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Adams F, Zimmermann CM, Baldassi D, Pehl TM, Weingarten P, Kachel I, Kränzlein M, Jürgens DC, Braubach P, Alexopoulos I, Wygrecka M, Merkel OM. Pulmonary siRNA Delivery with Sophisticated Amphiphilic Poly(Spermine Acrylamides) for the Treatment of Lung Fibrosis. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2308775. [PMID: 38126895 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202308775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is an efficient strategy to post-transcriptionally silence gene expression. While all siRNA drugs on the market target the liver, the lung offers a variety of currently undruggable targets, which can potentially be treated with RNA therapeutics. To achieve this goal, the synthesis of poly(spermine acrylamides) (P(SpAA) is reported herein. Polymers are prepared via polymerization of N-acryloxysuccinimide (NAS) and afterward this active ester is converted into spermine-based pendant groups. Copolymerizations with decylacrylamide are employed to increase the hydrophobicity of the polymers. After deprotection, polymers show excellent siRNA encapsulation to obtain perfectly sized polyplexes at very low polymer/RNA ratios. In vitro 2D and 3D cell culture, ex vivo and in vivo experiments reveal superior properties of amphiphilic spermine-copolymers with respect to delivery of siRNA to lung cells in comparison to commonly used lipid-based transfection agents. In line with the in vitro results, siRNA delivery to human lung explants confirm more efficient gene silencing of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2), a G protein-coupled receptor involved in fibrosis. This study reveals the importance of the balance between efficient polyplex formation, cellular uptake, gene knockdown, and toxicity for efficient siRNA delivery in vitro, in vivo, and in fibrotic human lung tissue ex vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friederike Adams
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Polymer Chemistry, Chair of Macromolecular Materials and Fiber Chemistry, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Center for Ophthalmology, University Eye Hospital Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Straße 7, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christoph M Zimmermann
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Domizia Baldassi
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas M Pehl
- WACKER-Chair of Macromolecular Chemistry, Catalysis Research Center, Department of Chemistry, Technical University Munich, Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85748, Garching bei München, Germany
| | - Philipp Weingarten
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Iris Kachel
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Moritz Kränzlein
- WACKER-Chair of Macromolecular Chemistry, Catalysis Research Center, Department of Chemistry, Technical University Munich, Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85748, Garching bei München, Germany
| | - David C Jürgens
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Braubach
- Institute for Pathology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hanover, Germany
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH) Research Network, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hanover, Germany
| | - Ioannis Alexopoulos
- Center for Infections and Genomics of the Lung (CIGL), Justus Liebig University Giessen, German Center for Lung Research, Aulweg 132, 35392, Gießen, Germany
- Multiscale Imaging Platform, Institute for Lung Health, German Center for Lung Research, Aulweg 132, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Malgorzata Wygrecka
- Center for Infections and Genomics of the Lung (CIGL), Justus Liebig University Giessen, German Center for Lung Research, Aulweg 132, 35392, Gießen, Germany
| | - Olivia M Merkel
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
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Ooi YJ, Huang C, Lau K, Chew SY, Park JG, Chan-Park MB. Nontoxic, Biodegradable Hyperbranched Poly(β-amino ester)s for Efficient siRNA Delivery and Gene Silencing. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:14093-14112. [PMID: 38449351 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c10620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated gene silencing is a promising therapeutic approach to treat various diseases, but safe and efficient delivery remains a major challenge to its clinical application. Non-viral gene vectors, such as poly(β-amino esters) (pBAEs), have emerged as a potential candidate due to their biodegradability, low toxicity profile, ease of synthesis, and high gene transfection efficiency for both DNA and siRNA delivery. However, achieving significant gene silencing using pBAEs often requires a large amount of polymer carrier (with polymer/siRNA weight ratio >100) or high siRNA dose (>100 nM), which might potentially exacerbate toxicity concerns during delivery. To overcome these barriers, we designed and optimized a series of hyperbranched pBAEs capable of efficiently condensing siRNA and achieving excellent silencing efficiency at a lower polymer/siRNA weight ratio (w/w) and siRNA dose. Through modulation of monomer combinations and branching density, we identified the top-performing hyperbranched pBAEs, named as h(A2B3)-1, which possess good siRNA condensation ability, low cytotoxicity, and high cellular uptake efficiency. Compared with Lipofectamine 2000, h(A2B3)-1 achieved lower cytotoxicity and higher siRNA silencing efficiency in HeLa cells at a polymer/siRNA weight ratio of 30 and 30 nM siRNA dose. Notably, h(A2B3)-1 enhanced the gene uptake in primary neural cells and effectively silenced the target gene in hard-to-transfect primary cortical neurons and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, with gene knockdown efficiencies of 34.8 and 53.4% respectively. By incorporating a bioreducible disulfide compartment into the polymer backbone, the cytocompatibility of the h(A2B3)-1 was greatly enhanced while maintaining their good transfection efficiency. Together, the low cytotoxicity and high siRNA transfection efficiency of hyperbranched h(A2B3)-1 in this study demonstrated their great potential as a non-viral gene vector for efficient siRNA delivery and RNAi-mediated gene silencing. This provides valuable insight into the future development of safe and efficient non-viral siRNA delivery systems as well as their translation into clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Jie Ooi
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637459, Singapore
| | - Chongquan Huang
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637459, Singapore
- Neuroscience@NTU, Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637459, Singapore
| | - Kieran Lau
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637459, Singapore
| | - Sing Yian Chew
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637459, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, Singapore
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Jong Gu Park
- Welgene Inc, 693, Namcheon-ro, Namcheon-myeon, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do 38695, Republic of Korea
| | - Mary B Chan-Park
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637459, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, Singapore
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