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Li Q, Shi M, Ang Y, Yu P, Wan B, Lin B, Chen W, Yue Z, Shi Y, Liu F, Wang H, Duan M, Long Y, Bao H. Hydrogen ameliorates endotoxin-induced acute lung injury through AMPK-mediated bidirectional regulation of Caspase3. Mol Immunol 2024; 168:64-74. [PMID: 38428216 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2024.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Septic lung injury is characterized by uncontrollable inflammatory infiltrations and acute onset bilateral hypoxemia. Evidence has emerged of the beneficial effect of hydrogen in acute lung injury (ALI), but the underlying mechanism is unclear. In this research, the recovery action of hydrogen on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI in mice and A549 cells was investigated. The 7-day survival rate and body weight of mice were measured after intraperitoneal injection of LPS. Lung function was determined by a whole body plethysmography (WBP) system using the indicators respiratory rate and enhanced pause. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining confirmed the signs of pulmonary edema and inflammatory ooze. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) quantification was used to detect the expression of inflammatory factors. Western blotting analysis evaluated the expression levels of involved proteins in the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway. The experimental results confirmed that hydrogen provided an essential solution to the dissipative effects of LPS on survival rate, weight loss and lung function. The LPS-stimulated inflammatory factors, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were also suppressed by hydrogen in A549 cells. Western blot analysis showed that hydrogen significantly upregulated the levels of phosphorylated AMPK (p-AMPK) and lowered the LPS-induced increased expression of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) and Caspase3. These findings prove that hydrogen attenuated LPS-treated ALI by activating the AMPK pathway, supporting the feasibility of hydrogen treatment for sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu 210000, China; Department of Anesthesiology, Jiangning Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu 211100, China
| | - Min Shi
- Department of Anesthesiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China; Department of Anesthesiology, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Yang Ang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Pan Yu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Bing Wan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jiangning Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu 211100, China
| | - Bin Lin
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jiangning Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu 211100, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Zichuan Yue
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Yadan Shi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jiangning Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu 211100, China
| | - Faqi Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jiangning Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu 211100, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jiangning Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu 211100, China
| | - Manlin Duan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Jiangsu 210093, China; Department of Anesthesiology, BenQ Medical Center, the Affiliated BenQ Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu 210019, China.
| | - Yun Long
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jiangning Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu 211100, China.
| | - Hongguang Bao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu 210000, China.
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Sztandera K, Rodríguez-García JL, Ceña V. In Vivo Applications of Dendrimers: A Step toward the Future of Nanoparticle-Mediated Therapeutics. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:439. [PMID: 38675101 PMCID: PMC11053723 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16040439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the last few years, the development of nanotechnology has allowed for the synthesis of many different nanostructures with controlled sizes, shapes, and chemical properties, with dendrimers being the best-characterized of them. In this review, we present a succinct view of the structure and the synthetic procedures used for dendrimer synthesis, as well as the cellular uptake mechanisms used by these nanoparticles to gain access to the cell. In addition, the manuscript reviews the reported in vivo applications of dendrimers as drug carriers for drugs used in the treatment of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, infections, and ocular diseases. The dendrimer-based formulations that have reached different phases of clinical trials, including safety and pharmacokinetic studies, or as delivery agents for therapeutic compounds are also presented. The continuous development of nanotechnology which makes it possible to produce increasingly sophisticated and complex dendrimers indicates that this fascinating family of nanoparticles has a wide potential in the pharmaceutical industry, especially for applications in drug delivery systems, and that the number of dendrimer-based compounds entering clinical trials will markedly increase during the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Sztandera
- Unidad Asociada Neurodeath, Instituto de Nanociencia Molecular, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 02006 Albacete, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Valentín Ceña
- Unidad Asociada Neurodeath, Instituto de Nanociencia Molecular, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 02006 Albacete, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Dhull A, Wei J, Pulukuri AJ, Rani A, Sharma R, Mesbahi N, Yoon H, Savoy EA, Xaivong Vi S, Goody KJ, Berkman CE, Wu BJ, Sharma A. PSMA-targeted dendrimer as an efficient anticancer drug delivery vehicle for prostate cancer. Nanoscale 2024; 16:5634-5652. [PMID: 38440933 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr06520k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the United States. Although early-stage treatments exhibit promising 5-year survival rates, the treatment options for advanced stage disease are constrained, with short survival benefits due to the challenges associated with effective and selective drug delivery to PCa cells. Even though targeting Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) has been extensively explored and is clinically employed for imaging and radio-ligand therapy, the clinical success of PSMA-based approaches for targeted delivery of chemotherapies remains elusive. In this study, we combine a generation 4 hydroxy polyamidoamine dendrimer (PD) with irreversible PSMA ligand (CTT1298) to develop a PSMA-targeted nanoplatform (PD-CTT1298) for selective intracellular delivery of potent chemotherapeutics to PCa. PD-CTT1298-Cy5 exhibits a PSMA IC50 in the nanomolar range and demonstrates selective uptake in PSMA (+) PCa cells via PSMA mediated internalization. When systemically administered in a prostate tumor xenograft mouse model, PD-CTT1298-Cy5 selectively targets PSMA (+) tumors with significantly less accumulation in PSMA (-) tumors or upon blocking of the PSMA receptors. Moreover, the dendrimer clears rapidly from the off-target organs limiting systemic side-effects. Further, the conjugation of an anti-cancer agent, cabozantinib to the PSMA-targeted dendrimer translates to a significantly enhanced anti-proliferative activity in vitro compared to the free drug. These findings highlight the potential of PD-CTT1298 nanoplatform as a versatile approach for selective delivery of high payloads of potent chemotherapeutics to PCa, where dose related systemic side-effects are a major concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anubhav Dhull
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
| | - Jing Wei
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA
| | - Anunay James Pulukuri
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
| | - Anu Rani
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
| | - Rishi Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
| | - Nooshin Mesbahi
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
| | - Hosog Yoon
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
| | - Emily A Savoy
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
| | - Sylvia Xaivong Vi
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
| | - Kenneth John Goody
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
| | - Clifford E Berkman
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
| | - Boyang Jason Wu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA
| | - Anjali Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
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Maliha ST, Fatemi R, Araf Y. COVID-19 and the brain: understanding the pathogenesis and consequences of neurological damage. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:318. [PMID: 38386201 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09279-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 has been known remarkably since December 2019 as a strain of pathogenic coronavirus. Starting from the earlier stages of the COVID-19 pandemic until now, we have witnessed many cases of neurological damage caused by SARS-CoV-2. There are many studies and research conducted on COVID-19-positive-patients that have found brain-related abnormalities with clear neurological symptoms, ranging from simple headaches to life-threatening strokes. For treating neurological damage, knowing the actual pathway or mechanism of causing brain damage via SARS-CoV-2 is very important. For this reason, we have tried to explain the possible pathways of brain damage due to SARS-CoV-2 with mechanisms and illustrations. The SARS-CoV-2 virus enters the human body by binding to specific ACE2 receptors in the targeted cells, which are present in the glial cells and CNS neurons of the human brain. It is found that direct and indirect infections with SARS-CoV-2 in the brain result in endothelial cell death, which alters the BBB tight junctions. These probable alterations can be the reason for the excessive transmission and pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 in the human brain. In this precise review, we have tried to demonstrate the neurological symptoms in the case of COVID-19-positive-patients and the possible mechanisms of neurological damage, along with the treatment options for brain-related abnormalities. Knowing the transmission mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 in the human brain can assist us in generating novel treatments associated with neuroinflammation in other brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumaiya Tasnim Maliha
- Biotechnology Program, Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, School of Data and Sciences, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Rabeya Fatemi
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, East West University, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Yusha Araf
- Department of Biotechnology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
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Raas Q, Wood A, Stevenson TJ, Swartwood S, Liu S, Kannan RM, Kannan S, Bonkowsky JL. Generation and characterization of a zebrafish gain-of-function ACOX1 Mitchell disease model. Front Pediatr 2024; 12:1326886. [PMID: 38357503 PMCID: PMC10864527 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2024.1326886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Mitchell syndrome is a rare, neurodegenerative disease caused by an ACOX1 gain-of-function mutation (c.710A>G; p.N237S), with fewer than 20 reported cases. Affected patients present with leukodystrophy, seizures, and hearing loss. ACOX1 serves as the rate-limiting enzyme in peroxisomal beta-oxidation of very long-chain fatty acids. The N237S substitution has been shown to stabilize the active ACOX1 dimer, resulting in dysregulated enzymatic activity, increased oxidative stress, and glial damage. Mitchell syndrome lacks a vertebrate model, limiting insights into the pathophysiology of ACOX1-driven white matter damage and neuroinflammatory insults. Methods We report a patient presenting with rapidly progressive white matter damage and neurological decline, who was eventually diagnosed with an ACOX1 N237S mutation through whole genome sequencing. We developed a zebrafish model of Mitchell syndrome using transient ubiquitous overexpression of the human ACOX1 N237S variant tagged with GFP. We assayed zebrafish behavior, oligodendrocyte numbers, expression of white matter and inflammatory transcripts, and analysis of peroxisome counts. Results The patient experienced progressive leukodystrophy and died 2 years after presentation. The transgenic zebrafish showed a decreased swimming ability, which was restored with the reactive microglia-targeted antioxidant dendrimer-N-acetyl-cysteine conjugate. The mutants showed no effect on oligodendrocyte counts but did display activation of the integrated stress response (ISR). Using a novel SKL-targeted mCherry reporter, we found that mutants had reduced density of peroxisomes. Conclusions We developed a vertebrate (zebrafish) model of Mitchell syndrome using transient ubiquitous overexpression of the human ACOX1 N237S variant. The transgenic mutants exhibited motor impairment and showed signs of activated ISR, but interestingly, there were no changes in oligodendrocyte counts. However, the mutants exhibited a deficiency in the number of peroxisomes, suggesting a possible shared mechanism with the Zellweger spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin Raas
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Laboratory of Translational Research for Neurological Disorders, Imagine Institute, Université de Paris, INSERM UMR 1163, Paris, France
| | - Austin Wood
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Tamara J. Stevenson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Shanna Swartwood
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Suzanne Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Rangaramanujam M. Kannan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Center for Nanomedicine, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Sujatha Kannan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Center for Nanomedicine, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Joshua L. Bonkowsky
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Center for Personalized Medicine, Primary Children’s Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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6
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Wang X, Zhang M, Li Y, Cong H, Yu B, Shen Y. Research Status of Dendrimer Micelles in Tumor Therapy for Drug Delivery. Small 2023; 19:e2304006. [PMID: 37635114 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202304006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Dendrimers are a family of polymers with highly branched structure, well-defined composition, and extensive functional groups, which have attracted great attention in biomedical applications. Micelles formed by dendrimers are ideal nanocarriers for delivering anticancer agents due to the explicit study of their characteristics of particle size, charge, and biological properties such as toxicity, blood circulation time, biodistribution, and cellular internalization. Here, the classification, preparation, and structure of dendrimer micelles are reviewed, and the specific functional groups modified on the surface of dendrimers for tumor active targeting, stimuli-responsive drug release, reduced toxicity, and prolonged blood circulation time are discussed. In addition, their applications are summarized as various platforms for biomedical applications related to cancer therapy including drug delivery, gene transfection, nano-contrast for imaging, and combined therapy. Other applications such as tissue engineering and biosensor are also involved. Finally, the possible challenges and perspectives of dendrimer micelles for their further applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xijie Wang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Min Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Yanan Li
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Hailin Cong
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, 255000, China
| | - Bing Yu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Youqing Shen
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Center for Bionanoengineering, and Department of, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310027, China
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7
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Wu T, Liu C, Kannan RM. Systemic Dendrimer-Peptide Therapies for Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2428. [PMID: 37896188 PMCID: PMC10609940 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15102428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an end-stage event in a complex pathogenesis of macular degeneration, involving the abnormal growth of blood vessels at the retinal pigment epithelium driven by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Current therapies seek to interrupt VEGF signaling to halt the progress of neovascularization, but a significant patient population is not responsive. New treatment modalities such as integrin-binding peptides (risuteganib/Luminate/ALG-1001) are being explored to address this clinical need but these treatments necessitate the use of intravitreal injections (IVT), which carries risks of complications and restricts its availability in less-developed countries. Successful systemic delivery of peptide-based therapeutics must overcome obstacles such as degradation by proteinases in circulation and off-target binding. In this work, we present a novel dendrimer-integrin-binding peptide (D-ALG) synthesized with a noncleavable, "clickable" linker. In vitro, D-ALG protected the peptide payload from enzymatic degradation for up to 1.5 h (~90% of the compound remained intact) in a high concentration of proteinase (2 mg/mL) whereas ~90% of free ALG-1001 was degraded in the same period. Further, dendrimer conjugation preserved the antiangiogenic activity of ALG-1001 in vitro with significant reductions in endothelial vessel network formation compared to untreated controls. In vivo, direct intravitreal injections of ALG-1001 and D-ALG produced reductions in the CNV lesion area but in systemically dosed animals, only D-ALG produced significant reductions of CNV lesion area at 14 days. Imaging data suggested that the difference in efficacy may be due to more D-ALG remaining in the target area than ALG-1001 after administration. The results presented here offer a clinically relevant route for peptide therapeutics by addressing the major obstacles that these therapies face in delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rangaramanujam M. Kannan
- Center for Nanomedicine, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (T.W.); (C.L.)
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8
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Khoury ES, Patel RV, O’Ferrall C, Fowler A, Sah N, Sharma A, Gupta S, Scafidi S, Kurtz J, Olmstead SJ, Kudchadkar SR, Kannan RM, Blue ME, Kannan S. Dendrimer nanotherapy targeting of glial dysfunction improves inflammation and neurobehavioral phenotype in adult female Mecp2-heterozygous mouse model of Rett syndrome. J Neurochem 2023:10.1111/jnc.15960. [PMID: 37777475 PMCID: PMC11002961 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Rett syndrome is an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutation of Mecp2 gene and primarily affects females. Glial cell dysfunction has been implicated in in Rett syndrome (RTT) both in patients and in mouse models of this disorder and can affect synaptogenesis, glial metabolism and inflammation. Here we assessed whether treatment of adult (5-6 months old) symptomatic Mecp2-heterozygous female mice with N-acetyl cysteine conjugated to dendrimer (D-NAC), which is known to target glia and modulate inflammation and oxidative injury, results in improved behavioral phenotype, sleep and glial inflammatory profile. We show that unbiased global metabolomic analysis of the hippocampus and striatum in adult Mecp2-heterozygous mice demonstrates significant differences in lipid metabolism associated with neuroinflammation, providing the rationale for targeting glial inflammation in this model. Our results demonstrate that treatment with D-NAC (10 mg/kg NAC) once weekly is more efficacious than equivalently dosed free NAC in improving the gross neurobehavioral phenotype in symptomatic Mecp2-heterozygous female mice. We also show that D-NAC therapy is significantly better than saline in ameliorating several aspects of the abnormal phenotype including paw clench, mobility, fear memory, REM sleep and epileptiform activity burden. Systemic D-NAC significantly improves microglial proinflammatory cytokine production and is associated with improvements in several aspects of the phenotype including paw clench, mobility, fear memory, and REM sleep, and epileptiform activity burden in comparison to saline-treated Mecp2-hetereozygous mice. Systemic glial-targeted delivery of D-NAC after symptom onset in an older clinically relevant Rett syndrome model shows promise in improving neurobehavioral impairments along with sleep pattern and epileptiform activity burden. These findings argue for the translational value of this approach for treatment of patients with Rett Syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Smith Khoury
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Ruchit V. Patel
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Caroline O’Ferrall
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Amanda Fowler
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Nirnath Sah
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Anjali Sharma
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Siddharth Gupta
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287
| | - Susanna Scafidi
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Josh Kurtz
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Sarah J. Olmstead
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Sapna R. Kudchadkar
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- Departments of Pediatrics and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Rangaramanujam M. Kannan
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD, 21205
- Kennedy Krieger Institute – Johns Hopkins University for Cerebral Palsy Research Excellence, Baltimore, MD 21287
- Departments of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218
| | - Mary E. Blue
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD, 21205
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD, 21205
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger Inc., Baltimore MD, 21205
| | - Sujatha Kannan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD, 21205
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger Inc., Baltimore MD, 21205
- Kennedy Krieger Institute – Johns Hopkins University for Cerebral Palsy Research Excellence, Baltimore, MD 21287
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Huang M, Tallon C, Zhu X, Huizar KDJ, Picciolini S, Thomas AG, Tenora L, Liyanage W, Rodà F, Gualerzi A, Kannan RM, Bedoni M, Rais R, Slusher BS. Microglial-Targeted nSMase2 Inhibitor Fails to Reduce Tau Propagation in PS19 Mice. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2364. [PMID: 37765332 PMCID: PMC10536502 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15092364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) correlates with the propagation of hyperphosphorylated tau (pTau) from the entorhinal cortex to the hippocampus and neocortex. Neutral sphingomyelinase2 (nSMase2) is critical in the biosynthesis of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which play a role in pTau propagation. We recently conjugated DPTIP, a potent nSMase2 inhibitor, to hydroxyl-PAMAM-dendrimer nanoparticles that can improve brain delivery. We showed that dendrimer-conjugated DPTIP (D-DPTIP) robustly inhibited the spread of pTau in an AAV-pTau propagation model. To further evaluate its efficacy, we tested D-DPTIP in the PS19 transgenic mouse model. Unexpectantly, D-DPTIP showed no beneficial effect. To understand this discrepancy, we assessed D-DPTIP's brain localization. Using immunofluorescence and fluorescence-activated cell-sorting, D-DPTIP was found to be primarily internalized by microglia, where it selectively inhibited microglial nSMase2 activity with no effect on other cell types. Furthermore, D-DPTIP inhibited microglia-derived EV release into plasma without affecting other brain-derived EVs. We hypothesize that microglial targeting allowed D-DPTIP to inhibit tau propagation in the AAV-hTau model, where microglial EVs play a central role in propagation. However, in PS19 mice, where tau propagation is independent of microglial EVs, it had a limited effect. Our findings confirm microglial targeting with hydroxyl-PAMAM dendrimers and highlight the importance of understanding cell-specific mechanisms when designing targeted AD therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meixiang Huang
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (M.H.); (C.T.); (X.Z.); (K.D.J.H.); (A.G.T.); (L.T.); (R.R.)
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Carolyn Tallon
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (M.H.); (C.T.); (X.Z.); (K.D.J.H.); (A.G.T.); (L.T.); (R.R.)
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Xiaolei Zhu
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (M.H.); (C.T.); (X.Z.); (K.D.J.H.); (A.G.T.); (L.T.); (R.R.)
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Kaitlyn D. J. Huizar
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (M.H.); (C.T.); (X.Z.); (K.D.J.H.); (A.G.T.); (L.T.); (R.R.)
| | - Silvia Picciolini
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Clinical Biophotonics (LABION), 20148 Milan, Italy; (S.P.); (F.R.); (A.G.); (M.B.)
| | - Ajit G. Thomas
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (M.H.); (C.T.); (X.Z.); (K.D.J.H.); (A.G.T.); (L.T.); (R.R.)
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Lukas Tenora
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (M.H.); (C.T.); (X.Z.); (K.D.J.H.); (A.G.T.); (L.T.); (R.R.)
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Wathsala Liyanage
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; (W.L.); (R.M.K.)
| | - Francesca Rodà
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Clinical Biophotonics (LABION), 20148 Milan, Italy; (S.P.); (F.R.); (A.G.); (M.B.)
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 42100 Modena, Italy
| | - Alice Gualerzi
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Clinical Biophotonics (LABION), 20148 Milan, Italy; (S.P.); (F.R.); (A.G.); (M.B.)
| | - Rangaramanujam M. Kannan
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; (W.L.); (R.M.K.)
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Marzia Bedoni
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Clinical Biophotonics (LABION), 20148 Milan, Italy; (S.P.); (F.R.); (A.G.); (M.B.)
| | - Rana Rais
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (M.H.); (C.T.); (X.Z.); (K.D.J.H.); (A.G.T.); (L.T.); (R.R.)
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Barbara S. Slusher
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (M.H.); (C.T.); (X.Z.); (K.D.J.H.); (A.G.T.); (L.T.); (R.R.)
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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10
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Kannan RM, Pitha I, Parikh KS. A new era in posterior segment ocular drug delivery: Translation of systemic, cell-targeted, dendrimer-based therapies. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 200:115005. [PMID: 37419213 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.115005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Vision impairment and loss due to posterior segment ocular disorders, including age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, are a rapidly growing cause of disability globally. Current treatments consist primarily of intravitreal injections aimed at preventing disease progression and characterized by high cost and repeated clinic visits. Nanotechnology provides a promising platform for drug delivery to the eye, with potential to overcome anatomical and physiological barriers to provide safe, effective, and sustained treatment modalities. However, there are few nanomedicines approved for posterior segment disorders, and fewer that target specific cells or that are compatible with systemic administration. Targeting cell types that mediate these disorders via systemic administration may unlock transformative opportunities for nanomedicine and significantly improve patient access, acceptability, and outcomes. We highlight the development of hydroxyl polyamidoamine dendrimer-based therapeutics that demonstrate ligand-free cell targeting via systemic administration and are under clinical investigation for treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rangaramanujam M Kannan
- Center for Nanomedicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Departments of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Ian Pitha
- Center for Nanomedicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kunal S Parikh
- Center for Nanomedicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Center for Bioengineering Innovation & Design, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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11
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Wang J, Ni R, Jiang T, Peng D, Ming Y, Cui H, Liu Y. The applications of functional materials-based nano-formulations in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of chronic inflammation-related diseases. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1222642. [PMID: 37593176 PMCID: PMC10427346 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1222642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic inflammation, in general, refers to systemic immune abnormalities most often caused by the environment or lifestyle, which is the basis for various skin diseases, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, liver diseases, digestive diseases, cancer, and so on. Therapeutic strategies have focused on immunosuppression and anti-inflammation, but conventional approaches have been poor in enhancing the substantive therapeutic effect of drugs. Nanomaterials continue to attract attention for their high flexibility, durability and simplicity of preparation, as well as high profitability. Nanotechnology is used in various areas of clinical medicine, such as medical diagnosis, monitoring and treatment. However, some related problems cannot be ignored, including various cytotoxic and worsening inflammation caused by the nanomaterials themselves. This paper provides an overview of functional nanomaterial formulations for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of chronic inflammation-related diseases, with the intention of providing some reference for the enhancement and optimization of existing therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Wang
- Department of pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Rui Ni
- Department of pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Tingting Jiang
- Department of pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dan Peng
- Department of pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yue Ming
- Department of pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongjuan Cui
- Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yao Liu
- Department of pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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12
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Dhull A, Yu C, Wilmoth AH, Chen M, Sharma A, Yiu S. Dendrimers in Corneal Drug Delivery: Recent Developments and Translational Opportunities. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1591. [PMID: 37376040 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15061591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Dendrimers are biocompatible organic nanomaterials with unique physicochemical properties, making them the focus of recent research in drug delivery. The cornea of the human eye presents a challenge for drug transit due to its inherently impenetrable nature, requiring nanocarrier-mediated targeted drug delivery. This review intends to examine recent advancements in the use of dendrimers for corneal drug delivery, including their properties and their potential for treating various ocular diseases. The review will also highlight the benefit of the novel technologies that have been developed and applied in the field, such as corneal targeting, drug release kinetics, treatments for dry eye disease, antibacterial drug delivery, corneal inflammation, and corneal tissue engineering. The review seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of research in this field, along with the translational developments in the field of dendrimer-based therapeutics and imaging agents and inspire the potential for future developments and translational opportunities in dendrimers based corneal drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anubhav Dhull
- Department of Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Carson Yu
- Center for Nanomedicine, Wilmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Cornea Division, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Alex Hunter Wilmoth
- Department of Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Minjie Chen
- Center for Nanomedicine, Wilmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Cornea Division, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Anjali Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Samuel Yiu
- Center for Nanomedicine, Wilmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Cornea Division, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
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13
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Gamarra-Morales Y, Herrera-Quintana L, Molina-López J, Vázquez-Lorente H, Machado-Casas JF, Castaño-Pérez J, Pérez-Villares JM, Planells E. Response to Intravenous N-Acetylcysteine Supplementation in Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19. Nutrients 2023; 15:2235. [PMID: 37405379 DOI: 10.3390/nu15092235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Administering N-acetylcysteine (NAC) could counteract the effect of free radicals, improving the clinical evolution of patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This study aimed to investigate the clinical and biochemical effects of administering NAC to critically ill patients with COVID-19. A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on ICU patients (n = 140) with COVID-19 and divided into two groups: patients treated with NAC (NAC-treated group) and patients without NAC treatment (control group). NAC was administered as a continuous infusion with a loading dose and a maintenance dose during the study period (from admission until the third day of ICU stay). NAC-treated patients showed higher PaO2/FiO2 (p ≤ 0.014) after 3 days in ICU than their control group counterparts. Moreover, C-reactive protein (p ≤ 0.001), D-dimer (p ≤ 0.042), and lactate dehydrogenase (p ≤ 0.001) levels decreased on the third day in NAC-treated patients. Glutathione concentrations decreased in both NAC-treated (p ≤ 0.004) and control (p ≤ 0.047) groups after 3 days in ICU; whereas glutathione peroxidase did not change during the ICU stay. The administration of NAC manages to improve the clinical and analytical response of seriously ill patients with COVID-19 compared to the control group. NAC is able to stop the decrease in glutathione concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lourdes Herrera-Quintana
- Department of Physiology, School of Pharmacy, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology "José Mataix", University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Jorge Molina-López
- Faculty of Education, Psychology and Sports Sciences, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain
| | - Héctor Vázquez-Lorente
- Department of Physiology, School of Pharmacy, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology "José Mataix", University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | | | - José Castaño-Pérez
- Intensive Care Unit, Virgen de las Nieves Hospital, Fuerzas Armadas Avenue, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | | | - Elena Planells
- Department of Physiology, School of Pharmacy, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology "José Mataix", University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
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14
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Porterfield JE, Sharma R, Jimenez AS, Sah N, McCracken S, Zhang L, An H, Lee S, Kannan S, Sharma A, Kannan RM. Galactosylated hydroxyl-polyamidoamine dendrimer targets hepatocytes and improves therapeutic outcomes in a severe model of acetaminophen poisoning-induced liver failure. Bioeng Transl Med 2023; 8:e10486. [PMID: 37206223 PMCID: PMC10189448 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxicity to hepatocytes caused by various insults including drugs is a common cause of chronic liver failure requiring transplantation. Targeting therapeutics specifically to hepatocytes is often a challenge since they are relatively nonendocytosing unlike the highly phagocytic Kupffer cells in the liver. Approaches that enable targeted intracellular delivery of therapeutics to hepatocytes have significant promise in addressing liver disorders. We synthesized a galactose-conjugated hydroxyl polyamidoamine dendrimer (D4-Gal) that targets hepatocytes efficiently through the asialoglycoprotein receptors in healthy mice and in a mouse model of acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver failure. D4-Gal localized specifically in hepatocytes and showed significantly better targeting when compared with the non-Gal functionalized hydroxyl dendrimer. The therapeutic potential of D4-Gal conjugated to N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) was tested in a mouse model of APAP-induced liver failure. A single intravenous dose of a conjugate of D4-Gal and NAC (Gal-d-NAC) improved survival in APAP mice, decreased cellular oxidative injury and areas of necrosis in the liver, even when administered at the delayed time point of 8 h after APAP exposure. Overdose of APAP is the most common cause of acute hepatic injury and liver transplant need in the United States, and is treated with large doses of NAC administered rapidly within 8 h of overdose leading to systemic side effects and poor tolerance. NAC is not effective when treatment is delayed. Our results suggest that D4-Gal is effective in targeting and delivering therapies to hepatocytes and Gal-D-NAC has the potential to salvage and treat liver injury with a broader therapeutic window.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua E. Porterfield
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of OphthalmologyWilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Rishi Sharma
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of OphthalmologyWilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Ambar Scarlet Jimenez
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of OphthalmologyWilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Nirnath Sah
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Sean McCracken
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of OphthalmologyWilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Lucia Zhang
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of OphthalmologyWilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Hyoung‐Tae An
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of OphthalmologyWilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Department of RadiologyJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Seulki Lee
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of OphthalmologyWilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Department of RadiologyJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Sujatha Kannan
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of OphthalmologyWilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care MedicineJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc.BaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Anjali Sharma
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of OphthalmologyWilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Present address:
Department of ChemistryWashington State UniversityPullmanWashingtonUSA
| | - Rangaramanujam M. Kannan
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of OphthalmologyWilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc.BaltimoreMarylandUSA
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15
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Kisakova LA, Apartsin EK, Nizolenko LF, Karpenko LI. Dendrimer-Mediated Delivery of DNA and RNA Vaccines. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15041106. [PMID: 37111593 PMCID: PMC10145063 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15041106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA and RNA vaccines (nucleic acid-based vaccines) are a promising platform for vaccine development. The first mRNA vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech) were approved in 2020, and a DNA vaccine (Zydus Cadila, India), in 2021. They display unique benefits in the current COVID-19 pandemic. Nucleic acid-based vaccines have a number of advantages, such as safety, efficacy, and low cost. They are potentially faster to develop, cheaper to produce, and easier to store and transport. A crucial step in the technology of DNA or RNA vaccines is choosing an efficient delivery method. Nucleic acid delivery using liposomes is the most popular approach today, but this method has certain disadvantages. Therefore, studies are actively underway to develop various alternative delivery methods, among which synthetic cationic polymers such as dendrimers are very attractive. Dendrimers are three-dimensional nanostructures with a high degree of molecular homogeneity, adjustable size, multivalence, high surface functionality, and high aqueous solubility. The biosafety of some dendrimers has been evaluated in several clinical trials presented in this review. Due to these important and attractive properties, dendrimers are already being used to deliver a number of drugs and are being explored as promising carriers for nucleic acid-based vaccines. This review summarizes the literature data on the development of dendrimer-based delivery systems for DNA and mRNA vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyubov A. Kisakova
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Kol’tsovo, Russia
| | - Evgeny K. Apartsin
- CBMN, UMR 5248, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, University Bordeaux, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Lily F. Nizolenko
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Kol’tsovo, Russia
| | - Larisa I. Karpenko
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, Rospotrebnadzor, 630559 Kol’tsovo, Russia
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16
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Moreira DA, Santos SD, Leiro V, Pêgo AP. Dendrimers and Derivatives as Multifunctional Nanotherapeutics for Alzheimer's Disease. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15041054. [PMID: 37111540 PMCID: PMC10140951 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15041054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia. It affects more than 30 million people worldwide and costs over US$ 1.3 trillion annually. AD is characterized by the brain accumulation of amyloid β peptide in fibrillar structures and the accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau aggregates in neurons, both leading to toxicity and neuronal death. At present, there are only seven drugs approved for the treatment of AD, of which only two can slow down cognitive decline. Moreover, their use is only recommended for the early stages of AD, meaning that the major portion of AD patients still have no disease-modifying treatment options. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop efficient therapies for AD. In this context, nanobiomaterials, and dendrimers in particular, offer the possibility of developing multifunctional and multitargeted therapies. Due to their intrinsic characteristics, dendrimers are first-in-class macromolecules for drug delivery. They have a globular, well-defined, and hyperbranched structure, controllable nanosize and multivalency, which allows them to act as efficient and versatile nanocarriers of different therapeutic molecules. In addition, different types of dendrimers display antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-prion, and most importantly for the AD field, anti-amyloidogenic properties. Therefore, dendrimers can not only be excellent nanocarriers, but also be used as drugs per se. Here, the outstanding properties of dendrimers and derivatives that make them excellent AD nanotherapeutics are reviewed and critically discussed. The biological properties of several dendritic structures (dendrimers, derivatives, and dendrimer-like polymers) that enable them to be used as drugs for AD treatment will be pointed out and the chemical and structural characteristics behind those properties will be analysed. The reported use of these nanomaterials as nanocarriers in AD preclinical research is also presented. Finally, future perspectives and challenges that need to be overcome to make their use in the clinic a reality are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Débora A Moreira
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- FEUP-Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sofia D Santos
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Victoria Leiro
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana P Pêgo
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
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17
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Căta A, Ienașcu IMC, Ştefănuț MN, Roșu D, Pop OR. Properties and Bioapplications of Amphiphilic Janus Dendrimers: A Review. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15. [PMID: 36839911 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15020589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Amphiphilic Janus dendrimers are arrangements containing both hydrophilic and hydrophobic units, capable of forming ordered aggregates by intermolecular noncovalent interactions between the dendrimer units. Compared to conventional dendrimers, these molecular self-assemblies possess particular and effective attributes i.e., the presence of different terminal groups, essential to design new elaborated materials. The present review will focus on the pharmaceutical and biomedical application of amphiphilic Janus dendrimers. Important information for the development of novel optimized pharmaceutical formulations, such as structural classification, synthetic pathways, properties and applications, will offer the complete characterization of this type of Janus dendrimers. This work will constitute an up-to-date background for dendrimer specialists involved in designing amphiphilic Janus dendrimer-based nanomaterials for future innovations in this promising field.
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18
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Huang T, Wu J, Mu J, Gao J. Advanced Therapies for Traumatic Central Nervous System Injury: Delivery Strategy Reinforced Efficient Microglial Manipulation. Mol Pharm 2023; 20:41-56. [PMID: 36469398 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c00605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic central nervous system (CNS) injuries, including spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury, are challenging enemies of human health. Microglia, the main component of the innate immune system in CNS, can be activated postinjury and are key participants in the pathological procedure and development of CNS trauma. Activated microglia can be typically classified into pro-inflammatory (M1) and anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotypes. Reducing M1 polarization while promoting M2 polarization is thought to be promising for CNS injury treatment. However, obstacles such as the low permeability of the blood-brain barrier and short retention time in circulation limit the therapeutic outcomes of administrated drugs, and rational delivery strategies are necessary for efficient microglial regulation. To this end, proper administration methods and delivery systems like nano/microcarriers and scaffolds are investigated to augment the therapeutic effects of drugs, while some of these delivery systems have self-efficacies in microglial manipulation. Besides, systems based on cell and cell-derived exosomes also show impressive effects, and some underlying targeting mechanisms of these delivery systems have been discovered. In this review, we introduce the roles of microglia play in traumatic CNS injuries, discuss the potential targets for the polarization regulation of microglial phenotype, and summarize recent studies and clinical trials about delivery strategies on enhancing the effect of microglial regulation and therapeutic outcome, as well as targeting mechanisms post CNS trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianchen Huang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.,Hangzhou Institute of Innovative Medicine, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jiahe Wu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.,Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Clinical Cancer, Pharmacology and Toxicology Research of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Jiafu Mu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jianqing Gao
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.,Hangzhou Institute of Innovative Medicine, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.,Jinhua Institute of Zhejiang University, Jinhua 321002, China
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Nemeth CL, Gӧk Ö, Tomlinson SN, Sharma A, Moser AB, Kannan S, Kannan RM, Fatemi A. Targeted Brain Delivery of Dendrimer-4-Phenylbutyrate Ameliorates Neurological Deficits in a Long-Term ABCD1-Deficient Mouse Model of X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy. Neurotherapeutics 2023; 20:272-283. [PMID: 36207570 PMCID: PMC9542479 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-022-01311-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a genetic disorder that presents neurologically as either a rapid and fatal cerebral demyelinating disease in childhood (childhood cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy; ccALD) or slow degeneration of the spinal cord in adulthood (adrenomyeloneuropathy; AMN). All forms of ALD result from mutations in the ATP Binding Cassette Subfamily D Member (ABCD) 1 gene, encoding a peroxisomal transporter responsible for the import of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) and results mechanistically in a complex array of dysfunction, including endoplasmic reticulum stress, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation. Few therapeutic options exist for these patients; however, an additional peroxisomal transport protein (ABCD2) has been successfully targeted previously for compensation of dysfunctional ABCD1. 4-Phenylbutyrate (4PBA), a potent activator of the ABCD1 homolog ABCD2, is FDA approved, but use for ALD has been stymied by a short half-life and thus a need for unfeasibly high doses. We conjugated 4PBA to hydroxyl polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers (D-4PBA) to a create a long-lasting and intracellularly targeted approach which crosses the blood-brain barrier to upregulate Abcd2 and its downstream pathways. Across two studies, Abcd1 knockout mice administered D-4PBA long term showed neurobehavioral improvement and increased Abcd2 expression. Furthermore, when the conjugate was administered early, significant reduction of VLCFA and improved survival of spinal cord neurons was observed. Taken together, these data show improved efficacy of D-4PBA compared to previous studies of free 4PBA alone, and promise for D-4PBA in the treatment of complex and chronic neurodegenerative diseases using a dendrimer delivery platform that has shown successes in recent clinical trials. While recovery in our studies was partial, combined therapies on the dendrimer platform may offer a safe and complete strategy for treatment of ALD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina L Nemeth
- Moser Center for Leukodystrophies, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Özgül Gӧk
- Center for Nanomedicine at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sophia N Tomlinson
- Moser Center for Leukodystrophies, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Anjali Sharma
- Center for Nanomedicine at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ann B Moser
- Moser Center for Leukodystrophies, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sujatha Kannan
- Moser Center for Leukodystrophies, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rangaramanujam M Kannan
- Moser Center for Leukodystrophies, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Center for Nanomedicine at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ali Fatemi
- Moser Center for Leukodystrophies, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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20
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Liyanage W, Wu T, Kannan S, Kannan RM. Dendrimer-siRNA Conjugates for Targeted Intracellular Delivery in Glioblastoma Animal Models. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2022; 14:46290-46303. [PMID: 36214413 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c13129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are potent weapons for gene silencing, with an opportunity to correct defective genes and stop the production of undesirable proteins, with many applications in central nervous system (CNS) disorders. However, successful delivery of siRNAs to the brain parenchyma faces obstacles such as the blood-brain barrier (BBB), brain tissue penetration, and targeting of specific cells. In addition, siRNAs are unstable under physiological conditions and are susceptible to protein binding and enzymatic degradation, necessitating a higher dosage to remain effective. To address these issues and advance siRNA delivery, we report the development of covalently conjugated hydroxyl-terminated poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer-siRNA conjugates, demonstrated with a siRNA against GFP (siGFP) conjugate (D-siGFP) utilizing glutathione-sensitive linkers. This allows for precise nucleic acid loading, protects the payload from premature degradation, delivers the siRNA cargo into cells, and achieves significant GFP knockdown in vitro (∼40%) and in vivo (∼30%). Compared to commercially available delivery systems such as RNAi Max and Lipofectamine, D-siGFP retains the potency of the siRNA in vitro. In addition, the dendrimer-siGFP conjugate significantly enhances the half-life of siRNA in the presence of plasma and endonucleases and maintains the passive targeting ability of PAMAM dendrimers to reactive microglia. When administered intratumorally to orthotopic glioblastoma multiform tumors (GBM) in CX3CR-1GFP mice, D-siGFP localizes in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) within the tumor parenchyma, minimizing off-target effects in other cell populations. The facile conjugation strategy for dendrimer-siRNA conjugates presented here offers a promising approach for targeted, systemic intracellular delivery of siRNA, serving as a potential bridge for the clinical translation of RNAi therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wathsala Liyanage
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, United States
| | - Tony Wu
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Sujatha Kannan
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Kennedy Krieger Institute-Johns Hopkins University for Cerebral Palsy Research Excellence, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Rangaramanujam M Kannan
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Kennedy Krieger Institute-Johns Hopkins University for Cerebral Palsy Research Excellence, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
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Choudhury H, Pandey M, Mohgan R, Jong JSJ, David RN, Ngan WY, Chin TL, Ting S, Kesharwani P, Gorain B. Dendrimer-based delivery of macromolecules for the treatment of brain tumor. Biomater Adv 2022; 141:213118. [PMID: 36182834 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2022.213118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Brain tumor represents the most lethal form of cancer with the highest mortality and morbidity rates irrespective of age and sex. Advancements in macromolecule-based therapy (such as nucleic acids and peptides) have shown promising roles in the treatment of brain tumor where the phenomenon of severe toxicities due to the conventional chemotherapeutic agents can be circumvented. Despite its preclinical progress, successful targeting of these macromolecules across the blood-brain barrier without altering their physical and chemical characteristics is of great challenge. With the advent of nanotechnology, nowadays targeted delivery of therapeutics is being explored extensively and these macromolecules, including peptides and nucleic acids, have shown initial success in the treatment, where dendrimer has shown its potential for optimal delivery. Dendrimers are being favored as a mode of drug delivery due to their nano-spherical size and structure, high solubilization potential, multivalent surface, and high loading capacity, where biomolecule resembling characteristics of dendritic 3D structures has shown effective delivery of various therapeutic agents to the brain. Armed with targeting ligands to these dendrimers further expedite the transportation of these multifunctional shuttles specifically to the glioblastoma cells. Thus, a focus has been made in this review on therapeutic applications of dendrimer platforms in brain tumor treatment. The future development of dendrimers as a potential platform for nucleic acid and peptide delivery and its promising clinical application could provide effective and target-specific treatment against brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hira Choudhury
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Manisha Pandey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central University of Haryana, SSH 17, Jant, Haryana 123031, India.
| | - Raxshanaa Mohgan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Jim Sii Jack Jong
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Roshini Nicole David
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Wan Yi Ngan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Tze Liang Chin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Shereen Ting
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Prashant Kesharwani
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India
| | - Bapi Gorain
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi 835215, Jharkhand, India
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Tallon C, Bell BJ, Sharma A, Pal A, Malvankar MM, Thomas AG, Yoo SW, Hollinger KR, Coleman K, Wilkinson EL, Kannan S, Haughey NJ, Kannan RM, Rais R, Slusher BS. Dendrimer-Conjugated nSMase2 Inhibitor Reduces Tau Propagation in Mice. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14102066. [PMID: 36297501 PMCID: PMC9609094 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14102066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the progressive accumulation of amyloid-β and hyperphosphorylated tau (pTau), which can spread throughout the brain via extracellular vesicles (EVs). Membrane ceramide enrichment regulated by the enzyme neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase2) is a critical component of at least one EV biogenesis pathway. Our group recently identified 2,6-Dimethoxy-4-(5-Phenyl-4-Thiophen-2-yl-1H-Imidazol-2-yl)-Phenol (DPTIP), the most potent (30 nM) and selective inhibitor of nSMase2 reported to date. However, DPTIP exhibits poor oral pharmacokinetics (PK), modest brain penetration, and rapid clearance, limiting its clinical translation. To enhance its PK properties, we conjugated DPTIP to a hydroxyl-PAMAM dendrimer delivery system, creating dendrimer-DPTIP (D-DPTIP). In an acute brain injury model, orally administered D-DPTIP significantly reduced the intra-striatal IL-1β-induced increase in plasma EVs up to 72 h post-dose, while oral DPTIP had a limited effect. In a mouse tau propagation model, where a mutant hTau (P301L/S320F) containing adeno-associated virus was unilaterally seeded into the hippocampus, oral D-DPTIP (dosed 3× weekly) significantly inhibited brain nSMase2 activity and blocked the spread of pTau to the contralateral hippocampus. These data demonstrate that dendrimer conjugation of DPTIP improves its PK properties, resulting in significant inhibition of EV propagation of pTau in mice. Dendrimer-based delivery of DPTIP has the potential to be an exciting new therapeutic for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn Tallon
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Benjamin J. Bell
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Anjali Sharma
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Arindom Pal
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | | | | | - Seung-Wan Yoo
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | | | - Kaleem Coleman
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Elizabeth L. Wilkinson
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Moser Center for Leukodystrophies at Kennedy Krieger, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Sujatha Kannan
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy-Krieger Inc., Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Norman J. Haughey
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Center for Nanomedicine at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Rangaramanujam M. Kannan
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Moser Center for Leukodystrophies at Kennedy Krieger, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Rana Rais
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Correspondence: (R.R.); (B.S.S.); Tel.: +1-410-800-8049 (R.R.); +1-410-960-6162 (B.S.S.)
| | - Barbara S. Slusher
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Center for Nanomedicine at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Correspondence: (R.R.); (B.S.S.); Tel.: +1-410-800-8049 (R.R.); +1-410-960-6162 (B.S.S.)
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23
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Caminade A. Dendrimers, an Emerging Opportunity in Personalized Medicine? J Pers Med 2022; 12:1334. [PMID: 36013283 PMCID: PMC9409959 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12081334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendrimers are highly branched macromolecules tailorable at will to fulfil precise requirements. They have generated a great many expectations and a huge number of publications and patents in relation to medicine, including in relation to personalized medicine, but have resulted in very poor clinical translation up to now. As clinical trials are the first steps in view of developing new compounds for (a personalized) medicine, this review focusses on the clinical trials carried out with dendrimers. Many of these clinical trials have been recently posted (2020–2022); thus, only very few concern phase 3. The safety and efficiency of essentially two main types of dendrimers, based on polylysine and polyamidoamide scaffolds, have been assessed up to now. These dendrimers were tested with the aim of treating mainly bacterial vaginosis, cancers, and COVID-19.
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