Screening and validation of atherosclerosis PAN-apoptotic immune-related genes based on single-cell sequencing.

Background: Carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) is a complication of atherosclerosis (AS). PAN-optosome is an inflammatory programmed cell death pathway event regulated by the PAN-optosome complex. CAS's PAN-optosome-related genes (PORGs) have yet to be studied. Hence, screening the PAN-optosome-related diagnostic genes for treating CAS was vital. Methods: We introduced transcriptome data to screen out differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in CAS. Subsequently, WGCNA analysis was utilized to mine module genes about PANoptosis score. We performed differential expression analysis (CAS samples vs. standard samples) to obtain CAS-related differentially expressed genes at the single-cell level. Venn diagram was executed to identify PAN-optosome-related differential genes (POR-DEGs) associated with CAS. Further, LASSO regression and RF algorithm were implemented to were executed to build a diagnostic model. We additionally performed immune infiltration and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) based on diagnostic genes. We verified the accuracy of the model genes by single-cell nuclear sequencing and RT-qPCR validation of clinical samples, as well as in vitro cellular experiments. Results: We identified 785 DEGs associated with CAS. Then, 4296 module genes about PANoptosis score were obtained. We obtained the 7365 and 1631 CAS-related DEGs at the single-cell level, respectively. 67 POR-DEGs were retained Venn diagram. Subsequently, 4 PAN-optosome-related diagnostic genes (CNTN4, FILIP1, PHGDH, and TFPI2) were identified via machine learning. Cellular function tests on four genes showed that these genes have essential roles in maintaining arterial cell viability and resisting cellular senescence. Conclusion: We obtained four PANoptosis-related diagnostic genes (CNTN4, FILIP1, PHGDH, and TFPI2) associated with CAS, laying a theoretical foundation for treating CAS.

Predictive Value of Combined HbA1c and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in Type 2 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a prevalent complication affecting over 60% of type 2 diabetes patients. Early diagnosis is challenging, leading to irreversible impacts on quality of life. This study explores the predictive value of combining HbA1c and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) for early DPN detection. MATERIAL AND METHODS An observational study was conducted at the First People's Hospital of Linping District, Hangzhou spanning from May 2019 to July 2020. Data on sex, age, biochemical measurements were collected from electronic medical records and analyzed. Employing multivariate logistic regression analysis, we sought to comprehend the factors influencing the development of DPN. To assess the predictive value of individual and combined testing for DPN, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted. The data analysis was executed using R software (Version: 4.1.0). RESULTS The univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) (OR=1.94, 95% CI: 1.27-3.14) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (OR=4.60, 95% CI: 1.15-22.62, P=0.04) as significant risk factors for the development of DPN. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated that HbA1c, NLR, and their combined detection exhibited high sensitivity in predicting the development of DPN (71.60%, 90.00%, and 97.2%, respectively), with moderate specificity (63.8%, 45.00%, and 50.00%, respectively). The area under the curve (AUC) for these predictors was 0.703, 0.661, and 0.733, respectively. CONCLUSIONS HbA1c and NLR emerge as noteworthy risk indicators associated with the manifestation of DPN in patients with type 2 diabetes. The combined detection of HbA1c and NLR exhibits a heightened predictive value for the development of DPN.

Sjogren's Syndrome Complicated With Aldosterone-Producing Adenoma: A Case Report.

Hypokalemia may be present in some patients with Sjogren's syndrome. When a patient with Sjogren's syndrome presents with hypokalemia, we would first consider it to be a result of the renal involvement of Sjogren's syndrome. However, in this case report, we present a young woman with Sjogren's syndrome who presented with hypokalemia that was not caused by renal tubular acidosis but by the presence of a coexisting aldosterone-producing adenoma. Cases of Sjogren's syndrome coexisting with aldosterone-producing adenoma are extremely rare. This finding underscores the need for more careful differential diagnosis in patients with Sjogren's syndrome who also have hypokalemia.

Predictive Values of Blood Type I and Type II Interferon Production for Disease Activity and Clinical Response to TNF-α Blocking Therapy in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) blocking therapy is recommended to treat ankylosing spondylitis for patients who fail to respond to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Herein, we attempt to dissect whether blood type I and II interferon (IFN) production can be predictive of ankylosing spondylitis progression and treatment response to the tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi). A total of 50 ankylosing spondylitis patients receiving originator TNFi with a 6-month period were retrospectively analyzed. The patients who reached the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society 40 (ASAS40) response at the 6-month interval were classified as responders (n = 29) to TNFi treatment, otherwise as non-responders (n = 21). The serum type I IFN activity, and the serum levels of IFN-α and IFN-γ in the patients at baseline were notably greater than the healthy controls. Pearson correlation analysis showed positive correlations in the patients between the serum type I IFN activity or the serum levels of IFN-α and IFN-γ, and BASDAI scores, ASDASCRP or pro-inflammatory factor production. The responders were demonstrated with reduced serum type I IFN activity concomitant with lower serum levels of IFN-α and IFN-γ compared to the non-responders after anti-TNF treatment. The serum type I IFN activity, and the serum levels of IFN-α and IFN-γ used as a test to predict responders and non-responders to anti-TNF treatment produced an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.837, 0.814, and 0.787, respectively. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that blood type I and II IFN production may be correlated with disease activity, inflammatory cytokine production, and indicative of unsatisfying response to TNFi treatment in ankylosing spondylitis patients.

Modulating albumin-mediated transport of peptide-drug conjugates for antigen-specific Treg induction.

The therapeutic potential of antigen-specific regulatory T cells (Treg) has been extensively explored, leading to the development of several tolerogenic vaccines. Dexamethasone-antigen conjugates represent a prominent class of tolerogenic vaccines that enable coordinated delivery of antigen and dexamethasone to target immune cells. The importance of nonspecific albumin association towards the biodistribution of antigen-adjuvant conjugates has gained increasing attention, by which hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions govern the association capacity. Using an ensemble of computational and experimental techniques, we evaluate the impact of charged residues adjacent to the drug conjugation site in dexamethasone-antigen conjugates (Dex-K/E4-OVA323, K: lysine, E: glutamate) towards their albumin association capacity and induction of antigen-specific Treg. We find that Dex-K4-OVA323 possesses a higher albumin association capacity than Dex-E4-OVA323, leading to enhanced liver distribution and antigen-presenting cell uptake. Furthermore, using an OVA323-specific adoptive-transfer mouse model, we show that Dex-K4-OVA323 selectively upregulated OVA323-specific Treg cells, whereas Dex-E4-OVA323 exerted no significant effect on Treg cells. Our findings serve as a guide to optimize the functionality of dexamethasone-antigen conjugate amid switching vaccine epitope sequences. Moreover, our study demonstrates that moderating the residues adjacent to the conjugation sites can serve as an engineering approach for future peptide-drug conjugate development.

Tuning Surface Charges of Peptide Nanofibers for Induction of Antigen-Specific Immune Tolerance: An Introductory Study.

Induction of antigen-specific immune tolerance has emerged as the next frontier in treating autoimmune disorders, including atherosclerosis and graft-vs-host reactions during transplantation. Nanostructures are under investigation as a platform for the coordinated delivery of critical components, i.e., the antigen epitope combined with tolerogenic agents, to the target immune cells and subsequently induce tolerance. In the present study, the utility of supramolecular peptide nanofibers to induce antigen-specific immune tolerance was explored. To study the influence of surface charges of the nanofibers towards the extent of the induced immune response, the flanking charge residues at both ends of the amphipathic fibrillization peptide sequences were varied. Dexamethasone, an immunosuppressive glucocorticoid drug, and the ovalbumin-derived OVA323-339 peptide that binds to I-A(d) MHC Class II were covalently linked at either end of the peptide sequences. It was shown that the functional extensions did not alter the structural integrity of the supramolecular nanofibers. Furthermore, the surface charges of the nanofibers were modulated by the inclusion of charged residues. Dendritic cell culture assays suggested that nanofiber of less negative ζ-potential can augment the antigen-specific tolerogenic response. Our findings illustrate a molecular approach to calibrate the tolerogenic response induced by peptide nanofibers, which pave the way for better design of future tolerogenic immunotherapies.

Impact of Formulation Conditions on Lipid Nanoparticle Characteristics and Functional Delivery of CRISPR RNP for Gene Knock-Out and Correction.

The CRISPR-Cas9 system is an emerging therapeutic tool with the potential to correct diverse genetic disorders. However, for gene therapy applications, an efficient delivery vehicle is required, capable of delivering the CRISPR-Cas9 components into the cytosol of the intended target cell population. In this study, we optimized the formulation conditions of lipid nanoparticles (LNP) for delivery of ready-made CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleic protein (RNP). The buffer composition during complexation and relative DOTAP concentrations were varied for LNP encapsulating in-house produced Cas9 RNP alone or Cas9 RNP with additional template DNA for gene correction. The LNP were characterized for size, surface charge, and plasma interaction through asymmetric flow field flow fractionation (AF4). Particles were functionally screened on fluorescent reporter cell lines for gene knock-out and gene correction. This revealed incompatibility of RNP with citrate buffer and PBS. We demonstrated that LNP for gene knock-out did not necessarily require DOTAP, while LNP for gene correction were only active with a low concentration of DOTAP. The AF4 studies additionally revealed that LNP interact with plasma, however, remain stable, whereby HDR template seems to favor stability of LNP. Under optimal formulation conditions, we achieved gene knock-out and gene correction efficiencies as high as 80% and 20%, respectively, at nanomolar concentrations of the CRISPR-Cas9 RNP.

Preparation of mRNA Polyplexes with Post-conjugated Endosome-Disruptive Peptides.

Successful delivery of mRNA into the cytosol of professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) poses one of the biggest challenges in developing effective mRNA vaccines to treat various cancers and viral infectious diseases. However, most polymeric mRNA delivery systems fail to transfect APCs. We have discovered that decoration of pH-sensitive endosome-disruptive GALA peptides on the surface of mRNA polyplexes leads to efficient targeting and transfection of APCs. GALA peptides not only enhance specific uptake in APCs through binding to sialic acid moieties, they also facilitate the endosomal escape of mRNA especially in dendritic cells (DCs). Here, we describe in detail the production of stabilized mRNA polyplexes post-conjugated with GALA peptides via copper-free click chemistry. Methods described here include the synthesis and purification of GALA peptides and its conjugation to mRNA polyplexes.

π-π-Stacked Poly(ε-caprolactone)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) Micelles Loaded with a Photosensitizer for Photodynamic Therapy.

To improve the in vivo stability of poly(-caprolactone)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) (PCL-PEG)-based micelles and cargo retention by π-π stacking interactions, pendant aromatic rings were introduced by copolymerization of -caprolactone with benzyl 5-methyl-2-oxo-1,3-dioxane-5-carboxylate (TMC-Bz). It was shown that the incorporation of aromatic rings yielded smaller micelles (18-30 nm) with better colloidal stability in PBS than micelles without aromatic groups. The circulation time of i.v. injected micelles containing multiple pendant aromatic groups was longer (t½-α: ~0.7 h; t½-ß: 2.9 h) than that of micelles with a single terminal aromatic group (t½ < 0.3 h). In addition, the in vitro partitioning of the encapsulated photosensitizer (meta-tetra(hydroxyphenyl)chlorin, mTHPC) between micelles and human plasma was favored towards micelles for those that contained the pendant aromatic groups. However, this was not sufficient to fully retain mTHPC in the micelles in vivo, as indicated by similar biodistribution patterns of micellar mTHPC compared to free mTHPC, and unequal biodistribution patterns of mTHPC and the host micelles. Our study points out that more detailed in vitro methods are necessary to more reliably predict in vivo outcomes. Furthermore, additional measures beyond π-π stacking are needed to stably incorporate mTHPC in micelles in order to benefit from the use of micelles as targeted delivery systems.

Folate decorated polymeric micelles for targeted delivery of the kinase inhibitor dactolisib to cancer cells.

One of the main challenges in clinical translation of polymeric micelles is retention of the drug in the nanocarrier system upon its systemic administration. Core crosslinking and coupling of the drug to the micellar backbone are common strategies to overcome these issues. In the present study, polymeric micelles were prepared for tumor cell targeting of the kinase inhibitor dactolisib which inhibits both the mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) kinase and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K). We employed platinum(II)-based linker chemistry to couple dactolisib to the core of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(acrylic acid) (PEG-b-PAA) polymeric micelles. The formed dactolisib-PEG-PAA unimers are amphiphilic and self-assemble in an aqueous milieu into core-shell polymeric micelles. Folate was conjugated onto the surface of the micelles to yield folate-decorated polymeric micelles which can target folate receptor over-expressing tumor cells. Fluorescently labeled polymeric micelles were prepared using a lissamine-platinum complex linked in a similar manner as dactolisib. Dactolisib polymeric micelles showed good colloidal stability in water and released the coupled drug in buffers containing chloride or glutathione. Folate decorated micelles were avidly internalized by folate-receptor-positive KB cells and displayed targeted cellular cytotoxicity at 50-75 nM IC50. In conclusion, we have prepared a novel type of folate-receptor targeted polymeric micelles in which platinum(II) linker chemistry modulates drug retention and sustained release of the coupled inhibitor dactolisib.

Ganoderic Acid A exerts the cytoprotection against hypoxia-triggered impairment in PC12 cells via elevating microRNA-153.

Ganoderic Acid A (GAA) is often applied for healing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular ailments, but the influences in cerebral ischemia injury are still hazy. The research delved into the functions of GAA in hypoxia-triggered impairment in PC12 cells. PC12 cells received hypoxia management for 12 hr, and subsequently, cell viability, migration, apoptosis, and correlative protein levels were assessed. After preprocessing with GAA, above cell behaviors were monitored again. The vector of microRNA (miR)-153 inhibitor was utilized for PC12 cell transfection to further explore the functions of miR-153 in hypoxia-impaired cells. Pathways of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) were investigated via executing western blot for uncovering the latent mechanism. Results revealed that hypoxia disposition triggered PC12 cells impairment via restraining cell viability and migration and accelerating apoptosis. However, GAA visibly mollified hypoxia-provoked impairment in PC12 cells. Interestingly, the enhancement of miR-153 triggered by GAA was observed in hypoxia-impaired PC12 cells. After miR-153 inhibitor transfection, the protective functions of GAA in hypoxia-impaired PC12 cells were dramatically inversed. Furthermore, GAA caused PI3K/AKT and mTOR activations via enhancement of miR-153 in hypoxia-impaired PC12 cells. The findings evinced that GAA exhibited the protective functions in PC12 cells against hypoxia-evoked impairment through activating PI3K/AKT and mTOR via elevating miR-153.

RGD-decorated cholesterol stabilized polyplexes for targeted siRNA delivery to glioblastoma cells.

The development of an effective and safe treatment for glioblastoma (GBM) represents a significant challenge in oncology today. Downregulation of key mediators of cell signal transduction by RNA interference is considered a promising treatment strategy but requires efficient, intracellular delivery of siRNA into GBM tumor cells. Here, we describe novel polymeric siRNA nanocarriers functionalized with cRGD peptide that mediates targeted and efficient reporter gene silencing in U87R invasive human GBM cells. The polymer was synthesized via RAFT copolymerization of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-methacrylamide (HPMA) and N-acryloxysuccinimide (NAS), followed by post-polymerization modification with cholesterol for stabilization, cationic amines for siRNA complexation, and azides for copper-free click chemistry. The novel resultant cationic polymer harboring a terminal cholesterol group, self-assembled with siRNA to yield nanosized polyplexes (~ 40 nm) with good colloidal stability at physiological ionic strength. Post-modification of the preformed polyplexes with PEG-cRGD end-functionalized with bicyclo[6.1.0]nonyne (BCN) group resulted in enhanced cell uptake and increased luciferase gene silencing in U87R cells, compared to polyplexes lacking cRGD-targeting groups.

mRNA Polyplexes with Post-Conjugated GALA Peptides Efficiently Target, Transfect, and Activate Antigen Presenting Cells.

Vaccines based on mRNA have emerged as potent systems to elicit CD8+ T cell responses against various cancers and viral infectious diseases. The efficient intracellular delivery of mRNA molecules encoding antigens into the cytosol of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) is still challenging, requiring cell attachment, active uptake, and subsequent endosomal escape. Here, we report a facile approach for the formulation of peptide-functionalized mRNA polyplexes using copper-free click chemistry to promote presentation of mRNA antigen by dendritic cells (DCs). After screening different membrane active peptides, GALA modified mRNA polyplexes (PPx-GALA) with a size around 350 nm and with a slightly negative surface charge (-7 mV), exhibited the highest EGFP-mRNA transfection in RAW 246.7 macrophages (∼36%) and D1 dendritic cells (∼50%) as compared to polyplexes decorated with melittin or LEDE peptides. Interestingly, we found that PPx-GALA enters DCs through sialic acid mediated endo/phagocytosis, which was not influenced by DC maturation. The PPx-GALA formulation exhibited 18-fold higher cellular uptake compared to a lipofectamine mRNA formulation without inducing cytotoxicity. Live cell imaging showed that PPx-GALA that were taken up by endocytosis induced calcein release from endosomes into the cytosol. DCs treated with PPx-GALA containing mRNA encoding for OVA displayed enhanced T cell responses and DC maturation. Collectively, these data provide a strong rationale for further study of this PPx-GALA formulation in vivo as a promising mRNA vaccine platform.

Modular core-shell polymeric nanoparticles mimicking viral structures for vaccination.

Recent advances in the development of protein-based vaccines have expanded the opportunities for preventing and treating both infectious diseases as well as cancer. However, the development of readily and efficient antigen delivery systems capable of stimulating strong cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses remains a challenge. With the attempt to closely mimic the properties of viruses in terms of their size and molecular organization, we constructed RNA (which is a ligand for Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) and TLR8) and antigen-loaded nanoparticles resembling the structural organization of viruses. Cationic polymers containing either azide or bicyclo[6.1.0]nonyne (BCN) groups were synthesized as electrostatic glue that binds negatively charged single stranded RNA (PolyU) to form a self-crosslinked polyplex core. An azide-modified model antigen (ovalbumin, OVA) and a BCN-modified mannosylated or galactosylated polymer were sequentially conjugated to the RNA core via disulfide bonds using copper free click chemistry to form the shell of the polyplexes. The generated reducible virus mimicking particles (VMPs) with a diameter of 200 nm and negatively surface charge (-14 mV) were colloidally stable in physiological conditions. The immunogenicity of these VMP vaccines was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. The surface mannosylated VMPs (VMP-Man) showed 5 times higher cellular uptake by bone marrow derived DCs (BMDCs) compared to galactosylated VMP (VMP-Gal) counterpart. Moreover, VMP-Man efficiently activated DCs and greatly facilitated MHC I Ag presentation in vitro. Vaccination of mice with VMP-Man elicited strong OVA-specific CTL responses as well as humoral immune responses. These results demonstrate that the modular core-shell polymeric nanoparticles described in this paper are superior in inducing strong and durable immune responses compared to adjuvanted protein subunit vaccines and offer therefore a flexible platform for personalized vaccines.

Combination of the CYP2C19 metabolizer and the GRACE risk score better predicts the long-term major adverse cardiac events in acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

INTRODUCTION: Both Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) risk score and CYP2C19 metabolizer status can independently predict major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We investigated whether their combination could better predict MACE occurrence in patients with ACS undergoing PCI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 548 consecutive patients with ACS undergoing PCI. A cumulative MACE curve was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate Cox regression was used to identify MACE predictors. The predictive value of GRACE risk score alone and CYP2C19 metabolizer status was estimated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), net reclassification improvement (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI). RESULTS: In a median of 28.58 months, 17 patients (3%) were lost to follow-up, and 62 (11.3%) experienced MACEs. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that both GRACE score and CYP2C19 metabolizer status were independent MACE predictors (hazard ratio 1.019, 95% CI 1.011-1.027, p < 0.001; hazard ratio 2.383, 95% CI 1.601-3.547, p < 0.001, respectively). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that CYP2C19 PM increased the MACE risk (log rank test = 10.848, p = 0.004). The GRACE score adjustment by CYP2C19 metabolizer status enhanced the predictive value (AUC increased from 0.682 for GRACE score alone to 0.731 for GRACE score plus CYP2C19 metabolizer). This result was further verified by IDI and NRI. CONCLUSIONS: CYP2C19 metabolizer status and GRACE score are readily available predictive approaches for MACEs, and their combination derives a more accurate long-term MACE prediction in clopidogrel-treated patients with ACS undergoing PCI.

A hierarchical assembly strategy to engineer dextran-enveloped polyurethane nanopolyplexes for robust ovarian cancer gene therapy.

A hierarchical assembly strategy is herein investigated to generate bio-responsive, dextran-enveloped, bioreducible polyurethane nanopolyplexes for nonviral gene therapy against ovarian tumor. Initially, a group of poly(urethane amine)s were designed and characterized for in vitro gene transfection. The polyurethane containing 1,4-bis(3-aminopropyl)piperazine residue (PUBAP) could induce the best in vitro transfection efficacy against SKOV-3 or A2780 ovarian cancer cells. Next, dextran-enveloped PUBAP polyplexes (e-polyplexes) were constructed by a hierarchical assembly procedure involving gene neutralization with PUBAP and subsequent gene condensation with a cationic dextran (SSDP800). Such dextran comprised dextran (15 kDa) as the main chain and multiple disulfide-linked branched polyethylenimine (BPEI) oligomers as the side grafts. Additionally, folate-dextran-enveloped PUBAP polyplexes (FA-e-polyplexes) were fabricated by folate-modified SSDP800. These nanoscale-enveloped polyplexes elicited an improved colloidal stability against salt ions and negatively charged heparin, efficient endosomal escaping, and bioreduction-triggered intracellular gene release. In vitro transfection against SKOV-3 cells illustrated that FA-e-polyplexes exerted higher transfection efficiency in the serum than e-polyplexes and 25 kDa BPEI-polyplexes. In vivo, FA-e-polyplexes yielded higher transgene expression level than e-polyplexes in an SKOV-3 tumor-bearing nude mouse model. In the tumor gene therapy with a small hairpin RNA silencing vascular endothelial growth factor, FA-e-polyplexes afforded higher tumor growth inhibition than polyplexes of folate-PEGylated PUBAP and 25 kDa linear polyethylenimine as positive controls. Importantly, such gene therapy had minor toxic effects on the health of the mouse. This work highlights a practical hierarchical assembly method to construct innovative enveloped polyurethane nanopolyplexes enabling robust ovarian cancer gene therapy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: It is indispensable to rationally update binary cationic polyplexes into ternary polyplexes for vigorous tumor gene therapy. In this work, we have confirmed that a hierarchical assembly strategy, by using initial gene neutralization and subsequent gene condensation, is facile and effective to promote cationic polyurethane polyplexes into ternary folate-dextran-enveloped polyurethane polyplexes with a relatively high gene-loading capacity. The enveloped polyplex system enables more efficient gene transfection than the PEGylated polyplex counterpart in ovarian cancer in vitro and in vivo, thereby affording robust ovarian cancer gene therapy. The development of innovative enveloped polyplexes may be a new direction for a non-viral gene delivery system.

Post-PEGylated and crosslinked polymeric ssRNA nanocomplexes as adjuvants targeting lymph nodes with increased cytolytic T cell inducing properties.

Potent adjuvants are highly demanded for most protein and peptides based vaccine candidates in clinical development. Recognition of viral single stranded (ss)RNA by innate toll-like receptors 7/8 in dendritic cells results in a cytokine environment supportive to the establishment of long lasting antibody responses and Th1 oriented T cell immunity. To fully exploit the immunestimulatory properties of ssRNA, it needs to be adequately formulated to ensure its optimal delivery to dendritic cells in the vaccine draining lymph nodes. In the present paper, we report on the design of ssRNA nanocomplexes formed by complexation of the cationic poly(carbonic acid 2-dimethylamino-ethyl ester 1-methyl-2-(2-methacryloylamino)-ethyl ester) (pHPMA-DMAE) based polymeric carrier and ssRNA. The resulting ssRNA nanocomplexes were subsequently PEGylated through copper-free click chemistry using PEG-bicyclo[6.1.0]nonyne (PEG-BCN) and cross-linked via disulfide bonds to increase their stability. The obtained near-neutral charged PEGylated ssRNA nanocomplexes (~150 nm) combined ssRNA protection with highly efficient delivery of ssRNA to DCs in the vaccine draining lymph nodes after subcutanuously administration. When co-administrated with a model antigen (soluble ovalbumin (OVA)), ssRNA nanocomplexes were far more efficient at inducing CD8 cytolytic T cells when compared to OVA co-adminstarted with naked ssRNA. Furthermore, IgG2c antibody titers, indicative of Th1 skewed T cell responses, were >10 times increased by complexing ssRNA into the PEGylated nanocomplexes. This study highlights the potential of post-functionalizing ssRNA nanocomplexes by copper-free click chemistry and these findings indcate that this potent ssRNA adjuvant may profoundly improve the efficacy of a variety of vaccines requiring Th1-type immunity.

Hypoxia-induced tumor cell resistance is overcome by synergistic GAPDH-siRNA and chemotherapy co-delivered by long-circulating and cationic-interior liposomes.

Chemotherapeutic drug resistance of tumor cells under hypoxic conditions is caused by the inhibition of apoptosis by autophagy and drug efflux via adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent transporter activation, among other factors. Here, we demonstrate that disrupting glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) expression can reduce the autophagy and ATP levels in tumor cells. To test whether GAPDH knockdown is sufficient to overcome drug resistance, a nanocarrier (asymmetry-membrane liposome) was designed to encapsulate GAPDH-siRNA with a low dose of paclitaxel (PTX). Liposomes were prepared using novel cryogenic inner-outer dual reverse phase emulsion liposome manufacturing technology to obtain a high loading of siRNA. The results of dynamic light scattering (DLS) indicated that the liposomes had an average hydrodynamic diameter of 250.5 nm and polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.210, which was confirmed by (Transmission Electron Microscope) TEM images. In in vitro tests, the siRNA liposomes presented a high specificity in the suppression of GAPDH expression and significant synergy in cytotoxicity with co-delivery of PTX against tumor cells (HeLa and MCF-7) under hypoxic conditions. Moreover, in vivo studies (a HeLa tumor xenograft model using female BALB/c nude mice) demonstrate that the liposomes could not only increase the concentration of drugs in tumors over time but also successfully boosted the chemotherapeutic efficacy of PTX (synergistic therapy with GAPDH-siRNA). Tumor cells appeared to lose their resistance against PTX therapy, becoming more sensitive to PTX when GAPDH-siRNA was simultaneously administered in long-circulating liposomes. Consequently, the novel delivery of GAPDH-siRNA using nanotargeted liposomes provides a useful and potential tool to overcome multidrug resistant (MDR) tumors and presents a bright prospect compared with the traditional chemotherapeutic strategies in clinic cancer therapy.

Small nanosized poly(vinyl benzyl trimethylammonium chloride) based polyplexes for siRNA delivery.

The success of siRNA gene therapy requires the availability of safe and efficient delivery systems. In the present study, we investigated poly(vinyl benzyl trimethylammonium chloride) (PVTC) and its block copolymer with poly(oligo(ethyleneglycol) methacrylate) (POEGMA) as delivery vector for siRNA. Small polyplexes ranging from 8 to 25nm in diameter were formed in aqueous solution by spontaneous self-assembly of both the homopolymer and block copolymer with siRNA and the formed particles were stable at physiological ionic strength. It was shown that when human ovarian adenocarcinoma cells were transfected, siRNA polyplexes based on PVTC (40kDa) and PVTC-POEGMA-4 (PP4, 34kDa) efficiently induced luciferase gene silencing to the same extent as the formulation based on a commercial lipid (Lipofectamine®) (∼80%), and showed higher gene silencing than the linear polyethylenimine formulation linear polyethylenimine (∼35%). Importantly, the POEGMA block polymers displayed a significantly lower cytotoxicity as compared to L-pEI. siRNA polyplexes based on the block polymers displayed high cellular uptake resulting in ∼50% silencing of luciferase expression also in the presence of serum. These results demonstrate that PVTC-based polymers are promising siRNA delivery vectors.