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Li S, Hu Y, Lin J, Schneiderman Z, Shao F, Wei L, Li A, Hsieh K, Kokkoli E, Curk T, Mao HQ, Wang TH. Single-Particle Spectroscopic Chromatography Reveals Heterogeneous RNA Loading and Size Correlations in Lipid Nanoparticles. ACS NANO 2024; 18:15729-15743. [PMID: 38839059 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c02341] [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: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNP) have emerged as pivotal delivery vehicles for RNA therapeutics. Previous research and development usually assumed that LNPs are homogeneous in population, loading density, and composition. Such perspectives are difficult to examine due to the lack of suitable tools to characterize these physicochemical properties at the single-nanoparticle level. Here, we report an integrated spectroscopy-chromatography approach as a generalizable strategy to dissect the complexities of multicomponent LNP assembly. Our platform couples cylindrical illumination confocal spectroscopy (CICS) with single-nanoparticle free solution hydrodynamic separation (SN-FSHS) to simultaneously profile population identity, hydrodynamic size, RNA loading levels, and distributions of helper lipid and PEGylated lipid of LNPs at the single-particle level and in a high-throughput manner. Using a benchmark siRNA LNP formulation, we demonstrate the capability of this platform by distinguishing seven distinct LNP populations, quantitatively characterizing size distribution and RNA loading level in wide ranges, and more importantly, resolving composition-size correlations. This SN-FSHS-CICS analysis provides critical insights into a substantial degree of heterogeneity in the packing density of RNA in LNPs and size-dependent loading-size correlations, explained by kinetics-driven assembly mechanisms of RNA LNPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sixuan Li
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Yizong Hu
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Jinghan Lin
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Zachary Schneiderman
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Fangchi Shao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Lai Wei
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Andrew Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Kuangwen Hsieh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Efrosini Kokkoli
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Tine Curk
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Hai-Quan Mao
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Tza-Huei Wang
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
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Germer J, Lessl AL, Pöhmerer J, Grau M, Weidinger E, Höhn M, Yazdi M, Cappelluti MA, Lombardo A, Lächelt U, Wagner E. Lipo-Xenopeptide Polyplexes for CRISPR/Cas9 based Gene editing at ultra-low dose. J Control Release 2024; 370:239-255. [PMID: 38663751 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.04.037] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/30/2024]
Abstract
Double pH-responsive xenopeptide carriers containing succinoyl tetraethylene pentamine (Stp) and lipo amino fatty acids (LAFs) were evaluated for CRISPR/Cas9 based genome editing. Different carrier topologies, variation of LAF/Stp ratios and LAF types as Cas9 mRNA/sgRNA polyplexes were screened in three different reporter cell lines using three different genomic targets (Pcsk9, eGFP, mdx exon 23). One U-shaped and three bundle (B2)-shaped lipo-xenopeptides exhibiting remarkable efficiencies were identified. Genome editing potency of top carriers were observed at sub-nanomolar EC50 concentrations of 0.4 nM sgRNA and 0.1 nM sgRNA for the top U-shape and top B2 carriers, respectively, even after incubation in full (≥ 90%) serum. Polyplexes co-delivering Cas9 mRNA/sgRNA with a single stranded DNA template for homology directed gene editing resulted in up to 38% conversion of eGFP to BFP in reporter cells. Top carriers were formulated as polyplexes or lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for subsequent in vivo administration. Formulations displayed long-term physicochemical and functional stability upon storage at 4 °C. Importantly, intravenous administration of polyplexes or LNPs mediated in vivo editing of the dystrophin gene, triggering mRNA exon 23 splicing modulation in dystrophin-expressing cardiac muscle, skeletal muscle and brain tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janin Germer
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Anna-Lina Lessl
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Jana Pöhmerer
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Melina Grau
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Eric Weidinger
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Miriam Höhn
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Mina Yazdi
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Martino Alfredo Cappelluti
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Angelo Lombardo
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Ulrich Lächelt
- Center for Nanoscience (CeNS), LMU Munich, Munich 80799, Germany; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Ernst Wagner
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, Munich 81377, Germany; Center for Nanoscience (CeNS), LMU Munich, Munich 80799, Germany; CNATM - Cluster for Nucleic Acid Therapeutics Munich, Germany.
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Simonsen JB. Lipid nanoparticle-based strategies for extrahepatic delivery of nucleic acid therapies - challenges and opportunities. J Control Release 2024; 370:763-772. [PMID: 38621638 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.04.022] [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: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The advent of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) containing ionizable cationic lipids has enabled the encapsulation, stabilization, and intracellular delivery of nucleic acid payloads, leading to FDA-approved siRNA-based therapy and mRNA-based vaccines. Other nucleic acid-based therapeutic modalities, including protein replacement and CRISPR-mediated gene knockout and editing, are being tested in clinical trials, in many cases, for the treatment of liver-related diseases. However, to fully exploit these therapies beyond the liver, improvements in their delivery to extrahepatic targets are needed. Towards this end, both active targeting strategies based on targeting ligands grafted onto LNPs and passive targeting relying on physicochemical LNP parameters such as surface composition, charge, and size are being evaluated. Often, the latter strategy depends on the interaction of LNPs with blood components, forming what is known as the biomolecular corona. Here, I discuss potential challenges related to current LNP-based targeting strategies and the studies of the biomolecular corona on LNPs. I propose potential solutions to overcome some of these obstacles and present approaches currently being tested in preclinical and clinical studies, which face fewer biological barriers than traditional organ-targeting approaches.
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Bhatia SN, Dahlman JE. RNA delivery systems. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2315789121. [PMID: 38437565 PMCID: PMC10945841 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2315789121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sangeeta N. Bhatia
- Harvard University–Massachusetts Institute of Technology Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- HHMI, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
- Marble Center for Cancer Nanomedicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02142
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA02215
| | - James E. Dahlman
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30307
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