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Li S, Xiong F, Zhang S, Liu J, Gao G, Xie J, Wang Y. Oligonucleotide therapies for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102184. [PMID: 38665220 PMCID: PMC11044058 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) represents a severe disease subtype of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that is thought to be highly associated with systemic metabolic abnormalities. It is characterized by a series of substantial liver damage, including hepatocellular steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. The end stage of NASH, in some cases, may result in cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nowadays a large number of investigations are actively under way to test various therapeutic strategies, including emerging oligonucleotide drugs (e.g., antisense oligonucleotide, small interfering RNA, microRNA, mimic/inhibitor RNA, and small activating RNA) that have shown high potential in treating this fatal liver disease. This article systematically reviews the pathogenesis of NASH/NAFLD, the promising druggable targets proven by current studies in chemical compounds or biological drug development, and the feasibility and limitations of oligonucleotide-based therapeutic approaches under clinical or pre-clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sixu Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, West China College of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610066, China
| | - Feng Xiong
- Department of Cardiology, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu 610031, China
| | - Songbo Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jinghua Liu
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical, School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jun Xie
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical, School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, West China College of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610066, China
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2
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Choi Y, Seok SH, Yoon HY, Ryu JH, Kwon IC. Advancing cancer immunotherapy through siRNA-based gene silencing for immune checkpoint blockade. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2024; 209:115306. [PMID: 38626859 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2024.115306] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy represents a revolutionary strategy, leveraging the patient's immune system to inhibit tumor growth and alleviate the immunosuppressive effects of the tumor microenvironment (TME). The recent emergence of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies, particularly following the first approval of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors like ipilimumab, has led to significant growth in cancer immunotherapy. The extensive explorations on diverse immune checkpoint antibodies have broadened the therapeutic scope for various malignancies. However, the clinical response to these antibody-based ICB therapies remains limited, with less than 15% responsiveness and notable adverse effects in some patients. This review introduces the emerging strategies to overcome current limitations of antibody-based ICB therapies, mainly focusing on the development of small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA)-based ICB therapies and innovative delivery systems. We firstly highlight the diverse target immune checkpoint genes for siRNA-based ICB therapies, incorporating silencing of multiple genes to boost anti-tumor immune responses. Subsequently, we discuss improvements in siRNA delivery systems, enhanced by various nanocarriers, aimed at overcoming siRNA's clinical challenges such as vulnerability to enzymatic degradation, inadequate pharmacokinetics, and possible unintended target interactions. Additionally, the review presents various combination therapies that integrate chemotherapy, phototherapy, stimulatory checkpoints, ICB antibodies, and cancer vaccines. The important point is that when used in combination with siRNA-based ICB therapy, the synergistic effect of traditional therapies is strengthened, improving host immune surveillance and therapeutic outcomes. Conclusively, we discuss the insights into innovative and effective cancer immunotherapeutic strategies based on RNA interference (RNAi) technology utilizing siRNA and nanocarriers as a novel approach in ICB cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngjin Choi
- Medicinal Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Su Hyun Seok
- Medicinal Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Hong Yeol Yoon
- Medicinal Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Bio-Medical Science &Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju Hee Ryu
- Medicinal Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea.
| | - Ick Chan Kwon
- Medicinal Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.
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3
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Rahaman W, Chaudhuri A. Relative biomembrane fusogenicities of the tumor-selective liposomes of RGDK- and CGKRK-lipopeptides. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:9836-9852. [PMID: 38713132 DOI: 10.1039/d4nr00450g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally after heart diseases. Currently used highly cytotoxic anti-cancer drugs not only kill cancer cells but also often kill non-cancerous healthy body cells, causing adverse side effects. Efforts are now being directed towards developing tumor-selective chemotherapy. Tumor/tumor endothelial cell selective peptide ligands are being covalently grafted onto the exo-surfaces of drug carriers such as liposomes, polymers, etc. A number of prior studies used conjugation of tumor/tumor endothelial cell-selective RGDK- or CGKRK-peptide ligands on the outer surfaces of liposomes, metal-based nanoparticles, single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), etc. However, studies aimed at examining the relative cell membrane fusogenicities and the relative degrees of cellular uptake for the RGDK- and CGKRK-ligand-grafted nanometric drug carriers have not yet been undertaken. Herein, using the widely used liposomes of DOPC, DOPE, DOPS and cholesterol (45 : 25 : 20 : 15, w/w ratio) as the model biomembranes and the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay for measuring membrane fusogenicities, we show that the liposomes of the RGDK-lipopeptide are more biomembrane fusogenic than the liposomes of the CGKRK-lipopeptide. Notably, such FRET assay-derived relative biomembrane fusogenicities of the liposomes of RGDK- and CGKRK-lipopeptides were found to be consistent with their relative degrees of cellular uptake in cultured cancer cells. The present findings open the door for undertaking in-depth in vivo studies aimed at evaluating the relative therapeutic potential of different nanocarriers of drugs/genes/siRNA having tumor-targeting RGDK- and CGKRK-peptides on their exo-surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wahida Rahaman
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, Nadia-741246, West Bengal, India.
| | - Arabinda Chaudhuri
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, Nadia-741246, West Bengal, India.
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4
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Fedorovskiy AG, Antropov DN, Dome AS, Puchkov PA, Makarova DM, Konopleva MV, Matveeva AM, Panova EA, Shmendel EV, Maslov MA, Dmitriev SE, Stepanov GA, Markov OV. Novel Efficient Lipid-Based Delivery Systems Enable a Delayed Uptake and Sustained Expression of mRNA in Human Cells and Mouse Tissues. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:684. [PMID: 38794346 PMCID: PMC11125954 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16050684] [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: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, mRNA-based therapy has displayed significant promise in a wide range of clinical applications. The most striking example of the leap in the development of mRNA technologies was the mass vaccination against COVID-19 during the pandemic. The emergence of large-scale technology and positive experience of mRNA immunization sparked the development of antiviral and anti-cancer mRNA vaccines as well as therapeutic mRNA agents for genetic and other diseases. To facilitate mRNA delivery, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been successfully employed. However, the diverse use of mRNA therapeutic approaches requires the development of adaptable LNP delivery systems that can control the kinetics of mRNA uptake and expression in target cells. Here, we report effective mRNA delivery into cultured mammalian cells (HEK293T, HeLa, DC2.4) and living mouse muscle tissues by liposomes containing either 1,26-bis(cholest-5-en-3β-yloxycarbonylamino)-7,11,16,20-tetraazahexacosane tetrahydrochloride (2X3) or the newly applied 1,30-bis(cholest-5-en-3β-yloxycarbonylamino)-9,13,18,22-tetraaza-3,6,25,28-tetraoxatriacontane tetrahydrochloride (2X7) cationic lipids. Using end-point and real-time monitoring of Fluc mRNA expression, we showed that these LNPs exhibited an unusually delayed (of over 10 h in the case of the 2X7-based system) but had highly efficient and prolonged reporter activity in cells. Accordingly, both LNP formulations decorated with 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[amino(polyethylene glycol)-2000] (DSPE-PEG2000) provided efficient luciferase production in mice, peaking on day 3 after intramuscular injection. Notably, the bioluminescence was observed only at the site of injection in caudal thigh muscles, thereby demonstrating local expression of the model gene of interest. The developed mRNA delivery systems hold promise for prophylactic applications, where sustained synthesis of defensive proteins is required, and open doors to new possibilities in mRNA-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artem G. Fedorovskiy
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (A.G.F.); (M.V.K.); (E.A.P.)
- Lomonosov Institute of Fine Chemical Technologies, MIREA-Russian Technological University, 119571 Moscow, Russia; (P.A.P.); (D.M.M.); (E.V.S.); (M.A.M.)
| | - Denis N. Antropov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (D.N.A.); (A.S.D.); (A.M.M.); (G.A.S.)
| | - Anton S. Dome
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (D.N.A.); (A.S.D.); (A.M.M.); (G.A.S.)
| | - Pavel A. Puchkov
- Lomonosov Institute of Fine Chemical Technologies, MIREA-Russian Technological University, 119571 Moscow, Russia; (P.A.P.); (D.M.M.); (E.V.S.); (M.A.M.)
| | - Daria M. Makarova
- Lomonosov Institute of Fine Chemical Technologies, MIREA-Russian Technological University, 119571 Moscow, Russia; (P.A.P.); (D.M.M.); (E.V.S.); (M.A.M.)
| | - Maria V. Konopleva
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (A.G.F.); (M.V.K.); (E.A.P.)
- Lomonosov Institute of Fine Chemical Technologies, MIREA-Russian Technological University, 119571 Moscow, Russia; (P.A.P.); (D.M.M.); (E.V.S.); (M.A.M.)
- Federal State Budget Institution “National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology Named after Honorary Academician N.F. Gamaleya” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasiya M. Matveeva
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (D.N.A.); (A.S.D.); (A.M.M.); (G.A.S.)
| | - Eugenia A. Panova
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (A.G.F.); (M.V.K.); (E.A.P.)
| | - Elena V. Shmendel
- Lomonosov Institute of Fine Chemical Technologies, MIREA-Russian Technological University, 119571 Moscow, Russia; (P.A.P.); (D.M.M.); (E.V.S.); (M.A.M.)
| | - Mikhail A. Maslov
- Lomonosov Institute of Fine Chemical Technologies, MIREA-Russian Technological University, 119571 Moscow, Russia; (P.A.P.); (D.M.M.); (E.V.S.); (M.A.M.)
| | - Sergey E. Dmitriev
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (A.G.F.); (M.V.K.); (E.A.P.)
- Federal State Budget Institution “National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology Named after Honorary Academician N.F. Gamaleya” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141701 Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Grigory A. Stepanov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (D.N.A.); (A.S.D.); (A.M.M.); (G.A.S.)
| | - Oleg V. Markov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (D.N.A.); (A.S.D.); (A.M.M.); (G.A.S.)
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5
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Scherer D, Burger M, Leroux JC. Revival of Bioengineered Proteins as Carriers for Nucleic Acids. Bioconjug Chem 2024; 35:561-566. [PMID: 38621363 PMCID: PMC11099893 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.4c00079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- David Scherer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Michael Burger
- Institute of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Christophe Leroux
- Institute of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
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6
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Berger AG, DeLorenzo C, Vo C, Kaskow JA, Nabar N, Hammond PT. Poly(β-aminoester) Physicochemical Properties Govern the Delivery of siRNA from Electrostatically Assembled Coatings. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:2934-2952. [PMID: 38687965 PMCID: PMC11117021 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00062] [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: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Localized short interfering RNA (siRNA) therapy has the potential to drive high-specificity molecular-level treatment of a variety of disease states. Unfortunately, effective siRNA therapy suffers from several barriers to its intracellular delivery. Thus, drug delivery systems that package and control the release of therapeutic siRNAs are necessary to overcome these obstacles to clinical translation. Layer-by-layer (LbL) electrostatic assembly of thin film coatings containing siRNA and protonatable, hydrolyzable poly(β-aminoester) (PBAE) polymers is one such drug delivery strategy. However, the impact of PBAE physicochemical properties on the transfection efficacy of siRNA released from LbL thin film coatings has not been systematically characterized. In this study, we investigate the siRNA transfection efficacy of four structurally similar PBAEs in vitro. We demonstrate that small changes in structure yield large changes in physicochemical properties, such as hydrophobicity, pKa, and amine chemical structure, driving differences in the interactions between PBAEs and siRNA in polyplexes and in LbL thin film coatings for wound dressings. In our polymer set, Poly3 forms the most stable interactions with siRNA (Keff,w/w = 0.298) to slow release kinetics and enhance transfection of reporter cells in both colloidal and thin film coating approaches. This is due to its unique physiochemical properties: high hydrophobicity (clog P = 7.86), effective pKa closest to endosomal pH (pKa = 6.21), and high cooperativity in buffering (nhill = 7.2). These properties bestow Poly3 with enhanced endosomal buffering and escape properties. Taken together, this work elucidates the connections between small changes in polymer structure, emergent properties, and polyelectrolyte theory to better understand PBAE transfection efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam G. Berger
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Charles DeLorenzo
- Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Chau Vo
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Justin A. Kaskow
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Namita Nabar
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Paula T. Hammond
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
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7
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Sato Y, Nakamura T, Yamada Y, Harashima H. The impact of, and expectations for, lipid nanoparticle technology: From cellular targeting to organelle targeting. J Control Release 2024; 370:516-527. [PMID: 38718875 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
The success of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 has enhanced the potential of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) as a system for the delivery of mRNA. In this review, we describe our progress using a lipid library to engineer ionizable lipids and promote LNP technology from the viewpoints of safety, controlled biodistribution, and mRNA vaccines. These advancements in LNP technology are applied to cancer immunology, and a potential nano-DDS is constructed to evaluate immune status that is associated with a cancer-immunity cycle that includes the sub-cycles in tumor microenvironments. We also discuss the importance of the delivery of antigens and adjuvants in enhancing the cancer-immunity cycle. Recent progress in NK cell targeting in cancer immunotherapy is also introduced. Finally, the impact of next-generation DDS technology is explained using the MITO-Porter membrane fusion-based delivery system for the organelle targeting of the mitochondria. We introduce a successful example of the MITO-Porter used in a cell therapeutic strategy to treat cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Sato
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Takashi Nakamura
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yuma Yamada
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
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8
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Hu M, Li X, You Z, Cai R, Chen C. Physiological Barriers and Strategies of Lipid-Based Nanoparticles for Nucleic Acid Drug Delivery. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2303266. [PMID: 37792475 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202303266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Lipid-based nanoparticles (LBNPs) are currently the most promising vehicles for nucleic acid drug (NAD) delivery. Although their clinical applications have achieved success, the NAD delivery efficiency and safety are still unsatisfactory, which are, to a large extent, due to the existence of multi-level physiological barriers in vivo. It is important to elucidate the interactions between these barriers and LBNPs, which will guide more rational design of efficient NAD vehicles with low adverse effects and facilitate broader applications of nucleic acid therapeutics. This review describes the obstacles and challenges of biological barriers to NAD delivery at systemic, organ, sub-organ, cellular, and subcellular levels. The strategies to overcome these barriers are comprehensively reviewed, mainly including physically/chemically engineering LBNPs and directly modifying physiological barriers by auxiliary treatments. Then the potentials and challenges for successful translation of these preclinical studies into the clinic are discussed. In the end, a forward look at the strategies on manipulating protein corona (PC) is addressed, which may pull off the trick of overcoming those physiological barriers and significantly improve the efficacy and safety of LBNP-based NADs delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingdi Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
- Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiaoyan Li
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Zhen You
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Rong Cai
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Chunying Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
- Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research, Beijing, 100049, China
- The GBA National Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation, Guangzhou, 510700, China
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9
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Xu F, Si X, Wang Y, Sun C, Liu M, Zhang Y, Xu X, Tian T. Ionizable Lipids from Click Reactions for Lipid Nanoparticle Assembling and mRNA Delivery. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:3643-3651. [PMID: 38588455 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c07600] [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: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Ionizable lipid-containing lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are regarded as promising nonviral vectors for gene therapy delivery systems. Rationale design of the ionizable lipid structure based on initial screening of ionizable lipid molecule libraries combined with systematic comparison and analysis on the physical chemical parameters related to delivery efficiency greatly accelerated the discovery of novel LNP candidates for delivering various nucleic acid therapeutics like mRNAs (mRNAs). Based on the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne click reaction, which is highly efficient and biocompatible, we were able to obtain the lipid molecule library containing a common triazole moiety between different lipid tails and various substituents as hydrophilic head groups. Herein, we systematically investigated the change of pKa values of different ionizable lipid molecules with different substituents as head groups in the click-based lipid library, mapping the pKa value change to different steps in the process of the LNP assembly and mRNA delivery. Systematic analyses on the data including the pKa value of the ionized lipids and the encapsulation and delivery efficiency of mRNA in LNPs with these ionized lipids provided the possibility of rational design on the head and tail structure for the triazole containing ionized lipids to realize highly efficient delivery of different mRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feiyang Xu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xiao Si
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yixiang Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Cheng Sun
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Minglun Liu
- Nanjing Vazyme Biotechnology Company, Nanjing 210034, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xiaoyu Xu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Nanjing Vazyme Biotechnology Company, Nanjing 210034, China
| | - Tian Tian
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
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Omo-Lamai S, Wang Y, Patel MN, Essien EO, Shen M, Majumdar A, Espy C, Wu J, Channer B, Tobin M, Murali S, Papp TE, Maheshwari R, Wang L, Chase LS, Zamora ME, Arral ML, Marcos-Contreras OA, Myerson JW, Hunter CA, Tsourkas A, Muzykantov V, Brodsky I, Shin S, Whitehead KA, Gaskill P, Discher D, Parhiz H, Brenner JS. Lipid Nanoparticle-Associated Inflammation is Triggered by Sensing of Endosomal Damage: Engineering Endosomal Escape Without Side Effects. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.16.589801. [PMID: 38659905 PMCID: PMC11042321 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.16.589801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged as the dominant platform for RNA delivery, based on their success in the COVID-19 vaccines and late-stage clinical studies in other indications. However, we and others have shown that LNPs induce severe inflammation, and massively aggravate pre-existing inflammation. Here, using structure-function screening of lipids and analyses of signaling pathways, we elucidate the mechanisms of LNP-associated inflammation and demonstrate solutions. We show that LNPs' hallmark feature, endosomal escape, which is necessary for RNA expression, also directly triggers inflammation by causing endosomal membrane damage. Large, irreparable, endosomal holes are recognized by cytosolic proteins called galectins, which bind to sugars on the inner endosomal membrane and then regulate downstream inflammation. We find that inhibition of galectins abrogates LNP-associated inflammation, both in vitro and in vivo . We show that rapidly biodegradable ionizable lipids can preferentially create endosomal holes that are smaller in size and reparable by the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) pathway. Ionizable lipids producing such ESCRT-recruiting endosomal holes can produce high expression from cargo mRNA with minimal inflammation. Finally, we show that both routes to non-inflammatory LNPs, either galectin inhibition or ESCRT-recruiting ionizable lipids, are compatible with therapeutic mRNAs that ameliorate inflammation in disease models. LNPs without galectin inhibition or biodegradable ionizable lipids lead to severe exacerbation of inflammation in these models. In summary, endosomal escape induces endosomal membrane damage that can lead to inflammation. However, the inflammation can be controlled by inhibiting galectins (large hole detectors) or by using biodegradable lipids, which create smaller holes that are reparable by the ESCRT pathway. These strategies should lead to generally safer LNPs that can be used to treat inflammatory diseases.
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11
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Sedlmayr VL, Schobesberger S, Spitz S, Ertl P, Wurm DJ, Quehenberger J, Spadiut O. Archaeal ether lipids improve internalization and transfection with mRNA lipid nanoparticles. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2024; 197:114213. [PMID: 38346479 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2024.114213] [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: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Neutral and positively charged archaeal ether lipids (AEL) have been studied for their utilization as novel delivery systems for pDNA, showing efficient immune response with a strong memory effect while lacking noticeable toxicity. Recent technological advances placed mRNA lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) at the forefront of next-generation delivery systems; however, no study has examined AELs in mRNA delivery yet. In this study, we investigated either a crude lipid extract or the purified tetraether lipid caldarchaeol from Sulfolobus acidocaldarius as potential novel excipients for mRNA LNPs. Depending on their molar share in the respective LNP, particle uptake, and mRNA expression levels could be increased by up to 10-fold in in vitro transfection experiments using both primary cell sources (HSMM) and established cell lines (Caco-2, C2C12) compared to a well-known reference formulation. This increased efficiency might be linked to a substantial effect on endosomal escape, indicating fusogenic and lyotropic features of AELs. This study shows the high value of archaeal ether lipids for mRNA delivery and provides a solid foundation for future in vivo experiments and further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Laurin Sedlmayr
- Research Division Integrated Bioprocess Development, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a, Vienna 1060, Austria
| | - Silvia Schobesberger
- Research Division Organic & Biological Chemistry, Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9/163, Vienna 1060, Austria
| | - Sarah Spitz
- Research Division Organic & Biological Chemistry, Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9/163, Vienna 1060, Austria
| | - Peter Ertl
- Research Division Organic & Biological Chemistry, Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9/163, Vienna 1060, Austria
| | | | - Julian Quehenberger
- Research Division Integrated Bioprocess Development, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a, Vienna 1060, Austria; NovoArc GmbH, Pottendorfer Straße 23-25, Vienna 1120, Austria
| | - Oliver Spadiut
- Research Division Integrated Bioprocess Development, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a, Vienna 1060, Austria.
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12
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Merckx P, Conickx G, Blomme E, Maes T, Bracke KR, Brusselle G, De Smedt SC, Raemdonck K. Evaluating β 2-agonists as siRNA delivery adjuvants for pulmonary surfactant-coated nanogel inhalation therapy. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2024; 197:114223. [PMID: 38367760 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2024.114223] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
The lung is an attractive target organ for inhalation of RNA therapeutics, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA). However, clinical translation of siRNA drugs for application in the lung is hampered by many extra- and intracellular barriers. We previously developed hybrid nanoparticles consisting of an siRNA-loaded nanosized hydrogel (nanogel) core coated with Curosurf®, a clinically used pulmonary surfactant. The surfactant shell was shown to markedly improve particle stability and promote intracellular siRNA delivery, both in vitro and in vivo. However, the full potential of siRNA nanocarriers is typically not reached as they are rapidly trafficked towards lysosomes for degradation and only a fraction of the internalized siRNA cargo is able to escape into the cytosol. We recently reported on the repurposing of widely applied cationic amphiphilic drugs (CADs) as siRNA delivery enhancers. Due to their physicochemical properties, CADs passively accumulate in the (endo)lysosomal compartment causing a transient permeabilization of the lysosomal membrane, which facilitates cytosolic drug delivery. In this work, we assessed a selection of cationic amphiphilic β2-agonists (i.e., salbutamol, formoterol, salmeterol and indacaterol) for their ability to enhance siRNA delivery in a lung epithelial and macrophage cell line. These drugs are widely used in the clinic for their bronchodilating effect in obstructive lung disease. As opposed to the least hydrophobic drugs salbutamol and formoterol, the more hydrophobic long-acting β2-agonist (LABA) salmeterol promoted siRNA delivery in both cell types for both uncoated and surfactant-coated nanogels, whereas indacaterol showed this effect solely in lung epithelial cells. Our results demonstrate the potential of both salmeterol and indacaterol to be repurposed as adjuvants for nanocarrier-mediated siRNA delivery to the lung, which could provide opportunities for drug combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pieterjan Merckx
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutics, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Griet Conickx
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Medical Research Building 2, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Evy Blomme
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Medical Research Building 2, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Tania Maes
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Medical Research Building 2, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Ken R Bracke
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Medical Research Building 2, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Guy Brusselle
- Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Medical Research Building 2, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Stefaan C De Smedt
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutics, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Koen Raemdonck
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutics, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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13
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Mehta MJ, Kim HJ, Lim SB, Naito M, Miyata K. Recent Progress in the Endosomal Escape Mechanism and Chemical Structures of Polycations for Nucleic Acid Delivery. Macromol Biosci 2024; 24:e2300366. [PMID: 38226723 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202300366] [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: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Nucleic acid-based therapies are seeing a spiralling surge. Stimuli-responsive polymers, especially pH-responsive ones, are gaining widespread attention because of their ability to efficiently deliver nucleic acids. These polymers can be synthesized and modified according to target requirements, such as delivery sites and the nature of nucleic acids. In this regard, the endosomal escape mechanism of polymer-nucleic acid complexes (polyplexes) remains a topic of considerable interest owing to various plausible escape mechanisms. This review describes current progress in the endosomal escape mechanism of polyplexes and state-of-the-art chemical designs for pH-responsive polymers. The importance is also discussed of the acid dissociation constant (i.e., pKa) in designing the new generation of pH-responsive polymers, along with assays to monitor and quantify the endosomal escape behavior. Further, the use of machine learning is addressed in pKa prediction and polymer design to find novel chemical structures for pH responsiveness. This review will facilitate the design of new pH-responsive polymers for advanced and efficient nucleic acid delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit J Mehta
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Inha University, 100 Inha-ro, Michuhol-gu, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Jin Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Inha University, 100 Inha-ro, Michuhol-gu, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Inha University, 100 Inha-ro, Michuhol-gu, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Been Lim
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Inha University, 100 Inha-ro, Michuhol-gu, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Mitsuru Naito
- Department of Materials Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - Kanjiro Miyata
- Department of Materials Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
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14
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Müller JA, Schäffler N, Kellerer T, Schwake G, Ligon TS, Rädler JO. Kinetics of RNA-LNP delivery and protein expression. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2024; 197:114222. [PMID: 38387850 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2024.114222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) employing ionizable lipids are the most advanced technology for delivery of RNA, most notably mRNA, to cells. LNPs represent well-defined core-shell particles with efficient nucleic acid encapsulation, low immunogenicity and enhanced efficacy. While much is known about the structure and activity of LNPs, less attention is given to the timing of LNP uptake, cytosolic transfer and protein expression. However, LNP kinetics is a key factor determining delivery efficiency. Hence quantitative insight into the multi-cascaded pathway of LNPs is of interest to elucidate the mechanism of delivery. Here, we review experiments as well as theoretical modeling of the timing of LNP uptake, mRNA-release and protein expression. We describe LNP delivery as a sequence of stochastic transfer processes and review a mathematical model of subsequent protein translation from mRNA. We compile probabilities and numbers obtained from time resolved microscopy. Specifically, live-cell imaging on single cell arrays (LISCA) allows for high-throughput acquisition of thousands of individual GFP reporter expression time courses. The traces yield the distribution of mRNA life-times, expression rates and expression onset. Correlation analysis reveals an inverse dependence of gene expression efficiency and transfection onset-times. Finally, we discuss why timing of mRNA release is critical in the context of codelivery of multiple nucleic acid species as in the case of mRNA co-expression or CRISPR/Cas gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith A Müller
- Faculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Nathalie Schäffler
- Faculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Kellerer
- Multiphoton Imaging Lab, Munich University of Applied Sciences, Munich, Germany
| | - Gerlinde Schwake
- Faculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Joachim O Rädler
- Faculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
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15
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Li Z, Zhu H, Liu H, Liu D, Liu J, Zhang Y, Qin Z, Xu Y, Peng Y, Ruan L, Li J, He Y, Liu B, Long Y. Synergistic dual cell therapy for atherosclerosis regression: ROS-responsive Bio-liposomes co-loaded with Geniposide and Emodin. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:129. [PMID: 38528554 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02389-5] [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: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The development of nanomaterials for delivering natural compounds has emerged as a promising approach for atherosclerosis therapy. However, premature drug release remains a challenge. Here, we present a ROS-responsive biomimetic nanocomplex co-loaded with Geniposide (GP) and Emodin (EM) in nanoliposome particles (LP NPs) for targeted atherosclerosis therapy. The nanocomplex, hybridized with the macrophage membrane (Møm), effectively evades immune system clearance and targets atherosclerotic plaques. A modified thioketal (TK) system responds to ROS-rich plaque regions, triggering controlled drug release. In vitro, the nanocomplex inhibits endothelial cell apoptosis and macrophage lipid accumulation, restores endothelial cell function, and promotes cholesterol effluxion. In vivo, it targets ROS-rich atherosclerotic plaques, reducing plaque area ROS levels and restoring endothelial cell function, consequently promoting cholesterol outflow. Our study demonstrates that ROS-responsive biomimetic nanocomplexes co-delivering GP and EM exert a synergistic effect against endothelial cell apoptosis and lipid deposition in macrophages, offering a promising dual-cell therapy modality for atherosclerosis regression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenxian Li
- Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410007, China
| | - Haimei Zhu
- Department of Pain, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410007, China
| | - Hao Liu
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Dayue Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Metabolic Cardiovascular Diseases Research, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Jianhe Liu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410007, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410007, China
| | - Zhang Qin
- Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410007, China
| | - Yijia Xu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410007, China
| | - Yuan Peng
- Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410007, China
| | - Lihua Ruan
- Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410007, China
| | - Jintao Li
- Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410007, China
| | - Yao He
- Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410007, China
| | - Bin Liu
- College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China.
| | - Yun Long
- Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410007, China.
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16
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Roh EH, Sullivan MO, Epps TH. Which Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) Designs Work? A Simple Kinetic Model Linking LNP Chemical Structure to In Vivo Delivery Performance. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:13399-13410. [PMID: 38466900 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c15424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Although lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are the predominant nanocarriers for short-interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery, most therapies use nearly identical formulations that have taken 30 years to design but lack the diverse property ranges necessary for versatile application. This dearth in variety and the extended timeline for implementation are attributed to a limited understanding of how LNP properties facilitate overcoming biological barriers. Herein, a simple kinetic model was developed by using major rate-limiting steps for siRNA delivery, and this model enabled the identification of a critical parameter to predict LNP efficacy without extensive experimental testing. A volume-averaged log D, the "solubility" of charged molecules as a function of pH weighted by component volume fractions, resulted in a good correlation between LNP composition and siRNA delivery. Both the effects of modifying the structures of ionizable lipids and LNP composition on gene silencing were easily captured in the model predictions. Thus, this approach provides a robust LNP structure-activity relationship to dramatically accelerate the realization of effective LNP formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther H Roh
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Millicent O Sullivan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Thomas H Epps
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
- Center for Research in Soft matter and Polymers (CRiSP), University of Delaware, Newark Delaware 19716, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
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17
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Zhang H, Meng C, Yi X, Han J, Wang J, Liu F, Ling Q, Li H, Gu Z. Fluorinated Lipid Nanoparticles for Enhancing mRNA Delivery Efficiency. ACS NANO 2024; 18:7825-7836. [PMID: 38452271 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c04507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), a nonviral nucleic acid delivery system, have shown vast potential for vaccine development and disease treatment. LNPs assist mRNA to cross physiological barriers such as cell membranes and endosomes/lysosomes, promoting the intracellular presentation of mRNA. However, the endosome escape efficiency and biosafety of currently commercialized LNPs are still unsatisfactory, resulting in underutilization of mRNA. Herein, we report that fluorinated modification of the 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-poly(ethylene glycol)-2000 (PEG-DSPE), termed as FPD, in the LNPs can improve the delivery efficiency of mRNA. FPD accounts for only 1.5% of lipids in LNPs but could mediate a 5-fold and nearly 2-fold enhancement of mRNA expression efficiency in B16F10 tumor cells and primary dendritic cells, respectively. Mechanism studies reveal that FPD promotes the cellular internalization of LNPs as well as endosome escape. In vivo studies substantiate that FPD can augment overall mRNA expression at least 3-fold, either by intravenous or intraperitoneal injection, compared to LNPs prepared with nonfluorinated PEG-lipids at a relatively low mRNA dose. Besides, with the introduction of FPD, mRNA expression in the spleen augmented compared to that of the DMG-PEG commercial formulations. Benefiting from a prudent dosage of fluorine, the fluorinated LNPs display favorable biosafety profiles at cellular and zoological levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huipeng Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Drug Delivery Systems of Zhejiang Province, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Chaoyang Meng
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Xuewen Yi
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Jinpeng Han
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Drug Delivery Systems of Zhejiang Province, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Junxia Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Drug Delivery Systems of Zhejiang Province, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Feng Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Drug Delivery Systems of Zhejiang Province, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Qi Ling
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Hongjun Li
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Drug Delivery Systems of Zhejiang Province, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
- Jinhua Institute of Zhejiang University, Jinhua 321299 China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Zhen Gu
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Drug Delivery Systems of Zhejiang Province, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
- Jinhua Institute of Zhejiang University, Jinhua 321299 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
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18
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Chatterjee S, Kon E, Sharma P, Peer D. Endosomal escape: A bottleneck for LNP-mediated therapeutics. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2307800120. [PMID: 38437552 PMCID: PMC10945858 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2307800120] [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] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have recently emerged as a powerful and versatile clinically approved platform for nucleic acid delivery, specifically for mRNA vaccines. A major bottleneck in the field is the release of mRNA-LNPs from the endosomal pathways into the cytosol of cells where they can execute their encoded functions. The data regarding the mechanism of these endosomal escape processes are limited and contradicting. Despite extensive research, there is no consensus regarding the compartment of escape, the cause of the inefficient escape and are currently lacking a robust method to detect the escape. Here, we review the currently known mechanisms of endosomal escape and the available methods to study this process. We critically discuss the limitations and challenges of these methods and the possibilities to overcome these challenges. We propose that the development of currently lacking robust, quantitative high-throughput techniques to study endosomal escape is timely and essential. A better understanding of this process will enable better RNA-LNP designs with improved efficiency to unlock new therapeutic modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushmita Chatterjee
- Laboratory of Precision Nanomedicine, Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- Department of Materials Sciences and Engineering, Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- Cancer Biology Research Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Edo Kon
- Laboratory of Precision Nanomedicine, Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- Department of Materials Sciences and Engineering, Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- Cancer Biology Research Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Preeti Sharma
- Laboratory of Precision Nanomedicine, Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- Department of Materials Sciences and Engineering, Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- Cancer Biology Research Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Dan Peer
- Laboratory of Precision Nanomedicine, Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- Department of Materials Sciences and Engineering, Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- Cancer Biology Research Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
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19
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Chia SPS, Pang JKS, Soh BS. Current RNA strategies in treating cardiovascular diseases. Mol Ther 2024; 32:580-608. [PMID: 38291757 PMCID: PMC10928165 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.01.028] [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: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to impose a significant global health burden, necessitating the exploration of innovative treatment strategies. Ribonucleic acid (RNA)-based therapeutics have emerged as a promising avenue to address the complex molecular mechanisms underlying CVD pathogenesis. We present a comprehensive review of the current state of RNA therapeutics in the context of CVD, focusing on the diverse modalities that bring about transient or permanent modifications by targeting the different stages of the molecular biology central dogma. Considering the immense potential of RNA therapeutics, we have identified common gene targets that could serve as potential interventions for prevalent Mendelian CVD caused by single gene mutations, as well as acquired CVDs developed over time due to various factors. These gene targets offer opportunities to develop RNA-based treatments tailored to specific genetic and molecular pathways, presenting a novel and precise approach to address the complex pathogenesis of both types of cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, we discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with delivery strategies to achieve targeted delivery of RNA therapeutics to the cardiovascular system. This review highlights the immense potential of RNA-based interventions as a novel and precise approach to combat CVD, paving the way for future advancements in cardiovascular therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirley Pei Shan Chia
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Singapore; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117558, Singapore
| | - Jeremy Kah Sheng Pang
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Singapore
| | - Boon-Seng Soh
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Singapore; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117558, Singapore.
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20
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Caselli L, Nylander T, Malmsten M. Neutron reflectometry as a powerful tool to elucidate membrane interactions of drug delivery systems. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 325:103120. [PMID: 38428362 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2024.103120] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
The last couple of decades have seen an explosion of novel colloidal drug delivery systems, which have been demonstrated to increase drug efficacy, reduce side-effects, and provide various other advantages for both small-molecule and biomacromolecular drugs. The interactions of delivery systems with biomembranes are increasingly recognized to play a key role for efficient eradication of pathogens and cancer cells, as well as for intracellular delivery of protein and nucleic acid drugs. In parallel, there has been a broadening of methodologies for investigating such systems. For example, advanced microscopy, mass-spectroscopic "omic"-techniques, as well as small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering techniques, which only a few years ago were largely restricted to rather specialized areas within basic research, are currently seeing increased interest from researchers within wide application fields. In the present discussion, focus is placed on the use of neutron reflectometry to investigate membrane interactions of colloidal drug delivery systems. Although the technique is still less extensively employed for investigations of drug delivery systems than, e.g., X-ray scattering, such studies may provide key mechanistic information regarding membrane binding, re-modelling, translocation, and permeation, of key importance for efficacy and toxicity of antimicrobial, cancer, and other therapeutics. In the following, examples of this are discussed and gaps/opportunities in the research field identified.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tommy Nylander
- Physical Chemistry 1, Lund University, S-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Martin Malmsten
- Physical Chemistry 1, Lund University, S-221 00 Lund, Sweden; Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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21
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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.
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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
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22
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Pattipeiluhu R, Zeng Y, Hendrix MMRM, Voets IK, Kros A, Sharp TH. Liquid crystalline inverted lipid phases encapsulating siRNA enhance lipid nanoparticle mediated transfection. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1303. [PMID: 38347001 PMCID: PMC10861598 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45666-5] [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: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Efficient cytosolic delivery of RNA molecules remains a formidable barrier for RNA therapeutic strategies. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) serve as state-of-the-art carriers that can deliver RNA molecules intracellularly, as exemplified by the recent implementation of several vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. Using a bottom-up rational design approach, we assemble LNPs that contain programmable lipid phases encapsulating small interfering RNA (siRNA). A combination of cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, cryogenic electron tomography and small-angle X-ray scattering reveals that we can form inverse hexagonal structures, which are present in a liquid crystalline nature within the LNP core. Comparison with lamellar LNPs reveals that the presence of inverse hexagonal phases enhances the intracellular silencing efficiency over lamellar structures. We then demonstrate that lamellar LNPs exhibit an in situ transition from a lamellar to inverse hexagonal phase upon interaction with anionic membranes, whereas LNPs containing pre-programmed liquid crystalline hexagonal phases bypass this transition for a more efficient one-step delivery mechanism, explaining the increased silencing effect. This rational design of LNPs with defined lipid structures aids in the understanding of the nano-bio interface and adds substantial value for LNP design, optimization and use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy Pattipeiluhu
- Supramolecular and Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2333 ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
- BioNTech SE, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Ye Zeng
- Supramolecular and Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marco M R M Hendrix
- Self-Organizing Soft Matter, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry & Institute of Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Ilja K Voets
- Self-Organizing Soft Matter, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry & Institute of Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander Kros
- Supramolecular and Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Thomas H Sharp
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2333 ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, United Kingdom.
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23
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Escalona-Rayo O, Papadopoulou P, Slütter B, Kros A. Biological recognition and cellular trafficking of targeted RNA-lipid nanoparticles. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2024; 85:103041. [PMID: 38154322 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.103041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have unlocked the potential of ribonucleic acid (RNA) therapeutics and vaccines. Production and large-scale manufacturing methods for RNA-LNPs have been established and rapidly accelerate. Despite this, basic research on LNPs is still required, due to their high assembly complexity and fairly new development, including research on lipid organization, transfection optimization, and in vivo behavior. Understanding fundamental aspects of LNPs that is, how lipid composition and physicochemical properties affect their biodistribution, cell recognition, and transfection, could propel their clinical development and facilitate overcoming current challenges. Herein, we review recent developments in the field of LNP technology and summarize the main findings focusing on nano-bio interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Escalona-Rayo
- Department of Supramolecular and Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Panagiota Papadopoulou
- Department of Supramolecular and Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Bram Slütter
- Division of Biotherapeutics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Alexander Kros
- Department of Supramolecular and Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands.
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24
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Zhang B, Sim WK, Shen TL, Lim SK. Engineered EVs with pathogen proteins: promising vaccine alternatives to LNP-mRNA vaccines. J Biomed Sci 2024; 31:9. [PMID: 38233833 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-024-01000-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny, lipid membrane-bound structures that are released by most cells. They play a vital role in facilitating intercellular communication by delivering bioactive cargoes to recipient cells and triggering cellular as well as biological responses. EVs have enormous potential for therapeutic applications as native or engineered exosomes. Native EVs are naturally released by cells without undergoing any modifications to either the exosomes or the cells that secrete them. In contrast, engineered EVs have been deliberately modified post-secretion or through genetic engineering of the secreting cells to alter their composition. Here we propose that engineered EVs displaying pathogen proteins could serve as promising alternatives to lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-mRNA vaccines. By leveraging their unique characteristics, these engineered EVs have the potential to overcome certain limitations associated with LNP-mRNA vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Zhang
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, A*STAR, 8A Biomedical Grove, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
- Paracrine Therapeutics Pte. Ltd., 10 Choa Chu Kang Grove #13-22 Sol Acres, Singapore, 688207, Singapore
| | - Wei Kian Sim
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, A*STAR, 8A Biomedical Grove, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
- Paracrine Therapeutics Pte. Ltd., 10 Choa Chu Kang Grove #13-22 Sol Acres, Singapore, 688207, Singapore
| | - Tang-Long Shen
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
- Center for Biotehnology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Sai Kiang Lim
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, A*STAR, 8A Biomedical Grove, Singapore, 138648, Singapore.
- Paracrine Therapeutics Pte. Ltd., 10 Choa Chu Kang Grove #13-22 Sol Acres, Singapore, 688207, Singapore.
- Department of Surgery, YLL School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS), Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119074, Singapore.
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25
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Tesei G, Hsiao YW, Dabkowska A, Grönberg G, Yanez Arteta M, Ulkoski D, Bray DJ, Trulsson M, Ulander J, Lund M, Lindfors L. Lipid shape and packing are key for optimal design of pH-sensitive mRNA lipid nanoparticles. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2311700120. [PMID: 38175863 PMCID: PMC10786277 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2311700120] [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: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The ionizable-lipid component of RNA-containing nanoparticles controls the pH-dependent behavior necessary for an efficient delivery of the cargo-the so-called endosomal escape. However, it is still an empirical exercise to identify optimally performing lipids. Here, we study two well-known ionizable lipids, DLin-MC3-DMA and DLin-DMA using a combination of experiments, multiscale computer simulations, and electrostatic theory. All-atom molecular dynamics simulations, and experimentally measured polar headgroup pKa values, are used to develop a coarse-grained representation of the lipids, which enables the investigation of the pH-dependent behavior of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) through Monte Carlo simulations, in the absence and presence of RNA molecules. Our results show that the charge state of the lipids is determined by the interplay between lipid shape and headgroup chemistry, providing an explanation for the similar pH-dependent ionization state observed for lipids with headgroup pKa values about one-pH-unit apart. The pH dependence of lipid ionization is significantly influenced by the presence of RNA, whereby charge neutrality is achieved by imparting a finite and constant charge per lipid at intermediate pH values. The simulation results are experimentally supported by measurements of α-carbon 13C-NMR chemical shifts for eGFP mRNA LNPs of both DLin-MC3-DMA and DLin-DMA at various pH conditions. Further, we evaluate the applicability of a mean-field Poisson-Boltzmann theory to capture these phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Tesei
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory & The Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, CopenhagenDK-2200, Denmark
- Department of Chemistry, Division of Computational Chemistry, Lund University, LundSE-221 00, Sweden
| | - Ya-Wen Hsiao
- The Hartree Centre, Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Daresbury Laboratory, WarringtonWA4 4AD, United Kingdom
| | - Aleksandra Dabkowska
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Research and Development, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Mölndal431 83, Sweden
| | - Gunnar Grönberg
- Medicinal Chemistry, Early Respiratory & Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals Research and Development, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Mölndal431 83, Sweden
| | - Marianna Yanez Arteta
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Research and Development, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Mölndal431 83, Sweden
| | - David Ulkoski
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Research and Development, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Mölndal431 83, Sweden
| | - David J. Bray
- The Hartree Centre, Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Daresbury Laboratory, WarringtonWA4 4AD, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Trulsson
- Department of Chemistry, Division of Computational Chemistry, Lund University, LundSE-221 00, Sweden
| | - Johan Ulander
- Data Science and Modelling, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Research and Development, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Mölndal431 83, Sweden
| | - Mikael Lund
- Department of Chemistry, Division of Computational Chemistry, Lund University, LundSE-221 00, Sweden
| | - Lennart Lindfors
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Research and Development, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Mölndal431 83, Sweden
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26
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Haase F, Pöhmerer J, Yazdi M, Grau M, Zeyn Y, Wilk U, Burghardt T, Höhn M, Hieber C, Bros M, Wagner E, Berger S. Lipoamino bundle LNPs for efficient mRNA transfection of dendritic cells and macrophages show high spleen selectivity. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2024; 194:95-109. [PMID: 38065313 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2023.11.025] [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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/31/2023]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a powerful tool for nucleic acid-based therapies and vaccination, but efficient and specific delivery to target tissues remains a significant challenge. In this study, we demonstrate lipoamino xenopeptide carriers as components of highly efficient mRNA LNPs. These lipo-xenopeptides are defined as 2D sequences in different 3D topologies (bundles or different U-shapes). The polar artificial amino acid tetraethylene pentamino succinic acid (Stp) and various lipophilic tertiary lipoamino fatty acids (LAFs) act as ionizable amphiphilic units, connected in different ratios via bisamidated lysines as branching units. A series of more lipophilic LAF4-Stp1 carriers with bundle topology is especially well suited for efficient encapsulation of mRNA into LNPs, facilitated cellular uptake and strongly enhanced endosomal escape. These LNPs display improved, faster transfection kinetics compared to standard LNP formulations, with high potency in a variety of tumor cell lines (including N2a neuroblastoma, HepG2 and Huh7 hepatocellular, and HeLa cervical carcinoma cells), J774A.1 macrophages, and DC2.4 dendritic cells. High transfection levels were obtained even in the presence of serum at very low sub-microgram mRNA doses. Upon intravenous application of only 3 µg mRNA per mouse, in vivo mRNA expression is found with a high selectivity for dendritic cells and macrophages, resulting in a particularly high overall preferred expression in the spleen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Haase
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany.
| | - Jana Pöhmerer
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany.
| | - Mina Yazdi
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany.
| | - Melina Grau
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany.
| | - Yanira Zeyn
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU) Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Ulrich Wilk
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany.
| | - Tobias Burghardt
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany.
| | - Miriam Höhn
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany.
| | - Christoph Hieber
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU) Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Matthias Bros
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU) Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Ernst Wagner
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany; Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539 Munich, Germany; CNATM - Cluster for Nucleic Acid Therapeutics Munich, Germany.
| | - Simone Berger
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany; Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539 Munich, Germany; CNATM - Cluster for Nucleic Acid Therapeutics Munich, Germany.
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27
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He S, Liu S. Zwitterionic materials for nucleic acid delivery and therapeutic applications. J Control Release 2024; 365:919-935. [PMID: 38103789 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.12.017] [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: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid therapeutics have demonstrated substantial potential in combating various diseases. However, challenges persist, particularly in the delivery of multifunctional nucleic acids. To address this issue, numerous gene delivery vectors have been developed to fully unlock the potential of gene therapy. The advancement of innovative materials with exceptional delivery properties is critical to propel the clinical translation of nucleic acid drugs. Cationic vector materials have received extensive attention, while zwitterionic materials remain relatively underappreciated in delivery. In this review, we outline a diverse range of zwitterionic material nucleic acid carriers, predominantly encompassing zwitterionic lipids, polymers and peptides. Their respective chemical structures, synthesis approaches, properties, advantages, and therapeutic applications are summarized and discussed. Furthermore, we highlight the challenges and future opportunities associated with the development of zwitterionic vector materials. This review will aid to understand the zwitterionic materials in aiding gene delivery, contributing to the continual progress of nucleic acid therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun He
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China; National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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28
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Takatsu M, Morihiro K, Watanabe H, Yuki M, Hattori T, Noi K, Aikawa K, Noguchi K, Yohda M, Okazoe T, Okamoto A. Cellular Penetration and Intracellular Dynamics of Perfluorocarbon-Conjugated DNA/RNA as a Potential Means of Conditional Nucleic Acid Delivery. ACS Chem Biol 2023; 18:2590-2598. [PMID: 37981738 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.3c00612] [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: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid-based therapeutics represent a novel approach for controlling gene expression. However, a practical delivery system is required that overcomes the poor cellular permeability and intercellular instability of nucleic acids. Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) are highly stable structures that can readily traverse the lipid membrane of cells. Thus, PFC-DNA/RNA conjugates have properties that offer a potential means of delivering nucleic acid therapeutics, although the cellular dynamics of the conjugates remain unknown. Here, we performed systematic analysis of the cellular permeability of sequence-controlled PFC-DNA conjugates (N[PFC]n-DNA, n = 1,2,3,4,5) that can be synthesized by conventional phosphoramidite chemistry. We showed that DNA conjugates with two or more PFC-containing units (N[PFC]n≥2-DNA) penetrated HeLa cells without causing cellular damage. Imaging analysis along with quantitative flow cytometry analysis revealed that N[PFC]2-DNA rapidly passes through the cell membrane and is evenly distributed within the cytoplasm. Moreover, N[PFC]2-modified cyclin B1-targeting siRNA promoted gene knockdown efficacy of 30% compared with naked siRNA. A similar cell penetration without associated toxicity was consistent among the seven different human cell lines tested. These unique cellular environmental properties make N[PFC]2-DNA/RNA a potential nucleic acid delivery platform that can meet a wide range of applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masako Takatsu
- Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, , Japan
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Kunihiko Morihiro
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Honoka Watanabe
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Mizue Yuki
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Takara Hattori
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Kentaro Noi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Kohsuke Aikawa
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Keiichi Noguchi
- Instrumentation Analysis Center, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Masafumi Yohda
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Takashi Okazoe
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
- Yokohama Technical Center, AGC Inc. Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Akimitsu Okamoto
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
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29
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Philipp J, Dabkowska A, Reiser A, Frank K, Krzysztoń R, Brummer C, Nickel B, Blanchet CE, Sudarsan A, Ibrahim M, Johansson S, Skantze P, Skantze U, Östman S, Johansson M, Henderson N, Elvevold K, Smedsrød B, Schwierz N, Lindfors L, Rädler JO. pH-dependent structural transitions in cationic ionizable lipid mesophases are critical for lipid nanoparticle function. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2310491120. [PMID: 38055742 PMCID: PMC10723131 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2310491120] [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: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are advanced core-shell particles for messenger RNA (mRNA) based therapies that are made of polyethylene glycol (PEG) lipid, distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC), cationic ionizable lipid (CIL), cholesterol (chol), and mRNA. Yet the mechanism of pH-dependent response that is believed to cause endosomal release of LNPs is not well understood. Here, we show that eGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) protein expression in the mouse liver mediated by the ionizable lipids DLin-MC3-DMA (MC3), DLin-KC2-DMA (KC2), and DLinDMA (DD) ranks MC3 ≥ KC2 > DD despite similar delivery of mRNA per cell in all cell fractions isolated. We hypothesize that the three CIL-LNPs react differently to pH changes and hence study the structure of CIL/chol bulk phases in water. Using synchrotron X-ray scattering a sequence of ordered CIL/chol mesophases with lowering pH values are observed. These phases show isotropic inverse micellar, cubic Fd3m inverse micellar, inverse hexagonal [Formula: see text] and bicontinuous cubic Pn3m symmetry. If polyadenylic acid, as mRNA surrogate, is added to CIL/chol, excess lipid coexists with a condensed nucleic acid lipid [Formula: see text] phase. The next-neighbor distance in the excess phase shows a discontinuity at the Fd3m inverse micellar to inverse hexagonal [Formula: see text] transition occurring at pH 6 with distinctly larger spacing and hydration for DD vs. MC3 and KC2. In mRNA LNPs, DD showed larger internal spacing, as well as retarded onset and reduced level of DD-LNP-mediated eGFP expression in vitro compared to MC3 and KC2. Our data suggest that the pH-driven Fd3m-[Formula: see text] transition in bulk phases is a hallmark of CIL-specific differences in mRNA LNP efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Philipp
- Faculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig Maximilians-University, Munich80539, Germany
| | - Aleksandra Dabkowska
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Research and Development, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Mölndal431 83, Sweden
| | - Anita Reiser
- Faculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig Maximilians-University, Munich80539, Germany
| | - Kilian Frank
- Faculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig Maximilians-University, Munich80539, Germany
| | - Rafał Krzysztoń
- Faculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig Maximilians-University, Munich80539, Germany
| | - Christiane Brummer
- Faculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig Maximilians-University, Munich80539, Germany
| | - Bert Nickel
- Faculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig Maximilians-University, Munich80539, Germany
| | - Clement E. Blanchet
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory Hamburg Outstation c/o Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Hamburg22607, Germany
| | - Akhil Sudarsan
- Institute of Physics, University of Augsburg, Augsburg86159, Germany
| | - Mohd Ibrahim
- Institute of Physics, University of Augsburg, Augsburg86159, Germany
| | - Svante Johansson
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Research and Development, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Mölndal431 83, Sweden
| | - Pia Skantze
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Research and Development, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Mölndal431 83, Sweden
| | - Urban Skantze
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Research and Development, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Mölndal431 83, Sweden
| | - Sofia Östman
- Animal Sciences and Technologies, Clinical Pharmacology & Safety Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Mölndal431 83, Sweden
| | - Marie Johansson
- Animal Sciences and Technologies, Clinical Pharmacology & Safety Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Mölndal431 83, Sweden
| | - Neil Henderson
- Integrated Bioanalysis, Clinical Pharmacology & Safety Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Mölndal431 83, Sweden
| | | | - Bård Smedsrød
- Vascular Biology Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, Tromsø9019, Norway
| | - Nadine Schwierz
- Institute of Physics, University of Augsburg, Augsburg86159, Germany
| | - Lennart Lindfors
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Research and Development, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Mölndal431 83, Sweden
| | - Joachim O. Rädler
- Faculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig Maximilians-University, Munich80539, Germany
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30
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Tang X, Zhang J, Sui D, Yang Q, Wang T, Xu Z, Li X, Gao X, Yan X, Liu X, Song Y, Deng Y. Simultaneous dendritic cells targeting and effective endosomal escape enhance sialic acid-modified mRNA vaccine efficacy and reduce side effects. J Control Release 2023; 364:529-545. [PMID: 37949317 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.11.008] [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: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
mRNA vaccines are attractive prospects for the development of DC-targeted vaccines; however, no clinical success has been realized because, currently, it is difficult to simultaneously achieve DC targeting and efficient endosomal/lysosomal escape. Herein, we developed a sialic acid (SA)-modified mRNA vaccine that simultaneously achieved both. The SA modification promoted DCs uptake of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) by 2 times, >90% of SA-modified LNPs rapidly escaped from early endosomes (EEs), avoided entering lysosomes, achieved mRNA simultaneously translated in ribosomes distributed in the cytoplasm and endoplasmic reticulum (ER), significantly improved the transfection efficiency of mRNA LNPs in DCs. Additionally, we applied cleavable PEG-lipids in mRNA vaccines for the first time and found this conducive to cellular uptake and DC targeting. In summary, SA-modified mRNA vaccines targeted DCs efficiently, and showed significantly higher EEs/lysosomal escape efficiency (90% vs 50%), superior tumor treatment effect, and lower side effects than commercially formulated mRNA vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueying Tang
- College of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, China
| | - Jiashuo Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, China
| | - Dezhi Sui
- College of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, China
| | - Qiongfen Yang
- College of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, China
| | - Tianyu Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, China
| | - Zihan Xu
- College of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, China
| | - Xiaoya Li
- College of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, China
| | - Xin Gao
- College of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, China
| | - Xinyang Yan
- College of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, China
| | - Xinrong Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, China
| | - Yanzhi Song
- College of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, China.
| | - Yihui Deng
- College of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, China.
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31
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Van de Vyver T, Muntean C, Efimova I, Krysko DV, De Backer L, De Smedt SC, Raemdonck K. The alpha-adrenergic antagonist prazosin promotes cytosolic siRNA delivery from lysosomal compartments. J Control Release 2023; 364:142-158. [PMID: 37816483 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.10.014] [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: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
The widespread use of small interfering RNA (siRNA) is limited by the multiple extra- and intracellular barriers upon in vivo administration. Hence, suitable delivery systems, based on siRNA encapsulation in nanoparticles or its conjugation to targeting ligands, have been developed. Nevertheless, at the intracellular level, these state-of-the-art delivery systems still suffer from a low endosomal escape efficiency. Consequently, the bulk of the endocytosed siRNA drug rapidly accumulates in the lysosomal compartment. We recently reported that a wide variety of cationic amphiphilic drugs (CADs) can promote small nucleic acid delivery from the endolysosomal compartment into the cytosol via transient induction of lysosomal membrane permeabilization. Here, we describe the identification of alternate siRNA delivery enhancers from the NIH Clinical Compound Collection that do not have the typical physicochemical properties of CADs. Additionally, we demonstrate improved endolysosomal escape of siRNA via a cholesterol conjugate and polymeric carriers with the α1-adrenergic antagonist prazosin, which was identified as the best performing delivery enhancer from the compound screen. A more detailed assessment of the mode-of-action of prazosin suggests that a different cellular phenotype compared to typical CAD adjuvants drives cytosolic siRNA delivery. As it has been described in the literature that prazosin also induces cancer cell apoptosis and promotes antigen cross-presentation in dendritic cells, the proof-of-concept data in this work provides opportunities for the repurposing of prazosin in an anti-cancer combination strategy with siRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thijs Van de Vyver
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Cristina Muntean
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Iuliia Efimova
- Cell Death Investigation and Therapy Laboratory, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Dmitri V Krysko
- Cell Death Investigation and Therapy Laboratory, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Pathophysiology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119146 Moscow, Russia.
| | - Lynn De Backer
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Stefaan C De Smedt
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Koen Raemdonck
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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32
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Bolsoni J, Liu D, Mohabatpour F, Ebner R, Sadhnani G, Tafech B, Leung J, Shanta S, An K, Morin T, Chen Y, Arguello A, Choate K, Jan E, Ross CJ, Brambilla D, Witzigmann D, Kulkarni J, Cullis PR, Hedtrich S. Lipid Nanoparticle-Mediated Hit-and-Run Approaches Yield Efficient and Safe In Situ Gene Editing in Human Skin. ACS NANO 2023; 17:22046-22059. [PMID: 37918441 PMCID: PMC10655174 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c08644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Despite exciting advances in gene editing, the efficient delivery of genetic tools to extrahepatic tissues remains challenging. This holds particularly true for the skin, which poses a highly restrictive delivery barrier. In this study, we ran a head-to-head comparison between Cas9 mRNA or ribonucleoprotein (RNP)-loaded lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver gene editing tools into epidermal layers of human skin, aiming for in situ gene editing. We observed distinct LNP composition and cell-specific effects such as an extended presence of RNP in slow-cycling epithelial cells for up to 72 h. While obtaining similar gene editing rates using Cas9 RNP and mRNA with MC3-based LNPs (10-16%), mRNA-loaded LNPs proved to be more cytotoxic. Interestingly, ionizable lipids with a pKa ∼ 7.1 yielded superior gene editing rates (55%-72%) in two-dimensional (2D) epithelial cells while no single guide RNA-dependent off-target effects were detectable. Unexpectedly, these high 2D editing efficacies did not translate to actual skin tissue where overall gene editing rates between 5%-12% were achieved after a single application and irrespective of the LNP composition. Finally, we successfully base-corrected a disease-causing mutation with an efficacy of ∼5% in autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis patient cells, showcasing the potential of this strategy for the treatment of monogenic skin diseases. Taken together, this study demonstrates the feasibility of an in situ correction of disease-causing mutations in the skin that could provide effective treatment and potentially even a cure for rare, monogenic, and common skin diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Bolsoni
- Faculty
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Danny Liu
- Faculty
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Fatemeh Mohabatpour
- Faculty
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Ronja Ebner
- Faculty
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Gaurav Sadhnani
- Berlin
Institute of Health @ Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Belal Tafech
- Faculty
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Jerry Leung
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University
of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Selina Shanta
- Faculty
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Kevin An
- NanoVation
Therapeutics, 2405 Wesbrook
Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Tessa Morin
- Faculty
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Yihang Chen
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University
of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Alfonso Arguello
- University
of Montréal, Faculty of Pharmacy, Montréal H3T 1J4, Quebec, Canada
| | - Keith Choate
- Departments
of Dermatology, Genetics, and Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven 06510, Connecticut, United States
| | - Eric Jan
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University
of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Colin J.D. Ross
- Faculty
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Davide Brambilla
- University
of Montréal, Faculty of Pharmacy, Montréal H3T 1J4, Quebec, Canada
| | - Dominik Witzigmann
- NanoVation
Therapeutics, 2405 Wesbrook
Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Jayesh Kulkarni
- NanoVation
Therapeutics, 2405 Wesbrook
Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Pieter R. Cullis
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University
of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
| | - Sarah Hedtrich
- Faculty
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada
- Berlin
Institute of Health @ Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin 10117, Germany
- Department
of Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine, Charité -
Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate
member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität, Berlin 10117, Germany
- Max-Delbrück
Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin 13125, Germany
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Smith S, Rossi Herling B, Zhang C, Beach MA, Teo SLY, Gillies ER, Johnston APR, Such GK. Self-Immolative Polymer Nanoparticles with Precise and Controllable pH-Dependent Degradation. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:4958-4969. [PMID: 37709729 PMCID: PMC10649787 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Polymer nanoparticles have generated significant interest as delivery systems for therapeutic cargo. Self-immolative polymers (SIPs) are an interesting category of materials for delivery applications, as the characteristic property of end-to-end depolymerization allows for the disintegration of the delivery system, facilitating a more effective release of the cargo and clearance from the body after use. In this work, nanoparticles based on a pH-responsive polymer poly(ethylene glycol)-b-(2-diisopropyl)amino ethyl methacrylate) and a self-immolative polymer poly[N,N-(diisopropylamino)ethyl glyoxylamide-r-N,N-(dibutylamino)ethyl glyoxylamide] (P(DPAEGAm-r-DBAEGAm)) were developed. Four particles were synthesized based on P(DPAEGAm-r-DBAEGAm) polymers with varied diisopropylamino to dibutylamino ratios of 4:1, 2:1, 2:3, and 0:1, termed 4:1, 2:1, 2:3, and 0:1 PGAm particles. The pH of particle disassembly was tuned from pH 7.0 to pH 5.0 by adjusting the ratio of diisopropylamino to dibutylamino substituents on the pendant tertiary amine. The P(DPAEGAm-r-DBAEGAm) polymers were observed to depolymerize (60-80%) below the particle disassembly pH after ∼2 h, compared to <10% at pH 7.4 and maintained reasonable stability at pH 7.4 (20-50% depolymerization) after 1 week. While all particles exhibited the ability to load a peptide cargo, only the 4:1 PGAm particles had higher endosomal escape efficiency (∼4%) compared to the 2:3 or 0:1 PGAm particles (<1%). The 4:1 PGAm particle is a promising candidate for further optimization as an intracellular drug delivery system with rapid and precisely controlled degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel
A. Smith
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Bruna Rossi Herling
- Monash
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash
University, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Changhe Zhang
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Maximilian A. Beach
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Serena L. Y. Teo
- Monash
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash
University, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Elizabeth R. Gillies
- Department
of Chemistry and Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Angus P. R. Johnston
- Monash
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash
University, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Georgina K. Such
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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34
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Chen Z, Tian Y, Yang J, Wu F, Liu S, Cao W, Xu W, Hu T, Siegwart DJ, Xiong H. Modular Design of Biodegradable Ionizable Lipids for Improved mRNA Delivery and Precise Cancer Metastasis Delineation In Vivo. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:24302-24314. [PMID: 37853662 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c09143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) represent the most clinically advanced nonviral mRNA delivery vehicles; however, the full potential of the LNP platform is greatly hampered by inadequate endosomal escape capability. Herein, we rationally introduce a disulfide bond-bridged ester linker to modularly synthesize a library of 96 linker-degradable ionizable lipids (LDILs) for improved mRNA delivery in vivo. The top-performing LDILs are composed of one 4A3 amino headgroup, four disulfide bond-bridged linkers, and four 10-carbon tail chains, whose unique GSH-responsive cone-shaped architectures endow optimized 4A3-SCC-10 and 4A3-SCC-PH lipids with superior endosomal escape and rapid mRNA release abilities, outperforming their parent lipids 4A3-SC-10/PH without a disulfide bond and control lipids 4A3-SSC-10/PH with a disulfide bond in the tail. Notably, compared to DLin-MC3-DMA via systematic administration, 4A3-SCC-10- and 4A3-SCC-PH-formulated LNPs significantly improved mRNA delivery in livers by 87-fold and 176-fold, respectively. Moreover, 4A3-SCC-PH LNPs enabled the highly efficient gene editing of 99% hepatocytes at a low Cre mRNA dose in tdTomato mice following intravenous administration. Meanwhile, 4A3-SCC-PH LNPs were able to selectively deliver firefly luciferase mRNA and facilitate luciferase expression in tumor cells after intraperitoneal injection, further improving cancer metastasis delineation and surgery via bioluminescence imaging. We envision that the chemistry adopted here can be further extended to develop new biodegradable ionizable lipids for broad applications such as gene editing and cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoming Chen
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yang Tian
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Jieyu Yang
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Fapu Wu
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Senyao Liu
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Wenwen Cao
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Weijia Xu
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Tao Hu
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Daniel J Siegwart
- Department of Biochemistry, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Hu Xiong
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
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35
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Addison ML, Ranasinghe P, Webb DJ. Novel Pharmacological Approaches in the Treatment of Hypertension: A Focus on RNA-Based Therapeutics. Hypertension 2023; 80:2243-2254. [PMID: 37706295 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.122.19430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Hypertension remains the leading cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death globally, affecting half of US adults. A high proportion of hypertensive patients exhibit uncontrolled blood pressure (BP), associated with poor adherence, linked to pill burden and adverse effects. Novel pharmacological strategies are urgently needed to improve BP control. Dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin system increases BP through its primary effector, Ang II (angiotensin II), which results in tissue remodeling and end-organ damage. Silencing liver angiotensinogen (the sole source of Ang II) has been achieved using novel RNA therapeutics, including the antisense oligonucleotide, IONIS-AGT (angiotensinogen)-LRX, and the small-interfering RNA, zilebesiran. Conjugation to N-acetylgalactosamine enables targeted delivery to hepatocytes, where endosomal storage, slow leakage, and small-interfering RNA recycling (for zilebesiran) result in knockdown over several months. Indeed, zilebesiran has an impressive and durable effect on systolic BP, reduced by up to 20 mm Hg and sustained for 6 months after a single administration, likely due to its very effective knockdown of angiotensinogen, without causing acute kidney injury or hyperkalemia. By contrast, IONIS-AGT-LRX caused less knockdown and marginal effects on BP. Future studies should evaluate any loss of efficacy relating to antidrug antibodies, safety issues associated with long-term angiotensinogen suppression, and broader benefits, especially in the context of common comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melisande L Addison
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen's Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (M.L.A., P.R., D.J.W.)
| | - Priyanga Ranasinghe
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen's Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (M.L.A., P.R., D.J.W.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (P.R.)
| | - David J Webb
- University/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen's Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (M.L.A., P.R., D.J.W.)
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36
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Yu H, Iscaro J, Dyett B, Zhang Y, Seibt S, Martinez N, White J, Drummond CJ, Bozinovski S, Zhai J. Inverse Cubic and Hexagonal Mesophase Evolution within Ionizable Lipid Nanoparticles Correlates with mRNA Transfection in Macrophages. J Am Chem Soc 2023. [PMID: 37870621 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c08729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
mRNA lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology presents enormous opportunities to prevent and treat various diseases. Here, we developed a novel series of LNPs containing ionizable amino-lipids showing a remarkable array of tunable and pH-sensitive lyotropic liquid crystalline mesophases including the inverse bicontinuous cubic and hexagonal phases characterized by high-throughput synchrotron radiation X-ray scattering. Furthermore, with an interest in developing mRNA therapeutics for lung macrophage targeting, we discovered that there is a strong correlation between the mesophase transition of the LNPs during acidification and the macrophage association/transfection efficiency of mRNAs. The slight molecular structural differences between the SM-102 and ALC-0315 ionizable lipids are linked to the LNP's ability to transform their internal structures from an amorphous state to the inverse micellar, hexagonal, and finally cubic structures during endosomal maturation. SM-102 LNPs showed exceptionally improved transfection efficiency due to their ability to form a cubic structure at a lower pH than the ALC-0315 analogues, which remained within the hexagonal structure, previously attributed to promoting endosomal escape of the ionizable LNPs. Overall, the new knowledge draws our attention to the important role of mesophase transition in endosomal escape, and the novel LNP libraries reported herein have broad prospects for advancing mRNA therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitao Yu
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Joshua Iscaro
- Centre for Respiratory Science & Health, School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Brendan Dyett
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Yiran Zhang
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Susanne Seibt
- SAXS/WAXS Beamline, Australian Synchrotron, ANSTO, 800 Blackburn Rd, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
| | - Natalia Martinez
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Jacinta White
- CSIRO Manufacturing, Bayview Avenue,Clayton, Victoria 3169, Australia
| | - Calum J Drummond
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Steven Bozinovski
- Centre for Respiratory Science & Health, School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Jiali Zhai
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
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37
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Gandek TB, van der Koog L, Nagelkerke A. A Comparison of Cellular Uptake Mechanisms, Delivery Efficacy, and Intracellular Fate between Liposomes and Extracellular Vesicles. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2300319. [PMID: 37384827 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202300319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
A key aspect for successful drug delivery via lipid-based nanoparticles is their internalization in target cells. Two prominent examples of such drug delivery systems are artificial phospholipid-based carriers, such as liposomes, and their biological counterparts, the extracellular vesicles (EVs). Despite a wealth of literature, it remains unclear which mechanisms precisely orchestrate nanoparticle-mediated cargo delivery to recipient cells and the subsequent intracellular fate of therapeutic cargo. In this review, internalization mechanisms involved in the uptake of liposomes and EVs by recipient cells are evaluated, also exploring their intracellular fate after intracellular trafficking. Opportunities are highlighted to tweak these internalization mechanisms and intracellular fates to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of these drug delivery systems. Overall, literature to date shows that both liposomes and EVs are predominantly internalized through classical endocytosis mechanisms, sharing a common fate: accumulation inside lysosomes. Studies tackling the differences between liposomes and EVs, with respect to cellular uptake, intracellular delivery and therapy efficacy, remain scarce, despite its importance for the selection of an appropriate drug delivery system. In addition, further exploration of functionalization strategies of both liposomes and EVs represents an important avenue to pursue in order to control internalization and fate, thereby improving therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timea B Gandek
- Pharmaceutical Analysis, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 196, XB20, Groningen, 9700 AD, The Netherlands
| | - Luke van der Koog
- Molecular Pharmacology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 196, XB10, Groningen, 9700 AD, The Netherlands
| | - Anika Nagelkerke
- Pharmaceutical Analysis, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 196, XB20, Groningen, 9700 AD, The Netherlands
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38
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Zeng Y, Shen M, Pattipeiluhu R, Zhou X, Zhang Y, Bakkum T, Sharp TH, Boyle AL, Kros A. Efficient mRNA delivery using lipid nanoparticles modified with fusogenic coiled-coil peptides. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:15206-15218. [PMID: 37671560 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr02175k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
Gene delivery has great potential in modulating protein expression in specific cells to treat diseases. Such therapeutic gene delivery demands sufficient cellular internalization and endosomal escape. Of various nonviral nucleic acid delivery systems, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are the most advanced, but still, are very inefficient as the majority are unable to escape from endosomes/lysosomes. Here, we develop a highly efficient gene delivery system using fusogenic coiled-coil peptides. We modified LNPs, carrying EGFP-mRNA, and cells with complementary coiled-coil lipopeptides. Coiled-coil formation between these lipopeptides induced fast nucleic acid uptake and enhanced GFP expression. The cellular uptake of coiled-coil modified LNPs is likely driven by membrane fusion thereby omitting typical endocytosis pathways. This direct cytosolic delivery circumvents the problems commonly observed with the limited endosomal escape of mRNA. Therefore fusogenic coiled-coil peptide modification of existing LNP formulations to enhance nucleic acid delivery efficiency could be beneficial for several gene therapy applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Zeng
- Department of Supramolecular & Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Mengjie Shen
- Department of Supramolecular & Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Roy Pattipeiluhu
- Department of Supramolecular & Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Xuequan Zhou
- Department of Supramolecular & Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Yun Zhang
- Department of Supramolecular & Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Thomas Bakkum
- Department of Supramolecular & Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Thomas H Sharp
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Section Electron Microscopy, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Aimee L Boyle
- Department of Supramolecular & Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Alexander Kros
- Department of Supramolecular & Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Pandey E, Harris EN. Chloroquine and cytosolic galectins affect endosomal escape of antisense oligonucleotides after Stabilin-mediated endocytosis. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 33:430-443. [PMID: 37575283 PMCID: PMC10412722 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Non-DNA-binding Stabilin-2/HARE receptors expressed on liver sinusoidal endothelial cells specifically bind to and internalize several classes of phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides (PS-ASOs). After Stabilin-mediated uptake, PS-ASOs are trafficked within endosomes (>97%-99%), ultimately resulting in destruction in the lysosome. The ASO entrapment in endosomes lowers therapeutic efficacy, thereby increasing the overall dose for patients. Here, we use confocal microscopy to characterize the intracellular route transverse by PS-ASOs after Stabilin receptor-mediated uptake in stable recombinant Stabilin-1 and -2 cell lines. We found that PS-ASOs as well as the Stabilin-2 receptor transverse the classic path: clathrin-coated vesicle-early endosome-late endosome-lysosome. Chloroquine exposure facilitated endosomal escape of PS-ASOs leading to target knockdown by more than 50% as compared to untreated cells, resulting in increased PS-ASO efficacy. We also characterize cytosolic galectins as novel contributor for PS-ASO escape. Galectins knockdown enhances ASO efficacy by more than 60% by modulating EEA1, Rab5C, and Rab7A mRNA expression, leading to a delay in the endosomal vesicle maturation process. Collectively, our results provide additional insight for increasing PS-ASO efficacy by enhancing endosomal escape, which can further be utilized for other nucleic acid-based modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekta Pandey
- University of Nebraska, Department of Biochemistry, Beadle Center, 1901 Vine St., Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Edward N. Harris
- University of Nebraska, Department of Biochemistry, Beadle Center, 1901 Vine St., Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
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40
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Mangla P, Vicentini Q, Biscans A. Therapeutic Oligonucleotides: An Outlook on Chemical Strategies to Improve Endosomal Trafficking. Cells 2023; 12:2253. [PMID: 37759475 PMCID: PMC10527716 DOI: 10.3390/cells12182253] [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: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The potential of oligonucleotide therapeutics is undeniable as more than 15 drugs have been approved to treat various diseases in the liver, central nervous system (CNS), and muscles. However, achieving effective delivery of oligonucleotide therapeutics to specific tissues still remains a major challenge, limiting their widespread use. Chemical modifications play a crucial role to overcome biological barriers to enable efficient oligonucleotide delivery to the tissues/cells of interest. They provide oligonucleotide metabolic stability and confer favourable pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties. This review focuses on the various chemical approaches implicated in mitigating the delivery problem of oligonucleotides and their limitations. It highlights the importance of linkers in designing oligonucleotide conjugates and discusses their potential role in escaping the endosomal barrier, a bottleneck in the development of oligonucleotide therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Mangla
- Oligonucleotide Discovery, Discovery Sciences Research and Development, AstraZeneca, 431 38 Gothenburg, Sweden; (P.M.); (Q.V.)
| | - Quentin Vicentini
- Oligonucleotide Discovery, Discovery Sciences Research and Development, AstraZeneca, 431 38 Gothenburg, Sweden; (P.M.); (Q.V.)
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Research Centre, Karolinska Institute, 141 57 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Annabelle Biscans
- Oligonucleotide Discovery, Discovery Sciences Research and Development, AstraZeneca, 431 38 Gothenburg, Sweden; (P.M.); (Q.V.)
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41
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Kaur N, de la Ballina LR, Haukaas HS, Torgersen ML, Radulovic M, Munson MJ, Sabirsh A, Stenmark H, Simonsen A, Carlsson SR, Lystad AH. TECPR1 is activated by damage-induced sphingomyelin exposure to mediate noncanonical autophagy. EMBO J 2023; 42:e113105. [PMID: 37409525 PMCID: PMC10476171 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022113105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells use noncanonical autophagy, also called conjugation of ATG8 to single membranes (CASM), to label damaged intracellular compartments with ubiquitin-like ATG8 family proteins in order to signal danger caused by pathogens or toxic compounds. CASM relies on E3 complexes to sense membrane damage, but so far, only the mechanism to activate ATG16L1-containing E3 complexes, associated with proton gradient loss, has been described. Here, we show that TECPR1-containing E3 complexes are key mediators of CASM in cells treated with a variety of pharmacological drugs, including clinically relevant nanoparticles, transfection reagents, antihistamines, lysosomotropic compounds, and detergents. Interestingly, TECPR1 retains E3 activity when ATG16L1 CASM activity is obstructed by the Salmonella Typhimurium pathogenicity factor SopF. Mechanistically, TECPR1 is recruited by damage-induced sphingomyelin (SM) exposure using two DysF domains, resulting in its activation and ATG8 lipidation. In vitro assays using purified human TECPR1-ATG5-ATG12 complex show direct activation of its E3 activity by SM, whereas SM has no effect on ATG16L1-ATG5-ATG12. We conclude that TECPR1 is a key activator of CASM downstream of SM exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namrita Kaur
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer ResearchOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Laura Rodriguez de la Ballina
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical SciencesUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Håvard Styrkestad Haukaas
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer ResearchOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Maria Lyngaas Torgersen
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer ResearchOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Maja Radulovic
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer ResearchOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Michael J Munson
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical SciencesBiopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZenecaGothenburgSweden
| | - Alan Sabirsh
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical SciencesBiopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZenecaGothenburgSweden
| | - Harald Stenmark
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer ResearchOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Anne Simonsen
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer ResearchOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical SciencesUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Sven R Carlsson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and BiophysicsUniversity of UmeåUmeåSweden
| | - Alf Håkon Lystad
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer ResearchOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical SciencesUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
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42
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Sun H, Zhang Y, Wang J, Su J, Zhou D, Yu X, Xu Y, Yang W. Application of Lung-Targeted Lipid Nanoparticle-delivered mRNA of soluble PD-L1 via SORT Technology in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Theranostics 2023; 13:4974-4992. [PMID: 37771784 PMCID: PMC10526659 DOI: 10.7150/thno.86466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition characterized by excessive immune response usually due to lung inflammation. Local immunosuppression is crucial for effective ARDS treatment. However, current methods are limited in their ability to target the lungs specifically. Methods: This study utilized lung-targeted lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) with 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (termed DOTAP-LNPs) to encapsulate chemically modified soluble programmed death ligand-1 (sPD-L1) mRNA and examined its physiological characteristics and therapeutic efficacy. A comparative analysis was performed between sPD-L1 mRNA delivered by DOTAP-LNPs, sPD-L1 mRNA delivered by regular LNPs (MC3-LNPs), and PD-L1-Fc recombinant protein administered systemically. Additionally, the survival rate of ARDS mice treated with different drugs was assessed. Results: Administration of sPD-L1 mRNA-LNPs to ARDS model mice significantly reduced leukocyte chemotaxis and protein accumulation in lung tissue, along with a decrease in pulmonary edema. Notably, in situ intervention using sPD-L1 mRNA-DOTAP-LNPs exhibited superior therapeutic effects compared to PD-L1-Fc recombinant protein and sPD-L1 mRNA encapsulated in MC3-LNPs. Importantly, treatment with sPD-L1 mRNA-DOTAP-LNPs improved the survival rate of ARDS model mice. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing stable and reliable mRNA to express the immunosuppressive molecule sPD-L1 specifically in the lungs. The findings provide proof of concept for localized nanoparticle delivery and offer a novel therapeutic strategy for treating acute inflammation in ARDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Jiahui Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Juncheng Su
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renji Hospital Affiliated, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Dejian Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xiang Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yingjie Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
- Shanghai RNACure Biopharma Co., Ltd. Shanghai, 200438, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Cellular Homeostasis and Human Diseases. Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Wen Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
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43
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Sun B, Wu W, Narasipura EA, Ma Y, Yu C, Fenton OS, Song H. Engineering nanoparticle toolkits for mRNA delivery. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 200:115042. [PMID: 37536506 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.115042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
The concept of using mRNA to produce its own medicine in situ in the body makes it an ideal drug candidate, holding great potential to revolutionize the way we approach medicine. The unique characteristics of mRNA, as well as its customizable biomedical functions, call for the rational design of delivery systems to protect and transport mRNA molecules. In this review, a nanoparticle toolkit is presented for the development of mRNA-based therapeutics from a drug delivery perspective. Nano-delivery systems derived from either natural systems or chemical synthesis, in the nature of organic or inorganic materials, are summarised. Delivery strategies in controlling the tissue targeting and mRNA release, as well as the role of nanoparticles in building and boosting the activity of mRNA drugs, have also been introduced. In the end, our insights into the clinical and translational development of mRNA nano-drugs are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Sun
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Weixi Wu
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Eshan A Narasipura
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yutian Ma
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Chengzhong Yu
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Owen S Fenton
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | - Hao Song
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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44
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Jeong M, Lee Y, Park J, Jung H, Lee H. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for in vivo RNA delivery and their breakthrough technology for future applications. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 200:114990. [PMID: 37423563 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
RNA therapeutics show a significant breakthrough for the treatment of otherwise incurable diseases and genetic disorders by regulating disease-related gene expression. The successful development of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines further emphasizes the potential of RNA therapeutics in the prevention of infectious diseases as well as in the treatment of chronic diseases. However, the efficient delivery of RNA into cells remains a challenge, and nanoparticle delivery systems such as lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are necessary to fully realize the potential of RNA therapeutics. While LNPs provide a highly efficient platform for the in vivo delivery of RNA by overcoming various biological barriers, several challenges remain to be resolved for further development and regulatory approval. These include a lack of targeted delivery to extrahepatic organs and a gradual loss of therapeutic potency with repeated doses. In this review, we highlight the fundamental aspects of LNPs and their uses in the development of novel RNA therapeutics. Recent advances in LNP-based therapeutics and preclinical/clinical studies are overviewed. Lastly, we discuss the current limitations of LNPs and introduce breakthrough technologies that might overcome these challenges in future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Jeong
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, South Korea
| | - Yeji Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, South Korea
| | - Jeongeun Park
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, South Korea
| | - Hyein Jung
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, South Korea
| | - Hyukjin Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, South Korea.
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45
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Hunter MR, Cui L, Porebski BT, Pereira S, Sonzini S, Odunze U, Iyer P, Engkvist O, Lloyd RL, Peel S, Sabirsh A, Ross-Thriepland D, Jones AT, Desai AS. Understanding Intracellular Biology to Improve mRNA Delivery by Lipid Nanoparticles. SMALL METHODS 2023; 7:e2201695. [PMID: 37317010 PMCID: PMC7615154 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202201695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Poor understanding of intracellular delivery and targeting hinders development of nucleic acid-based therapeutics transported by nanoparticles. Utilizing a siRNA-targeting and small molecule profiling approach with advanced imaging and machine learning biological insights is generated into the mechanism of lipid nanoparticle (MC3-LNP) delivery of mRNA. This workflow is termed Advanced Cellular and Endocytic profiling for Intracellular Delivery (ACE-ID). A cell-based imaging assay and perturbation of 178 targets relevant to intracellular trafficking is used to identify corresponding effects on functional mRNA delivery. Targets improving delivery are analyzed by extracting data-rich phenotypic fingerprints from images using advanced image analysis algorithms. Machine learning is used to determine key features correlating with enhanced delivery, identifying fluid-phase endocytosis as a productive cellular entry route. With this new knowledge, MC3-LNP is re-engineered to target macropinocytosis, and this significantly improves mRNA delivery in vitro and in vivo. The ACE-ID approach can be broadly applicable for optimizing nanomedicine-based intracellular delivery systems and has the potential to accelerate the development of delivery systems for nucleic acid-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morag Rose Hunter
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, CB21 6GH, UK
| | - Lili Cui
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, CB21 6GH, UK
| | | | - Sara Pereira
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, CB21 6GH, UK
| | - Silvia Sonzini
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, CB21 6GH, UK
| | - Uchechukwu Odunze
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, CB21 6GH, UK
| | - Preeti Iyer
- Molecular AI, Discovery Sciences, R&D, Astrazeneca, Gothenburg, 431 50, Sweden
| | - Ola Engkvist
- Molecular AI, Discovery Sciences, R&D, Astrazeneca, Gothenburg, 431 50, Sweden
| | - Rebecca Louise Lloyd
- Functional Genomics, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, CB4 0WG, UK
| | - Samantha Peel
- Functional Genomics, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, CB4 0WG, UK
| | - Alan Sabirsh
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, 431 50, Sweden
| | | | - Arwyn Tomos Jones
- Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, UK
| | - Arpan Shailesh Desai
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, CB21 6GH, UK
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46
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Yu L, Liu S, Jia S, Xu F. Emerging frontiers in drug delivery with special focus on novel techniques for targeted therapies. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115049. [PMID: 37364480 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115049] [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: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The management and treatment of disease are achieved via the use of pharmacologically active substances or drugs. Drugs do not, however, have an intrinsic ability to be effective; rather, how well they work depends on how they are administered or supplied. Treatment of a variety of biological illnesses, such as autoimmune disorders, cancer, and bacterial infections, requires effective drug delivery. Drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, duration of therapeutic impact, pharmacokinetics, excretion, and toxicity can all be impacted by drug administration. Improved chemistry and materials are required for the delivery of therapeutic concentration of novel treatments to the specified targets within the body, as well as for the necessary duration of time. This requirement is accompanied by the development of new therapeutics. Formulating a medication as a DDS is a promising strategy for directly addressing numerous typical barriers to adherence, such as frequent dosage, such as frequent dosage, side effects, and a delayed beginning of the action. In the current review, we give a compendium of drug delivery and controlled release and subsequently highlight some of the newest developments in the realm, with a particular emphasis on cutting-edge methods for targeted therapy. In each instance, we outline the obstacles to efficient drug administration as well as the chemical and material developments that are allowing the sector to overcome these obstacles and have a positive clinical impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Yu
- Department of Pharmacy, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Shengmao Liu
- Department of Nephrology, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Shengnan Jia
- Digestive Diseases center, Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Medicine, The Second Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Feng Xu
- Department of Nephrology, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China.
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47
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Hora S, Wuestefeld T. Liver Injury and Regeneration: Current Understanding, New Approaches, and Future Perspectives. Cells 2023; 12:2129. [PMID: 37681858 PMCID: PMC10486351 DOI: 10.3390/cells12172129] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The liver is a complex organ with the ability to regenerate itself in response to injury. However, several factors can contribute to liver damage beyond repair. Liver injury can be caused by viral infections, alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, and drug-induced liver injury. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in liver injury and regeneration is critical to developing effective therapies for liver diseases. Liver regeneration is a complex process that involves the interplay of various signaling pathways, cell types, and extracellular matrix components. The activation of quiescent hepatocytes that proliferate and restore the liver mass by upregulating genes involved in cell-cycle progression, DNA repair, and mitochondrial function; the proliferation and differentiation of progenitor cells, also known as oval cells, into hepatocytes that contribute to liver regeneration; and the recruitment of immune cells to release cytokines and angiogenic factors that promote or inhibit cell proliferation are some examples of the regenerative processes. Recent advances in the fields of gene editing, tissue engineering, stem cell differentiation, small interfering RNA-based therapies, and single-cell transcriptomics have paved a roadmap for future research into liver regeneration as well as for the identification of previously unknown cell types and gene expression patterns. In summary, liver injury and regeneration is a complex and dynamic process. A better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving this phenomenon could lead to the development of new therapies for liver diseases and improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shainan Hora
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, Genome, Singapore 138672, Singapore;
| | - Torsten Wuestefeld
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, Genome, Singapore 138672, Singapore;
- National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore 168583, Singapore
- School of Biological Science, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
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48
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Ye Z, Harmon J, Ni W, Li Y, Wich D, Xu Q. The mRNA Vaccine Revolution: COVID-19 Has Launched the Future of Vaccinology. ACS NANO 2023; 17:15231-15253. [PMID: 37535899 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c12584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, mRNA (mRNA) vaccines emerged as leading vaccine candidates in a record time. Nonreplicating mRNA (NRM) and self-amplifying mRNA (SAM) technologies have been developed into high-performing and clinically viable vaccines against a range of infectious agents, notably SARS-CoV-2. mRNA vaccines demonstrate efficient in vivo delivery, long-lasting stability, and nonexistent risk of infection. The stability and translational efficiency of in vitro transcription (IVT)-mRNA can be further increased by modulating its structural elements. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the recent advances, key applications, and future challenges in the field of mRNA-based vaccinology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongfeng Ye
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Joseph Harmon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Wei Ni
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Yamin Li
- Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York 13210, United States
| | - Douglas Wich
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Qiaobing Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
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49
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Wang C, Pan C, Yong H, Wang F, Bo T, Zhao Y, Ma B, He W, Li M. Emerging non-viral vectors for gene delivery. J Nanobiotechnology 2023; 21:272. [PMID: 37592351 PMCID: PMC10433663 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-023-02044-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy holds great promise for treating a multitude of inherited and acquired diseases by delivering functional genes, comprising DNA or RNA, into targeted cells or tissues to elicit manipulation of gene expression. However, the clinical implementation of gene therapy remains substantially impeded by the lack of safe and efficient gene delivery vehicles. This review comprehensively outlines the novel fastest-growing and efficient non-viral gene delivery vectors, which include liposomes and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), highly branched poly(β-amino ester) (HPAE), single-chain cyclic polymer (SCKP), poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers, and polyethyleneimine (PEI). Particularly, we discuss the research progress, potential development directions, and remaining challenges. Additionally, we provide a comprehensive overview of the currently approved non-viral gene therapeutics, as well as ongoing clinical trials. With advances in biomedicine, molecular biology, materials science, non-viral gene vectors play an ever-expanding and noteworthy role in clinical gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenfei Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai, 201102, China
| | - Chaolan Pan
- Department of Dermatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai, 201102, China
| | - Haiyang Yong
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, China
| | - Feifei Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
| | - Tao Bo
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yitong Zhao
- School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, Anhui, 232000, China
| | - Bin Ma
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, China
| | - Wei He
- School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, Anhui, 232000, China
| | - Ming Li
- Department of Dermatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai, 201102, China.
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Liang Y, Zhang J, Xu C, Wang J, Han W, Yang J, Wu S, An J, Liu J, Zhang Z, Shi J, Zhang K. Biomimetic Mineralized CRISPR/Cas RNA Nanoparticles for Efficient Tumor-Specific Multiplex Gene Editing. ACS NANO 2023; 17:15025-15043. [PMID: 37481734 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c04116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9 systems have great potential to achieve sophisticated gene therapy and cell engineering by editing multiple genomic loci. However, to achieve efficient multiplex gene editing, the delivery system needs adequate capacity to transfect all CRISPR/Cas9 RNA species at the required stoichiometry into the cytosol of each individual cell. Herein, inspired by biomineralization in nature, we develop an all-in-one biomimetic mineralized CRISPR/Cas9 RNA delivery system. This system allows for precise control over the coencapsulation ratio between Cas9 mRNA and multiple sgRNAs, while also exhibiting a high RNA loading capacity. In addition, it enhances the storage stability of RNA at 4 °C for up to one month, and the surface of the nanoparticles can be easily functionalized for precise targeting of RNA nanoparticles in vivo at nonliver sites. Based on the above characteristics, as a proof-of-concept, our system was able to achieve significant gene-editing at each target gene (Survivin: 31.9%, PLK1: 24.41%, HPV: 23.2%) and promote apoptosis of HeLa cells in the mouse model, inhibiting tumor growth without obvious off-target effects in liver tissue. This system addresses various challenges associated with multicomponent RNA delivery in vivo, providing an innovative strategy for the RNA-based CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Liang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Targeting Therapy and Diagnosis for Critical Diseases Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety Evaluation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China
| | - Jingge Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Targeting Therapy and Diagnosis for Critical Diseases Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety Evaluation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China
| | - Chenlu Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Targeting Therapy and Diagnosis for Critical Diseases Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety Evaluation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China
| | - Jinjin Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Targeting Therapy and Diagnosis for Critical Diseases Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety Evaluation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China
| | - Wenshuai Han
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Targeting Therapy and Diagnosis for Critical Diseases Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety Evaluation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China
| | - Jiali Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Targeting Therapy and Diagnosis for Critical Diseases Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety Evaluation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China
| | - Sixuan Wu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Targeting Therapy and Diagnosis for Critical Diseases Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety Evaluation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China
| | - Jingyi An
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Targeting Therapy and Diagnosis for Critical Diseases Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety Evaluation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China
| | - Junjie Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Targeting Therapy and Diagnosis for Critical Diseases Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety Evaluation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China
| | - Zhenzhong Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Targeting Therapy and Diagnosis for Critical Diseases Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety Evaluation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China
| | - Jinjin Shi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Targeting Therapy and Diagnosis for Critical Diseases Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety Evaluation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China
| | - Kaixiang Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Targeting Therapy and Diagnosis for Critical Diseases Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety Evaluation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China
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