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Weber P, Asadikorayem M, Surman F, Zenobi-Wong M. Zwitterionic polymer-dexamethasone conjugates penetrate and protect cartilage from inflammation. Mater Today Bio 2024; 26:101049. [PMID: 38654933 PMCID: PMC11035115 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2024.101049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Improving the pharmacokinetics of intra-articularly injected therapeutics is a major challenge in treating joint disease. Small molecules and biologics are often cleared from the joint within hours, which greatly reduces their therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, they are often injected at high doses, which can lead to local cytotoxicity and systemic side effects. In this study, we present modular polymer-drug conjugates of zwitterionic poly(carboxybetaine acrylamide) (pCBAA) and the anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX) to create cartilage-targeted carriers with slow-release kinetics. pCBAA polymers showed excellent cartilage penetration (full thickness in 1 h) and retention (>50 % after 2 weeks of washing). DEX was loaded onto the pCBAA polymer by employing two different DEX-bearing comonomers to produce pCBAA-co-DEX conjugates with different release kinetics. The slow-releasing conjugate showed zero-order release kinetics in PBS over 70 days. The conjugates elicited no oxidative stress on chondrocytes compared to dose-matched free DEX and protected bovine cartilage explants from the inflammatory response after treatment with IL-1β. By combining cartilage targeting and sustained drug release properties, the pCBAA-co-DEX conjugates solve many issues of today's intra-articular therapeutics, which could ultimately enable better long-term clinical outcomes with fewer side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Weber
- Tissue Engineering + Biofabrication Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Otto-Stern-Weg 7, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Maryam Asadikorayem
- Tissue Engineering + Biofabrication Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Otto-Stern-Weg 7, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - František Surman
- Tissue Engineering + Biofabrication Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Otto-Stern-Weg 7, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Marcy Zenobi-Wong
- Tissue Engineering + Biofabrication Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Otto-Stern-Weg 7, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
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2
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Wu Y, Ge Y, Wang Z, Zhu Y, Tian T, Wei J, Jin Y, Zhao Y, Jia Q, Wu J, Ge L. Synovium microenvironment-responsive injectable hydrogel inducing modulation of macrophages and elimination of synovial fibroblasts for enhanced treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:188. [PMID: 38632657 PMCID: PMC11025172 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02465-w] [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: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a progressive autoimmune disease accompanied by joint swelling, cartilage erosion and bone damage. Drug therapy for RA has been restricted due to poor therapeutic effect, recurrence and adverse effects. Macrophages and synovial fibroblasts both play important roles in the pathology of RA. Macrophages secrete large amount of pro-inflammatory cytokines, while synovial fibroblasts are tightly correlated with hypoxia synovium microenvironment, cytokine release, recruitment of pro-inflammatory cells, bone and cartilage erosion. Therefore, in this timely research, an injectable and pH-sensitive peptide hydrogel loading methotrexate (MTX) and bismuthene nanosheet/polyethyleneimine (BiNS/PEI) has been developed to reduce the activity of macrophages and eliminate over-proliferated synovial fibroblasts simultaneously. MTX can reduce the cytokine secretion of macrophages/anti-apoptosis property of synovial fibroblasts and BiNS/PEI can eliminate synovial fibroblasts via photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) routes. The hydrogel was injected into the acidic inflammatory synovium for precise targeting and served as a drug reservoir for pH responsive and sustained drug release, while improving the bioavailability and reducing the toxicity of MTX. Excellent therapeutic efficacy has been achieved in both in vivo and in vitro studies, and this unique drug delivery system provides a new and robust strategy to eliminate synovial fibroblasts and modulate immune system for RA treatment in clinical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqun Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhongshi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Jiangsu, 226006, China
| | - Ying Zhu
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215026, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tianli Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jun Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yi Zhao
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Qiang Jia
- Guangzhou City Polytechnic, Guangzhou, 510520, Guangdong, China
| | - Jun Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Bioscience and Biomedical Engineering Thrust, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), Nansha, Guangzhou, 511458, China.
- Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China.
| | - Liang Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China.
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3
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Zhang C, Pathrikar TV, Baby HM, Li J, Zhang H, Selvadoss A, Ovchinnikova A, Ionescu A, Chubinskaya S, Miller RE, Bajpayee AG. Charge-Reversed Exosomes for Targeted Gene Delivery to Cartilage for Osteoarthritis Treatment. SMALL METHODS 2024:e2301443. [PMID: 38607953 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202301443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Gene therapy has the potential to facilitate targeted expression of therapeutic proteins to promote cartilage regeneration in osteoarthritis (OA). The dense, avascular, aggrecan-glycosaminoglycan (GAG) rich negatively charged cartilage, however, hinders their transport to reach chondrocytes in effective doses. While viral vector mediated gene delivery has shown promise, concerns over immunogenicity and tumorigenic side-effects persist. To address these issues, this study develops surface-modified cartilage-targeting exosomes as non-viral carriers for gene therapy. Charge-reversed cationic exosomes are engineered for mRNA delivery by anchoring cartilage targeting optimally charged arginine-rich cationic motifs into the anionic exosome bilayer by using buffer pH as a charge-reversal switch. Cationic exosomes penetrated through the full-thickness of early-stage arthritic human cartilage owing to weak-reversible ionic binding with GAGs and efficiently delivered the encapsulated eGFP mRNA to chondrocytes residing in tissue deep layers, while unmodified anionic exosomes do not. When intra-articularly injected into destabilized medial meniscus mice knees with early-stage OA, mRNA loaded charge-reversed exosomes overcame joint clearance and rapidly penetrated into cartilage, creating an intra-tissue depot and efficiently expressing eGFP; native exosomes remained unsuccessful. Cationic exosomes thus hold strong translational potential as a platform technology for cartilage-targeted non-viral delivery of any relevant mRNA targets for OA treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenzhen Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Tanvi V Pathrikar
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Helna M Baby
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Hengli Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Andrew Selvadoss
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | | | - Andreia Ionescu
- Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Susan Chubinskaya
- Department of Pediatrics, Rush University Medical College, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Rachel E Miller
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Ambika G Bajpayee
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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4
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Gong J, Nhan J, St-Pierre JP, Gillies ER. Designing polymers for cartilage uptake: effects of architecture and molar mass. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:8804-8816. [PMID: 37668597 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb01417g] [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: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive disease, involving the progressive breakdown of cartilage, as well as changes to the synovium and bone. There are currently no disease-modifying treatments available clinically. An increasing understanding of the disease pathophysiology is leading to new potential therapeutics, but improved approaches are needed to deliver these drugs, particularly to cartilage tissue, which is avascular and contains a dense matrix of collagens and negatively charged aggrecan proteoglycans. Cationic delivery vehicles have been shown to effectively penetrate cartilage, but these studies have thus far largely focused on proteins or nanoparticles, and the effects of macromolecular architectures have not yet been explored. Described here is the synthesis of a small library of polycations composed of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) and N-(3-aminopropyl)methacrylamide (APMA) with linear, 4-arm, or 8-arm structures and varying degrees of polymerization (DP) by reversible addition fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Uptake and retention of the polycations in bovine articular cartilage was assessed. While all polycations penetrated cartilage, uptake and retention generally increased with DP before decreasing for the highest DP. In addition, uptake and retention were higher for the linear polycations compared to the 4-arm and 8-arm polycations. In general, the polycations were well tolerated by bovine chondrocytes, but the highest DP polycations imparted greater cytotoxicity. Overall, this study reveals that linear polymer architectures may be more favorable for binding to the cartilage matrix and that the DP can be tuned to maximize uptake while minimizing cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jue Gong
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada.
| | - Jordan Nhan
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Ottawa, 161 Louis-Pasteur Pvt., Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada.
| | - Jean-Philippe St-Pierre
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Ottawa, 161 Louis-Pasteur Pvt., Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada.
| | - Elizabeth R Gillies
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada.
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, Ontario, N6A 5B9, Canada
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5
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Mehta S, Boyer TL, Akhtar S, He T, Zhang C, Vedadghavami A, Bajpayee AG. Sustained intra-cartilage delivery of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist using cationic peptide and protein-based carriers. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2023; 31:780-792. [PMID: 36739939 PMCID: PMC10392024 DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2023.01.573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Blocking the interleukin-1 (IL-1) catabolic cascade following joint trauma can be achieved using its receptor antagonist, IL-1Ra. However, its clinical translation for osteoarthritis therapy has been unsuccessful due to its rapid joint clearance and lack of targeting and penetration into deep cartilage layers at therapeutic concentrations. Here, we target the high negative charge of cartilage aggrecan-glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) by attaching cationic carriers to IL-1Ra. IL-1Ra was conjugated to the cartilage targeting glycoprotein, Avidin, and a short length optimally charged cationic peptide carrier (CPC+14). It is hypothesized that electro-diffusive transport and binding properties of IL-1Ra-Avidin and IL-1Ra-CPC+14 will create intra-cartilage depots of IL-1Ra, resulting in long-term suppression of IL-1 catabolism with only a single administration. DESIGN IL-1Ra was conjugated to Avidin or CPC+14 using site specific maleimide linkers, and confirmed using gel electrophoresis, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and mass spectrometry. Intra-cartilage transport and retention of conjugates was compared with native IL-1Ra. Attenuation of IL-1 catabolic signaling with one-time dose of IL-1Ra-CPC+14 and IL-1Ra-Avidin was assessed over 16 days using IL-1α challenged bovine cartilage and compared with unmodified IL-1Ra. RESULTS Positively charged IL-1Ra penetrated through the full-thickness of cartilage, creating a drug depot. A single dose of unmodified IL-1Ra was not sufficient to attenuate IL-1-induced cartilage deterioration over 16 days. However, when delivered using Avidin, and to a greater extent CPC+14, IL-1Ra significantly suppressed cytokine induced GAG loss and nitrite release while improving cell metabolism and viability. CONCLUSION Charge-based cartilage targeting drug delivery systems hold promise as they can enable long-term therapeutic benefit with only a single dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Mehta
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - T L Boyer
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - S Akhtar
- Department of Biochemistry, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - T He
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - C Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - A Vedadghavami
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - A G Bajpayee
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
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6
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Zhang C, Vedadghavami A, He T, Charles JF, Bajpayee AG. Cationic Carrier Mediated Delivery of Anionic Contrast Agents in Low Doses Enable Enhanced Computed Tomography Imaging of Cartilage for Early Osteoarthritis Diagnosis. ACS NANO 2023; 17:6649-6663. [PMID: 36989423 PMCID: PMC10629240 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c12376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Cartilage tissue exhibits early degenerative changes with onset of osteoarthritis (OA). Early diagnosis is critical as there is only a narrow time window during which therapeutic intervention can reverse disease progression. Computed tomography (CT) has been considered for cartilage imaging as a tool for early OA diagnosis by introducing radio-opaque contrast agents like ioxaglate (IOX) into the joint. IOX, however, is anionic and thus repelled by negatively charged cartilage glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) that hinders its intra-tissue penetration and partitioning, resulting in poor CT attenuation. This is further complicated by its short intra-tissue residence time owing to rapid clearance from joints, which necessitates high doses causing toxicity concerns. Here we engineer optimally charged cationic contrast agents based on cartilage negative fixed charge density by conjugating cartilage targeting a cationic peptide carrier (CPC) and multi-arm avidin nanoconstruct (mAv) to IOX, such that they can penetrate through the full thickness of cartilage within 6 h using electrostatic interactions and elicit similar CT signal with about 40× lower dose compared to anionic IOX. Their partitioning and distribution correlate strongly with spatial GAG distribution within healthy and early- to late-stage arthritic bovine cartilage tissues at 50-100× lower doses than other cationic contrast agents used in the current literature. The use of contrast agents at low concentrations also allowed for delineation of cartilage from subchondral bone as well as other soft tissues in rat tibial joints. These contrast agents are safe to use at current doses, making CT a viable imaging modality for early detection of OA and staging of its severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenzhen Zhang
- Department
of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Armin Vedadghavami
- Department
of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Tengfei He
- Department
of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Julia F. Charles
- Department
of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women’s
Hospital, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Ambika G. Bajpayee
- Department
of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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7
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He T, Zhang C, Colombani T, Bencherif SA, Porter RM, Bajpayee AG. Intra-articular kinetics of a cartilage targeting cationic PEGylated protein for applications in drug delivery. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2023; 31:187-198. [PMID: 36241136 PMCID: PMC9892226 DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2022.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Cartilage targeting cationic glycoprotein Avidin was PEGylated to synthesize a multi-arm Avidin (mAv) nano-construct with high drug loading content. Here we investigate mAv biodistribution and kinetics over a 7-day period following intra-articular (IA) administration in rat knee joints. METHODS Labeled mAv was injected into healthy rat knees, and joint tissues (articular cartilage, menisci, ligaments, tendons, fat pad) were harvested following sacrifice at 6 h, 1, 4 and 7 days. Its IA biodistribution and retention were measured using fluorescence microscopy. Tissue localization was compared in young vs old rats by immunohistochemistry. mAv chondrotoxicity and immune response were evaluated to determine safe carrier dose limits. RESULTS mAv penetrated through the full thickness of rat cartilage and other joint tissues within 6 h, remaining detectable within most joint tissues over 7 days. Intra-tissue uptake correlated strongly with tissue GAG concentration, confirming the dominant role of electrostatic interactions between positively charged mAv and the negatively charged aggrecan proteoglycans. mAv was uptaken by chondrocytes and also penetrated the osteocyte lacuno-canalicular system of peri-articular bone in both young and old rats. mAv did not cause cytotoxicity at concentrations up to 300 μM but elicited a dose dependent immunogenic response. CONCLUSIONS mAv's ability to target a variety of joint tissues, chondrocytes, and peri-articular osteocytes without sequestration in synovial fluid makes it a versatile carrier for delivering a wide range of drugs for treating a broad class of musculoskeletal diseases. Drugs can be conjugated using simple aqueous based avidin-biotin reaction, supporting its clinical prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- T He
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - C Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - T Colombani
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - S A Bencherif
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - R M Porter
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
| | - A G Bajpayee
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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8
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Haq-Siddiqi NA, Britton D, Kim Montclare J. Protein-engineered biomaterials for cartilage therapeutics and repair. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 192:114647. [PMID: 36509172 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114647] [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: 06/05/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cartilage degeneration and injury are major causes of pain and disability that effect millions, and yet treatment options for conditions like osteoarthritis (OA) continue to be mainly palliative or involve complete replacement of injured joints. Several biomaterial strategies have been explored to address cartilage repair either by the delivery of therapeutics or as support for tissue repair, however the complex structure of cartilage tissue, its mechanical needs, and lack of regenerative capacity have hindered this goal. Recent advances in synthetic biology have opened new possibilities for engineered proteins to address these unique needs. Engineered protein and peptide-based materials benefit from inherent biocompatibility and nearly unlimited tunability as they utilize the body's natural building blocks to fabricate a variety of supramolecular structures. The pathophysiology and needs of OA cartilage are presented here, along with an overview of the current state of the art and next steps for protein-engineered repair strategies for cartilage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nada A Haq-Siddiqi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States
| | - Dustin Britton
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States
| | - Jin Kim Montclare
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States; Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York 10003, United States; Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York 10016, United States; Department of Biomaterials, NYU College of Dentistry, New York, NY 10010, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States.
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9
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Xu XL, Xue Y, Ding JY, Zhu ZH, Wu XC, Song YJ, Cao YL, Tang LG, Ding DF, Xu JG. Nanodevices for deep cartilage penetration. Acta Biomater 2022; 154:23-48. [PMID: 36243371 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease and is the main cause of chronic pain and functional disability in adults. Articular cartilage is a hydrated soft tissue that is composed of normally quiescent chondrocytes at a low density, a dense network of collagen fibrils with a pore size of 60-200 nm, and aggrecan proteoglycans with high-density negative charge. Although certain drugs, nucleic acids, and proteins have the potential to slow the progression of OA and restore the joints, these treatments have not been clinically applied owing to the lack of an effective delivery system capable of breaking through the cartilage barrier. Recently, the development of nanotechnology for delivery systems renders new ideas and treatment methods viable in overcoming the limited penetration. In this review, we focus on current research on such applications of nanotechnology, including exosomes, protein-based cationic nanocarriers, cationic liposomes/solid lipid nanoparticles, amino acid-based nanocarriers, polyamide derivatives-based nanocarriers, manganese dioxide, and carbon nanotubes. Exosomes are the smallest known nanoscale extracellular vesicles, and they can quickly deliver nucleic acids or proteins to the required depth. Through electrostatic interactions, nanocarriers with appropriate balance in cationic property and particle size have a strong ability to penetrate cartilage. Although substantial preclinical evidence has been obtained, further optimization is necessary for clinical transformation. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The dense cartilage matrix with high-negative charge was associated with reduced therapeutic effect in osteoarthritis patients with deep pathological changes. However, a systematic review in nanodevices for deep cartilage penetration is still lacking. Current approaches to assure penetration of nanosystems into the depth of cartilage were reviewed, including nanoscale extracellular vesicles from different cell lines and nanocarriers with appropriate balance in cationic property and size particle. Moreover, nanodevices entering clinical trials and further optimization were also discussed, providing important guiding significance to future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Ling Xu
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Yan Xue
- Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Centre), School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 201613, China
| | - Jia-Ying Ding
- School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Zhi-Heng Zhu
- School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xi-Chen Wu
- School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yong-Jia Song
- School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yue-Long Cao
- Shi's Center of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Long-Guang Tang
- International Institutes of Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu 322000, China.
| | - Dao-Fang Ding
- School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Jian-Guang Xu
- School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
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10
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Deng C, Zhao X, Chen Y, Ai K, Zhang Y, Gong T, Zeng C, Lei G. Engineered Platelet Microparticle-Membrane Camouflaged Nanoparticles for Targeting the Golgi Apparatus of Synovial Fibroblasts to Attenuate Rheumatoid Arthritis. ACS NANO 2022; 16:18430-18447. [PMID: 36342327 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c06584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Synovial fibroblasts in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) joints mediate synovial hyperplasia, progressive joint destruction, and the potential spread of disease between joints by producing multiple pathogenic proteins. Here, we deliver all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) to selectively down-regulate these pathogenic factors, with a Golgi-targeting platelet microparticle-mimetic nanoplatform (termed Gol-PMMNP) which comprises a nanoparticle core and a platelet microparticle membrane coating labeled with a Golgi apparatus-targeting peptide. Gol-PMMNPs are shown to target synovial fibroblasts derived from RA patients via integrin α2β1-mediated endocytosis and accumulate in the Golgi apparatus by retrograde transport. ATRA-loaded Gol-PMMNPs (ATRA-Gol-PMMNPs) cause structural disruption of the Golgi apparatus, leading to an efficient reduction of pathogenic protein secretion in RA synovial fibroblasts. In rats with collagen-induced arthritis, Gol-PMMNPs display an arthritic joint-specific distribution, and ATRA-Gol-PMMNPs effectively reduce concentrations of pathogenic factors therein, including inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and matrix-degrading enzymes within these joints. Additionally, ATRA-Gol-PMMNP treatment results in inflammatory remission and decreased bone erosion in both arthritic and proximal joints. Furthermore, ATRA-Gol-PMMNPs induce negligible toxicity to major organs. Taken together, ATRA-Gol-PMMNPs inhibit the progression of RA through reducing the production of multiple pathogenic mediators by synovial fibroblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caifeng Deng
- Department of Orthopaedics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Joint Degeneration and Injury, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Xuan Zhao
- Department of Orthopaedics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Joint Degeneration and Injury, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Yuxiao Chen
- Department of Orthopaedics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Joint Degeneration and Injury, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Kelong Ai
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Yuqing Zhang
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
- The Mongan Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Tao Gong
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Chao Zeng
- Department of Orthopaedics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Joint Degeneration and Injury, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Guanghua Lei
- Department of Orthopaedics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Joint Degeneration and Injury, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
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11
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Wang Y, Liu L, Le Z, Tay A. Analysis of Nanomedicine Efficacy for Osteoarthritis. ADVANCED NANOBIOMED RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/anbr.202200085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yuwen Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering National University of Singapore Singapore 117583 Singapore
| | - Ling Liu
- Institute of Health Innovation and Technology National University of Singapore Singapore 117599 Singapore
| | - Zhicheng Le
- Department of Biomedical Engineering National University of Singapore Singapore 117583 Singapore
| | - Andy Tay
- Department of Biomedical Engineering National University of Singapore Singapore 117583 Singapore
- Institute of Health Innovation and Technology National University of Singapore Singapore 117599 Singapore
- Tissue Engineering Programme National University of Singapore Singapore 117510 Singapore
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12
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Vedadghavami A, He T, Zhang C, Amiji SM, Hakim B, Bajpayee AG. Charge-based drug delivery to cartilage: Hydrophobic and not electrostatic interactions are the dominant cause of competitive binding of cationic carriers in synovial fluid. Acta Biomater 2022; 151:278-289. [PMID: 35963518 PMCID: PMC10441566 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Charge-based drug delivery has proven to be effective for targeting negatively charged cartilage for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Cartilage is surrounded by synovial fluid (SF), which is comprised of negatively charged hyaluronic acid and hydrophobic proteins that can competitively bind cationic carriers and prevent their transport into cartilage. Here we investigate the relative contributions of charge and hydrophobic effects on the binding of cationic carriers within healthy and arthritic SF by comparing the transport of arginine-rich cartilage targeting cationic peptide carriers with hydrophilic (CPC +14N) or hydrophobic property (CPC +14A). CPC +14N had significantly greater intra-cartilage uptake in presence of SF compared to CPC +14A in-vitro and in vivo. In presence of individual anionic SF constituents, both CPCs maintained similar high intra-cartilage uptake while in presence of hydrophobic constituents, CPC +14N had greater uptake confirming that hydrophobic and not charge interactions are the dominant cause of competitive binding within SF. Results also demonstrate that short-range effects can synergistically stabilize intra-cartilage charge-based binding - a property that can be utilized for enhancing drug-carrier residence time in arthritic cartilage with diminished negative fixed charge density. The work provides a framework for the rational design of cationic carriers for developing targeted therapies for another complex negatively charged environments. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This work demonstrates that hydrophobic and not charge interactions are the dominant cause of the binding of cationic carriers in synovial fluid. Therefore, cationic carriers can be effectively used for cartilage targeting if they are made hydrophilic. This can facilitate clinical translation of various osteoarthritis drugs for cartilage repair that have failed due to a lack of effective cartilage targeting methods. It also demonstrates that short-range hydrogen bonds can synergistically stabilize electrostatic binding in cartilage offering a method for enhancing the targeting and residence time of cationic carriers within arthritic cartilage with reduced charge density. Finally, the cartilage-synovial fluid unit provides an excellent model of a complex negatively charged environment and allows us to generalize these findings and develop targeted therapies for other charged tissue-systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armin Vedadghavami
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Tengfei He
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Chenzhen Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Salima M Amiji
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Bill Hakim
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ambika G Bajpayee
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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13
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Warren MR, Vedadghavami A, Bhagavatula S, Bajpayee AG. Effects of polycationic drug carriers on the electromechanical and swelling properties of cartilage. Biophys J 2022; 121:3542-3561. [PMID: 35765244 PMCID: PMC9515003 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cationic nanocarriers offer a promising solution to challenges in delivering drugs to negatively charged connective tissues, such as to articular cartilage for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). However, little is known about the effects that cationic macromolecules may have on the mechanical properties of cartilage at high interstitial concentrations. We utilized arginine-rich cationic peptide carriers (CPCs) with varying net charge (from +8 to +20) to investigate the biophysical mechanisms of nanocarrier-induced alterations to cartilage biomechanical properties. We observed that CPCs increased the compressive modulus of healthy bovine cartilage explants by up to 70% and decreased the stiffness of glycosaminoglycan-depleted tissues (modeling OA) by 69%; in both cases, the magnitude of the change in stiffness correlated with the uptake of CPC charge variants. Next, we directly measured CPC-induced osmotic deswelling in cartilage tissue due to shielding of charge repulsions between anionic extracellular matrix constituents, with magnitudes of reductions between 36 and 64 kPa. We then demonstrated that electrostatic interactions were required for CPC-induced stiffening to occur, evidenced by no observed increase in tissue stiffness when measured in hypertonic bathing salinity. We applied a non-ideal Donnan osmotic model (under triphasic theory) to separate bulk modulus measurements into Donnan and non-Donnan components, which further demonstrated the conflicting charge-shielding and matrix-stiffening effects of CPCs. These results show that cationic drug carriers can alter tissue mechanical properties via multiple mechanisms, including the expected charge shielding as well as a novel stiffening phenomenon mediated by physical linkages. We introduce a model for how the magnitudes of these mechanical changes depend on tunable physical properties of the drug carrier, including net charge, size, and spatial charge distribution. We envision that the results and theory presented herein will inform the design of future cationic drug-delivery systems intended to treat diseases in a wide range of connective tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Warren
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Armin Vedadghavami
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sanjana Bhagavatula
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ambika G Bajpayee
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts.
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14
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Vedadghavami A, Hakim B, He T, Bajpayee AG. Cationic peptide carriers enable long-term delivery of insulin-like growth factor-1 to suppress osteoarthritis-induced matrix degradation. Arthritis Res Ther 2022; 24:172. [PMID: 35858920 PMCID: PMC9297664 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-022-02855-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has the potential to be used for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment but has not been evaluated in clinics yet owing to toxicity concerns. It suffers from short intra-joint residence time and a lack of cartilage targeting following its intra-articular administration. Here, we synthesize an electrically charged cationic formulation of IGF-1 by using a short-length arginine-rich, hydrophilic cationic peptide carrier (CPC) with a net charge of +14, designed for rapid and high uptake and retention in both healthy and arthritic cartilage. Methods IGF-1 was conjugated to CPC by using a site-specific sulfhydryl reaction via a bifunctional linker. Intra-cartilage depth of penetration and retention of CPC-IGF-1 was compared with the unmodified IGF-1. The therapeutic effectiveness of a single dose of CPC-IGF-1 was compared with free IGF-1 in an IL-1α-challenged cartilage explant culture post-traumatic OA model. Results CPC-IGF-1 rapidly penetrated through the full thickness of cartilage creating a drug depot owing to electrostatic interactions with negatively charged aggrecan-glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). CPC-IGF-1 remained bound within the tissue while unmodified IGF-1 cleared out. Treatment with a single dose of CPC-IGF-1 effectively suppressed IL-1α-induced GAG loss and nitrite release and rescued cell metabolism and viability throughout the 16-day culture period, while free IGF at the equivalent dose was not effective. Conclusions CPC-mediated depot delivery of IGF-1 protected cartilage by suppressing cytokine-induced catabolism with only a single dose. CPC is a versatile cationic motif that can be used for intra-cartilage delivery of other similar-sized drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bill Hakim
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tengfei He
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ambika G Bajpayee
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA. .,Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
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