scholarly journals Increased siRNA duplex stability correlates with reduced off-target and elevated on-target effects

RNA ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 737-749 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Petri ◽  
A. Dueck ◽  
G. Lehmann ◽  
N. Putz ◽  
S. Rudel ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moataz Dowaidar

The invention/demonstration of RNA interference (RNAi) as a therapeutic agent has opened the doors to development/research. Clinical trials on siRNA usage demonstrate that it may be utilized as a safe, effective and well-tolerated drug to treat a range of illnesses, particularly cancer. The siRNA drug delivery technology is useful in that it is easy to build and alter to reach the target site. Despite great advances in creating effective in vivo siRNA administration, there are still several difficulties and hurdles to face in order to reach the optimum formulation in terms of selectivity, efficiency and security of delivery. Chemical modifications, liposome-mediated transport, polymeric nanoparticles, and conjugated nanoparticles can bypass this. These changes have minimized off-target effects at various places and positions, resulting in better siRNA duplex nuclease and heat stability. Nanoparticles linked to the targeted ligand improve the probability of tumor-specific receptor binding. Controlling siRNA specificity, intercellular trafficking and site-specific delivery are all issues in the siRNA delivery method. The next study should focus on the in vivo safety profiles of different delivery systems, as well as creating possible targeting techniques for siRNA distribution that would limit toxicity, off-target effects, and other concerns. It is also vital to optimize biodegradable and biocompatible delivery mechanisms for the practical usefulness of RNA-based cancer therapies.


2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 454-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele R. Nogueira-Librelotto ◽  
Cristiane F. Codevilla ◽  
Ammad Farooqi ◽  
Clarice M. B. Rolim

A lot of effort has been devoted to achieving active targeting for cancer therapy in order to reach the right cells. Hence, increasingly it is being realized that active-targeted nanocarriers notably reduce off-target effects, mainly because of targeted localization in tumors and active cellular uptake. In this context, by taking advantage of the overexpression of transferrin receptors on the surface of tumor cells, transferrin-conjugated nanodevices have been designed, in hope that the biomarker grafting would help to maximize the therapeutic benefit and to minimize the side effects. Notably, active targeting nanoparticles have shown improved therapeutic performances in different tumor models as compared to their passive targeting counterparts. In this review, current development of nano-based devices conjugated with transferrin for active tumor-targeting drug delivery are highlighted and discussed. The main objective of this review is to provide a summary of the vast types of nanomaterials that have been used to deliver different chemotherapeutics into tumor cells, and to ultimately evaluate the progression on the strategies for cancer therapy in view of the future research.


Antibiotics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 677
Author(s):  
Nabil Killiny ◽  
Faraj Hijaz ◽  
Pedro Gonzalez-Blanco ◽  
Shelley E. Jones ◽  
Myrtho O. Pierre ◽  
...  

Recently in Florida, foliar treatments using products with the antibiotics oxytetracycline and streptomycin have been approved for the treatment of citrus Huanglongbing (HLB), which is caused by the putative bacterial pathogen ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’. Herein, we assessed the levels of oxytetracycline and ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ titers in citrus trees upon foliar applications with and without a variety of commercial penetrant adjuvants and upon trunk injection. The level of oxytetracycline in citrus leaves was measured using an oxytetracycline ELISA kit and ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ titer was measured using quantitative PCR. Low levels of oxytetracycline were taken up by citrus leaves after foliar sprays of oxytetracycline in water. Addition of various adjuvants to the oxytetracycline solution showed minimal effects on its uptake by citrus leaves. The level of oxytetracycline in leaves from trunk-injected trees was higher than those treated with all foliar applications. The titer of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ in the midrib of leaves from trees receiving oxytetracycline by foliar application was not affected after four days and thirty days of application, whereas the titer was significantly reduced in oxytetracycline-injected trees thirty days after treatment. Investigation of citrus leaves using microscopy showed that they are covered by a thick lipidized cuticle. Perforation of citrus leaf cuticle with a laser significantly increased the uptake of oxytetracycline, decreasing the titer of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ in citrus leaves upon foliar application. Taken together, our findings indicate that trunk injection is more efficient than foliar spray even after the use of adjuvants. Our conclusion could help in setting useful recommendations for the application of oxytetracycline in citrus to improve tree health, minimize the amount of applied antibiotic, reduce environmental exposure, and limit off-target effects.


Author(s):  
Vratko Himič ◽  
Kay E. Davies

AbstractDuchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked progressive muscle-wasting disorder that is caused by a lack of functional dystrophin, a cytoplasmic protein necessary for the structural integrity of muscle. As variants in the dystrophin gene lead to a disruption of the reading frame, pharmacological treatments have only limited efficacy; there is currently no effective therapy and consequently, a significant unmet clinical need for DMD. Recently, novel genetic approaches have shown real promise in treating DMD, with advancements in the efficacy and tropism of exon skipping and surrogate gene therapy. CRISPR-Cas9 has the potential to be a ‘one-hit’ curative treatment in the coming decade. The current limitations of gene editing, such as off-target effects and immunogenicity, are in fact partly constraints of the delivery method itself, and thus research focus has shifted to improving the viral vector. In order to halt the loss of ambulation, early diagnosis and treatment will be pivotal. In an era where genetic sequencing is increasingly utilised in the clinic, genetic therapies will play a progressively central role in DMD therapy. This review delineates the relative merits of cutting-edge genetic approaches, as well as the challenges that still need to be overcome before they become clinically viable.


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