Targeted delivery systems of small interfering RNA by systemic administration

RNA interference (RNAi) is induced by 21-25 nucleotide, double-stranded small interfering RNA (siRNA), which is incorporated into the RNAi-induced silencing complex (RISC) and is a guide for cleavage of the complementary target mRNA in the cytoplasm. There are many obstacles to in vivo delivery of siRNAs, such as degradation by enzymes in blood, interaction with blood components and non-specific uptake by the cells, which govern biodistribution in the body. In order to achieve the knockdown by siRNAs in vivo, many delivery systems of siRNAs based on physical and pharmaceutical approaches have been proposed. In addition, the immune responses of siRNA must be taken into account when considering the application of siRNAs to in vivo therapy. This review focuses on recent reports about delivery systems and immune responses of siRNAs.     

RNA therapeutics: beyond RNA interference and antisense oligonucleotides

Here, we discuss three RNA-based therapeutic technologies exploiting various oligonucleotides that bind to RNA by base pairing in a sequence-specific manner yet have different mechanisms of action and effects. RNA interference and antisense oligonucleotides downregulate gene expression by inducing enzyme-dependent degradation of targeted mRNA. Steric-blocking oligonucleotides block the access of cellular machinery to pre-mRNA and mRNA without degrading the RNA. Through this mechanism, steric-blocking oligonucleotides can redirect alternative splicing, repair defective RNA, restore protein production or downregulate gene expression. Moreover, they can be extensively chemically modified to acquire more drug-like properties. The ability of RNA-blocking oligonucleotides to restore gene function makes them best suited for the treatment of genetic disorders. Positive results from clinical trials for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy show that this technology is close to achieving its clinical potential.     

RNA interference may be more potent than antisense RNA in human cancer cell lines

1. RNA interference (RNAi) is a newly discovered cellular pathway for the silencing of sequence-specific genes at the mRNA level by the introduction of the cognate double-stranded (ds) RNA. Because antisense (AS) mechanisms have similar effects, we compared these two effects in human cancer cell lines, considering a possible application of RNAi for cancer therapy. 2. We tested RNAi effects by transfecting human hepatoma and pancreatic cancer cell lines with AS and sense (S) RNA expression plasmids corresponding to the exogenous luciferase gene or the endogenous c-raf gene in the form of complexes with a cationic lipopolyamine or a tumour-targeting peptide vector we developed. In addition, we compared the effects of small interfering RNA and AS oligoDNA complexed with the peptide vector. 3. From the viewpoint of AS actions, the effect of the AS RNA may be cancelled by the S RNA, although, interestingly, we found that the combination of the AS and S RNA expression plasmids was more effective than the AS RNA expression plasmids alone in reducing target gene expression, whereas the S RNA expression plasmids had no effects. The combination of the luciferase AS and S RNA had no effects on the expression of either the beta-galactosidase gene or the c-raf gene. In the presence of 2-aminopurine (an inhibitor of dsRNA-activated protein kinase), the inhibitory effect of the combination of AS and S RNA on gene expression did not change in the case of the endogenous c-raf gene, but was reduced in the case of the exogenous luciferase gene. The effect of 22 nucleotide RNA duplexes corresponding to the luciferase gene was by one order stronger than that of the phosphorothioate AS DNA. 4. Thus, it is suggested that RNAi may be more potent than AS RNA in reducing target gene expression in human cancer cell lines, regardless of the length of dsRNA. With further studies on the RNAi phenomenon in cancer cells, RNAi could provide a novel approach for cancer gene therapy.     

Targeted delivery of monoclonal antibody conjugated docetaxel loaded PLGA nanoparticles into EGFR overexpressed lung tumour cells

The aim of this study was to develop anti-EGFR antibody conjugated poly(lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles (NPs) to target epidermal growth factor receptor, highly expressed on non-small cell lung cancer cells to improve cytotoxicity and site specificity. Cetuximab was conjugated to docetaxel (DTX) loaded PLGA NPs by known EDC/NHS chemistry and characterised for size, zeta potential, conjugation efficiency and the results were 128.4?±?3.6?nm, –31.0?±?0.8?mV, and 39.77?±?3.4%, respectively. In vitro release study demonstrated sustained release of drug from NPs with 25% release at pH 5.5 after 48?h. In vitro cytotoxicity studies demonstrated higher anti-proliferative activity of NPs than unconjugated NPs. Cell cycle analysis and apoptosis study were performed to evaluate extent of cell arrest at different phases and apoptotic potential for the formulations, respectively. In vivo efficacy study showed significant reduction in tumour growth and so antibody conjugated NPs present a promising active targeting carrier for tumour selective therapeutic treatment.     

Nanotechnologies and controlled release systems for the delivery of antisense oligonucleotides and small interfering RNA

Antisense oligonucleotides and small interfering RNA have enormous potential for the treatment of a number of diseases, including cancer. However, several impediments to their widespread use as drugs still have to be overcome: in particular their lack of stability in physiological fluids and their poor penetration into cells. Association with or encapsulation within nano-and microsized drug delivery systems could help to solve these problems. In this review, we describe the progress that has been made using delivery systems composed of natural or synthetic polymers in the form of complexes, nanoparticles or microparticles.This article is part of a themed section on Vector Design and Drug Delivery. For a list of all articles in this section see the end of this paper, or visit: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/121548564/issueyear?year=200     

Targeted gene delivery to the lung

Gene therapy holds promise for the treatment of a range of inherited pulmonary disorders. However, efficient delivery and expression of the therapeutic transgene at levels sufficient to result in phenotypic correction of the diseased state has proved elusive. This review focuses on the development of gene delivery strategies for the lungs. One of the principal prerequisites for successful gene therapy is the delivery of gene vectors to the target area within a tissue and to target cells within that area. Physical and biological targeting of the gene vectors and its application in various models is discussed. Subsequently, both viral and non-viral vectors are addressed with respect to their transfection efficiency in different lung cells, the longevity of expression and their immunogenicity. Also, the various methods for pulmonary gene delivery are evaluated for their merits and limitations.     

联合新型Bcl-2反义核酸与足叶乙苷抑制人小细胞肺癌细胞的增殖

目的　研究一种新型Bcl 2反义寡核苷酸 F95 1在与足叶乙苷 (VP16 )联合使用时 ,对人小细胞肺癌细胞增殖的影响。方法　分别单独及联合应用F95 1、VP16于人小细胞肺癌细胞株NCI H4 4 6 ,通过MTT法检测细胞存活率 ,通过集落形成法检测集落生存率 ,按Welander法计算联合应用组的预测值 ,通过实测值与预测值的比较进行效应分析。结果　细胞存活率 (MTT法 )和集落生存率 (集落形成法 )均显示联合应用F95 1、VP16组的实测值明显低于预测值。结论　联合应用F95 1与VP16对人小细胞肺癌细胞的增殖有协同的抑制作用。     

Ion-activated in situ gelling systems for antisense oligodeoxynucleotide delivery to the ocular surface

Ion-activated in situ gelling systems are able to cross-link with the cations present in the tear fluid, forming a gel on the ocular surface and prolonging corneal contact time. Corneal scrape wounding offers an exceptional model to investigate the efficacy of these formulations for connexin43 (Cx43) antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (AsODN) delivery used to improve wound repair. Systems based on gellan gum and carrageenan have previously been found advantageous in terms of their physicochemical properties, in vitro and in vivo release profiles and precorneal retention. The present study describes AsODN penetration into corneal tissue after wounding and determines the formulations' delivery efficacy by evaluating wound size, tissue inflammation and connexin levels. No difference was shown between the penetration patterns of the formulations, with most of the AsODN accumulating in the epithelium close to the wound leading edge and the stroma underlying the wound. However, significant differences were seen in the delivery efficacy, with gellan gum and carrageenan based systems resulting in the lowest connexin levels and subsequently in the greatest reduction in wound size, the least stromal edema and hypercellularity. This demonstrates their potential use as delivery vehicles for AsODNs to the ocular surface.     

The potential of clusterin inhibiting antisense oligodeoxynucleotide therapy for prostate cancer

This review summarise the authors’ recent experience in the development of antisense (AS) oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) therapy that targets a cytoprotective gene, clusterin, for the treatment of prostate cancer. The acquisition of resistance to a wide variety of proapototic stimuli was initially demonstrated by introducing the clusterin gene into prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, silencing clusterin expression using AS ODN synergistically enhanced the effects of several conventional therapeutic modalities through the effective induction of apoptosis in prostate cancer xenograft models. Based on these outcomes, Phase I clinical trials were conducted using AS clusterin ODN incorporating 2′-O-(2-methoxy)ethyl-gapmer backbone (OGX-011), and the optimal dose of OGX-011 capable of inducing ≤ 90% suppression of clusterin in human prostate cancer tissue was determined. Collectively, these findings suggest the utility of inactivating clusterin function using AS ODN technology as a novel therapeutic strategy for prostate cancer treatment. There have been four kinds of Phase II studies that have begun to further evaluate the efficacy of OGX-011 in patients with prostate, breast and lung cancers.     

小干涉RNA导入哺乳动物体内的方法与策略研究进展

小干涉RNA(small interfering RNA,siRNA)是目前研究的比较活跃的一种小RNA。利用siRNA使基因沉寂从而调节目的蛋白的功能,在疾病的基因治疗中有巨大的应用潜力。该文从siRNA在哺乳动物整体水平研究的角度,对近年来siRNA的载体策略以及siRNA导入体内的方法和途径等方面的研究进展作一综述,并讨论了siRNA在体内应用的优势和可能存在的问题。     

Targeted delivery of etoposide to cancer cells by folate-modified nanostructured lipid drug delivery system

Abstract

Context: Cardiotoxicity and myelosuppression of etoposide (ETP) limited its clinical application. Targeted drug delivery system could deliver anticancer agents to the target cancerous cells, thus reducing their toxicity.

Objective: In this study, folate (FA) was applied for the construction of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), and used for targeted delivery of ETP to tumors overexpresses the FA receptors.

Methods: FA-poly (ethylene glycol)-distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine was synthesized. FA decorated and ETP-loaded NLCs (FA-ETP-NLCs) were prepared and the formulation was optimized by Box–Behnken design. Their particle size (PS), zeta potential and drug encapsulation efficiency (EE) was evaluated. In vitro cytotoxicity studies of FA-ETP-NLCs were tested in CT26, SGC7901, NCI-H209 cell lines. In vivo antitumor efficacies of the carriers were evaluated on mice bearing CT26 cells xenografts.

Results: The optimum FA-ETP-NLCs formulations had a PS of 120.86?nm. The growth of CT26, SGC790 or NCI-H209 cells in vitro was obviously inhibited. FA-ETP-NLCs also displayed the best antitumor activity than other formulations in vivo.

Conclusion: The results demonstrated that FA-ETP-NLCs were efficient in selective delivery to CT26, SGC790 or NCI-H209 cells overexpressing the FA receptors. Also, FA-ETP-NLCs can sufficiently transfer ETP to the cancer cells, enhance the antitumor capacity. Thus, FA-ETP-NLCs could prove to be a superior nanomedicine to achieve tumor therapeutic efficacy.     

Targeted delivery of RNAi to cancer cells using RNA-ligand displaying exosome

Exosome is an excellent vesicle for in vivo delivery of therapeutics, including RNAi and chemical drugs. The extremely high efficiency in cancer regression can partly be attributed to its fusion mechanism in delivering therapeutics to cytosol without endosome trapping. However, being composed of a lipid-bilayer membrane without specific recognition capacity for aimed-cells, the entry into nonspecific cells can lead to potential side-effects and toxicity. Applying engineering approaches for targeting-capacity to deliver therapeutics to specific cells is desirable. Techniques with chemical modification in vitro and genetic engineering in cells have been reported to decorate exosomes with targeting ligands. RNA nanoparticles have been used to harbor tumor-specific ligands displayed on exosome surface. The negative charge reduces nonspecific binding to vital cells with negatively charged lipid-membrane due to the electrostatic repulsion, thus lowering the side-effect and toxicity. In this review, we focus on the uniqueness of RNA nanoparticles for exosome surface display of chemical ligands, small peptides or RNA aptamers, for specific cancer targeting to deliver anticancer therapeutics, highlighting recent advances in targeted delivery of siRNA and miRNA that overcomes the previous RNAi delivery roadblocks. Proper understanding of exosome engineering with RNA nanotechnology promises efficient therapies for a wide range of cancer subtypes.     

The potential of clusterin inhibiting antisense oligodeoxynucleotide therapy for prostate cancer

This review summarise the authors' recent experience in the development of antisense (AS) oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) therapy that targets a cytoprotective gene, clusterin, for the treatment of prostate cancer. The acquisition of resistance to a wide variety of proapototic stimuli was initially demonstrated by introducing the clusterin gene into prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, silencing clusterin expression using AS ODN synergistically enhanced the effects of several conventional therapeutic modalities through the effective induction of apoptosis in prostate cancer xenograft models. Based on these outcomes, Phase I clinical trials were conducted using AS clusterin ODN incorporating 2'-O-(2-methoxy)ethyl-gapmer backbone (OGX-011), and the optimal dose of OGX-011 capable of inducing 相似文献   

RNA delivery into mitochondria

Mitochondria, though containing their own genome, import the vast majority of their macromolecular components from the cytoplasm. If the mechanisms of pre-protein import are well understood, the import of nuclear-coded RNAs into mitochondria was investigated to a much lesser extent. This targeting, if not universal, is widely spread among species. The origin and the mechanisms of RNA import seem to differ from one system to another and striking differences are observed even in closely related species. We describe data concerning the various experimental systems of studying RNA import with emphasis on the model of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which was studied in our laboratory. We compare various requirements of RNA import into mitochondria in different species and demonstrate that this pathway can be transferred from yeast to human cells, in which tRNAs normally are not imported. We speculate on the possibility to use RNA import for biomedical purposes.     

叶酸受体介导99mTc标记c-erbB2癌基因反义寡核苷酸的乳腺癌细胞摄取率

目的研究叶酸受体介导的99mTc标记c-erbB2癌基因反义寡核苷酸乳腺癌细胞的摄取率.方法用双功能鳌合剂次已酰双半胱氨酸(EC)连接15mer寡脱氧核苷酸(ODN)和叶酸(FA),形成ODN-EC-FA,用99mTc标记,形成99mTc-ODN-FA.同样的方法不加叶酸,形成99mTc-ODN.加2μCi的99mTc-ODN-FA和99mTc-ODN到107cell/瓶对数生长期乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231,分别于20、40、60、120、180、240分钟测定细胞的摄取率.结果乳腺癌细胞对99mTc-ODN-FA的摄取率明显高于99mTc-ODN.结论叶酸配体与受体的特异结合使寡核苷酸的乳腺癌细胞摄取率明显增加.     

叶酸受体介导99mTc标记c-erbB2癌基因反义寡核苷酸的乳腺癌细胞摄取率

目的 研究叶酸受体介导的^99mTc标记c-erbB2癌基因反义寡核苷酸乳腺癌细胞的摄取率。方法用双功能螯合剂次已酰双半胱氨酸(EC)连接15mer寡脱氧核苷酸(ODN)和叶酸(FA),形成ODN-EC-FA,用^99mTc标记,形成^99mTc-ODN-FA。同样的方法不加叶酸,形成^99mTc-ODN。加2μCi的^99mTc-ODN-FA和^99mTc-ODN到10^7cell／瓶对数生长期乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231,分别于20、40、60、120、180、240分钟测定细胞的摄取率。结果乳腺癌细胞对^99Tc-ODN-FA的摄取率明显高于^99Tc-ODN。结论叶酸配体与受体的特异结合使寡核苷酸的乳腺癌细胞摄取率明显增加。     

GL67 lipid-based liposomal formulation for efficient siRNA delivery into human lung cancer cells

The efficient delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to the targeted cells significantly affects the regulation of the overexpressed proteins involved in the progression of several genetic diseases. SiRNA molecules in naked form suffer from low internalization across the cell membrane, high susceptibility to degradation by nuclease enzyme and low stability, which hinder their efficacy. Therefore, there is an urge to develop a delivery system that can protect siRNA from degradation and facilitate their uptake across the cell membrane. In this study, the cationic lipid (GL67) was exploited, in addition to DC-Chol and DOPE lipids, to design an efficient liposomal nanocarrier for siRNA delivery. The physiochemical characterizations demonstrated that the molar ratio of 3:1 has proper particle size measurements from 144 nm to 332 nm and zeta potential of −9 mV to 47 mV that depends on the ratio of the GL67 in the liposomal formulation. Gel retardation assay exhibited that increasing the percentage of GL67 in the formulations has a good impact on the encapsulation efficiency compared to DC-Chol. The optimal formulations of the 3:1 M ratio also showed high metabolic activity against A549 cells following a 24 h cell exposure. Flow cytometry findings showed that the highest GL67 lipid ratio (100 % GL67 and 0 % DC-Chol) had the highest percentage of cellular uptake. The lipoplex nanocarriers based on GL67 lipid could potentially influence treating genetic diseases owing to the high internalization efficiency and safety profile.