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Daniele R, Brazzale C, Arpac B, Tognetti F, Pesce C, Malfanti A, Sayers E, Mastrotto F, Jones AT, Salmaso S, Caliceti P. Influence of Folate-Targeted Gold Nanoparticles on Subcellular Localization and Distribution into Lysosomes. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15030864. [PMID: 36986724 PMCID: PMC10053352 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15030864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The cell interaction, mechanism of cell entry and intracellular fate of surface decorated nanoparticles are known to be affected by the surface density of targeting agents. However, the correlation between nanoparticles multivalency and kinetics of the cell uptake process and disposition of intracellular compartments is complicated and dependent on a number of physicochemical and biological parameters, including the ligand, nanoparticle composition and colloidal properties, features of targeted cells, etc. Here, we have carried out an in-depth investigation on the impact of increasing folic acid density on the kinetic uptake process and endocytic route of folate (FA)-targeted fluorescently labelled gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). A set of AuNPs (15 nm mean size) produced by the Turkevich method was decorated with 0–100 FA-PEG3.5kDa-SH molecules/particle, and the surface was saturated with about 500 rhodamine-PEG2kDa-SH fluorescent probes. In vitro studies carried out using folate receptor overexpressing KB cells (KBFR-high) showed that the cell internalization progressively increased with the ligand surface density, reaching a plateau at 50:1 FA-PEG3.5kDa-SH/particle ratio. Pulse-chase experiments showed that higher FA density (50 FA-PEG3.5kDa-SH molecules/particle) induces more efficient particle internalization and trafficking to lysosomes, reaching the maximum concentration in lysosomes at 2 h, than the lower FA density of 10 FA-PEG3.5kDa-SH molecules/particle. Pharmacological inhibition of endocytic pathways and TEM analysis showed that particles with high folate density are internalized predominantly by a clathrin-independent process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Daniele
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Chiara Brazzale
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Busra Arpac
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Francesco Tognetti
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Cristiano Pesce
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Alessio Malfanti
- UCLouvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials, Avenue Mounier 73 B1.73.12, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Edward Sayers
- Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Ave, Cardiff CF10 3NB, UK
| | - Francesca Mastrotto
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Arwyn T. Jones
- Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Ave, Cardiff CF10 3NB, UK
| | - Stefano Salmaso
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0498271602
| | - Paolo Caliceti
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
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Mastrotto F, Brazzale C, Bellato F, De Martin S, Grange G, Mahmoudzadeh M, Magarkar A, Bunker A, Salmaso S, Caliceti P. In Vitro and in Vivo Behavior of Liposomes Decorated with PEGs with Different Chemical Features. Mol Pharm 2020; 17:1444. [PMID: 32083483 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.0c00149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Mastrotto
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, via F. Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Chiara Brazzale
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, via F. Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Federica Bellato
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, via F. Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Sara De Martin
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, via F. Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Guillaume Grange
- Drug Research Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mohammad Mahmoudzadeh
- Drug Research Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Aniket Magarkar
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of the Sciences of the Czech Republic, 166 10 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Alex Bunker
- Drug Research Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Stefano Salmaso
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, via F. Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Paolo Caliceti
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, via F. Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
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Mastrotto F, Brazzale C, Bellato F, De Martin S, Grange G, Mahmoudzadeh M, Magarkar A, Bunker A, Salmaso S, Caliceti P. In Vitro and in Vivo Behavior of Liposomes Decorated with PEGs with Different Chemical Features. Mol Pharm 2020; 17:472-487. [PMID: 31789523 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.9b00887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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
The colloidal stability, in vitro toxicity, cell association, and in vivo pharmacokinetic behavior of liposomes decorated with monomethoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-lipids (mPEG-lipids) with different chemical features were comparatively investigated. Structural differences of the mPEG-lipids used in the study included: (a) surface-anchoring moiety [1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DSPE), cholesterol (Chol), and cholane (Chln)]; (b) mPEG molecular weight (2 kDa mPEG45 and 5 kDa mPEG114); and (c) mPEG shape (linear and branched PEG). In vitro results demonstrated that branched (mPEG114)2-DSPE confers the highest stealth properties to liposomes (∼31-fold lower cell association than naked liposomes) with respect to all PEGylating agents tested. However, the pharmacokinetic studies showed that the use of cholesterol as anchoring group yields PEGylated liposomes with longer permeance in the circulation and higher systemic bioavailability among the tested formulations. Liposomes decorated with mPEG114-Chol had 3.2- and ∼2.1-fold higher area under curve (AUC) than naked liposomes and branched (mPEG114)2-DSPE-coated liposomes, respectively, which reflects the high stability of this coating agent. By comparing the PEGylating agents with same size, namely, linear 5 kDa PEG derivatives, linear mPEG114-DSPE yielded coated liposomes with the best in vitro stealth performance. Nevertheless, the in vivo AUC of liposomes decorated with linear mPEG114-DSPE was lower than that obtained with liposomes decorated with linear mPEG114-Chol. Computational molecular dynamics modeling provided additional insights that complement the experimental results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Mastrotto
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences , University of Padova , via F. Marzolo 5 , 35131 Padova , Italy
| | - Chiara Brazzale
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences , University of Padova , via F. Marzolo 5 , 35131 Padova , Italy
| | - Federica Bellato
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences , University of Padova , via F. Marzolo 5 , 35131 Padova , Italy
| | - Sara De Martin
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences , University of Padova , via F. Marzolo 5 , 35131 Padova , Italy
| | - Guillaume Grange
- Drug Research Program, Faculty of Pharmacy , University of Helsinki , 00014 Helsinki , Finland
| | - Mohamad Mahmoudzadeh
- Drug Research Program, Faculty of Pharmacy , University of Helsinki , 00014 Helsinki , Finland
| | - Aniket Magarkar
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry , Academy of the Sciences of the Czech Republic , 166 10 Prague , Czech Republic
| | - Alex Bunker
- Drug Research Program, Faculty of Pharmacy , University of Helsinki , 00014 Helsinki , Finland
| | - Stefano Salmaso
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences , University of Padova , via F. Marzolo 5 , 35131 Padova , Italy
| | - Paolo Caliceti
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences , University of Padova , via F. Marzolo 5 , 35131 Padova , Italy
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Sayers EJ, Magnusson JP, Moody PR, Mastrotto F, Conte C, Brazzale C, Borri P, Caliceti P, Watson P, Mantovani G, Aylott J, Salmaso S, Jones AT, Alexander C. Switching of Macromolecular Ligand Display by Thermoresponsive Polymers Mediates Endocytosis of Multiconjugate Nanoparticles. Bioconjug Chem 2018; 29:1030-1046. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.7b00704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Edward J. Sayers
- Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Ave, Cardiff CF10 3NB, United Kingdom
| | - Johannes P. Magnusson
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG72RD, United Kingdom
| | - Paul R. Moody
- Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Ave, Cardiff CF10 3NB, United Kingdom
| | - Francesca Mastrotto
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG72RD, United Kingdom
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo, 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Claudia Conte
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG72RD, United Kingdom
| | - Chiara Brazzale
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo, 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Paola Borri
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, The Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Paolo Caliceti
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo, 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Peter Watson
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, The Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Giuseppe Mantovani
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG72RD, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Aylott
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG72RD, United Kingdom
| | - Stefano Salmaso
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo, 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Arwyn T. Jones
- Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Ave, Cardiff CF10 3NB, United Kingdom
| | - Cameron Alexander
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG72RD, United Kingdom
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Brazzale C, Mastrotto F, Moody P, Watson PD, Balasso A, Malfanti A, Mantovani G, Caliceti P, Alexander C, Jones AT, Salmaso S. Control of targeting ligand display by pH-responsive polymers on gold nanoparticles mediates selective entry into cancer cells. Nanoscale 2017; 9:11137-11147. [PMID: 28745764 DOI: 10.1039/c7nr02595e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Selective targeting of cells for intracellular delivery of therapeutics represents a major challenge for pharmaceutical intervention in disease. Here we show pH-triggered receptor-mediated endocytosis of nanoparticles via surface ligand exposure. Gold nanoparticles were decorated with two polymers: a 2 kDa PEG with a terminal folate targeting ligand, and a di-block copolymer including a pH-responsive and a hydrophilic block. At the normal serum pH of 7.4, the pH-responsive block (apparent pKa of 7.1) displayed a hydrophilic extended conformation, shielding the PEG-folate ligands, which inhibited cellular uptake of the nanoparticles. Under pH conditions resembling those of the extracellular matrix around solid tumours (pH 6.5), protonation of the pH-responsive polymer triggered a coil-to-globule polymer chain contraction, exposing folate residues on the PEG chains. In line with this, endocytosis of folate-decorated polymer-coated gold nanoparticles in cancer cells overexpressing folate receptor was significantly increased at pH 6.5, compared with pH 7.4. Thus, the tumour acidic environment and high folate receptor expression were effectively exploited to activate cell binding and endocytosis of these nanoparticles. These data provide proof-of-concept for strategies enabling extracellular pH stimuli to selectively enhance cellular uptake of drug delivery vectors and their associated therapeutic cargo.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Brazzale
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, via F. Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy.
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Brazzale C, Canaparo R, Racca L, Foglietta F, Durando G, Fantozzi R, Caliceti P, Salmaso S, Serpe L. Enhanced selective sonosensitizing efficacy of ultrasound-based anticancer treatment by targeted gold nanoparticles. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2016; 11:3053-3070. [PMID: 27627904 DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2016-0293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [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: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM This study investigates cancer targeted gold nanoparticles as ultrasound sensitizers for the treatment of cancer. METHODS The ultrasound sensitizer activity of folate-PEG decorated gold nanoparticles (FA-PEG-GNP) has been studied on human cancer cell lines that overexpress folate receptors (KB and HCT-116) and another that does not (MCF7), at two ultrasound energy densities (8 × 10-6 J cm-2 and 8 × 10-5 J cm-2, for 5 min at 1.866 MHz). RESULTS FA-PEG-GNP selectively targeted KB and HCT-116 cells and a remarkable reduction in cancer cell growth was observed upon ultrasound exposure, along with significant reactive oxygen species generation and increase in necrotic cells. CONCLUSION The combined use of targeting capacity and the ultrasound sensitizing effect, make FA-PEG-GNP promising candidates for the site-specific cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Brazzale
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Roberto Canaparo
- Department of Drug Science & Technology, University of Torino, Via P. Giuria 13, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Luisa Racca
- Department of Drug Science & Technology, University of Torino, Via P. Giuria 13, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Federica Foglietta
- Department of Drug Science & Technology, University of Torino, Via P. Giuria 13, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Gianni Durando
- National Institute of Metrological Research (INRIM), Strada delle Cacce 91, 10135 Torino, Italy
| | - Roberto Fantozzi
- Department of Drug Science & Technology, University of Torino, Via P. Giuria 13, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Paolo Caliceti
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Stefano Salmaso
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Loredana Serpe
- Department of Drug Science & Technology, University of Torino, Via P. Giuria 13, 10125 Torino, Italy
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Salmaso S, Bersani S, Scomparin A, Balasso A, Brazzale C, Barattin M, Caliceti P. A novel soluble supramolecular system for sustained rh-GH delivery. J Control Release 2014; 194:168-77. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2014.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Revised: 08/22/2014] [Accepted: 08/23/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Bersani S, Vila-Caballer M, Brazzale C, Barattin M, Salmaso S. pH-sensitive stearoyl-PEG-poly(methacryloyl sulfadimethoxine) decorated liposomes for the delivery of gemcitabine to cancer cells. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2014; 88:670-82. [PMID: 25157908 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2014.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 05/05/2014] [Revised: 08/07/2014] [Accepted: 08/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Novel, acid-sensitive liposomes that respond to physiopathological pH for tumour targeting applications were obtained by surface decoration with 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy(polyethylene glycol)] (mPEG-DSPE) and stearoyl-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(methacryloyl sulfadimethoxine) copolymer (stearoyl-PEG-polySDM). The pH-sensitive stearoyl-PEG-polySDM copolymer contained an average of seven methacryloyl sulfadimethoxines per molecule and was found to possess an apparent pKa of 7.2. Preliminary cloud point studies showed that the hydrophilic/hydrophobic copolymer conversion occurred at pH 7.0. The copolymer was soluble above pH 7.0 and underwent aggregation at lower pH. Liposome formulations were prepared with 0.2:0.6:100, 0.5:1.5:100 and 1:3:100 mPEG-DSPE/stearoyl-PEG-polySDM/lipids molar ratios. All of the liposome formulations were stable at pH 7.4, even in the presence of foetal bovine serum, but they underwent rapid size increase at pH 6.5. TEM analysis showed that, at pH 6.5, the formulations coated with a stearoyl-PEG-polySDM/lipids molar ratio greater than 1:100 underwent aggregation. At pH 7.4, the liposomes showed negative zeta potential that significantly decreased after incubation at pH 6.5. Cell-culture studies indicated that the liposomes were not toxic up to 10mg/mL. Fluorescence spectroscopy, cytofluorimetry and confocal microscopy showed that at pH 6.5, the incubation of MCF-7 tumour cells with fluorescein-labelled 1:3:100 mPEG-DSPE/stearoyl-PEG-polySDM/lipids molar ratio liposomes resulted in time-dependent cell association, while at pH 7.4 the cell interaction was significantly lower. The same pH-responsive liposome formulation loaded with gemcitabine (98.2±4.7nmol gemcitabine/lipid μmol loading capacity) was stable at pH 7.4 for several hours, while at pH 6.5 it rapidly aggregated. At pH 6.5, these liposomes displayed higher cytotoxicity than at pH 7.4 or compared to non-responsive control liposomes at both incubation pH. Notably, treatment with free gemcitabine did not yield cytotoxic effects, indicating that the carrier can efficiently deliver the anticancer drug to the cytosolic compartment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Bersani
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Brazzale
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Michela Barattin
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Stefano Salmaso
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
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