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Caselli L, Conti L, De Santis I, Berti D. Small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering applied to lipid-based nanoparticles: Recent advancements across different length scales. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 327:103156. [PMID: 38643519 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2024.103156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs), ranging from nanovesicles to non-lamellar assemblies, have gained significant attention in recent years, as versatile carriers for delivering drugs, vaccines, and nutrients. Small-angle scattering methods, employing X-rays (SAXS) or neutrons (SANS), represent unique tools to unveil structure, dynamics, and interactions of such particles on different length scales, spanning from the nano to the molecular scale. This review explores the state-of-the-art on scattering methods applied to unveil the structure of lipid-based nanoparticles and their interactions with drugs and bioactive molecules, to inform their rational design and formulation for medical applications. We will focus on complementary information accessible with X-rays or neutrons, ranging from insights on the structure and colloidal processes at a nanoscale level (SAXS) to details on the lipid organization and molecular interactions of LNPs (SANS). In addition, we will review new opportunities offered by Time-resolved (TR)-SAXS and -SANS for the investigation of dynamic processes involving LNPs. These span from real-time monitoring of LNPs structural evolution in response to endogenous or external stimuli (TR-SANS), to the investigation of the kinetics of lipid diffusion and exchange upon interaction with biomolecules (TR-SANS). Finally, we will spotlight novel combinations of SAXS and SANS with complementary on-line techniques, recently enabled at Large Scale Facilities for X-rays and neutrons. This emerging technology enables synchronized multi-method investigation, offering exciting opportunities for the simultaneous characterization of the structure and chemical or mechanical properties of LNPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucrezia Caselli
- Physical Chemistry 1, University of Lund, S-221 00 Lund, Sweden.
| | - Laura Conti
- Consorzio Sistemi a Grande Interfase, Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Ilaria De Santis
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence 50019, Italy
| | - Debora Berti
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence 50019, Italy; Consorzio Sistemi a Grande Interfase, Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
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2
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Tae H, Park S, Tan LY, Yang C, Lee YA, Choe Y, Wüstefeld T, Jung S, Cho NJ. Elucidating Structural Configuration of Lipid Assemblies for mRNA Delivery Systems. ACS NANO 2024; 18:11284-11299. [PMID: 38639114 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c00587] [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: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
The development of mRNA delivery systems utilizing lipid-based assemblies holds immense potential for precise control of gene expression and targeted therapeutic interventions. Despite advancements in lipid-based gene delivery systems, a critical knowledge gap remains in understanding how the biophysical characteristics of lipid assemblies and mRNA complexes influence these systems. Herein, we investigate the biophysical properties of cationic liposomes and their role in shaping mRNA lipoplexes by comparing various fabrication methods. Notably, an innovative fabrication technique called the liposome under cryo-assembly (LUCA) cycle, involving a precisely controlled freeze-thaw-vortex process, produces distinctive onion-like concentric multilamellar structures in cationic DOTAP/DOPE liposomes, in contrast to a conventional extrusion method that yields unilamellar liposomes. The inclusion of short-chain DHPC lipids further modulates the structure of cationic liposomes, transforming them from multilamellar to unilamellar structures during the LUCA cycle. Furthermore, the biophysical and biological evaluations of mRNA lipoplexes unveil that the optimal N/P charge ratio in the lipoplex can vary depending on the structure of initial cationic liposomes. Cryo-EM structural analysis demonstrates that multilamellar cationic liposomes induce two distinct interlamellar spacings in cationic lipoplexes, emphasizing the significant impact of the liposome structures on the final structure of mRNA lipoplexes. Taken together, our results provide an intriguing insight into the relationship between lipid assembly structures and the biophysical characteristics of the resulting lipoplexes. These relationships may open the door for advancing lipid-based mRNA delivery systems through more streamlined manufacturing processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunhyuk Tae
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Soohyun Park
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Li Yang Tan
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138673, Singapore
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Chungmo Yang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Yong-An Lee
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Younghwan Choe
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Torsten Wüstefeld
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore 138672, Singapore
- School of Biological Science, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Sangyong Jung
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138673, Singapore
- Department of Medical Science, College of Medicine, CHA University, Seongnam 13488, Republic of Korea
| | - Nam-Joon Cho
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
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3
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Settanni G. Computational approaches to lipid-based nucleic acid delivery systems. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. E, SOFT MATTER 2023; 46:127. [PMID: 38097823 PMCID: PMC10721673 DOI: 10.1140/epje/s10189-023-00385-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid-based therapies have shown enormous effectiveness as vaccines against the recent COVID19 pandemics and hold great promises in the fight of a broad spectrum of diseases ranging from viral infections to cancer up to genetically transmitted pathologies. Due to their highly degradable polyanionic nature, nucleic acids need to be packed in sophisticate delivery vehicles which compact them up, protect them from early degradation and help delivery them to the right tissue/cells. Lipid-based nanoparticles (LNP) represent, at present, the main solution for nucleic acid delivery. They are made of a mixture of lipids whose key ingredient is an ionizable cationic lipid. Indeed, the interactions between the polyanionic nucleic acids and the ionizable cationic lipids, and their pH-dependent regulation in the life cycle of the nanoparticle, from production to cargo delivery, mostly determine the effectiveness of the therapeutic approach. Notwithstanding the large improvements in the delivery efficiency of LNPs in the last two decades, it is estimated that only a small fraction of the cargo is actually delivered, stimulating further research for the design of more effective LNP formulations. A rationally driven design would profit from the knowledge of the precise molecular structure of these materials, which is however still either missing or characterized by poor spatial resolution. Computational approaches have often been used as a molecular microscope either to enrich the available experimental data and provide a molecular-level picture of the LNPs or even simulate specific processes involving the formation and/or the molecular mechanisms of action of the LNP. Here, I review the recent literature in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Settanni
- Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätstrasse 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany.
- Department of Physics, Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, Staudingerweg 7, 55099, Mainz, Germany.
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4
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Graewert MA, Wilhelmy C, Bacic T, Schumacher J, Blanchet C, Meier F, Drexel R, Welz R, Kolb B, Bartels K, Nawroth T, Klein T, Svergun D, Langguth P, Haas H. Quantitative size-resolved characterization of mRNA nanoparticles by in-line coupling of asymmetrical-flow field-flow fractionation with small angle X-ray scattering. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15764. [PMID: 37737457 PMCID: PMC10516866 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42274-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
We present a generically applicable approach to determine an extensive set of size-dependent critical quality attributes inside nanoparticulate pharmaceutical products. By coupling asymmetrical-flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) measurements directly in-line with solution small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), vital information such as (i) quantitative, absolute size distribution profiles, (ii) drug loading, (iii) size-dependent internal structures, and (iv) quantitative information on free drug is obtained. Here the validity of the method was demonstrated by characterizing complex mRNA-based lipid nanoparticle products. The approach is particularly applicable to particles in the size range of 100 nm and below, which is highly relevant for pharmaceutical products-both biologics and nanoparticles. The method can be applied as well in other fields, including structural biology and environmental sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christoph Wilhelmy
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | | | | | - Clement Blanchet
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Roland Welz
- Postnova Analytics GmbH, Landsberg am Lech, Germany
| | - Bastian Kolb
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Kim Bartels
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Thomas Nawroth
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Dmitri Svergun
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit, Hamburg, Germany
- BIOSAXS GmbH, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Peter Langguth
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Heinrich Haas
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany.
- BioNTech SE, Mainz, Germany.
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5
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Wilhelmy C, Keil IS, Uebbing L, Schroer MA, Franke D, Nawroth T, Barz M, Sahin U, Haas H, Diken M, Langguth P. Polysarcosine-Functionalized mRNA Lipid Nanoparticles Tailored for Immunotherapy. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2068. [PMID: 37631282 PMCID: PMC10458461 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15082068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have gained great attention as carriers for mRNA-based therapeutics, finding applications in various indications, extending beyond their recent use in vaccines for infectious diseases. However, many aspects of LNP structure and their effects on efficacy are not well characterized. To further exploit the potential of mRNA therapeutics, better control of the relationship between LNP formulation composition with internal structure and transfection efficiency in vitro is necessary. We compared two well-established ionizable lipids, namely DODMA and MC3, in combination with two helper lipids, DOPE and DOPC, and two polymer-grafted lipids, either with polysarcosine (pSar) or polyethylene glycol (PEG). In addition to standard physicochemical characterization (size, zeta potential, RNA accessibility), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was used to analyze the structure of the LNPs. To assess biological activity, we performed transfection and cell-binding assays in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs) using Thy1.1 reporter mRNA and Cy5-labeled mRNA, respectively. With the SAXS measurements, we were able to clearly reveal the effects of substituting the ionizable and helper lipid on the internal structure of the LNPs. In contrast, pSar as stealth moieties affected the LNPs in a different manner, by changing the surface morphology towards higher roughness. pSar LNPs were generally more active, where the highest transfection efficiency was achieved with the LNP formulation composition of MC3/DOPE/pSar. Our study highlights the utility of pSar for improved mRNA LNP products and the importance of pSar as a novel stealth moiety enhancing efficiency in future LNP formulation development. SAXS can provide valuable information for the rational development of such novel formulations by elucidating structural features in different LNP compositions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Wilhelmy
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany; (C.W.)
| | - Isabell Sofia Keil
- TRON—Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University gGmbH, 55131 Mainz, Germany;
| | - Lukas Uebbing
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany; (C.W.)
| | - Martin A. Schroer
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Hamburg Outstation, c/o DESY, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Nanoparticle Process Technology (NPPT), Faculty of Engineering, University of Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Franke
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Hamburg Outstation, c/o DESY, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- BIOSAXS GmbH, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Nawroth
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany; (C.W.)
| | - Matthias Barz
- LACDR—Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, 2333 Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Ugur Sahin
- Department of Immunology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Heinrich Haas
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany; (C.W.)
- BioNTech SE, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Mustafa Diken
- TRON—Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University gGmbH, 55131 Mainz, Germany;
| | - Peter Langguth
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany; (C.W.)
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6
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Andretto V, Repellin M, Pujol M, Almouazen E, Sidi-Boumedine J, Granjon T, Zhang H, Remaut K, Jordheim LP, Briançon S, Keil IS, Vascotto F, Walzer KC, Sahin U, Haas H, Kryza D, Lollo G. Hybrid core-shell particles for mRNA systemic delivery. J Control Release 2023; 353:1037-1049. [PMID: 36442614 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.11.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
mRNA based infectious disease vaccines have opened the venue for development of novel nucleic acids-based therapeutics. For all mRNA therapeutics dedicated delivery systems are required, where different functionalities and targeting abilities need to be optimized for the respective applications. One option for advanced formulations with tailored properties are lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles with complex nanostructure, which allow to combine features of several already well described nucleic acid delivery systems. Here, we explored hyaluronic acid (HA) as coating of liposome-mRNA complexes (LRCs) to investigate effects of the coating on surface charge, physicochemical characteristics and biological activity. HA was electrostatically attached to positively charged complexes, forming hybrid LRCs (HLRCs). At different N/P ratios, physico-chemical characterization of the two sets of particles showed similarity in size (around 200 nm) and mRNA binding abilities, while the presence of the HA shell conferred a negative surface charge to otherwise positive complexes. High transfection efficiency of LRCs and HLRCs in vitro has been obtained in THP-1 and human monocytes derived from PBMC, an interesting target cell population for cancer and immune related pathologies. In mice, quantitative biodistribution of radiolabeled LRC and HLRC particles, coupled with bioluminescence studies to detect the protein translation sites, hinted towards both particles' accumulation in the hepatic reticuloendothelial system (RES). mRNA translated proteins though was found mainly in the spleen, a major source for immune cells, with preference for expression in macrophages. The results showed that surface modifications of liposome-mRNA complexes can be used to fine-tune nanoparticle physico-chemical characteristics. This provides a tool for assembly of stable and optimized nanoparticles, which are prerequisite for future therapeutic interventions using mRNA-based nanomedicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Andretto
- Univ. Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, LAGEPP UMR 5007, 43 Boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Mathieu Repellin
- Univ. Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, LAGEPP UMR 5007, 43 Boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Marine Pujol
- Univ. Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, LAGEPP UMR 5007, 43 Boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Eyad Almouazen
- Univ. Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, LAGEPP UMR 5007, 43 Boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jacqueline Sidi-Boumedine
- Univ. Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, LAGEPP UMR 5007, 43 Boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Thierry Granjon
- Institut de Chimie et Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires, ICBMS UMR 5246, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, F-69622 Lyon, France
| | - Heyang Zhang
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicine, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Katrien Remaut
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicine, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lars Petter Jordheim
- Univ. Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon 69008, France
| | - Stéphanie Briançon
- Univ. Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, LAGEPP UMR 5007, 43 Boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Isabell Sofia Keil
- TRON Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University gGmbH, Mainz, Germany
| | - Fulvia Vascotto
- TRON Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University gGmbH, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Ugur Sahin
- BioNTech SE, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Heinrich Haas
- BioNTech SE, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - David Kryza
- Univ. Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, LAGEPP UMR 5007, 43 Boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France; Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69437 Lyon, France
| | - Giovanna Lollo
- Univ. Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, LAGEPP UMR 5007, 43 Boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France.
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7
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Cheung E, Xia Y, Caporini MA, Gilmore JL. Tools shaping drug discovery and development. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2022; 3:031301. [PMID: 38505278 PMCID: PMC10903431 DOI: 10.1063/5.0087583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Spectroscopic, scattering, and imaging methods play an important role in advancing the study of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical therapies. The tools more familiar to scientists within industry and beyond, such as nuclear magnetic resonance and fluorescence spectroscopy, serve two functions: as simple high-throughput techniques for identification and purity analysis, and as potential tools for measuring dynamics and structures of complex biological systems, from proteins and nucleic acids to membranes and nanoparticle delivery systems. With the expansion of commercial small-angle x-ray scattering instruments into the laboratory setting and the accessibility of industrial researchers to small-angle neutron scattering facilities, scattering methods are now used more frequently in the industrial research setting, and probe-less time-resolved small-angle scattering experiments are now able to be conducted to truly probe the mechanism of reactions and the location of individual components in complex model or biological systems. The availability of atomic force microscopes in the past several decades enables measurements that are, in some ways, complementary to the spectroscopic techniques, and wholly orthogonal in others, such as those related to nanomechanics. As therapies have advanced from small molecules to protein biologics and now messenger RNA vaccines, the depth of biophysical knowledge must continue to serve in drug discovery and development to ensure quality of the drug, and the characterization toolbox must be opened up to adapt traditional spectroscopic methods and adopt new techniques for unraveling the complexities of the new modalities. The overview of the biophysical methods in this review is meant to showcase the uses of multiple techniques for different modalities and present recent applications for tackling particularly challenging situations in drug development that can be solved with the aid of fluorescence spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and small-angle scattering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene Cheung
- Moderna, 200 Technology Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Yan Xia
- Moderna, 200 Technology Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Marc A. Caporini
- Moderna, 200 Technology Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Jamie L. Gilmore
- Moderna, 200 Technology Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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8
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Chavda VP, Dawre S, Pandya A, Vora LK, Modh DH, Shah V, Dave DJ, Patravale V. Lyotropic liquid crystals for parenteral drug delivery. J Control Release 2022; 349:533-549. [PMID: 35792188 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.06.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The necessity for long-term treatments of chronic diseases has encouraged the development of novel long-acting parenteral formulations intending to improve drug pharmacokinetics and therapeutic efficacy. Lately, one of the novel approaches has been developed based on lipid-based liquid crystals. The lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC) systems consist of amphiphilic molecules and are formed in presence of solvents with the most common types being cubic, hexagonal and lamellar mesophases. LC injectables have been recently developed based on polar lipids that spontaneously form liquid crystal nanoparticles in aqueous tissue environments to create the in-situ long-acting sustained-release depot to provide treatment efficacy over extended periods. In this manuscript, we have consolidated and summarized the various type of liquid crystals, recent formulation advancements, analytical evaluation, and therapeutic application of lyotropic liquid crystals in the field of parenteral sustained release drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivek P Chavda
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, L M College of Pharmacy, Ahmedabad 380009, India; Department of Pharmaceutics & Pharm, Technology, K. B. Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kadi Sarva Vishwavidyalaya, Gandhinagar 382023, Gujarat, India.
| | - Shilpa Dawre
- Department of Pharmaceutics, SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Shirpur, India
| | - Anjali Pandya
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai 400 019, India
| | - Lalitkumar K Vora
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, BT9 7BL, UK.
| | - Dharti H Modh
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Bharati Vidyapeeth's Poona College of Pharmacy, Pune, India
| | - Vidhi Shah
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, L M College of Pharmacy, Ahmedabad 380009, India
| | - Divyang J Dave
- Department of Pharmaceutics & Pharm, Technology, K. B. Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kadi Sarva Vishwavidyalaya, Gandhinagar 382023, Gujarat, India
| | - Vandana Patravale
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai 400 019, India
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9
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Gómez-Aguado I, Rodríguez-Castejón J, Beraza-Millor M, Rodríguez-Gascón A, Del Pozo-Rodríguez A, Solinís MÁ. mRNA delivery technologies: Toward clinical translation. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 372:207-293. [PMID: 36064265 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2022.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA)-therapies have recently taken a huge step toward clinic thanks to the first mRNA-based medicinal products marketed. mRNA features for clinical purposes are improved by chemical modifications, but the inclusion in a delivery system is a regular requirement. mRNA nanomedicines must be designed for the specific therapeutic purpose, protecting the nucleic acid and facilitating the overcoming of biological barriers. Polymers, polypeptides, and cationic lipids are the main used materials to design mRNA delivery systems. Among them, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are the most advanced ones, and currently they are at the forefront of preclinical and clinical evaluation in several fields, including immunotherapy (against infectious diseases and cancer), protein replacement, gene editing and regenerative medicine. This chapter includes an overview on mRNA delivery technologies, with special interest in LNPs, and the most recent advances in their clinical application. Liposomes are the mRNA delivery technology with the highest clinical translation among LNPs, whereas the first clinical trial of a therapeutic mRNA formulated in exosomes has been recently approved for protein replacement therapy. The first mRNA products approved by the regulatory agencies worldwide are LNP-based mRNA vaccines against viral infections, specifically against the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The clinical translation of mRNA-therapies for cancer is mainly focused on three strategies: anti-cancer vaccination by means of delivering cancer antigens or acting as an adjuvant, mRNA-engineered chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) and T-cell receptors (TCRs), and expression of antibodies and immunomodulators. Cancer immunotherapy and, more recently, COVID-19 vaccines spearhead the advance of mRNA clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itziar Gómez-Aguado
- Pharmacokinetic, Nanotechnology and Gene Therapy Group (PharmaNanoGene), Faculty of Pharmacy, Centro de investigación Lascaray ikergunea, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Bioaraba, Microbiology, Infectious Disease, Antimicrobial Agents, and Gene Therapy, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Julen Rodríguez-Castejón
- Pharmacokinetic, Nanotechnology and Gene Therapy Group (PharmaNanoGene), Faculty of Pharmacy, Centro de investigación Lascaray ikergunea, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Bioaraba, Microbiology, Infectious Disease, Antimicrobial Agents, and Gene Therapy, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Marina Beraza-Millor
- Pharmacokinetic, Nanotechnology and Gene Therapy Group (PharmaNanoGene), Faculty of Pharmacy, Centro de investigación Lascaray ikergunea, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Bioaraba, Microbiology, Infectious Disease, Antimicrobial Agents, and Gene Therapy, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Alicia Rodríguez-Gascón
- Pharmacokinetic, Nanotechnology and Gene Therapy Group (PharmaNanoGene), Faculty of Pharmacy, Centro de investigación Lascaray ikergunea, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Bioaraba, Microbiology, Infectious Disease, Antimicrobial Agents, and Gene Therapy, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Ana Del Pozo-Rodríguez
- Pharmacokinetic, Nanotechnology and Gene Therapy Group (PharmaNanoGene), Faculty of Pharmacy, Centro de investigación Lascaray ikergunea, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Bioaraba, Microbiology, Infectious Disease, Antimicrobial Agents, and Gene Therapy, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - María Ángeles Solinís
- Pharmacokinetic, Nanotechnology and Gene Therapy Group (PharmaNanoGene), Faculty of Pharmacy, Centro de investigación Lascaray ikergunea, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Bioaraba, Microbiology, Infectious Disease, Antimicrobial Agents, and Gene Therapy, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
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10
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Schäfer MEA, Keller F, Schumacher J, Haas H, Vascotto F, Sahin U, Hafner M, Rudolf R. 3D Melanoma Cocultures as Improved Models for Nanoparticle-Mediated Delivery of RNA to Tumors. Cells 2022; 11:cells11061026. [PMID: 35326474 PMCID: PMC8946997 DOI: 10.3390/cells11061026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer therapy is an emergent application for mRNA therapeutics. While in tumor immunotherapy, mRNA encoding for tumor-associated antigens is delivered to antigen-presenting cells in spleen and lymph nodes, other therapeutic options benefit from immediate delivery of mRNA nanomedicines directly to the tumor. However, tumor targeting of mRNA therapeutics is still a challenge, since, in addition to delivery of the cargo to the tumor, specifics of the targeted cell type as well as its interplay with the tumor microenvironment are crucial for successful intervention. This study investigated lipoplex nanoparticle-mediated mRNA delivery to spheroid cell culture models of melanoma. Insights into cell-type specific targeting, non-cell-autonomous effects, and penetration capacity in tumor and stroma cells of the mRNA lipoplex nanoparticles were obtained. It was shown that both coculture of different cell types as well as three-dimensional cell growth characteristics can modulate distribution and transfection efficiency of mRNA lipoplex formulations. The results demonstrate that three-dimensional coculture spheroids can provide a valuable surplus of information in comparison to adherent cells. Thus, they may represent in vitro models with enhanced predictivity for the in vivo activity of cancer nanotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian E. A. Schäfer
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Hochschule Mannheim, 68163 Mannheim, Germany; (M.E.A.S.); (F.K.); (M.H.)
| | - Florian Keller
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Hochschule Mannheim, 68163 Mannheim, Germany; (M.E.A.S.); (F.K.); (M.H.)
| | - Jens Schumacher
- Biopharmaceutical New Technology (BioNTech) SE, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (J.S.); (H.H.); (U.S.)
| | - Heinrich Haas
- Biopharmaceutical New Technology (BioNTech) SE, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (J.S.); (H.H.); (U.S.)
| | - Fulvia Vascotto
- Translational Oncology (TRON), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany;
| | - Ugur Sahin
- Biopharmaceutical New Technology (BioNTech) SE, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (J.S.); (H.H.); (U.S.)
| | - Mathias Hafner
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Hochschule Mannheim, 68163 Mannheim, Germany; (M.E.A.S.); (F.K.); (M.H.)
- Institute of Medical Technology, Heidelberg University and Hochschule Mannheim, 68163 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Rudolf
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Hochschule Mannheim, 68163 Mannheim, Germany; (M.E.A.S.); (F.K.); (M.H.)
- Institute of Medical Technology, Heidelberg University and Hochschule Mannheim, 68163 Mannheim, Germany
- Center for Mass Spectrometry and Optical Spectroscopy (CeMOS), Hochschule Mannheim, 68163 Mannheim, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-621-292-6804
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11
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The Potential of Nanomedicine to Unlock the Limitless Applications of mRNA. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14020460. [PMID: 35214191 PMCID: PMC8879057 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14020460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The year 2020 was a turning point in the way society perceives science. Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology finally showed and shared its potential, starting a new era in medicine. However, there is no doubt that commercialization of these vaccines would not have been possible without nanotechnology, which has finally answered the long-term question of how to deliver mRNA in vivo. The aim of this review is to showcase the importance of this scientific milestone for the development of additional mRNA therapeutics. Firstly, we provide a full description of the marketed vaccine formulations and disclose LNPs’ pharmaceutical properties, including composition, structure, and manufacturing considerations Additionally, we review different types of lipid-based delivery technologies currently in preclinical and clinical development, namely lipoplexes and cationic nanoemulsions. Finally, we highlight the most promising clinical applications of mRNA in different fields such as vaccinology, immuno-oncology, gene therapy for rare genetic diseases and gene editing using CRISPR Cas9.
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12
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Settanni G, Brill W, Haas H, Schmid F. pH-Dependent Behavior of Ionizable Cationic Lipids in mRNA-Carrying Lipoplexes Investigated by Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Macromol Rapid Commun 2021; 43:e2100683. [PMID: 34874591 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202100683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Lipid-based nanoparticles and lipoplexes containing ionizable lipids are among the most successful nanocarriers for mRNA-based therapies. The molecular structure of these assemblies is still not fully understood, as well as the role played by the ionizable lipids. SAXS experiments have shown that lipoplexes including the ionizable lipid 2-dioleyloxy-N,N-dimethyl-3-aminopropane (DODMA), under specific conditions, have a lamellar structure, where lipid bilayers are separated by mRNA-rich layers, with an overall spacing between 6.5 and 8.0 nm and a complex pH-dependence. Here, the structure and dynamics of these lipoplexes are investigated at varying pH and mRNA concentration using multiscale molecular dynamics simulations. It is observed that the interaction between DODMA and RNA is slightly attractive only at low pH levels, while it becomes effectively repulsive at high and intermediate pH. This results into a pH-dependent relocation of the RNA inside the multilayers, from the lipid head groups at low pH to a more uniform distribution inside the hydrophilic slabs of the multilayers at high pH. It is also observed that at high pH, DODMA lipids shift toward the hydrophobic part of the bilayer, consequently increasing their leaflet-flipping rate, a phenomenon which may ultimately affect the fusion process of the lipoplex with the endosomal membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Settanni
- Department of Physics, Johannes-Gutenberg University, Staudingerweg 7, Mainz, 55099, Germany
| | | | - Heinrich Haas
- BioNTech SE, An der Goldgrube 12, Mainz, 55131, Germany
| | - Friederike Schmid
- Department of Physics, Johannes-Gutenberg University, Staudingerweg 7, Mainz, 55099, Germany
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13
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Ewert KK, Scodeller P, Simón-Gracia L, Steffes VM, Wonder EA, Teesalu T, Safinya CR. Cationic Liposomes as Vectors for Nucleic Acid and Hydrophobic Drug Therapeutics. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:1365. [PMID: 34575441 PMCID: PMC8465808 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13091365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cationic liposomes (CLs) are effective carriers of a variety of therapeutics. Their applications as vectors of nucleic acids (NAs), from long DNA and mRNA to short interfering RNA (siRNA), have been pursued for decades to realize the promise of gene therapy, with approvals of the siRNA therapeutic patisiran and two mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 as recent milestones. The long-term goal of developing optimized CL-based NA carriers for a broad range of medical applications requires a comprehensive understanding of the structure of these vectors and their interactions with cell membranes and components that lead to the release and activity of the NAs within the cell. Structure-activity relationships of lipids for CL-based NA and drug delivery must take into account that these lipids act not individually but as components of an assembly of many molecules. This review summarizes our current understanding of how the choice of the constituting lipids governs the structure of their CL-NA self-assemblies, which constitute distinct liquid crystalline phases, and the relation of these structures to their efficacy for delivery. In addition, we review progress toward CL-NA nanoparticles for targeted NA delivery in vivo and close with an outlook on CL-based carriers of hydrophobic drugs, which may eventually lead to combination therapies with NAs and drugs for cancer and other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai K. Ewert
- Materials, Physics, and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Departments, and Biomolecular Science and Engineering Program, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; (V.M.S.); (E.A.W.)
| | - Pablo Scodeller
- Laboratory of Precision- and Nanomedicine, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Centre of Excellence for Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 14b, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (P.S.); (L.S.-G.)
| | - Lorena Simón-Gracia
- Laboratory of Precision- and Nanomedicine, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Centre of Excellence for Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 14b, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (P.S.); (L.S.-G.)
| | - Victoria M. Steffes
- Materials, Physics, and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Departments, and Biomolecular Science and Engineering Program, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; (V.M.S.); (E.A.W.)
| | - Emily A. Wonder
- Materials, Physics, and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Departments, and Biomolecular Science and Engineering Program, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; (V.M.S.); (E.A.W.)
| | - Tambet Teesalu
- Laboratory of Precision- and Nanomedicine, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Centre of Excellence for Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 14b, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (P.S.); (L.S.-G.)
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Cyrus R. Safinya
- Materials, Physics, and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Departments, and Biomolecular Science and Engineering Program, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; (V.M.S.); (E.A.W.)
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14
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Kim J, Eygeris Y, Gupta M, Sahay G. Self-assembled mRNA vaccines. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 170:83-112. [PMID: 33400957 PMCID: PMC7837307 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2020.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 223] [Impact Index Per Article: 74.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
mRNA vaccines have evolved from being a mere curiosity to emerging as COVID-19 vaccine front-runners. Recent advancements in the field of RNA technology, vaccinology, and nanotechnology have generated interest in delivering safe and effective mRNA therapeutics. In this review, we discuss design and self-assembly of mRNA vaccines. Self-assembly, a spontaneous organization of individual molecules, allows for design of nanoparticles with customizable properties. We highlight the materials commonly utilized to deliver mRNA, their physicochemical characteristics, and other relevant considerations, such as mRNA optimization, routes of administration, cellular fate, and immune activation, that are important for successful mRNA vaccination. We also examine the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines currently in clinical trials. mRNA vaccines are ready for the clinic, showing tremendous promise in the COVID-19 vaccine race, and have pushed the boundaries of gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeonghwan Kim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Robertson Life Science Building, 2730 South Moody Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA
| | - Yulia Eygeris
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Robertson Life Science Building, 2730 South Moody Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA
| | - Mohit Gupta
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Robertson Life Science Building, 2730 South Moody Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA
| | - Gaurav Sahay
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Robertson Life Science Building, 2730 South Moody Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, Robertson Life Science Building, 2730 South Moody Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA.
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15
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Uebbing L, Ziller A, Siewert C, Schroer MA, Blanchet CE, Svergun DI, Ramishetti S, Peer D, Sahin U, Haas H, Langguth P. Investigation of pH-Responsiveness inside Lipid Nanoparticles for Parenteral mRNA Application Using Small-Angle X-ray Scattering. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2020; 36:13331-13341. [PMID: 33108188 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c02446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)-based nanomedicines have shown to be a promising new lead in a broad field of potential applications such as tumor immunotherapy. Of these nanomedicines, lipid-based mRNA nanoparticles comprising ionizable lipids are gaining increasing attention as versatile technologies for fine-tuning toward a given application, with proven potential for successful development up to clinical practice. Still, several hurdles have to be overcome to obtain a drug product that shows adequate mRNA delivery and clinical efficacy. In this study, pH-induced changes in internal molecular organization and overall physicochemical characteristics of lipoplexes comprising ionizable lipids were investigated using small-angle X-ray scattering and supplementary techniques. These changes were determined for different types of ionizable lipids, present at various molar fractions and N/P ratios inside the phospholipid membranes. The investigated systems showed a lamellar organization, allowing an accurate determination of pH-dependent structural changes. The differences in the pH responsiveness of the systems comprising different ionizable lipids and mRNA fractions could be clearly revealed from their structural evolution. Measurements of the degree of ionization and pH-dependent mRNA loading into the systems by fluorescence assays supported the findings from the structural investigation. Our approach allows for direct in situ determination of the structural response of the lipoplex systems to changes of the environmental pH similar to that observed for endosomal uptake. These data therefore provide valuable complementary information for understanding and fine-tuning of tailored mRNA delivery systems toward improved cellular uptake and endosomal processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Uebbing
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, D-55099 Mainz, Germany
| | - Antje Ziller
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, D-55099 Mainz, Germany
| | - Christian Siewert
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, D-55099 Mainz, Germany
| | - Martin A Schroer
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Hamburg Outstation c/o DESY, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Clement E Blanchet
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Hamburg Outstation c/o DESY, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dmitri I Svergun
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Hamburg Outstation c/o DESY, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Srinivas Ramishetti
- Laboratory of Precision NanoMedicine, Shmunis School for Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, P.O. Box 39040, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Dan Peer
- Laboratory of Precision NanoMedicine, Shmunis School for Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, P.O. Box 39040, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Ugur Sahin
- BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals GmbH, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
- TRON - Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz gGmbH, 55099 Mainz, Germany
- Research Center for Immunotherapy (FZI), University Medical Center at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55099 Mainz, Germany
| | - Heinrich Haas
- BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals GmbH, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Peter Langguth
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, D-55099 Mainz, Germany
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16
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Lipid-Nucleic Acid Complexes: Physicochemical Aspects and Prospects for Cancer Treatment. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25215006. [PMID: 33126767 PMCID: PMC7662579 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25215006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is an extremely complex disease, typically caused by mutations in cancer-critical genes. By delivering therapeutic nucleic acids (NAs) to patients, gene therapy offers the possibility to supplement, repair or silence such faulty genes or to stimulate their immune system to fight the disease. While the challenges of gene therapy for cancer are significant, the latter approach (a type of immunotherapy) starts showing promising results in early-stage clinical trials. One important advantage of NA-based cancer therapies over synthetic drugs and protein treatments is the prospect of a more universal approach to designing therapies. Designing NAs with different sequences, for different targets, can be achieved by using the same technologies. This versatility and scalability of NA drug design and production on demand open the way for more efficient, affordable and personalized cancer treatments in the future. However, the delivery of exogenous therapeutic NAs into the patients’ targeted cells is also challenging. Membrane-type lipids exhibiting permanent or transient cationic character have been shown to associate with NAs (anionic), forming nanosized lipid-NA complexes. These complexes form a wide variety of nanostructures, depending on the global formulation composition and properties of the lipids and NAs. Importantly, these different lipid-NA nanostructures interact with cells via different mechanisms and their therapeutic potential can be optimized to promising levels in vitro. The complexes are also highly customizable in terms of surface charge and functionalization to allow a wide range of targeting and smart-release properties. Most importantly, these synthetic particles offer possibilities for scaling-up and affordability for the population at large. Hence, the versatility and scalability of these particles seem ideal to accommodate the versatility that NA therapies offer. While in vivo efficiency of lipid-NA complexes is still poor in most cases, the advances achieved in the last three decades are significant and very recently a lipid-based gene therapy medicine was approved for the first time (for treatment of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis). Although the path to achieve efficient NA-delivery in cancer therapy is still long and tenuous, these advances set a new hope for more treatments in the future. In this review, we attempt to cover the most important biophysical and physicochemical aspects of non-viral lipid-based gene therapy formulations, with a perspective on future cancer treatments in mind.
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17
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Hybrid Biopolymer and Lipid Nanoparticles with Improved Transfection Efficacy for mRNA. Cells 2020; 9:cells9092034. [PMID: 32899484 PMCID: PMC7563888 DOI: 10.3390/cells9092034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hybrid nanoparticles from lipidic and polymeric components were assembled to serve as vehicles for the transfection of messenger RNA (mRNA) using different portions of the cationic lipid DOTAP (1,2-Dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane) and the cationic biopolymer protamine as model systems. Two different sequential assembly approaches in comparison with a direct single-step protocol were applied, and molecular organization in correlation with biological activity of the resulting nanoparticle systems was investigated. Differences in the structure of the nanoparticles were revealed by thorough physicochemical characterization including small angle neutron scattering (SANS), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). All hybrid systems, combining lipid and polymer, displayed significantly increased transfection in comparison to lipid/mRNA and polymer/mRNA particles alone. For the hybrid nanoparticles, characteristic differences regarding the internal organization, release characteristics, and activity were determined depending on the assembly route. The systems with the highest transfection efficacy were characterized by a heterogenous internal organization, accompanied by facilitated release. Such a system could be best obtained by the single step protocol, starting with a lipid and polymer mixture for nanoparticle formation.
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18
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoyang Meng
- Department of Nanomedicine Houston Methodist Research Institute Houston TX 77030 USA
- Xiangya Hospital of Central South University Changsha Hunan 410000 China
| | - Zhe Chen
- Department of Nanomedicine Houston Methodist Research Institute Houston TX 77030 USA
- Xiangya Hospital of Central South University Changsha Hunan 410000 China
| | - Gang Li
- Department of Nanomedicine Houston Methodist Research Institute Houston TX 77030 USA
| | - Thomas Welte
- Department of Nanomedicine Houston Methodist Research Institute Houston TX 77030 USA
| | - Haifa Shen
- Department of Nanomedicine Houston Methodist Research Institute Houston TX 77030 USA
- Cancer Center Houston Methodist Hospital Houston TX 77030 USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology Weill Cornell Medical College New York NY 10065 USA
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19
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Abstract
Immunotherapy has become a powerful clinical strategy for treating cancer. The number of immunotherapy drug approvals has been increasing, with numerous treatments in clinical and preclinical development. However, a key challenge in the broad implementation of immunotherapies for cancer remains the controlled modulation of the immune system, as these therapeutics have serious adverse effects including autoimmunity and nonspecific inflammation. Understanding how to increase the response rates to various classes of immunotherapy is key to improving efficacy and controlling these adverse effects. Advanced biomaterials and drug delivery systems, such as nanoparticles and the use of T cells to deliver therapies, could effectively harness immunotherapies and improve their potency while reducing toxic side effects. Here, we discuss these research advances, as well as the opportunities and challenges for integrating delivery technologies into cancer immunotherapy, and we critically analyse the outlook for these emerging areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel S Riley
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Carl H June
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Robert Langer
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Michael J Mitchell
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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20
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Siewert C, Haas H, Nawroth T, Ziller A, Nogueira S, Schroer M, Blanchet C, Svergun D, Radulescu A, Bates F, Huesemann Y, Radsak M, Sahin U, Langguth P. Investigation of charge ratio variation in mRNA – DEAE-dextran polyplex delivery systems. Biomaterials 2019; 192:612-620. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2018.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Revised: 09/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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21
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Rosigkeit S, Meng M, Grunwitz C, Gomes P, Kreft A, Hayduk N, Heck R, Pickert G, Ziegler K, Abassi Y, Röder J, Kaps L, Vascotto F, Beissert T, Witzel S, Kuhn A, Diken M, Schuppan D, Sahin U, Haas H, Bockamp E. Monitoring Translation Activity of mRNA-Loaded Nanoparticles in Mice. Mol Pharm 2018; 15:3909-3919. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.8b00370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Martin Meng
- BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals GmbH, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Andreas Kuhn
- BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals GmbH, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Mustafa Diken
- BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals GmbH, 55131 Mainz, Germany
- TRON gGmbH, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Detlef Schuppan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Ugur Sahin
- BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals GmbH, 55131 Mainz, Germany
- TRON gGmbH, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Heinrich Haas
- BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals GmbH, 55131 Mainz, Germany
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