Dendrosome-based delivery of siRNA against E6 and E7 oncogenes in cervical cancer

Although small interfering RNA (siRNA) treatment holds great promise for the treatment of cancers, the field has been held back by the availability of suitable delivery vehicles. For cervical cancer the E6 and E7 oncogenes are ideal siRNA targets for treatment. The purpose of the present study was to explore the potential of dendrosomes for the delivery of siRNA targeting E6 and E7 proteins of cervical cancer cells in vitro. Optimization of dendrimer generation and nitrogen-to-phosphate (N/P) ratio was carried out using dendrimer–fluorescein isothiocyanate oligo complexes. The optimized N/P ratios were used in formulating complexes between dendrimers and siRNA targeting green fluorescence protein (siGFP). Although formulation 4D100 (dendrimer-siRNA complex) displayed the highest GFP knockdown, it was also found to be highly toxic to cells. In the final formulation 4D100 was encapsulated into dendrosomes so as to mask these toxic effects. The optimized dendrosomal formulation (DF), DF3 was found to possess a siGFP-entrapment efficiency of 49.76% ± 1.62%, vesicle size of 154 ± 1.73 nm, and zeta potential of +3.21 ± 0.07 mV. The GFP knockdown efficiency of DF3 (dendrosome) was found to be almost identical to that of 4D100, but the former was completely nontoxic to the cells. DF3 containing siRNA against E6 and E7 was found to knock down the target genes considerably, as compared with the other formulations tested. Our results imply that dendrosomes hold potential for the delivery of siRNA and that a suitable targeting strategy could be useful for applications in vivo.From the Clinical EditorsiRNA treatment holds great promise for the treatment of cancers, but overall, the availability of suitable delivery vehicles remains a major issue. The purpose of this study was to explore the potential of dendrosomes for the delivery of siRNA targeting specific proteins in cervical cancer cells in vitro. The results suggest that dendrosomes hold potential for the delivery of siRNA and a suitable targeting strategy could be useful for applications in vivo.     

Performance of hydroxyapatite bone repair scaffolds created via three-dimensional fabrication techniques

The current study analyzes the in vivo performance of porous sintered hydroxyapatite (HA) bone repair scaffolds fabricated using the TheriForm solid freeform fabrication process. Porous HA scaffolds with engineered macroscopic channels had a significantly higher percentage of new bone area compared with porous HA scaffolds without channels in a rabbit calvarial defect model at an 8-week time point. An unexpected finding was the unusually large amount of new bone within the base material structure, which contained pores less than 20 microm in size. Compared with composite scaffolds of 80% polylactic-co-glycolic acid and 20% beta-tricalcium phosphate with the same macroscopic architecture as evaluated in a previous study, the porous HA scaffolds with channels had a significantly higher percentage of new bone area. Therefore, the current study indicates that scaffold geometry, as determined by the fabrication process, can enhance the ability of a ceramic material to accelerate healing of calvarial defects.     

Attachment of Toxoplasma gondii to a specific membrane fraction of CHO cells

We have observed previously that attachment of Toxoplasma gondii to synchronized host cells is considerably increased at the mid-S phase (4 h postrelease). Synchronized CHO host cells at the mid-S phase were fractionated by molecular weight, and the antigens were used to produce a panel of polyclonal mouse antisera. The polyclonal antisera raised against fraction 4 with molecular mass ranging approximately from 18 to 40 kDa significantly reduced attachment to mid-S-phase host cells. Immunofluorescence assays demonstrated strong reactivity to mid-S-phase host cells and identified a number of potential receptors on Western blots. These data indicate that there is a specific host membrane receptor for parasite attachment that is upregulated during the mid-S phase of the host cell cycle.     

Engineered cellular response to scaffold architecture in a rabbit trephine defect

Tight control of pore architecture in porous scaffolds for bone repair is critical for a fully elucidated tissue response. Solid freeform fabrication (SFF) enables construction of scaffolds with tightly controlled pore architecture. Four types of porous scaffolds were constructed using SFF and evaluated in an 8-mm rabbit trephine defect at 8 and 16 weeks (n = 6): a lactide/glycolide (50:50) copolymer scaffold with 20% w/w tri-calcium phosphate and random porous architecture (Group 1); another identical design made from poly(desaminotyrosyl-tyrosine ethyl ester carbonate) [poly(DTE carbonate)], a tyrosine-derived pseudo-polyamino acid (Group 2); and two poly(DTE carbonate) scaffolds containing 500 microm pores separated by 500-microm thick walls, one type with solid walls (Group 3), and one type with microporous walls (Group 4). A commercially available coralline scaffold (Interpore) with a 486-microm average pore size and empty defects were used as controls. There was no significant difference in the overall amount of bone ingrowth in any of the devices, as found by radiographic analysis, but patterns of bone formation matched the morphology of the scaffold. These results suggest that controlled scaffold architecture can be superimposed on biomaterial composition to design and construct scaffolds with improved fill time.     

Geographic contiguity and genetic affinity among five ethnic populations of Manipur,India: further molecular studies based on VNTR and STR loci

BACKGROUND: Apart from traditional markers studied among a few numerically small, geographically defined surveys among Mongoloid populations in northeastern parts of India, very little is known about their genomic diversity at the molecular level. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to investigate how best the variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) and short tandem repeat (STR) loci together can detect the patterns of the genetic affinity among five geographically contiguous, linguistically and socio-culturally diverse Mongoloid-affiliated populations of Manipur in northeastern regions of India. SUBJECT AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected from unrelated and randomly selected volunteers of five ethnic populations (Meitei, Kuki, Naga, Hmar and Manipuri Muslim) from different parts of the state. Allelic variation in four minisatellite loci (D1S7, D4S139, D5S110 and D17S79) and three STR loci (vWA, FESFPS and F13AO1) was studied. RESULTS: Average heterozygosity values among the five groups for the minisatellite range from 68% to 94%, while the hypervariable three STR loci were between 60% and 88%. In the populations, all the studied loci were highly polymorphic, with almost no departure from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The gene differentiation for the VNTR loci was lower and moderate (G(st) = 0.030) in comparison with microsatellites (G(st) = 0.043). The neighbour-joining method of clustering based on both type of molecular markers reveals a close cluster for the tribal groups of Kuki, Naga and Hmar, while Manipur Muslim stand distinct in both the trees. The clustering pattern obtained from the combined DNA marker loci matches more closely the pattern from STR loci than that obtained from VNTR loci. CONCLUSIONS: The results reinforce that using both VNTR and STR loci in detecting regional genetic affinity among the populations is more effective than using VNTR or STR independently, and also confirm the results obtained from the serological and electrophoretic data. However, the clustering pattern obtained from combined DNA markers is more in conformity with the pattern obtained by STR loci rather than with VNTR loci. Despite linguistic, geographical and cultural barriers, the populations show genetic affinity among the four populations except in the case of the migrant Manipur Muslim group.