1
|
Chen X, Zhong S, Zhan Y, Zhang X. CRISPR-Cas9 applications in T cells and adoptive T cell therapies. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2024; 29:52. [PMID: 38609863 PMCID: PMC11010303 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-024-00561-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
T cell immunity is central to contemporary cancer and autoimmune therapies, encompassing immune checkpoint blockade and adoptive T cell therapies. Their diverse characteristics can be reprogrammed by different immune challenges dependent on antigen stimulation levels, metabolic conditions, and the degree of inflammation. T cell-based therapeutic strategies are gaining widespread adoption in oncology and treating inflammatory conditions. Emerging researches reveal that clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats-associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9) genome editing has enabled T cells to be more adaptable to specific microenvironments, opening the door to advanced T cell therapies in preclinical and clinical trials. CRISPR-Cas9 can edit both primary T cells and engineered T cells, including CAR-T and TCR-T, in vivo and in vitro to regulate T cell differentiation and activation states. This review first provides a comprehensive summary of the role of CRISPR-Cas9 in T cells and its applications in preclinical and clinical studies for T cell-based therapies. We also explore the application of CRISPR screen high-throughput technology in editing T cells and anticipate the current limitations of CRISPR-Cas9, including off-target effects and delivery challenges, and envisioned improvements in related technologies for disease screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoying Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Institute of Zhengzhou University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, China
| | - Shuhan Zhong
- Department of Hematology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine Second Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Yonghao Zhan
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, China.
| | - Xuepei Zhang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yu J, Tang M, Zhou Z, Wei Z, Wan F, Hou S, Li Q, Li Y, Tian L. Biologically produced and metal-organic framework delivered dual-cut CRISPR/Cas9 system for efficient gene editing and sensitized cancer therapy. Acta Biomater 2024; 178:296-306. [PMID: 38417646 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.02.030] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Manipulation of the lactate metabolism is an efficient way for cancer treatment given its involvement in cancer development, metastasis, and immune escape. However, most of the inhibitors of lactate transport carriers suffer from poor specificity. Herein, we use the CRISPR/Cas9 system to precisely downregulate the monocarboxylate carrier 1 (MCT1) expression. To avoid the self-repairing during the gene editing process, a dual-Cas9 ribonucleoproteins (duRNPs) system is generated using the biological fermentation method and delivered into cells by the zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanoparticles, enabling precise removal of a specific DNA fragment from the genome. For efficient cancer therapy, a specific glucose transporter 1 inhibitor (BAY-876) is co-delivered with the duRNPs, forming BAY/duRNPs@ZIF-8 nanoparticle. ZIF-8 nanoparticles can deliver the duRNPs into cells within 1 h, which efficiently downregulates the MCT1 expression, and prohibits lactate influx. Through simultaneous inhibition of the lactate and glucose influx, BAY/duRNPs@ZIF-8 prohibits ATP generation, arrests cell cycle, inhibits cell proliferation, and finally induces cellular apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Consequently, we demonstrate that the biologically produced duRNPs delivered into cells by the nonviral ZIF-8 carrier have expanded the CRISPR/Cas gene editing toolbox and elevated the gene editing efficiency, which will promote biological studies and clinical applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The CRISPR/Cas9 system, widely used as an efficient gene editing tool, faces a challenge due to cells' ability to self-repair. To address this issue, a strategy involving dual-cutting of the genome DNA has been designed and implemented. This strategy utilizes biologically produced dual-ribonucleoproteins delivered by a metal-organic framework. The effectiveness of this dual-cut CRISPR-Cas9 system has been demonstrated through a therapeutic approach targeting the simultaneous inhibition of lactate and glucose influx in cancer cells. The utilization of the dual-cut gene editing strategy has provided valuable insights into gene editing and expanded the toolbox of the CRISPR/Cas-based gene editing system. It has the potential to enable more efficient and precise manipulation of specific protein expression in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiantao Yu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, 1088 Xueyuan Blvd., Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, PR China
| | - Mao Tang
- Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, 1088 Xueyuan Blvd., Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, PR China
| | - Zhengdong Zhou
- Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, 1088 Xueyuan Blvd., Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, PR China
| | - Zixiang Wei
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, 1088 Xueyuan Blvd., Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, PR China
| | - Feiyan Wan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, 1088 Xueyuan Blvd., Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, PR China
| | - Shengxin Hou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, 1088 Xueyuan Blvd., Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, PR China
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, 1088 Xueyuan Blvd., Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, PR China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, 1088 Xueyuan Blvd., Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, PR China.
| | - Leilei Tian
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, 1088 Xueyuan Blvd., Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Liu F, Xin M, Feng H, Zhang W, Liao Z, Sheng T, Wen P, Wu Q, Liang T, Shi J, Zhou R, He K, Gu Z, Li H. Cryo-shocked tumor cells deliver CRISPR-Cas9 for lung cancer regression by synthetic lethality. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk8264. [PMID: 38552011 PMCID: PMC10980270 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk8264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
Although CRISPR-mediated genome editing holds promise for cancer therapy, inadequate tumor targeting and potential off-target side effects hamper its outcomes. In this study, we present a strategy using cryo-shocked lung tumor cells as a CRISPR-Cas9 delivery system for cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) gene editing, which initiates synthetic lethal in KRAS-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). By rapidly liquid nitrogen shocking, we effectively eliminate the pathogenicity of tumor cells while preserving their structure and surface receptor activity. This delivery system enables the loaded CRISPR-Cas9 to efficiently target to lung through the capture in pulmonary capillaries and interactions with endothelial cells. In a NSCLC-bearing mouse model, the drug accumulation is increased nearly fourfold in lung, and intratumoral CDK4 expression is substantially down-regulated compared to CRISPR-Cas9 lipofectamine nanoparticles administration. Furthermore, CRISPR-Cas9 editing-mediated CDK4 ablation triggers synthetic lethal in KRAS-mutant NSCLC and prolongs the survival of mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Feng Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Minhang Xin
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Huiheng Feng
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Wentao Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ziyan Liao
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Tao Sheng
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ping Wen
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Qing Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Tingxizi Liang
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Jiaqi Shi
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Ruyi Zhou
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Kaixin He
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Jinhua Institute of Zhejiang University, Jinhua 321299, China
| | - Zhen Gu
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
- Jinhua Institute of Zhejiang University, Jinhua 321299, China
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery Systems of Zhejiang Province, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Hongjun Li
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
- Jinhua Institute of Zhejiang University, Jinhua 321299, China
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery Systems of Zhejiang Province, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhang X, Li Y, Zhou Z. Lipid Nanoparticle-Based Delivery System-A Competing Place for mRNA Vaccines. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:6219-6234. [PMID: 38371811 PMCID: PMC10870384 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c08353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
mRNA, as one of the foci of biomedical research in the past decade, has become a candidate vaccine solution for various infectious diseases and tumors and for regenerative medicine and immunotherapy due to its high efficiency, safety, and effectiveness. A stable and effective delivery system is needed to protect mRNAs from nuclease degradation while also enhancing immunogenicity. The success of mRNA lipid nanoparticles in treating COVID-19, to a certain extent, marks a milestone for mRNA vaccines and also promotes further research on mRNA delivery systems. Here, we explore mRNA vaccine delivery systems, especially lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), considering the current research status, prospects, and challenges of lipid nanoparticles, and explore other mRNA delivery systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Zhang
- Research
Center for Infectious Diseases, Tianjin
University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 300193 Tianjin, China
- Institute
for Biological Product Control, National
Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) and WHO Collaborating
Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, No.31 Huatuo Street, Daxing District, 102629 Beijing, China
- College
of Life Science, Jilin University, 130012 Changchun, China
| | - Yuanfang Li
- Department
of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen Branch), Fudan University, 361015 Xiamen, Fujian China
| | - Zehua Zhou
- Research
Center for Infectious Diseases, Tianjin
University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 300193 Tianjin, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Gao M, Li Y, Ho W, Chen C, Chen Q, Li F, Tang M, Fan Q, Wan J, Yu W, Xu X, Li P, Zhang XQ. Targeted mRNA Nanoparticles Ameliorate Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption Postischemic Stroke by Modulating Microglia Polarization. ACS NANO 2024; 18:3260-3275. [PMID: 38227975 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c09817] [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: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
The ischemic stroke is a major global health concern, with high mortality and disability rates. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of effective clinical interventions for managing poststroke neuroinflammation and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption that are crucial for the brain injury evolving and neurological deficits. By leveraging the pathological progression of an ischemic stroke, we developed an M2 microglia-targeting lipid nanoparticle (termed MLNP) approach that can selectively deliver mRNA encoding phenotype-switching interleukin-10 (mIL-10) to the ischemic brain, creating a beneficial feedback loop that drives microglial polarization toward the protective M2 phenotypes and augments the homing of mIL-10-loaded MLNPs (mIL-10@MLNPs) to ischemic regions. In a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mouse model of an ischemic stroke, our findings demonstrate that intravenously injected mIL-10@MLNPs induce IL-10 production and enhance the M2 polarization of microglia. The resulting positive loop reinforces the resolution of neuroinflammation, restores the impaired BBB, and prevents neuronal apoptosis after stroke. Using a permanent distal MCAO mouse model of an ischemic stroke, the neuroprotective effects of mIL-10@MLNPs have been further validated by the attenuation of the sensorimotor and cognitive neurological deficits. Furthermore, the developed mRNA-based targeted therapy has great potential to extend the therapeutic time window at least up to 72 h poststroke. This study depicts a simple and versatile LNP platform for selective delivery of mRNA therapeutics to cerebral lesions, showcasing a promising approach for addressing an ischemic stroke and associated brain conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhu Gao
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Drug Target Identification and Delivery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- National Key Laboratory of Innovative Immunotherapy (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - William Ho
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Qijing Chen
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Drug Target Identification and Delivery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- National Key Laboratory of Innovative Immunotherapy (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Fengshi Li
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200127, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center of Cerebrovascular Disease, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Maoping Tang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Drug Target Identification and Delivery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- National Key Laboratory of Innovative Immunotherapy (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Qiuyue Fan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Jieqing Wan
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200127, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center of Cerebrovascular Disease, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Weifeng Yu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Xiaoyang Xu
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States
| | - Peiying Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China
- Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200127, China
- Clinical Research Center, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Xue-Qing Zhang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Drug Target Identification and Delivery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- National Key Laboratory of Innovative Immunotherapy (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Shanghai 200240, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
LaFleur MW, Lemmen AM, Streeter ISL, Nguyen TH, Milling LE, Derosia NM, Hoffman ZM, Gillis JE, Tjokrosurjo Q, Markson SC, Huang AY, Anekal PV, Montero Llopis P, Haining WN, Doench JG, Sharpe AH. X-CHIME enables combinatorial, inducible, lineage-specific and sequential knockout of genes in the immune system. Nat Immunol 2024; 25:178-188. [PMID: 38012416 PMCID: PMC10881062 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-023-01689-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Annotation of immunologic gene function in vivo typically requires the generation of knockout mice, which is time consuming and low throughput. We previously developed CHimeric IMmune Editing (CHIME), a CRISPR-Cas9 bone marrow delivery system for constitutive, ubiquitous deletion of single genes. Here we describe X-CHIME, four new CHIME-based systems for modular and rapid interrogation of gene function combinatorially (C-CHIME), inducibly (I-CHIME), lineage-specifically (L-CHIME) or sequentially (S-CHIME). We use C-CHIME and S-CHIME to assess the consequences of combined deletion of Ptpn1 and Ptpn2, an embryonic lethal gene pair, in adult mice. We find that constitutive deletion of both PTPN1 and PTPN2 leads to bone marrow hypoplasia and lethality, while inducible deletion after immune development leads to enteritis and lethality. These findings demonstrate that X-CHIME can be used for rapid mechanistic evaluation of genes in distinct in vivo contexts and that PTPN1 and PTPN2 have some functional redundancy important for viability in adult mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin W LaFleur
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ashlyn M Lemmen
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ivy S L Streeter
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thao H Nguyen
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lauren E Milling
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicole M Derosia
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zachary M Hoffman
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jacob E Gillis
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Qin Tjokrosurjo
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Samuel C Markson
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Amy Y Huang
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - John G Doench
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Arlene H Sharpe
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Cheng Q, Farbiak L, Vaidya A, Guerrero E, Lee EE, Rose EK, Wang X, Robinson J, Lee SM, Wei T, Miller WE, Alvarez Benedicto E, Lian X, Wang RC, Siegwart DJ. In situ production and secretion of proteins endow therapeutic benefit against psoriasiform dermatitis and melanoma. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2313009120. [PMID: 38109533 PMCID: PMC10756300 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2313009120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic medicines have the potential to treat various diseases; however, certain ailments including inflammatory diseases and cancer would benefit from control over extracellular localization of therapeutic proteins. A critical gap therefore remains the need to develop and incorporate methodologies that allow for posttranslational control over expression dynamics, localization, and stability of nucleic acid-generated protein therapeutics. To address this, we explored how the body's endogenous machinery controls protein localization through signal peptides (SPs), including how these motifs could be incorporated modularly into therapeutics. SPs serve as a virtual zip code for mRNA transcripts that direct the cell where to send completed proteins within the cell and the body. Utilizing this signaling biology, we incorporated secretory SP sequences upstream of mRNA transcripts coding for reporter, natural, and therapeutic proteins to induce secretion of the proteins into systemic circulation. SP sequences generated secretion of various engineered proteins into the bloodstream following intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous SP mRNA delivery by lipid, polymer, and ionizable phospholipid delivery carriers. SP-engineered etanercept/TNF-α inhibitor proteins demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in an imiquimod-induced psoriasis model by reducing hyperkeratosis and inflammation. An SP-engineered anti-PD-L1 construct mediated mRNA encoded proteins with longer serum half-lives that reduced tumor burden and extended survival in MC38 and B16F10 cancer models. The modular nature of SP platform should enable intracellular and extracellular localization control of various functional proteins for diverse therapeutic applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
| | - Lukas Farbiak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
| | - Amogh Vaidya
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
| | - Erick Guerrero
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
| | - Eunice E. Lee
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Department of Dermatology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
| | - Elysha K. Rose
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Department of Dermatology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
| | - Joshua Robinson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
| | - Sang M. Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
| | - Tuo Wei
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
| | - William E. Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
| | - Ester Alvarez Benedicto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
| | - Xizhen Lian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
| | - Richard C. Wang
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Department of Dermatology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
| | - Daniel J. Siegwart
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Zong Y, Lin Y, Wei T, Cheng Q. Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) Enables mRNA Delivery for Cancer Therapy. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2303261. [PMID: 37196221 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202303261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) has received great attention in the prevention and treatment of various diseases due to the success of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccines (Comirnaty and Spikevax). To meet the therapeutic purpose, it is required that mRNA must enter the target cells and express sufficient proteins. Therefore, the development of effective delivery systems is necessary and crucial. Lipid nanoparticle (LNP) represents a remarkable vehicle that has indeed accelerated mRNA applications in humans, as several mRNA-based therapies have already been approved or are in clinical trials. In this review, the focus is on mRNA-LNP-mediated anticancer therapy. It summarizes the main development strategies of mRNA-LNP formulations, discusses representative therapeutic approaches in cancer, and points out current challenges and possible future directions of this research field. It is hoped that these delivered messages can help further improve the application of mRNA-LNP technology in cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yi Lin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Tuo Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Qiang Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Zheng Q, Sheng J, Liu J, Chen X, Wang M. Histidine-Rich Protein Accelerates the Biomineralization of Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks for In Vivo Protein Delivery. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:5132-5141. [PMID: 37859395 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Biomineralization of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) provides a powerful approach for intracellular protein delivery, enabling the study of biological function and therapeutic potential of proteins. However, the potency of this approach is largely challenged by the low efficiency of current strategies for interfacing proteins with MOFs for biomineralization and intracellular delivery. Here, we report a versatile and convenient biomineralization strategy for the rapid encapsulation and enhanced delivery of proteins using MOFs, accelerated by histidine-rich proteins. We demonstrate that the histidine-rich green fluorescent protein (H39GFP) can accelerate the biomineralization of MOFs by promoting the coordination between proteins and metal ions, leading to enhanced protein delivery efficiency up to 15-fold. Moreover, we show that the delivery of H39GFP-fused cytotoxic ribonuclease and bacterial-derived RAS protease can effectively inhibit tumor cell growth. The strategy of promoting the biomineralization of MOFs via histidine-rich proteins for enhanced intracellular delivery could be expanded to other biomacromolecules, advancing their therapeutic potential and the biomedical scope of MOFs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qizhen Zheng
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, CAS Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Jinhan Sheng
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, CAS Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ji Liu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, CAS Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Xianghan Chen
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, CAS Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ming Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, CAS Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Maghsoud Y, Jayasinghe-Arachchige VM, Kumari P, Cisneros GA, Liu J. Leveraging QM/MM and Molecular Dynamics Simulations to Decipher the Reaction Mechanism of the Cas9 HNH Domain to Investigate Off-Target Effects. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:6834-6850. [PMID: 37877218 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology is an RNA-guided targeted genome-editing tool using Cas family proteins. Two magnesium-dependent nuclease domains of the Cas9 enzyme, termed HNH and RuvC, are responsible for cleaving the target DNA (t-DNA) and nontarget DNA strands, respectively. The HNH domain is believed to determine the DNA cleavage activity of both endonuclease domains and is sensitive to complementary RNA-DNA base pairing. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of CRISPR-Cas9, by which it rebukes or accepts mismatches, are poorly understood. Thus, investigation of the structure and dynamics of the catalytic state of Cas9 with either matched or mismatched t-DNA can provide insights into improving its specificity by reducing off-target cleavages. Here, we focus on a recently discovered catalytic-active form of the Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9) and employ classical molecular dynamics and coupled quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics simulations to study two possible mechanisms of t-DNA cleavage reaction catalyzed by the HNH domain. Moreover, by designing a mismatched t-DNA structure called MM5 (C to G at the fifth position from the protospacer adjacent motif region), the impact of single-guide RNA (sgRNA) and t-DNA complementarity on the catalysis process was investigated. Based on these simulations, our calculated binding affinities, minimum energy paths, and analysis of catalytically important residues provide atomic-level details of the differences between matched and mismatched cleavage reactions. In addition, several residues exhibit significant differences in their catalytic roles for the two studied systems, including K253, K263, R820, K896, and K913.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yazdan Maghsoud
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
| | - Vindi M Jayasinghe-Arachchige
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of North Texas System College of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas 76107, United States
| | - Pratibha Kumari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of North Texas System College of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas 76107, United States
| | - G Andrés Cisneros
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
- Department of Physics, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
| | - Jin Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of North Texas System College of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas 76107, United States
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Wei T, Sun Y, Cheng Q, Chatterjee S, Traylor Z, Johnson LT, Coquelin ML, Wang J, Torres MJ, Lian X, Wang X, Xiao Y, Hodges CA, Siegwart DJ. Lung SORT LNPs enable precise homology-directed repair mediated CRISPR/Cas genome correction in cystic fibrosis models. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7322. [PMID: 37951948 PMCID: PMC10640563 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42948-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately 10% of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients, particularly those with CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene nonsense mutations, lack effective treatments. The potential of gene correction therapy through delivery of the CRISPR/Cas system to CF-relevant organs/cells is hindered by the lack of efficient genome editor delivery carriers. Herein, we report improved Lung Selective Organ Targeting Lipid Nanoparticles (SORT LNPs) for efficient delivery of Cas9 mRNA, sgRNA, and donor ssDNA templates, enabling precise homology-directed repair-mediated gene correction in CF models. Optimized Lung SORT LNPs deliver mRNA to lung basal cells in Ai9 reporter mice. SORT LNP treatment successfully corrected the CFTR mutations in homozygous G542X mice and in patient-derived human bronchial epithelial cells with homozygous F508del mutations, leading to the restoration of CFTR protein expression and chloride transport function. This proof-of-concept study will contribute to accelerating the clinical development of mRNA LNPs for CF treatment through CRISPR/Cas gene correction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tuo Wei
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yehui Sun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Qiang Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Sumanta Chatterjee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Zachary Traylor
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Lindsay T Johnson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | | | - Jialu Wang
- ReCode Therapeutics, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | | | - Xizhen Lian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yufen Xiao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Craig A Hodges
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Daniel J Siegwart
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Program in Genetic Drug Engineering, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Yi K, Kong H, Zheng C, Zhuo C, Jin Y, Zhong Q, Mintz RL, Ju E, Wang H, Lv S, Lao YH, Tao Y, Li M. A LIGHTFUL nanomedicine overcomes EGFR-mediated drug resistance for enhanced tyrosine-kinase-inhibitor-based hepatocellular carcinoma therapy. Biomaterials 2023; 302:122349. [PMID: 37844429 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Targeting the activated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) via clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) technology is appealing to overcome the drug resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) towards tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy. However, combining these two distinct drugs using traditional liposomes results in a suboptimal synergistic anti-HCC effect due to the limited CRISPR/Cas9 delivery efficiency caused by lysosomal entrapment after endocytosis. Herein, we developed a liver-targeting gene-hybridizing-TKI fusogenic liposome (LIGHTFUL) that can achieve high CRISPR/Cas9 expression to reverse the EGFR-mediated drug resistance for enhanced TKI-based HCC therapy efficiently. Coated with a galactose-modified membrane-fusogenic lipid layer, LIGHTFUL reached the targeting liver site to fuse with HCC tumor cells, directly and efficiently transporting interior CDK5- and PLK1-targeting CRISPR/Cas9 plasmids (pXG333-CPs) into the HCC cell cytoplasm and then the cell nucleus for efficient expression. Such membrane-fusion-mediated pXG333-CP delivery resulted in effective downregulation of both CDK5 and PLK1, sufficiently inactivating EGFR to improve the anti-HCC effects of the co-delivered TKI, lenvatinib. This membrane-fusion-participant codelivery strategy optimized the synergetic effect of CRISPR/Cas9 and TKI combinational therapy as indicated by the 0.35 combination index in vitro and the dramatic reduction of subcutaneous and orthotopic TKI-insensitive HCC tumor growth in mice. Therefore, the established LIGHTFUL provides a unique co-delivery platform to combine gene editing and TKI therapies for enhanced synergetic therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ke Yi
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational Medicine, Center for Nanomedicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Huimin Kong
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational Medicine, Center for Nanomedicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Chunxiong Zheng
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational Medicine, Center for Nanomedicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Chenya Zhuo
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational Medicine, Center for Nanomedicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Yuanyuan Jin
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational Medicine, Center for Nanomedicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Qingguo Zhong
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational Medicine, Center for Nanomedicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Rachel L Mintz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Enguo Ju
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational Medicine, Center for Nanomedicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Haixia Wang
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational Medicine, Center for Nanomedicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Shixian Lv
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yeh-Hsing Lao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Yu Tao
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational Medicine, Center for Nanomedicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Mingqiang Li
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational Medicine, Center for Nanomedicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Ramezannia Z, Shamekh A, Bannazadeh Baghi H. CRISPR-Cas system to discover host-virus interactions in Flaviviridae. Virol J 2023; 20:247. [PMID: 37891676 PMCID: PMC10605781 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-023-02216-7] [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: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The Flaviviridae virus family members cause severe human diseases and are responsible for considerable mortality and morbidity worldwide. Therefore, researchers have conducted genetic screens to enhance insight into viral dependency and develop potential anti-viral strategies to treat and prevent these infections. The host factors identified by the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system can be potential targets for drug development. Meanwhile, CRISPR technology can be efficiently used to treat viral diseases as it targets both DNA and RNA. This paper discusses the host factors related to the life cycle of viruses of this family that were recently discovered using the CRISPR system. It also explores the role of immune factors and recent advances in gene editing in treating flavivirus-related diseases. The ever-increasing advancements of this technology may promise new therapeutic approaches with unique capabilities, surpassing the traditional methods of drug production and treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Ramezannia
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Ali Shamekh
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, 5166/15731, Iran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hossein Bannazadeh Baghi
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, 5166/15731, Iran.
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Feng S, Xie X, Liu J, Li A, Wang Q, Guo D, Li S, Li Y, Wang Z, Guo T, Zhou J, Tang DYY, Show PL. A potential paradigm in CRISPR/Cas systems delivery: at the crossroad of microalgal gene editing and algal-mediated nanoparticles. J Nanobiotechnology 2023; 21:370. [PMID: 37817254 PMCID: PMC10563294 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-023-02139-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Microalgae as the photosynthetic organisms offer enormous promise in a variety of industries, such as the generation of high-value byproducts, biofuels, pharmaceuticals, environmental remediation, and others. With the rapid advancement of gene editing technology, CRISPR/Cas system has evolved into an effective tool that revolutionised the genetic engineering of microalgae due to its robustness, high target specificity, and programmability. However, due to the lack of robust delivery system, the efficacy of gene editing is significantly impaired, limiting its application in microalgae. Nanomaterials have become a potential delivery platform for CRISPR/Cas systems due to their advantages of precise targeting, high stability, safety, and improved immune system. Notably, algal-mediated nanoparticles (AMNPs), especially the microalgae-derived nanoparticles, are appealing as a sustainable delivery platform because of their biocompatibility and low toxicity in a homologous relationship. In addition, living microalgae demonstrated effective and regulated distribution into specified areas as the biohybrid microrobots. This review extensively summarised the uses of CRISPR/Cas systems in microalgae and the recent developments of nanoparticle-based CRISPR/Cas delivery systems. A systematic description of the properties and uses of AMNPs, microalgae-derived nanoparticles, and microalgae microrobots has also been discussed. Finally, this review highlights the challenges and future research directions for the development of gene-edited microalgae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuying Feng
- Medical College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China.
| | - Xin Xie
- Medical College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
| | - Junjie Liu
- Medical College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
| | - Aifang Li
- Medical College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
| | - Qianqian Wang
- Medical College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
| | - Dandan Guo
- Medical College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
| | - Shuxuan Li
- Medical College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
| | - Yalan Li
- Medical College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
| | - Zilong Wang
- Medical College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China
| | - Tao Guo
- Department of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China.
| | - Jin Zhou
- Institute for Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China.
| | - Doris Ying Ying Tang
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, 43500, Semenyih, Malaysia
| | - Pau Loke Show
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Khalifa University, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Guirguis A, Yang W, Conlan XA, Kong L, Cahill DM, Wang Y. Boosting Plant Photosynthesis with Carbon Dots: A Critical Review of Performance and Prospects. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2300671. [PMID: 37381636 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202300671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Artificially augmented photosynthesis in nano-bionic plants requires tunable nano-antenna structures with physiochemical and optoelectronic properties, as well as unique light conversion capabilities. The use of nanomaterials to promote light capture across photosystems, primarily by carbon dots, has shown promising results in enhancing photosynthesis through tunable uptake, translocation, and biocompatibility. Carbon dots possess the ability to perform both down and up-light conversions, making them effective light promoters for harnessing solar energy beyond visible light wavelengths.This review presents and discusses the recent progress in fabrication, chemistry, and morphology, as well as other properties such as photoluminescence and energy conversion efficiency of nano-antennas based on carbon dots. The performance of artificially boosted photosynthesis is discussed and then correlated with the conversion properties of carbon dots and how they are applied to plant models. The challenges related to the nanomaterial delivery and the performance evaluation practices in modified photosystems, consideration of the reliability of this approach, and the potential avenues for performance improvements through other types of nano-antennas based on alternative nanomaterials are also critically evaluated. It is anticipated that this review will stimulate more high-quality research in plant nano-bionics and provide avenues to enhance photosynthesis for future agricultural applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Albert Guirguis
- School of Life & Environment Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, 3216, Australia
| | - Wenrong Yang
- School of Life & Environment Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, 3216, Australia
| | - Xavier A Conlan
- School of Life & Environment Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, 3216, Australia
| | - Lingxue Kong
- Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, 3216, Australia
| | - David M Cahill
- School of Life & Environment Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, 3216, Australia
| | - Yichao Wang
- School of Life & Environment Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, 3216, Australia
- School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Dutta SD, Ganguly K, Patil TV, Randhawa A, Lim KT. Unraveling the potential of 3D bioprinted immunomodulatory materials for regulating macrophage polarization: State-of-the-art in bone and associated tissue regeneration. Bioact Mater 2023; 28:284-310. [PMID: 37303852 PMCID: PMC10248805 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Macrophage-assisted immunomodulation is an alternative strategy in tissue engineering, wherein the interplay between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory macrophage cells and body cells determines the fate of healing or inflammation. Although several reports have demonstrated that tissue regeneration depends on spatial and temporal regulation of the biophysical or biochemical microenvironment of the biomaterial, the underlying molecular mechanism behind immunomodulation is still under consideration for developing immunomodulatory scaffolds. Currently, most fabricated immunomodulatory platforms reported in the literature show regenerative capabilities of a particular tissue, for example, endogenous tissue (e.g., bone, muscle, heart, kidney, and lungs) or exogenous tissue (e.g., skin and eye). In this review, we briefly introduced the necessity of the 3D immunomodulatory scaffolds and nanomaterials, focusing on material properties and their interaction with macrophages for general readers. This review also provides a comprehensive summary of macrophage origin and taxonomy, their diverse functions, and various signal transduction pathways during biomaterial-macrophage interaction, which is particularly helpful for material scientists and clinicians for developing next-generation immunomodulatory scaffolds. From a clinical standpoint, we briefly discussed the role of 3D biomaterial scaffolds and/or nanomaterial composites for macrophage-assisted tissue engineering with a special focus on bone and associated tissues. Finally, a summary with expert opinion is presented to address the challenges and future necessity of 3D bioprinted immunomodulatory materials for tissue engineering.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sayan Deb Dutta
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Forest Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Keya Ganguly
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Tejal V. Patil
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program in Smart Agriculture, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Aayushi Randhawa
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program in Smart Agriculture, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki-Taek Lim
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Forest Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program in Smart Agriculture, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Dubey AK, Mostafavi E. Biomaterials-mediated CRISPR/Cas9 delivery: recent challenges and opportunities in gene therapy. Front Chem 2023; 11:1259435. [PMID: 37841202 PMCID: PMC10568484 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1259435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of biomaterials in delivering CRISPR/Cas9 for gene therapy in infectious diseases holds tremendous potential. This innovative approach combines the advantages of CRISPR/Cas9 with the protective properties of biomaterials, enabling accurate and efficient gene editing while enhancing safety. Biomaterials play a vital role in shielding CRISPR/Cas9 components, such as lipid nanoparticles or viral vectors, from immunological processes and degradation, extending their effectiveness. By utilizing the flexibility of biomaterials, tailored systems can be designed to address specific genetic diseases, paving the way for personalized therapeutics. Furthermore, this delivery method offers promising avenues in combating viral illnesses by precisely modifying pathogen genomes, and reducing their pathogenicity. Biomaterials facilitate site-specific gene modifications, ensuring effective delivery to infected cells while minimizing off-target effects. However, challenges remain, including optimizing delivery efficiency, reducing off-target effects, ensuring long-term safety, and establishing scalable production techniques. Thorough research, pre-clinical investigations, and rigorous safety evaluations are imperative for successful translation from the laboratory to clinical applications. In this review, we discussed how CRISPR/Cas9 delivery using biomaterials revolutionizes gene therapy and infectious disease treatment, offering precise and safe editing capabilities with the potential to significantly improve human health and quality of life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ankit Kumar Dubey
- Global Research and Publishing Foundation, New Delhi, India
- Institute of Scholars, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Ebrahim Mostafavi
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Gao M, Tang M, Ho W, Teng Y, Chen Q, Bu L, Xu X, Zhang XQ. Modulating Plaque Inflammation via Targeted mRNA Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Atherosclerosis. ACS NANO 2023; 17:17721-17739. [PMID: 37669404 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c00958] [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: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a common pathology present in many cardiovascular diseases. Although the current therapies (including statins and inhibitors of the serine protease PCSK9) can effectively reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels to guideline-recommended levels, major adverse cardiovascular events still occur frequently. Indeed, the subendothelial retention of lipoproteins in the artery wall triggers multiple events of inflammation in macrophages and is a major contributor to the pathological progression of atherosclerosis. It has been gradually recognized that modulating inflammation is, therefore, an attractive avenue to forestall and treat atherosclerosis and its complications. Unfortunately, challenges with specificity and efficacy in managing plaque inflammation have hindered progress in atherosclerosis treatment. Herein, we report an NP-mediated mRNA therapeutic approach to target atherosclerotic lesional macrophages, modulating inflammation in advanced atherosclerotic lesions for the treatment of atherosclerosis. We demonstrated that the targeted NPs containing IL-10 mRNA colocalized with M2-like macrophages and induced IL-10 production in atherosclerotic plaques following intravenous administration to Western diet (WD)-fed Ldlr-/- mice. Additionally, the lesions showed a significantly alleviated inflammatory response, as evidenced by reduced oxidative stress and macrophage apoptosis, resulting in decreased lipid deposition, diminished necrotic areas, and increased fiber cap thickness. These results demonstrate the successful delivery of mRNA therapeutics to macrophage-enriched plaques in a preclinical model of advanced atherosclerosis, showing that this targeted NP inflammation management approach has great potential for translation into a wide range of clinical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhu Gao
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Drug Target Identification and Delivery, School of Pharmacy, National Key Laboratory of Innovative Immunotherapy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, PR China
| | - Maoping Tang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Drug Target Identification and Delivery, School of Pharmacy, National Key Laboratory of Innovative Immunotherapy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, PR China
| | | | - Yilong Teng
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Drug Target Identification and Delivery, School of Pharmacy, National Key Laboratory of Innovative Immunotherapy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, PR China
| | - Qijing Chen
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Drug Target Identification and Delivery, School of Pharmacy, National Key Laboratory of Innovative Immunotherapy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, PR China
| | - Lei Bu
- Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, United States
| | | | - Xue-Qing Zhang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Drug Target Identification and Delivery, School of Pharmacy, National Key Laboratory of Innovative Immunotherapy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Lin YQ, Feng KK, Lu JY, Le JQ, Li WL, Zhang BC, Li CL, Song XH, Tong LW, Shao JW. CRISPR/Cas9-based application for cancer therapy: Challenges and solutions for non-viral delivery. J Control Release 2023; 361:727-749. [PMID: 37591461 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing is a promising therapeutic technique, which makes precise and rapid gene editing technology possible on account of its high sensitivity and efficiency. CRISPR/Cas9 system has been proved to able to effectively disrupt and modify genes, which shows great potential for cancer treatment. Current researches proves that virus vectors are capable of effectively delivering the CRISPR/Cas9 system, but immunogenicity and carcinogenicity caused by virus transmission still trigger serious consequences. Therefore, the greatest challenge of CRISPR/Cas9 for cancer therapy lies on how to deliver it to the target tumor site safely and effectively. Non-viral delivery systems with specific targeting, high loading capacity, and low immune toxicity are more suitable than viral vectors, which limited by uncontrollable side effects. Their medical advances and applications have been widely concerned. Herein, we present the molecule mechanism and different construction strategies of CRISPR/Cas9 system for editing genes at the beginning of this research. Subsequently, several common CRISPR/Cas9 non-viral deliveries for cancer treatment are introduced. Lastly, based on the main factors limiting the delivery efficiency of non-viral vectors proposed in the existing researches and literature, we summarize and discuss the main methods to solve these limitations in the existing tumor treatment system, aiming to introduce further optimization and innovation of the CRISPR/Cas9 non-viral delivery system suitable for cancer treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Qi Lin
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Ke-Ke Feng
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Jie-Ying Lu
- Faculty of Foreign Studies, Guangdong Baiyun University, Guangzhou 510450, China
| | - Jing-Qing Le
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Wu-Lin Li
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Bing-Chen Zhang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Cheng-Lei Li
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Xun-Huan Song
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Ling-Wu Tong
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Jing-Wei Shao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Fang L, Shi C, Wang Y, Xiong Z, Wang Y. Exploring the diverse biomedical applications of programmable and multifunctional DNA nanomaterials. J Nanobiotechnology 2023; 21:290. [PMID: 37612757 PMCID: PMC10464147 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-023-02071-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA nanoparticles hold great promise for a range of biological applications, including the development of cutting-edge treatments and diagnostic tests. Their subnanometer-level addressability enables precise, specific modifications with a variety of chemical and biological entities, making them ideal as diagnostic instruments and carriers for targeted delivery. This paper focuses on the potential of DNA nanomaterials, which offer scalability, programmability, and functionality. For example, they can be engineered to provide highly specific biosensing and bioimaging capabilities and show promise as a platform for disease diagnosis and treatment. Successful operation of various biomedical nanomaterials has been demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. However, there are still significant challenges to overcome, including the need to improve the scalability and reliability of the technology, and to ensure safety in clinical applications. We discuss these challenges and opportunities in detail and highlight the progress and prospects of DNA nanotechnology for biomedical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liuru Fang
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Systems Science in Metallurgical Process, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430081, China
| | - Chen Shi
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Province Clinical Research Center for Precision Medicine for Critical Illness, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Yuhua Wang
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Systems Science in Metallurgical Process, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430081, China.
| | - Zuzhao Xiong
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Systems Science in Metallurgical Process, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430081, China
| | - Yumei Wang
- Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Adlat S, Vázquez Salgado AM, Lee M, Yin D, Wangensteen KJ. Emerging and potential use of CRISPR in human liver disease. Hepatology 2023:01515467-990000000-00538. [PMID: 37607734 PMCID: PMC10881897 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR is a gene editing tool adapted from naturally occurring defense systems from bacteria. It is a technology that is revolutionizing the interrogation of gene functions in driving liver disease, especially through genetic screens and by facilitating animal knockout and knockin models. It is being used in models of liver disease to identify which genes are critical for liver pathology, especially in genetic liver disease, hepatitis, and in cancer initiation and progression. It holds tremendous promise in treating human diseases directly by editing DNA. It could disable gene function in the case of expression of a maladaptive protein, such as blocking transthyretin as a therapy for amyloidosis, or to correct gene defects, such as restoring the normal functions of liver enzymes fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase or alpha-1 antitrypsin. It is also being studied for treatment of hepatitis B infection. CRISPR is an exciting, evolving technology that is facilitating gene characterization and discovery in liver disease and holds the potential to treat liver diseases safely and permanently.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Salah Adlat
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Lin L, Su K, Cheng Q, Liu S. Targeting materials and strategies for RNA delivery. Theranostics 2023; 13:4667-4693. [PMID: 37649616 PMCID: PMC10465230 DOI: 10.7150/thno.87316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA-based therapeutics have shown great promise in various medical applications, including cancers, infectious diseases, and metabolic diseases. The recent success of mRNA vaccines for combating the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the medical value of RNA drugs. However, one of the major challenges in realizing the full potential of RNA drugs is to deliver RNA into specific organs and tissues in a targeted manner, which is crucial for achieving therapeutic efficacy, reducing side effects, and enhancing overall treatment efficacy. Numerous attempts have been made to pursue targeting, nonetheless, the lack of clear guideline and commonality elucidation has hindered the clinical translation of RNA drugs. In this review, we outline the mechanisms of action for targeted RNA delivery systems and summarize four key factors that influence the targeting delivery of RNA drugs. These factors include the category of vector materials, chemical structures of vectors, administration routes, and physicochemical properties of RNA vectors, and they all notably contribute to specific organ/tissue tropism. Furthermore, we provide an overview of the main RNA-based drugs that are currently in clinical trials, highlighting their design strategies and tissue tropism applications. This review will aid to understand the principles and mechanisms of targeted delivery systems, accelerating the development of future RNA drugs for different diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lixin Lin
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Kexin Su
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Qiang Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang, China
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Khazaei Monfared Y, Mahmoudian M, Zakeri-Milani P, Cecone C, Hayashi T, Ishii KJ, Conde J, Matencio A, Trotta F. Intratumoural Delivery of mRNA Loaded on a Cationic Hyper-Branched Cyclodextrin-Based Polymer Induced an Anti-Tumour Immunological Response in Melanoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3748. [PMID: 37509409 PMCID: PMC10378402 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15143748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
mRNA technology has demonstrated potential for use as an effective cancer immunotherapy. However, inefficient in vivo mRNA delivery and the requirements for immune co-stimulation present major hurdles to achieving anti-tumour therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, we used a cationic hyper-branched cyclodextrin-based polymer to increase mRNA delivery in both in vitro and in vivo melanoma cancer. We found that the transfection efficacy of the mRNA-EGFP-loaded Ppoly system was significantly higher than that of lipofectamine and free mRNA in both 2D and 3D melanoma cancer cells; also, this delivery system did not show cytotoxicity. In addition, the biodistribution results revealed time-dependent and significantly higher mEGFP expression in complexes with Ppoly compared to free mRNA. We then checked the anti-tumour effect of intratumourally injected free mRNA-OVA, a foreign antigen, and loaded Ppoly; the results showed a considerable decrease in both tumour size and weight in the group treated with OVA-mRNA in loaded Ppoly compared to other formulations with an efficient adaptive immune response by dramatically increasing most leukocyte subtypes and OVA-specific CD8+ T cells in both the spleen and tumour tissues. Collectively, our findings suggest that the local delivery of cationic cyclodextrin-based polymer complexes containing foreign mRNA antigens might be a good and reliable concept for cancer immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohammad Mahmoudian
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 5165665931, Iran
| | - Parvin Zakeri-Milani
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 5165665931, Iran
| | - Claudio Cecone
- Department of Chemistry, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Tomoya Hayashi
- Division of Vaccine Science, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo (IMSUT), Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
| | - Ken J Ishii
- Division of Vaccine Science, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo (IMSUT), Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
| | - João Conde
- ToxOmics, NOVA Medical School (NMS), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1099-085 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Adrián Matencio
- Department of Chemistry, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Francesco Trotta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Sahel DK, Vora LK, Saraswat A, Sharma S, Monpara J, D'Souza AA, Mishra D, Tryphena KP, Kawakita S, Khan S, Azhar M, Khatri DK, Patel K, Singh Thakur RR. CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing for Tissue-Specific In Vivo Targeting: Nanomaterials and Translational Perspective. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2207512. [PMID: 37166046 PMCID: PMC10323670 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202207512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Clustered randomly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs) and its associated endonuclease protein, i.e., Cas9, have been discovered as an immune system in bacteria and archaea; nevertheless, they are now being adopted as mainstream biotechnological/molecular scissors that can modulate ample genetic and nongenetic diseases via insertion/deletion, epigenome editing, messenger RNA editing, CRISPR interference, etc. Many Food and Drug Administration-approved and ongoing clinical trials on CRISPR adopt ex vivo strategies, wherein the gene editing is performed ex vivo, followed by reimplantation to the patients. However, the in vivo delivery of the CRISPR components is still under preclinical surveillance. This review has summarized the nonviral nanodelivery strategies for gene editing using CRISPR/Cas9 and its recent advancements, strategic points of view, challenges, and future aspects for tissue-specific in vivo delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 components using nanomaterials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Kumar Sahel
- Department of PharmacyBirla Institute of Technology and Science‐PilaniBITS‐Pilani, Vidya ViharPilaniRajasthan333031India
| | - Lalitkumar K. Vora
- School of PharmacyQueen's University Belfast97 Lisburn RoadBelfastBT9 7BLUK
| | - Aishwarya Saraswat
- College of Pharmacy & Health SciencesSt. John's UniversityQueensNY11439USA
| | - Saurabh Sharma
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical InnovationLos AngelesCA90064USA
| | - Jasmin Monpara
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of SciencesPhiladelphiaPA19104USA
| | - Anisha A. D'Souza
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and School of PharmacyDuquesne UniversityPittsburghPA15282USA
| | - Deepakkumar Mishra
- School of PharmacyQueen's University Belfast97 Lisburn RoadBelfastBT9 7BLUK
| | - Kamatham Pushpa Tryphena
- Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience LabDepartment of Pharmacology and ToxicologyNational Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)‐HyderabadTelangana500037India
| | - Satoru Kawakita
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCA95616USA
| | - Shahid Khan
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical InnovationLos AngelesCA90064USA
| | - Mohd Azhar
- Research and Development Tata Medical and Diagnostics LimitedMumbaiMaharashtra400001India
| | - Dharmendra Kumar Khatri
- Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience LabDepartment of Pharmacology and ToxicologyNational Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)‐HyderabadTelangana500037India
| | - Ketan Patel
- College of Pharmacy & Health SciencesSt. John's UniversityQueensNY11439USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Zhang C, Wang X, Liu G, Ren H, Liu J, Jiang Z, Zhang Y. CRISPR/Cas9 and Chlorophyll Coordination Micelles for Cancer Treatment by Genome Editing and Photodynamic Therapy. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2206981. [PMID: 36693779 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202206981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9-based gene therapy and photodynamic therapy both show promise for cancer treatment but still have their drawbacks limited by tumor microenvironment and long treatment duration. Herein, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and photodynamic strategy for a synergistic anti-tumor therapeutic modality is merged. Chlorophyll (Chl) extracted from natural green vegetables is encapsulated in Pluronic F127 (F127) micelles and Histidine-tagged Cas9 can be effectively chelated onto micelles via metal coordination by simple incubation, affording Cas9-Chl@F127 micelles. Mg2+ acts as an enzyme cofactor to correlatively enhance Cas9 gene-editing activity. Upon laser irradiation, Chl as an effective photosensitizer generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kill tumor cells. Meanwhile, CRISPR/Cas9, mediated by dual deliberately designed gRNAs of APE1 and NRF2, can reprogram the tumor microenvironment by increasing the intracellular oxygen accumulation and impairing the oxidative defense system of tumor cells. Cas9-Chl@F127 micelles can responsively release Cas9 in the presence of abundant ATP or low pH in tumor cells. In a murine tumor model, Cas9-Chl@F127 complexed with dual gRNAs including APE1 and NRF2 significantly inhibits the tumor growth. Taken together, Cas9-Chl@F127 micelles, representing the first Chl-based green biomaterial for the delivery of Cas9, show great promise for the synergistic anti-tumor treatment by PDT and gene editing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chen Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, P. R. China
| | - Xiaojie Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, P. R. China
| | - Gengqi Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, P. R. China
| | - He Ren
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, P. R. China
| | - Jingang Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, P. R. China
| | - Zhen Jiang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, P. R. China
| | - Yumiao Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Blake TR, Haabeth OAW, Sallets A, McClellan RL, Del Castillo TJ, Vilches-Moure JG, Ho WC, Wender PA, Levy R, Waymouth RM. Lysine-Derived Charge-Altering Releasable Transporters: Targeted Delivery of mRNA and siRNA to the Lungs. Bioconjug Chem 2023:10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00019. [PMID: 36996808 PMCID: PMC10601965 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
Targeted delivery of nucleic acid therapeutics to the lungs could transform treatment options for pulmonary disease. We have previously developed oligomeric charge-altering releasable transporters (CARTs) for in vivo mRNA transfection and demonstrated their efficacy for use in mRNA-based cancer vaccination and local immunomodulatory therapies against murine tumors. While our previously reported glycine-based CART-mRNA complexes (G-CARTs/mRNA) show selective protein expression in the spleen (mouse, >99%), here, we report a new lysine-derived CART-mRNA complex (K-CART/mRNA) that, without additives or targeting ligands, shows selective protein expression in the lungs (mouse, >90%) following systemic IV administration. We further show that by delivering siRNA using the K-CART, we can significantly decrease expression of a lung-localized reporter protein. Blood chemistry and organ pathology studies demonstrate that K-CARTs are safe and well-tolerated. We report on the new step economical, organocatalytic synthesis (two steps) of functionalized polyesters and oligo-carbonate-co-α-aminoester K-CARTs from simple amino acid and lipid-based monomers. The ability to direct protein expression selectively in the spleen or lungs by simple, modular changes to the CART structure opens fundamentally new opportunities in research and gene therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy R Blake
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Ole A W Haabeth
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Adrienne Sallets
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Rebecca L McClellan
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Trevor J Del Castillo
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Jose G Vilches-Moure
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Wilson C Ho
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Paul A Wender
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Ronald Levy
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Robert M Waymouth
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Qiao L, Gao M, Yi X, Peng H, Zhang R, Yao W, Sun G, He X. Biomimetic gene editing system for precise tumor cell reprogramming and augmented tumor therapy. J Control Release 2023; 356:663-677. [PMID: 36924897 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
The abnormal level of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) is closely related to cancer metastasis and treatment resistance. CRISPR-Cas9-based gene editing technology has sparked profound hope to solve this issue by precise gene disruption, although the in vivo application remains hindered by the lack of a safe and efficient delivery strategy. Herein, we developed a cell membrane biomimetic core-shell system for light-controllable, precise gene editing. The inner core of the system comprises protamine for CRISPR-Cas9/sgRNA plasmid (pCas9) loading and calcium ions for efficient pCas9 transfection. The shell of the system is camouflaged by a cell membrane and modified with AS1411 aptamers for tumor targeting and photosensitizers to induce lysosomal escape and pCas9 release through reactive oxygen species production, thereby producing light-controllable enhanced gene editing. Neoplastic H1299 cells were reprogrammed using the biomimetic gene editing system upon laser irradiation with reduced VEGF and Vimentin expression, leading to enhanced antimetastatic effects. Genetic disruption of HIF-1α augmented the in vivo chemotherapeutic efficacy of paclitaxel. Our approach of using a membrane-camouflaged system combined with light augmentation provides a potential solution for the in vivo delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 as well as a feasible strategy for cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Qiao
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Min Gao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Xiaoqing Yi
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Hui Peng
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Ruijie Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Wanqing Yao
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Gengyun Sun
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Xiaoyan He
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Li M, Sun X, Yin M, Shen J, Yan S. Recent Advances in Nanoparticle-Mediated Co-Delivery System: A Promising Strategy in Medical and Agricultural Field. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065121. [PMID: 36982200 PMCID: PMC10048901 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug and gene delivery systems mediated by nanoparticles have been widely studied for life science in the past decade. The application of nano-delivery systems can dramatically improve the stability and delivery efficiency of carried ingredients, overcoming the defects of administration routes in cancer therapy, and possibly maintaining the sustainability of agricultural systems. However, delivery of a drug or gene alone sometimes cannot achieve a satisfactory effect. The nanoparticle-mediated co-delivery system can load multiple drugs and genes simultaneously, and improve the effectiveness of each component, thus amplifying efficacy and exhibiting synergistic effects in cancer therapy and pest management. The co-delivery system has been widely reported in the medical field, and studies on its application in the agricultural field have recently begun to emerge. In this progress report, we summarize recent progress in the preparation and application of drug and gene co-delivery systems and discuss the remaining challenges and future perspectives in the design and fabrication.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingshan Li
- Department of Plant Biosecurity and MARA Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiaowei Sun
- Department of Plant Biosecurity and MARA Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Meizhen Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Jie Shen
- Department of Plant Biosecurity and MARA Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Correspondence: (J.S.); (S.Y.)
| | - Shuo Yan
- Department of Plant Biosecurity and MARA Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Correspondence: (J.S.); (S.Y.)
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Wang X, Liu S, Sun Y, Yu X, Lee SM, Cheng Q, Wei T, Gong J, Robinson J, Zhang D, Lian X, Basak P, Siegwart DJ. Preparation of selective organ-targeting (SORT) lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) using multiple technical methods for tissue-specific mRNA delivery. Nat Protoc 2023; 18:265-291. [PMID: 36316378 PMCID: PMC9888002 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-022-00755-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 95.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
A new methodology termed selective organ targeting (SORT) was recently developed that enables controllable delivery of nucleic acids to target tissues. SORT lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) involve the inclusion of SORT molecules that accurately tune delivery to the liver, lungs and spleen of mice after intravenous administration. Nanoparticles can be engineered to target specific cells and organs in the body by passive, active and endogenous targeting mechanisms that require distinct design criteria. SORT LNPs are modular and can be prepared using scalable, synthetic chemistry and established engineering formulation methods. This protocol provides detailed procedures, including the synthesis of a representative ionizable cationic lipid, preparation of multiple classes of SORT LNPs by pipette, vortex and microfluidic mixing methods, physical characterization, and in vitro/in vivo mRNA delivery evaluation. Depending on the scale of the experiments, the synthesis of the ionizable lipid requires 4-6 d; LNPs can be formulated within several hours; LNP characterization can be completed in 2-4 h; and in vitro/in vivo evaluation studies require 1-14 d, depending on the design and application. Our strategy offers a versatile and practical method for rationally designing nanoparticles that accurately target specific organs. The SORT LNPs generated as described in this protocol can therefore be applied to multiple classes of LNP systems for therapeutic nucleic acid delivery and facilitate the development of protein replacement and genetic medicines in target tissues. This protocol does not require specific expertise, is modular to various lipids within defined physicochemical classes, and should be accomplishable by researchers from various backgrounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Daniel J. Siegwart
- Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to Daniel J. Siegwart.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Abstract
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) renaissance was catalysed by the discovery that RNA-guided prokaryotic CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins can create targeted double-strand breaks in mammalian genomes. This finding led to the development of CRISPR systems that harness natural DNA repair mechanisms to repair deficient genes more easily and precisely than ever before. CRISPR has been used to knock out harmful mutant genes and to fix errors in coding sequences to rescue disease phenotypes in preclinical studies and in several clinical trials. However, most genetic disorders result from combinations of mutations, deletions and duplications in the coding and non-coding regions of the genome and therefore require sophisticated genome engineering strategies beyond simple gene knockout. To overcome this limitation, the toolbox of natural and engineered CRISPR-Cas systems has been dramatically expanded to include diverse tools that function in human cells for precise genome editing and epigenome engineering. The application of CRISPR technology to edit the non-coding genome, modulate gene regulation, make precise genetic changes and target infectious diseases has the potential to lead to curative therapies for many previously untreatable diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Chavez
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
| | - Xinyi Chen
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
| | - Paul B. Finn
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
| | - Lei S. Qi
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA ,grid.168010.e0000000419368956Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA ,grid.499295.a0000 0004 9234 0175Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA USA
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Huang K, Zapata D, Tang Y, Teng Y, Li Y. In vivo delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing components for therapeutic applications. Biomaterials 2022; 291:121876. [PMID: 36334354 PMCID: PMC10018374 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
Since its mechanism discovery in 2012 and the first application for mammalian genome editing in 2013, CRISPR-Cas9 has revolutionized the genome engineering field and created countless opportunities in both basic science and translational medicine. The first clinical trial of CRISPR therapeutics was initiated in 2016, which employed ex vivo CRISPR-Cas9 edited PD-1 knockout T cells for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. So far there have been dozens of clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov in regard to using the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing as the main intervention for therapeutic applications; however, most of these studies use ex vivo genome editing approach, and only a few apply the in vivo editing strategy. Compared to ex vivo editing, in vivo genome editing bypasses tedious procedures related to cell isolation, maintenance, selection, and transplantation. It is also applicable to a wide range of diseases and disorders. The main obstacles to the successful translation of in vivo therapeutic genome editing include the lack of safe and efficient delivery system and safety concerns resulting from the off-target effects. In this review, we highlight the therapeutic applications of in vivo genome editing mediated by the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Following a brief introduction of the history, biology, and functionality of CRISPR-Cas9, we showcase a series of exemplary studies in regard to the design and implementation of in vivo genome editing systems that target the brain, inner ear, eye, heart, liver, lung, muscle, skin, immune system, and tumor. Current challenges and opportunities in the field of CRISPR-enabled therapeutic in vivo genome editing are also discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kun Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Daniel Zapata
- Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Yan Tang
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Yong Teng
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
| | - Yamin Li
- Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Johnson LT, Zhang D, Zhou K, Lee SM, Liu S, Dilliard SA, Farbiak L, Chatterjee S, Lin YH, Siegwart DJ. Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) Chemistry Can Endow Unique In Vivo RNA Delivery Fates within the Liver That Alter Therapeutic Outcomes in a Cancer Model. Mol Pharm 2022; 19:3973-3986. [PMID: 36154076 PMCID: PMC9888001 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c00442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Within the field of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for RNA delivery, the focus has been mainly placed on organ level delivery, which can mask cellular level effects consequential to therapeutic applications. Here, we studied a pair of LNPs with similar physical properties and discovered how the chemistry of the ionizable amino lipid can control the endogenous LNP identity, affecting cellular uptake in the liver and altering therapeutic outcomes in a model of liver cancer. Although most LNPs accumulate in the liver after intravenous administration (suggesting that liver delivery is straightforward), we observed an unexpected behavior when comparing two similar LNP formulations (5A2-SC8 and 3A5-SC14 LNPs) that resulted in distinct RNA delivery within the organ. Despite both LNPs possessing similar physical properties, ability to silence gene expression in vitro, strong accumulation within the liver, and a shared pKa of 6.5, only 5A2-SC8 LNPs were able to functionally deliver RNA to hepatocytes. Factor VII (FVII) activity was reduced by 87%, with 5A2-SC8 LNPs carrying FVII siRNA (siFVII), while 3A5-SC14 LNPs carrying siFVII produced baseline FVII activity levels comparable to the nontreatment control at a dosage of 0.5 mg/kg. Protein corona analysis indicated that 5A2-SC8 LNPs bind apolipoprotein E (ApoE), which can drive LDL-R receptor-mediated endocytosis in hepatocytes. In contrast, the surface of 3A5-SC14 LNPs was enriched in albumin but depleted in ApoE, which likely led to Kupffer cell delivery and detargeting of hepatocytes. In an aggressive MYC-driven liver cancer model relevant to hepatocytes, 5A2-SC8 LNPs carrying let-7g miRNA were able to significantly extend survival up to 121 days. Since disease targets exist in an organ- and cell-specific manner, the clinical development of RNA LNP therapeutics will require an improved understanding of LNP cellular tropism within organs. The results from our work illustrate the importance of understanding the cellular localization of RNA delivery and incorporating further checkpoints when choosing nanoparticles beyond biochemical and physical characterization, as small changes in the chemical composition of LNPs can have an impact on both the biofate of LNPs and therapeutic outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay T Johnson
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75390, Texas, United States
| | - Di Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75390, Texas, United States
| | - Kejin Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75390, Texas, United States
| | - Sang M Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75390, Texas, United States
| | - Shuai Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75390, Texas, United States
| | - Sean A Dilliard
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75390, Texas, United States
| | - Lukas Farbiak
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75390, Texas, United States
| | - Sumanta Chatterjee
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75390, Texas, United States
| | - Yu-Hsuan Lin
- Children's Research Institute, Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Children's Research Institute Mouse Genome Engineering Core, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75390, Texas, United States
| | - Daniel J Siegwart
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75390, Texas, United States
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Kang K, Song Y, Kim I, Kim TJ. Therapeutic Applications of the CRISPR-Cas System. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022; 9:bioengineering9090477. [PMID: 36135023 PMCID: PMC9495783 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9090477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-Cas system has revolutionized genetic engineering due to its simplicity, stability, and precision since its discovery. This technology is utilized in a variety of fields, from basic research in medicine and biology to medical diagnosis and treatment, and its potential is unbounded as new methods are developed. The review focused on medical applications and discussed the most recent treatment trends and limitations, with an emphasis on CRISPR-based therapeutics for infectious disease, oncology, and genetic disease, as well as CRISPR-based diagnostics, screening, immunotherapy, and cell therapy. Given its promising results, the successful implementation of the CRISPR-Cas system in clinical practice will require further investigation into its therapeutic applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyungmin Kang
- College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06591, Korea
| | - Youngjae Song
- College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06591, Korea
| | - Inho Kim
- College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06591, Korea
| | - Tae-Jung Kim
- Department of Hospital Pathology, Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 10, 63-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul 07345, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-3779-2157
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Fang T, Cao X, Ibnat M, Chen G. Stimuli-responsive nanoformulations for CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing. J Nanobiotechnology 2022; 20:354. [PMID: 35918694 PMCID: PMC9344766 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01570-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The CRISPR-Cas9 technology has changed the landscape of genome editing and has demonstrated extraordinary potential for treating otherwise incurable diseases. Engineering strategies to enable efficient intracellular delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 components has been a central theme for broadening the impact of the CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Various non-viral delivery systems for CRISPR-Cas9 have been investigated given their favorable safety profiles over viral systems. Many recent efforts have been focused on the development of stimuli-responsive non-viral CRISPR-Cas9 delivery systems, with the goal of achieving efficient and precise genome editing. Stimuli-responsive nanoplatforms are capable of sensing and responding to particular triggers, such as innate biological cues and external stimuli, for controlled CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing. In this Review, we overview the recent advances in stimuli-responsive nanoformulations for CRISPR-Cas9 delivery, highlight the rationale of stimuli and formulation designs, and summarize their biomedical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tianxu Fang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada.,Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Xiaona Cao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada.,Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada.,School of Nursing, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Mysha Ibnat
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada.,Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Guojun Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada. .,Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Raguram A, Banskota S, Liu DR. Therapeutic in vivo delivery of gene editing agents. Cell 2022; 185:2806-2827. [PMID: 35798006 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.03.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 62.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
In vivo gene editing therapies offer the potential to treat the root causes of many genetic diseases. Realizing the promise of therapeutic in vivo gene editing requires the ability to safely and efficiently deliver gene editing agents to relevant organs and tissues in vivo. Here, we review current delivery technologies that have been used to enable therapeutic in vivo gene editing, including viral vectors, lipid nanoparticles, and virus-like particles. Since no single delivery modality is likely to be appropriate for every possible application, we compare the benefits and drawbacks of each method and highlight opportunities for future improvements.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Raguram
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Samagya Banskota
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - David R Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Zhang D, Wang G, Yu X, Wei T, Farbiak L, Johnson LT, Taylor AM, Xu J, Hong Y, Zhu H, Siegwart DJ. Enhancing CRISPR/Cas gene editing through modulating cellular mechanical properties for cancer therapy. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2022; 17:777-787. [PMID: 35551240 PMCID: PMC9931497 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-022-01122-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Genome editing holds great potential for cancer treatment due to the ability to precisely inactivate or repair cancer-related genes. However, delivery of CRISPR/Cas to solid tumours for efficient cancer therapy remains challenging. Here we targeted tumour tissue mechanics via a multiplexed dendrimer lipid nanoparticle (LNP) approach involving co-delivery of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) siRNA, Cas9 mRNA and sgRNA (siFAK + CRISPR-LNPs) to enable tumour delivery and enhance gene-editing efficacy. We show that gene editing was enhanced >10-fold in tumour spheroids due to increased cellular uptake and tumour penetration of nanoparticles mediated by FAK-knockdown. siFAK + CRISPR-PD-L1-LNPs reduced extracellular matrix stiffness and efficiently disrupted PD-L1 expression by CRISPR/Cas gene editing, which significantly inhibited tumour growth and metastasis in four mouse models of cancer. Overall, we provide evidence that modulating the stiffness of tumour tissue can enhance gene editing in tumours, which offers a new strategy for synergistic LNPs and other nanoparticle systems to treat cancer using gene editing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Di Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Guoxun Wang
- Department of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Xueliang Yu
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Tuo Wei
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Lukas Farbiak
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Lindsay T Johnson
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Alan Mark Taylor
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Jiazhu Xu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Yi Hong
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Hao Zhu
- Children's Research Institute, Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Children's Research Institute Mouse Genome Engineering Core, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Daniel J Siegwart
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Shalaby KE, Aouida M, Gupta V, Ghanem SS, El-Agnaf OMA. Rapid Assessment of CRISPR Transfection Efficiency and Enrichment of CRISPR Induced Mutations Using a Dual-Fluorescent Stable Reporter System. Front Genome Ed 2022; 4:854866. [PMID: 35386234 PMCID: PMC8978543 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2022.854866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The nuclease activity of the CRISPR-Cas9 system relies on the delivery of a CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) and a single guide RNA (sgRNA) against the target gene. CRISPR components are typically delivered to cells as either a Cas9/sgRNA ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex or a plasmid encoding a Cas9 protein along with a sequence-specific sgRNA. Multiple transfection reagents are known to deliver CRISPR-Cas9 components, and delivery vectors are being developed for different purposes by several groups. Here, we repurposed a dual-fluorescence (RFP-GFP-GFP) reporter system to quantify the uptake level of the functional CRISPR-Cas9 components into cells and compare the efficiency of CRISPR delivery vectors. Using this system, we developed a novel and rapid cell-based microplate reader assay that makes possible real-time, rapid, and high throughput quantification of CRISPR nuclease activity. Cells stably expressing this dual-fluorescent reporter construct facilitated a direct quantification of the level of the internalized and functional CRISPR-Cas9 molecules into the cells without the need of co-transfecting fluorescently labeled reporter molecules. Additionally, targeting a reporter gene integrated into the genome recapitulates endogenous gene targeting. Thus, this reporter could be used to optimize various transfection conditions of CRISPR components, to evaluate and compare the efficiency of transfection agents, and to enrich cells containing desired CRISPR-induced mutations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karim E. Shalaby
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences Division, College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
- Neurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mustapha Aouida
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences Division, College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
- *Correspondence: Mustapha Aouida, ; Omar M. A. El-Agnaf,
| | - Vijay Gupta
- Neurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Simona S. Ghanem
- Neurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Omar M. A. El-Agnaf
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences Division, College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
- Neurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
- *Correspondence: Mustapha Aouida, ; Omar M. A. El-Agnaf,
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Kocher T, Petkovic I, Bischof J, Koller U. Current developments in gene therapy for epidermolysis bullosa. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2022; 22:1137-1150. [PMID: 35235467 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2022.2049229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The genodermatosis epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a monogenetic disease, characterized by severe blister formation on the skin and mucous membranes upon minimal mechanical trauma. Causes for the disease are mutations in genes encoding proteins that are essential for skin integrity. In EB, one of these proteins is either functionally impaired or completely absent. Therefore, the development and improvement of DNA and RNA-based therapeutic approaches for this severe blistering skin disease is mandatory to achieve a treatment option for the patients. AREAS COVERED Currently, there are several forms of DNA/RNA therapies potentially feasible for EB. Whereas some of them are still at the preclinical stage, others are clinically advanced and have already been applied to patients. In particular, this is the case for a cDNA replacement approach successfully applied for a small number of patients with junctional EB. EXPERT OPINION The heterogeneity of EB justifies the development of therapeutic options with distinct modes of action at a DNA or RNA level. Besides, splicing-modulating therapies, based on RNA trans-splicing or short antisense oligonucleotides, especially designer nucleases, have steadily improved in efficiency and safety and thus likely represent the most promising gene therapy tool in the near future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Kocher
- EB House Austria, Research Program for Molecular Therapy of Genodermatoses, Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Igor Petkovic
- EB House Austria, Research Program for Molecular Therapy of Genodermatoses, Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Johannes Bischof
- EB House Austria, Research Program for Molecular Therapy of Genodermatoses, Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Ulrich Koller
- EB House Austria, Research Program for Molecular Therapy of Genodermatoses, Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Affiliation(s)
- Sean A Dilliard
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Daniel J Siegwart
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Álvarez-Benedicto E, Farbiak L, Ramírez MM, Wang X, Johnson LT, Mian O, Guerrero ED, Siegwart DJ. Optimization of phospholipid chemistry for improved lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery of messenger RNA (mRNA). Biomater Sci 2022; 10:549-559. [PMID: 34904974 PMCID: PMC9113778 DOI: 10.1039/d1bm01454d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been established as an essential platform for nucleic acid delivery. Efforts have led to the development of vaccines that protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection using LNPs to deliver messenger RNA (mRNA) coding for the viral spike protein. Out of the four essential components that comprise LNPs, phospholipids represent an underappreciated opportunity for fundamental and translational study. We investigated this avenue by systematically modulating the identity of the phospholipid in LNPs with the goal of identifying specific moieties that directly enhance or hinder delivery efficacy. Results indicate that phospholipid chemistry can enhance mRNA delivery by increasing membrane fusion and enhancing endosomal escape. Phospholipids containing phosphoethanolamine (PE) head groups likely increase endosomal escape due to their fusogenic properties. Additionally, it was found that zwitterionic phospholipids mainly aided liver delivery, whereas negatively charged phospholipids changed the tropism of the LNPs from liver to spleen. These results demonstrate that the choice of phospholipid plays a role intracellularly by enhancing endosomal escape, while also driving organ tropism in vivo. These findings were then applied to Selective Organ Targeting (SORT) LNPs to manipulate and control spleen-specific delivery. Overall, selection of the phospholipid in LNPs provides an important handle to design and optimize LNPs for improved mRNA delivery and more effective therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ester Álvarez-Benedicto
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Lukas Farbiak
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Martha Márquez Ramírez
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Lindsay T. Johnson
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Osamah Mian
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Erick D. Guerrero
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Daniel J. Siegwart
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States,Corresponding author.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Shin H, Kim J. Nanoparticle-based non-viral CRISPR delivery for enhanced immunotherapy. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:1860-1870. [PMID: 35040444 DOI: 10.1039/d1cc05999h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The CRISPR Cas9 system has received considerable attention due to its simplicity, efficiency, and high precision for gene editing. The development of various therapeutic applications of the CRISPR system is under active research. In particular, its proven effects and promise in immunotherapy are of note. CRISPR/Cas9 components can be transported in various forms, such as plasmid DNA, mRNA of the Cas9 protein with gRNA, or a ribonucleoprotein complex. Even with its proven gene editing superiority, there are limitations in delivering the CRISPR system to target cells. CRISPR systems can be delivered via physical methods, viral vectors, or non-viral carriers. The development of diverse types of nanoparticles that could be used as non-viral carriers could overcome the disadvantages of physical techniques and viral vectors such as low cell viability, induction of immune response, limited loading capacity, and lack of targeting ability. Herein, we review the recent developments in applications of CRISPR system-mediated non-viral carriers in immunotherapy, depending on the targeting cell types, and discuss future research directions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyunsu Shin
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jaeyun Kim
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences & Technology (SAIHST), Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Seoul 06355, Republic of Korea.,Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU (BICS), Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea.,Institute of Quantum Biophysics (IQB), Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
On the mechanism of tissue-specific mRNA delivery by selective organ targeting nanoparticles. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2109256118. [PMID: 34933999 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2109256118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 256] [Impact Index Per Article: 85.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are a clinically mature technology for the delivery of genetic medicines but have limited therapeutic applications due to liver accumulation. Recently, our laboratory developed selective organ targeting (SORT) nanoparticles that expand the therapeutic applications of genetic medicines by enabling delivery of messenger RNA (mRNA) and gene editing systems to non-liver tissues. SORT nanoparticles include a supplemental SORT molecule whose chemical structure determines the LNP's tissue-specific activity. To understand how SORT nanoparticles surpass the delivery barrier of liver hepatocyte accumulation, we studied the mechanistic factors which define their organ-targeting properties. We discovered that the chemical nature of the added SORT molecule controlled biodistribution, global/apparent pKa, and serum protein interactions of SORT nanoparticles. Additionally, we provide evidence for an endogenous targeting mechanism whereby organ targeting occurs via 1) desorption of poly(ethylene glycol) lipids from the LNP surface, 2) binding of distinct proteins to the nanoparticle surface because of recognition of exposed SORT molecules, and 3) subsequent interactions between surface-bound proteins and cognate receptors highly expressed in specific tissues. These findings establish a crucial link between the molecular composition of SORT nanoparticles and their unique and precise organ-targeting properties and suggest that the recruitment of specific proteins to a nanoparticle's surface can enable drug delivery beyond the liver.
Collapse
|
43
|
Liu S, Wang X, Yu X, Cheng Q, Johnson LT, Chatterjee S, Zhang D, Lee SM, Sun Y, Lin TC, Liu JL, Siegwart DJ. Zwitterionic Phospholipidation of Cationic Polymers Facilitates Systemic mRNA Delivery to Spleen and Lymph Nodes. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:21321-21330. [PMID: 34878786 PMCID: PMC9437927 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c09822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Polymers represent a promising therapeutic platform for extrahepatic messenger RNA (mRNA) delivery but are hampered by low in vivo efficacy due to polyplex serum instability and inadequate endosomal escape following systemic administration. Here, we report the rational design and combinatorial synthesis of zwitterionic phospholipidated polymers (ZPPs) via cationic polymer postmodification by alkylated dioxaphospholane oxides to deliver mRNA to spleen and lymph nodes in vivo. This modular postmodification approach readily produces tunable zwitterionic species for serum resistance and introduces alkyl chains simultaneously to enhance endosomal escape, thereby transforming deficient cationic polymers to efficacious zwitterionic mRNA carriers without the need to elaborately synthesize functional monomers. ZPPs mediated up to 39 500-fold higher protein expression than their parent cationic counterparts in vitro and enabled efficacious mRNA delivery selectively in spleen and lymph nodes following intravenous administration in vivo. This zwitterionic phospholipidation methodology provides a versatile and generalizable postmodification strategy to introduce zwitterions into the side chains of cationic polymers, extending the utility of cationic polymer families for precise mRNA delivery and demonstrating substantial potential for immunotherapeutic applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Xueliang Yu
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Qiang Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Lindsay T. Johnson
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Sumanta Chatterjee
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Di Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Sang M. Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Yehui Sun
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Ting-Chih Lin
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - John L. Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Daniel J. Siegwart
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Abstract
Genetic diseases present formidable hurdles in maintaining a good quality of life for those suffering from these ailments. Often, patients look to inadequate treatments to manage symptoms, which can result in harmful effects on the body. Through genetic engineering, scientists utilize the clustered regularly short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated protein, known as Cas9, to treat the root of the problem. The Cas9 protein is often codelivered with guide RNAs or in ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNP) to ensure targeted delivery of the genetic tool as well as to limit off-target effects. This paper provides an overview of the current advances made toward the encapsulation and delivery of Cas9 to desired locations in the body through encapsulating nanoparticles. Several factors must be considered when employing the Cas9 system to allow gene editing to occur. Material selection is crucial to protect the payload of the delivery vector. Current literature indicates that lipid- and polymer-based nanoparticles show the most potential as delivery vessels for Cas9. Lipid nanoparticles greatly outpace polymer-based nanoparticles in the clinic, despite the benefits that polymers may introduce. When developing translatable systems, there are factors that have not yet been considered that are relevant to Cas9 delivery that are highlighted in this Viewpoint. The proper functioning of Cas9 is dependent on maintaining a proper internal environment; however, there are gaps in the literature regarding these optimal conditions. Interactions between charges of the Cas9 protein, codelivered molecules, and delivery vehicles could impact the effectiveness of the gene editing taking place. While the internal charges of nanoparticles and their effects on Cas9 are presently undetermined, nanoparticles currently offer the ideal delivery method for the Cas9 protein due to their adequate size, modifiable external charge, and ability to be modified. Overall, a cationic lipid-/polymer-based nanoparticle system was found to have the most prospects in Cas9 delivery thus far. By understanding the successes of other systems, translatable, polymer-based delivery vehicles may be developed.
Collapse
|
45
|
Kong H, Ju E, Yi K, Xu W, Lao Y, Cheng D, Zhang Q, Tao Y, Li M, Ding J. Advanced Nanotheranostics of CRISPR/Cas for Viral Hepatitis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:e2102051. [PMID: 34665528 PMCID: PMC8693080 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202102051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Liver disease, particularly viral hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is a global healthcare burden and leads to more than 2 million deaths per year worldwide. Despite some success in diagnosis and vaccine development, there are still unmet needs to improve diagnostics and therapeutics for viral hepatitis and HCC. The emerging clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/associated proteins (CRISPR/Cas) technology may open up a unique avenue to tackle these two diseases at the genetic level in a precise manner. Especially, liver is a more accessible organ over others from the delivery point of view, and many advanced strategies applied for nanotheranostics can be adapted in CRISPR-mediated diagnostics or liver gene editing. In this review, the focus is on these two aspects of viral hepatitis and HCC applications. An overview on CRISPR editor development and current progress in clinical trials is first given, followed by highlighting the recent advances integrating the merits of gene editing and nanotheranostics. The promising systems that are used in other applications but may hold potentials in liver gene editing are also discussed. This review concludes with the perspectives on rationally designing the next-generation CRISPR approaches and improving the editing performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huimin Kong
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational MedicineCenter for Nanomedicine and Biotherapy CenterThe Third Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen University600 Tianhe RoadGuangzhou510630P. R. China
| | - Enguo Ju
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational MedicineCenter for Nanomedicine and Biotherapy CenterThe Third Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen University600 Tianhe RoadGuangzhou510630P. R. China
| | - Ke Yi
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational MedicineCenter for Nanomedicine and Biotherapy CenterThe Third Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen University600 Tianhe RoadGuangzhou510630P. R. China
| | - Weiguo Xu
- Key Laboratory of Polymer EcomaterialsChangchun Institute of Applied ChemistryChinese Academy of Sciences5625 Renmin StreetChangchun130022P. R. China
| | - Yeh‐Hsing Lao
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringColumbia University3960 Broadway Lasker Room 450New YorkNY10032USA
| | - Du Cheng
- PCFM Lab of Ministry of EducationSchool of Materials Science and EngineeringSun Yat‐sen University135 Xingangxi RoadGuangzhou510275P. R. China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational MedicineCenter for Nanomedicine and Biotherapy CenterThe Third Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen University600 Tianhe RoadGuangzhou510630P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research600 Tianhe RoadGuangzhou510630P. R. China
| | - Yu Tao
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational MedicineCenter for Nanomedicine and Biotherapy CenterThe Third Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen University600 Tianhe RoadGuangzhou510630P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research600 Tianhe RoadGuangzhou510630P. R. China
| | - Mingqiang Li
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational MedicineCenter for Nanomedicine and Biotherapy CenterThe Third Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen University600 Tianhe RoadGuangzhou510630P. R. China
| | - Jianxun Ding
- Key Laboratory of Polymer EcomaterialsChangchun Institute of Applied ChemistryChinese Academy of Sciences5625 Renmin StreetChangchun130022P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Pre-Clinical and Clinical Applications of Small Interfering RNAs (siRNA) and Co-Delivery Systems for Pancreatic Cancer Therapy. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123348. [PMID: 34943856 PMCID: PMC8699513 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the leading causes of death and is the fourth most malignant tumor in men. The epigenetic and genetic alterations appear to be responsible for development of PC. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a powerful genetic tool that can bind to its target and reduce expression level of a specific gene. The various critical genes involved in PC progression can be effectively targeted using diverse siRNAs. Moreover, siRNAs can enhance efficacy of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in inhibiting PC progression. However, siRNAs suffer from different off target effects and their degradation by enzymes in serum can diminish their potential in gene silencing. Loading siRNAs on nanoparticles can effectively protect them against degradation and can inhibit off target actions by facilitating targeted delivery. This can lead to enhanced efficacy of siRNAs in PC therapy. Moreover, different kinds of nanoparticles such as polymeric nanoparticles, lipid nanoparticles and metal nanostructures have been applied for optimal delivery of siRNAs that are discussed in this article. This review also reveals that how naked siRNAs and their delivery systems can be exploited in treatment of PC and as siRNAs are currently being applied in clinical trials, significant progress can be made by translating the current findings into the clinical settings.
Collapse
|
47
|
Yu X, Liu S, Cheng Q, Lee SM, Wei T, Zhang D, Farbiak L, Johnson LT, Wang X, Siegwart DJ. Hydrophobic Optimization of Functional Poly(TPAE-co-suberoyl chloride) for Extrahepatic mRNA Delivery following Intravenous Administration. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13111914. [PMID: 34834329 PMCID: PMC8624493 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13111914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) has generated great attention due to its broad potential therapeutic applications, including vaccines, protein replacement therapy, and immunotherapy. Compared to other nucleic acids (e.g., siRNA and pDNA), there are more opportunities to improve the delivery efficacy of mRNA through systematic optimization. In this report, we studied a high-throughput library of 1200 functional polyesters for systemic mRNA delivery. We focused on the chemical investigation of hydrophobic optimization as a method to adjust mRNA polyplex stability, diameter, pKa, and efficacy. Focusing on a region of the library heatmap (PE4K-A17), we further explored the delivery of luciferase mRNA to IGROV1 ovarian cancer cells in vitro and to C57BL/6 mice in vivo following intravenous administration. PE4K-A17-0.2C8 was identified as an efficacious carrier for delivering mRNA to mouse lungs. The delivery selectivity between organs (lungs versus spleen) was found to be tunable through chemical modification of polyesters (both alkyl chain length and molar ratio in the formulation). Cre recombinase mRNA was delivered to the Lox-stop-lox tdTomato mouse model to study potential application in gene editing. Overall, we identified a series of polymer-mRNA polyplexes stabilized with Pluronic F-127 for safe and effective delivery to mouse lungs and spleens. Structure–activity relationships between alkyl side chains and in vivo delivery were elucidated, which may be informative for the continued development of polymer-based mRNA delivery.
Collapse
|
48
|
Luo S, Wang Y, Tao Y, Li S, Wang Z, He W, Wang H, Wang N, Xu J, Song H. Application in Gene Editing in Ovarian Cancer Therapy. Cancer Invest 2021; 40:387-399. [PMID: 34758691 DOI: 10.1080/07357907.2021.1998521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The onset and progression of ovarian cancer (OC) are closely related to dysregulated gene expression. Current treatments for OC are mainly limited to surgery and chemotherapy. However, due to low drug sensitivity, the prognosis OC is exceptionally poor and the recurrence rate remains high. Hence, it is vital to develop new treatment strategies. Gene editing for site-specific genomic modification is a powerful novel tool for the treatment of OC. In this article, current gene editing research for the treatment of OC is reviewed to provide a reference for the clinical application of new approaches to improve treatment outcomes and prognosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Luo
- National Joint Local Engineering Laboratory for Cell Engineering and Biomedicine Technique, Guizhou Province Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Key Laboratory of Adult Stem Cell Translational Research (Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences), Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.,Department of Clinical Medical College, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yujiao Wang
- Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yongyu Tao
- Department of Clinical Medical College, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Shuo Li
- Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zirui Wang
- Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wei He
- Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hangxing Wang
- Department of Clinical Medical College, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Nan Wang
- Department of Clinical Medical College, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Jianwei Xu
- National Joint Local Engineering Laboratory for Cell Engineering and Biomedicine Technique, Guizhou Province Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Key Laboratory of Adult Stem Cell Translational Research (Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences), Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.,Department of Clinical Medical College, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.,Department of General Surgery, Dalang Hospital, Dongguan, China.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Hailiang Song
- Department of General Surgery, Dalang Hospital, Dongguan, China
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Newby GA, Liu DR. In vivo somatic cell base editing and prime editing. Mol Ther 2021; 29:3107-3124. [PMID: 34509669 PMCID: PMC8571176 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in genome editing technologies have magnified the prospect of single-dose cures for many genetic diseases. For most genetic disorders, precise DNA correction is anticipated to best treat patients. To install desired DNA changes with high precision, our laboratory developed base editors (BEs), which can correct the four most common single-base substitutions, and prime editors, which can install any substitution, insertion, and/or deletion over a stretch of dozens of base pairs. Compared to nuclease-dependent editing approaches that involve double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) and often result in a large percentage of uncontrolled editing outcomes, such as mixtures of insertions and deletions (indels), larger deletions, and chromosomal rearrangements, base editors and prime editors often offer greater efficiency with fewer byproducts in slowly dividing or non-dividing cells, such as those that make up most of the cells in adult animals. Both viral and non-viral in vivo delivery methods have now been used to deliver base editors and prime editors in animal models, establishing that base editors and prime editors can serve as effective agents for in vivo therapeutic genome editing in animals. This review summarizes examples of in vivo somatic cell (post-natal) base editing and prime editing and prospects for future development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gregory A Newby
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA.
| | - David R Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Meneghini V, Peviani M, Luciani M, Zambonini G, Gritti A. Delivery Platforms for CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing of Glial Cells in the Central Nervous System. Front Genome Ed 2021; 3:644319. [PMID: 34713256 PMCID: PMC8525379 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2021.644319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial cells (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia) are emerging as key players in several physiological and pathological processes of the central nervous system (CNS). Astrocytes and oligodendrocytes are not only supportive cells that release trophic factors or regulate energy metabolism, but they also actively modulate critical neuronal processes and functions in the tripartite synapse. Microglia are defined as CNS-resident cells that provide immune surveillance; however, they also actively contribute to shaping the neuronal microenvironment by scavenging cell debris or regulating synaptogenesis and pruning. Given the many interconnected processes coordinated by glial cells, it is not surprising that both acute and chronic CNS insults not only cause neuronal damage but also trigger complex multifaceted responses, including neuroinflammation, which can critically contribute to the disease progression and worsening of symptoms in several neurodegenerative diseases. Overall, this makes glial cells excellent candidates for targeted therapies to treat CNS disorders. In recent years, the application of gene editing technologies has redefined therapeutic strategies to treat genetic and age-related neurological diseases. In this review, we discuss the advantages and limitations of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9-based gene editing in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, focusing on the development of viral- and nanoparticle-based delivery methods for in vivo glial cell targeting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vasco Meneghini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Peviani
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Marco Luciani
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Giada Zambonini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Angela Gritti
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|