNA and protein expression. Both LMP1-shRNAs inhibited the proliferation and migration of NPC cells overexpressing LMP1 (NPC-LMP1) as well as the NPC-associated myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) expansion in vitro. However, LMP1-shRNA2 maintained the immunogenicity of NPC-LMP1 cells, which provoked MHC-class I-dependent T cell recognition. LMP1-shRNAs inhibited tumor growth in nude mice but did not reach statistical significance compared to control groups, while the LDH nanoparticle loaded LMP1-shRNAs and the antigen-specific T cells induced by NPC-LMP1 cells treated with LMP1-shRNA2 significantly reduced tumor growth in vivo. LMP1-RNAi-based anti-tumor therapy could be a new hope for the clinical efficacy of RNAi treatment of tumors like NPC.

Nanoparticles design considerations to co-deliver nucleic acids and anti-cancer drugs for chemoresistance reversal

Chemoresistance and hence the consequent treatment failure is considerably challenging in clinical cancer therapeutics. The understanding of the genetic variations in chemoresistance acquisition encouraged the use of gene modulatory approaches to restore anti-cancer drug efficacy. Many smart nanoparticles are designed and optimized to mediate combinational therapy between nucleic acid and anti-cancer drugs. This review aims to define a rational design of such co-loaded nanocarriers with the aim of chemoresistance reversal at various cellular levels to improve the therapeutic outcome of anticancer treatment. Going through the principles of therapeutics loading, physicochemical characteristics tuning, and different nanocarrier modifications, also looking at combination effectiveness on chemosensitivity restoration. Up to now, these emerging nanocarriers are in development status but are expected to introduce outstanding outcomes.

Message in hand: the application of CRISPRi, RNAi, and LncRNA in adenocarcinoma

Gene editing interference technology has been flourishing for more than 30 years. It has always been a common means to interfere with the expression of particular genes. Today it has shown a broad application prospect in clinical treatment, especially in adenocarcinoma treatment. In just a few years, the CRISPRi technology has attracted much z attention with its precise targeting and convenient operability significantly promoted the transformation from bench to bedside, and won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2020. In recent years, the importance of non-coding RNA has led LncRNA research to the center. At the same time, it also recalls the surprises obtained in laboratory and clinic research by RNAi technologies such as microRNA, siRNA, and shRNA at the beginning of the century. Therefore, this article focuses on CRISPRi, RNAi, and LncRNA to review their gene interference mechanisms currently expected to be translational research. Their applications and differences in adenocarcinoma research will also be described powerfully. It will provide a helpful reference for scientists to understand better and apply several RNA interference technologies.

The long and short non-coding RNAs modulating EZH2 signaling in cancer

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a large family of RNA molecules with no capability in encoding proteins. However, they participate in developmental and biological processes and their abnormal expression affects cancer progression. These RNA molecules can function as upstream mediators of different signaling pathways and enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is among them. Briefly, EZH2 belongs to PRCs family and can exert functional roles in cells due to its methyltransferase activity. EZH2 affects gene expression via inducing H3K27me3. In the present review, our aim is to provide a mechanistic discussion of ncRNAs role in regulating EZH2 expression in different cancers. MiRNAs can dually induce/inhibit EZH2 in cancer cells to affect downstream targets such as Wnt, STAT3 and EMT. Furthermore, miRNAs can regulate therapy response of cancer cells via affecting EZH2 signaling. It is noteworthy that EZH2 can reduce miRNA expression by binding to promoter and exerting its methyltransferase activity. Small-interfering RNA (siRNA) and short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) are synthetic, short ncRNAs capable of reducing EZH2 expression and suppressing cancer progression. LncRNAs mainly regulate EZH2 expression via targeting miRNAs. Furthermore, lncRNAs induce EZH2 by modulating miRNA expression. Circular RNAs (CircRNAs), like lncRNAs, affect EZH2 expression via targeting miRNAs. These areas are discussed in the present review with a focus on molecular pathways leading to clinical translation.

Nanoparticle Delivery Platforms for RNAi Therapeutics Targeting COVID-19 Disease in the Respiratory Tract

Since December 2019, a pandemic of COVID-19 disease, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has rapidly spread across the globe. At present, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued emergency approval for the use of some antiviral drugs. However, these drugs still have limitations in the specific treatment of COVID-19, and as such, new treatment strategies urgently need to be developed. RNA-interference-based gene therapy provides a tractable target for antiviral treatment. Ensuring cell-specific targeted delivery is important to the success of gene therapy. The use of nanoparticles (NPs) as carriers for the delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNAs) to specific tissues or organs of the human body could play a crucial role in the specific therapy of severe respiratory infections, such as COVID-19. In this review, we describe a variety of novel nanocarriers, such as lipid NPs, star polymer NPs, and glycogen NPs, and summarize the pre-clinical/clinical progress of these nanoparticle platforms in siRNA delivery. We also discuss the application of various NP-capsulated siRNA as therapeutics for SARS-CoV-2 infection, the challenges with targeting these therapeutics to local delivery in the lung, and various inhalation devices used for therapeutic administration. We also discuss currently available animal models that are used for preclinical assessment of RNA-interference-based gene therapy. Advances in this field have the potential for antiviral treatments of COVID-19 disease and could be adapted to treat a range of respiratory diseases.

New paradigm in combination therapy of siRNA with chemotherapeutic drugs for effective cancer therapy

Chemotherapeutics drugs play a pivotal role in the treatment of cancer. However, many issues generate by chemotherapy drugs, including unfavorable harm to healthy cells and multidrug resistance (MDR), persist and have a negative impact on therapeutic outcomes. When compared to monotherapy, combination cancer therapy has many advantages, like improving efficacy through synergistic effects and overcoming drug resistance. Combination treatment may comprise several chemotherapeutics drugs and combinations of chemotherapeutic drugs with some other therapeutic options such as surgery or radiation. Cancer treatment that utilizes co-delivery strategies with siRNA and chemotherapeutic drugs has been shown to have highly effective antitumor effects in the treatment of many cancers. However, the highly complex mechanisms of chemotherapeutic drugs-siRNA pairs during the co-delivery process have received little attention. The ideal combination of chemotherapeutic drugs with siRNA is very crucial for producing the desirable anticancer effects that would greatly enhance therapeutic efficiency. This review puts an emphasis on the logic for choosing suitable chemotherapeutic drug-siRNA combinations, which may open the way for the co-delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs and siRNA for treating cancer in the clinic. This review summarizes recent breakthrough in the area of diverse mechanism-based chemotherapeutic drugs-siRNA combinations in cancer treatment.

Nanotechnology-Assisted RNA Delivery: From Nucleic Acid Therapeutics to COVID-19 Vaccines

In recent years, the main quest of science has been the pioneering of the groundbreaking biomedical strategies needed for achieving a personalized medicine. Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) are outstanding bioactive macromolecules identified as pivotal actors in regulating a wide range of biochemical pathways. The ability to intimately control the cell fate and tissue activities makes RNA-based drugs the most fascinating family of bioactive agents. However, achieving a widespread application of RNA therapeutics in humans is still a challenging feat, due to both the instability of naked RNA and the presence of biological barriers aimed at hindering the entrance of RNA into cells. Recently, material scientists' enormous efforts have led to the development of various classes of nanostructured carriers customized to overcome these limitations. This work systematically reviews the current advances in developing the next generation of drugs based on nanotechnology-assisted RNA delivery. The features of the most used RNA molecules are presented, together with the development strategies and properties of nanostructured vehicles. Also provided is an in-depth overview of various therapeutic applications of the presented systems, including coronavirus disease vaccines and the newest trends in the field. Lastly, emerging challenges and future perspectives for nanotechnology-mediated RNA therapies are discussed.

Recent Advances and Challenges in Gene Delivery Mediated by Polyester-Based Nanoparticles

Gene therapy is a promising approach for the treatment of several diseases, such as chronic or viral infections, inherited disorders, and cancer. The cellular internalization of exogenous nucleic acids (NA) requires efficient delivery vehicles to overcome their inherent pharmacokinetic drawbacks, e.g. electrostatic repulsions, enzymatic degradation, limited cellular uptake, fast clearance, etc. Nanotechnological advancements have enabled the use of polymer-based nanostructured biomaterials as safe and effective gene delivery systems, in addition to viral vector delivery methods. Among the plethora of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs), this review will provide a comprehensive and in-depth summary of the polyester-based nanovehicles, including poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and polylactic acid (PLA) NPs, used to deliver a variety of foreign NA, e.g. short interfering RNA (siRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), and plasmid DNA (pDNA). The article will review the versatility of polyester-based nanocarriers including their recent application in the delivery of the clustered, regularly-interspaced, short palindromic repeats/Cas (CRISPR/Cas) genome editing system for treating gene-related diseases. The remaining challenges and future trend of the targeted delivery of this revolutionary genome-editing system will be discussed. Special attention will be given to the pivotal role of nanotechnology in tackling emerging infections such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): ground-breaking mRNA vaccines delivered by NPs are currently used worldwide to fight the pandemic, pushing the boundaries of gene therapy.

The impact of impaired DNA mobility on gene electrotransfer efficiency: analysis in 3D model

Background

Gene electrotransfer is an established method that enables transfer of DNA into cells with electric pulses. Several studies analyzed and optimized different parameters of gene electrotransfer, however, one of main obstacles toward efficient electrotransfection in vivo is relatively poor DNA mobility in tissues. Our aim was to analyze the effect of impaired mobility on gene electrotransfer efficiency experimentally and theoretically. We applied electric pulses with different durations on plated cells, cells grown on collagen layer and cells embedded in collagen gel (3D model) and analyzed gene electrotransfer efficiency. In order to analyze the effect of impaired mobility on gene electrotransfer efficiency, we applied electric pulses with different durations on plated cells, cells grown on collagen layer and cells embedded in collagen gel (3D model) and analyzed gene electrotransfer efficiency.

Results

We obtained the highest transfection in plated cells, while transfection efficiency of embedded cells in 3D model was lowest, similarly as in in vivo. To further analyze DNA diffusion in 3D model, we applied DNA on top or injected it into 3D model and showed, that for the former gene electrotransfer efficiency was similarly as in in vivo. The experimental results are explained with theoretical analysis of DNA diffusion and electromobility.

Conclusion

We show, empirically and theoretically that DNA has impaired electromobility and especially diffusion in collagen environment, where the latter crucially limits electrotransfection. Our model enables optimization of gene electrotransfer in in vitro conditions.

Deliver the promise: RNAs as a new class of molecular entities for therapy and vaccination

The concepts of developing RNAs as new molecular entities for therapies have arisen again and again since the discoveries of antisense RNAs, direct RNA-protein interactions, functional noncoding RNAs, and RNA-directed gene editing. The feasibility was demonstrated with the development and utilization of synthetic RNA agents to selectively control target gene expression, modulate protein functions or alter the genome to manage diseases. Rather, RNAs are labile to degradation and cannot cross cell membrane barriers, making it hard to develop RNA medications. With the development of viable RNA technologies, such as chemistry and pharmaceutics, eight antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) (fomivirsen, mipomersen, eteplirsen, nusinersen, inotersen, golodirsen, viltolarsen and casimersen), one aptamer (pegaptanib), and three small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) (patisiran, givosiran and lumasiran) have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for therapies, and two mRNA vaccines (BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273) under Emergency Use Authorization for the prevention of COVID-19. Therefore, RNAs have become a great addition to small molecules, proteins/antibodies, and cell-based modalities to improve the public health. In this article, we first summarize the general characteristics of therapeutic RNA agents, including chemistry, common delivery strategies, mechanisms of actions, and safety. By overviewing individual RNA medications and vaccines approved by the FDA and some agents under development, we illustrate the unique compositions and pharmacological actions of RNA products. A new era of RNA research and development will likely lead to commercialization of more RNA agents for medical use, expanding the range of therapeutic targets and increasing the diversity of molecular modalities.

Application of Nanomaterials in the Treatment and Diagnosis of Ophthalmology Diseases

Eye diseases often lead to impaired vision and seriously affect the daily life of patients. Local administration of ophthalmic drugs is one of the most important approaches for the treatment of ophthalmic diseases. However, due to the special biochemical environment of the ocular tissue and the existence of many barriers, the bioavailability of conventional ophthalmic preparations in the eye is very low. Nanomaterials can be utilized as carriers of drugs, which can improve the absorption, distribution, metabolism and bioavailability of drugs in eyes. Nanomaterials have also the advantages of small size, simple preparation, good degradability, strong targeting, and little stimulation to biological tissues, providing an innovative and practical method for the drug delivery of ophthalmic diseases. In addition, nanomaterials can be used as an auxiliary means for early diagnosis of ophthalmic diseases by improving the specificity and accuracy of detection methods. Nanomaterials help clinicians and researchers delve deeper into the physiology and pathology of the eye at the nanoscale. We summarize the application of nanomaterials in the diagnosis and treatment of ophthalmic diseases in this review.

Injectable in situ forming hydrogel gene depot to improve the therapeutic effect of STAT3 shRNA

Down-regulation of the signal transducer and activity of transcription 3 (Stat3) plays a crucial role in suppression of many solid tumors. Intratumoral injection of a gene carrier applying Stat3-small hairpin RNA (St3-shRNA) is a potential therapeutic strategy. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the intratumoral injection of St3-shRNA using a gene carrier. We herein designed biodegradable (methoxy)polyethylene glycol-b-(polycaprolactone-ran-polylactide) copolymer (MP) derivatized with a spermine group with cationic properties at the pendant position of the MP chain (MP-NH2). The designed MP-NH2 can act as a gene carrier of St3-shRNA by forming an electrostatic complex with cationic spermine. This can increase the stability of the complexes because of protection of PEG in biologic environments and can exhibit a sol-gel phase transition around body temperature for the formation of intratumorally injected MP-NH2 hydrogel depot for St3-shRNA. MP-NH2 was observed to completely condense with St3-shRNA to form St3-shRNA/MP-NH2 complexes. These complexes were protected for a relatively long time (≥72 h) from external biologic molecules of the serum, DNase, and heparin. St3-shRNA/MP-NH2 complexes in in vitro tumor cell experiments can enhance transfection of St3-shRNA, correspondingly enhance Stat3 knockdown efficiency, and inhibit tumor cell growth. St3-shRNA/MP-NH2 complexes and St3-shRNA/MP-NH2 complex-loaded hydrogel were intratumorally injected into the tumor as new efficient delivery carriers and depots of St3-shRNA. The intratumoral injection of St3-shRNA/MP-NH2 complexes and St3-shRNA/MP-NH2 complex-loaded hydrogel showed effective anti-tumor effect for an extended period of time due to the effect of Stat3 knockdown. Collectively, the development of MP-NH2 as a carrier and depot of St3-shRNA provides a new strategy for St3-shRNA therapy through intratumoral injection with high efficacy and minimal adverse effects.

The reversal of chemotherapy-induced multidrug resistance by nanomedicine for cancer therapy

Multidrug resistance (MDR) of cancer is a persistent problem in chemotherapy. Scientists have considered the overexpressed efflux transporters responsible for MDR and chemotherapy failure. MDR extremely limits the therapeutic effect of chemotherapy in cancer treatment. Many strategies have been applied to solve this problem. Multifunctional nanoparticles may be one of the most promising approaches to reverse MDR of tumor. These nanoparticles can keep stability in the blood circulation and selectively accumulated in the tumor microenvironment (TME) either by passive or active targeting. The stimuli-sensitive or organelle-targeting nanoparticles can release the drug at the targeted-site without exposure to normal tissues. In order to better understand reversal of MDR, three main strategies are concluded in this review. First strategy is the synergistic effect of chemotherapeutic drugs and ABC transporter inhibitors. Through directly inhibiting overexpressed ABC transporters, chemotherapeutic drugs can enter into resistant cells without being efflux. Second strategy is based on nanoparticles circumventing over-expressed efflux transporters and directly targeting resistance-related organelles. Third approach is the combination of multiple therapy modes overcoming cancer resistance. At last, numerous researches demonstrated cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) had a deep relation with drug resistance. Here, we discuss two different drug delivery approaches of nanomedicine based on CSC therapy.

Prospective vaccination of COVID-19 using shRNA-plasmid-LDH nanoconjugate

COVID-19 is the pandemic outbreak that is caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus from December, 2019. Human race do not know the curative measure of this devastating disease. In today's era of nanotechnology, it may use its knowledge to develop molecular vaccine to combat this disease. In this article we are intended to propose a hypothesis on the development of a vaccine that is molecular in nature to work against COVID-19. The nanoconjugate may comprise with the inorganic nanoparticle layered double hydroxide intercalated with shRNA-plasmid that have a sequence targeting towards the viral genome or viral mRNA. This nanoconjugate may be used as a nasal spray to deliver the shRNA-plasmid to the target site. The nanoconjugate will have several advantages such as they are biocompatible, they forms as stable knockdown to the target cells and they are stable in the nasal mucosa.

Lipid and Polymer-Based Nanoparticle siRNA Delivery Systems for Cancer Therapy

RNA interference (RNAi) uses small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to mediate gene-silencing in cells and represents an emerging strategy for cancer therapy. Successful RNAi-mediated gene silencing requires overcoming multiple physiological barriers to achieve efficient delivery of siRNAs into cells in vivo, including into tumor and/or host cells in the tumor micro-environment (TME). Consequently, lipid and polymer-based nanoparticle siRNA delivery systems have been developed to surmount these physiological barriers. In this article, we review the strategies that have been developed to facilitate siRNA survival in the circulatory system, siRNA movement from the blood into tissues and the TME, targeted siRNA delivery to the tumor or specific cell types, cellular uptake, and escape from endosomal degradation. We also discuss the use of various types of lipid and polymer-based carriers for cancer therapy, including a section on anti-tumor nanovaccines enhanced by siRNAs. Finally, we review current and recent clinical trials using NPs loaded with siRNAs for cancer therapy. The siRNA cancer therapeutics field is rapidly evolving, and it is conceivable that precision cancer therapy could, in the relatively near future, benefit from the combined use of cancer therapies, for example immune checkpoint blockade together with gene-targeting siRNAs, personalized for enhancing and fine-tuning a patient's therapeutic response.

Chitosan-Based Drug Delivery System: Applications in Fish Biotechnology

Chitosan is increasingly used for safe nucleic acid delivery in gene therapy studies, due to well-known properties such as bioadhesion, low toxicity, biodegradability and biocompatibility. Furthermore, chitosan derivatization can be easily performed to improve the solubility and stability of chitosan-nucleic acid polyplexes, and enhance efficient target cell drug delivery, cell uptake, intracellular endosomal escape, unpacking and nuclear import of expression plasmids. As in other fields, chitosan is a promising drug delivery vector with great potential for the fish farming industry. This review highlights state-of-the-art assays using chitosan-based methodologies for delivering nucleic acids into cells, and focuses attention on recent advances in chitosan-mediated gene delivery for fish biotechnology applications. The efficiency of chitosan for gene therapy studies in fish biotechnology is discussed in fields such as fish vaccination against bacterial and viral infection, control of gonadal development and gene overexpression and silencing for overcoming metabolic limitations, such as dependence on protein-rich diets and the low glucose tolerance of farmed fish. Finally, challenges and perspectives on the future developments of chitosan-based gene delivery in fish are also discussed.