scholarly journals Microencapsulated Chitosan-Based Nanocapsules: A New Platform for Pulmonary Gene Delivery

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1377
Author(s):  
Estefanía Fernández-Paz ◽  
Lucía Feijoo-Siota ◽  
Maria Manuela Gaspar ◽  
Noemi Csaba ◽  
Carmen Remuñán-López

In this work, we propose chitosan (CS)-based nanocapsules (NCs) for pulmonary gene delivery. Hyaluronic acid (HA) was incorporated in the NCs composition (HA/CS NCs) aiming to promote gene transfection in the lung epithelium. NCs were loaded with a model plasmid (pCMV-βGal) to easily evaluate their transfection capacity. The plasmid encapsulation efficiencies were of approx. 90%. To facilitate their administration to the lungs, the plasmid-loaded NCs were microencapsulated in mannitol (Ma) microspheres (MS) using a simple spray-drying technique, obtaining dry powders of adequate properties. In vivo, the MS reached the deep lung, where the plasmid-loaded CS-based NCs were released and transfected the alveolar cells more homogeneously than the control formulation of plasmid directly microencapsulated in Ma MS. The HA-containing formulation achieved the highest transfection efficiency, in a more extended area and more homogeneously distributed than the rest of tested formulations. The new micro-nanostructured platform proposed in this work represents an efficient strategy for the delivery of genetic material to the lung, with great potential for the treatment of genetic lung diseases.

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1964
Author(s):  
Huaiying Zhang ◽  
Damla Keskin ◽  
Willy H. de Haan-Visser ◽  
Guangyue Zu ◽  
Patrick van Rijn ◽  
...  

Gene therapy is a promising treatment for hereditary diseases, as well as acquired genetic diseases, including cancer. Facing the complicated physiological and pathological environment in vivo, developing efficient non-viral gene vectors is needed for their clinical application. Here, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (p(NIPAM)) nanogels are presented with either protonatable tertiary amine groups or permanently charged quaternized ammonium groups to achieve DNA complexation ability. In addition, a quaternary ammonium-functionalized nanogel was further provided with an aliphatic moiety using 1-bromododecane to add a membrane-interacting structure to ultimately facilitate intracellular release of the genetic material. The ability of the tertiary amine-, quaternized ammonium-, and aliphatic quaternized ammonium-functionalized p(NIPAM) nanogels (i.e., NGs, NGs-MI, and NGs-BDD, respectively) to mediate gene transfection was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. It is observed that NGs-BDD/pDNA complexes exhibit efficient gene loading, gene protection ability, and intracellular uptake similar to that of NGs-MI/pDNA complexes. However, only the NGs-BDD/pDNA complexes show a notable gene transfer efficiency, which can be ascribed to their ability to mediate DNA escape from endosomes. We conclude that NGs-BDD displays a cationic lipid-like behavior that facilitates endosomal escape by perturbing the endosomal/lysosomal membrane. These findings demonstrate that the presence of aliphatic chains within the nanogel is instrumental in accomplishing gene delivery, which provides a rationale for the further development of nanogel-based gene delivery systems.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yinan Zhao ◽  
Tianyi Zhao ◽  
Yanyan Du ◽  
Yingnan Cao ◽  
Yang Xuan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background During the course of gene transfection, the interaction kinetics between liposomes and DNA is speculated to play very important role for blood stability, cellular uptake, DNA release and finally transfection efficiency. Results As cationic peptide liposomes exhibited great gene transfer activities both in vitro and in vivo, two peptide lipids, containing a tri-ornithine head (LOrn3) and a mono-ornithine head (LOrn1), were chosen to further clarify the process of liposome-mediated gene delivery in this study. The results show that the electrostatically-driven binding between DNA and liposomes reached nearly 100% at equilibrium, and high affinity of LOrn3 to DNA led to fast binding rate between them. The binding process between LOrn3 and DNA conformed to the kinetics equation: y = 1.663631 × exp (− 0.003427x) + 6.278163. Compared to liposome LOrn1, the liposome LOrn3/DNA lipoplex exhibited a faster and more uniform uptake in HeLa cells, as LOrn3 with a tri-ornithine peptide headgroup had a stronger interaction with the negatively charged cell membrane than LOrn1. The efficient endosomal escape of DNA from LOrn3 lipoplex was facilitated by the acidity in late endosomes, resulting in broken carbamate bonds, as well as the “proton sponge effect” of the lipid. Conclusions The interaction kinetics is a key factor for DNA transfection efficiency. This work provided insights into peptide lipid-mediated DNA delivery that could guide the development of the next generation of delivery systems for gene therapeutics.


MRS Bulletin ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. 647-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Barthélémy ◽  
Michel Camplo

AbstractThe design of safe and efficient gene transfer vectors remains one of the key challenges in gene therapy. Despite their remarkable transfection efficiency, viral vectors suffer from known safety issues. Consequently, significant research activity has been undertaken to develop nonviral approaches to gene transfer during the last decade. Numerous academic and industrial research groups are investigating synthetic cationic vectors, such as cationic amphiphiles, with the objective of increasing the gene transfection activity. Within this area, the development of functional synthetic vectors that respond to local environmental effects have met with success. These synthetic vectors are based on mechanistic principles and represent a significant departure from earlier systems. Many of these systems for gene delivery in vitro and in vivo are discussed in this article.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shubiao Zhang ◽  
Yinan Zhao ◽  
Yanyan Du ◽  
Yingnan Cao ◽  
Yang Xuan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: During the course of gene transfection, the interaction kinetics between liposomes and DNA is speculated to play very important role for blood stability, cellular uptake, DNA release and finally transfection efficiency.Results: As cationic peptide liposomes exhibited great gene transfer activities both in vitro and in vivo, two peptide lipids, containing a tri-ornithine head (LOrn3) and a mono-ornithine head (LOrn1), were chosen to further clarify the process of liposome-mediated gene delivery in this study. The results show that the electrostatically-driven binding between DNA and liposomes reached nearly 100% at equilibrium, and high affinity of LOrn3 to DNA led to fast binding rate between them. The binding process between LOrn3 and DNA conformed to the kinetics equation: y = 1.663631 × exp(-0.003427x) + 6.278163. Compared to liposome LOrn1, the liposome LOrn3/DNA lipoplex exhibited a faster and more uniform uptake in Hela cells, as LOrn3 with a tri-ornithine peptide headgroup had a stronger interaction with the negatively charged cell membrane than LOrn1. The efficient endosomal escape of DNA from LOrn3 lipoplexes was facilitated by the acidity in late endosomes, resulting in broken carbamate bonds, as well as the “proton sponge effect” of the lipid.Conclusions: The interaction kinetics is a key factor for DNA transfection efficiency. This work provided insights into peptide lipid-mediated DNA delivery that could guide the development of the next generation of delivery systems for gene therapeutics.


2009 ◽  
Vol 1237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akira Tsuchiya ◽  
Takeshi Mori ◽  
Yuki Naritomi ◽  
Jeong-Hun Kang ◽  
Daisuke Asai ◽  
...  

AbstractWe have developed new gene expression-regulating polymer that can activate transgene expression in response to target intracellular signals. Here, we tried applying sonoporation system to this gene regulation system to enhance the gene expression efficacy. Sonoporation is the method for effective gene transfection in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, the method might enhance the transfection efficiency in our polymer and realize an efficient and safe gene delivery system. Results suggested that the combination of our polymer and sonoporation could improve the gene expression compared to the system using only our polymer that transfers genes into cells via endocytosis. It also kept the ability of the gene regulation responding to cellular signals.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Fortune ◽  
Tatiana I. Novobrantseva ◽  
Alexander M. Klibanov

We mechanistically explored the effect of increased hydrophobicity of the polycation on the efficacy and specificity of gene delivery in mice. N-Alkylated linear PEIs with varying alkyl chain lengths and extent of substitution were synthesized and characterized by biophysical methods. Their in vivo transfection efficiency, specificity, and biodistribution were investigated. N-Ethylation improves the in vivo efficacy of gene expression in the mouse lung 26-fold relative to the parent polycation and more than quadruples the ratio of expression in the lung to that in all other organs. N-Propyl-PEI was the best performer in the liver and heart (581- and 3.5-fold enhancements, resp.) while N-octyl-PEI improved expression in the kidneys over the parent polymer 221-fold. As these enhancements in gene expression occur without changing the plasmid biodistribution, alkylation does not alter the cellular uptake but rather enhances transfection subsequent to cellular uptake.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. e1600102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dezhong Zhou ◽  
Lara Cutlar ◽  
Yongsheng Gao ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Jonathan O’Keeffe-Ahern ◽  
...  

Nonviral gene therapy holds great promise but has not delivered treatments for clinical application to date. Lack of safe and efficient gene delivery vectors is the major hurdle. Among nonviral gene delivery vectors, poly(β-amino ester)s are one of the most versatile candidates because of their wide monomer availability, high polymer flexibility, and superior gene transfection performance both in vitro and in vivo. However, to date, all research has been focused on vectors with a linear structure. A well-accepted view is that dendritic or branched polymers have greater potential as gene delivery vectors because of their three-dimensional structure and multiple terminal groups. Nevertheless, to date, the synthesis of dendritic or branched polymers has been proven to be a well-known challenge. We report the design and synthesis of highly branched poly(β-amino ester)s (HPAEs) via a one-pot “A2 + B3 + C2”–type Michael addition approach and evaluate their potential as gene delivery vectors. We find that the branched structure can significantly enhance the transfection efficiency of poly(β-amino ester)s: Up to an 8521-fold enhancement in transfection efficiency was observed across 12 cell types ranging from cell lines, primary cells, to stem cells, over their corresponding linear poly(β-amino ester)s (LPAEs) and the commercial transfection reagents polyethyleneimine, SuperFect, and Lipofectamine 2000. Moreover, we further demonstrate that HPAEs can correct genetic defects in vivo using a recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa graft mouse model. Our findings prove that the A2 + B3 + C2 approach is highly generalizable and flexible for the design and synthesis of HPAEs, which cannot be achieved by the conventional polymerization approach; HPAEs are more efficient vectors in gene transfection than the corresponding LPAEs. This provides valuable insight into the development and applications of nonviral gene delivery and demonstrates great prospect for their translation to a clinical environment.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yinan Zhao ◽  
Tianyi Zhao ◽  
Yanyan Du ◽  
Yingnan Cao ◽  
Yang Xuan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: During the course of gene transfection, the interaction kinetics between liposomes and DNA is speculated to play very important role for blood stability, cellular uptake, DNA release and finally transfection efficiency. Results: As cationic peptide liposomes exhibited great gene transfer activities both in vitro and in vivo, two peptide lipids, containing a tri-ornithine head (LOrn3) and a mono-ornithine head (LOrn1), were chosen to further clarify the process of liposome-mediated gene delivery in this study. The results show that the electrostatically-driven binding between DNA and liposomes reached nearly 100% at equilibrium, and high affinity of LOrn3 to DNA led to fast binding rate between them. The binding process between LOrn3 and DNA conformed to the kinetics equation: y = 1.663631 × exp(-0.003427x) + 6.278163. Compared to liposome LOrn1, the liposome LOrn3/DNA lipoplex exhibited a faster and more uniform uptake in HeLa cells, as LOrn3 with a tri-ornithine peptide headgroup had a stronger interaction with the negatively charged cell membrane than LOrn1. The efficient endosomal escape of DNA from LOrn3 lipoplex was facilitated by the acidity in late endosomes, resulting in broken carbamate bonds, as well as the“proton sponge effect”of the lipid. Conclusions: The interaction kinetics is a key factor for DNA transfection efficiency. This work provided insights into peptide lipid-mediated DNA delivery that could guide the development of the next generation of delivery systems for gene therapeutics.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yinan Zhao ◽  
Tianyi Zhao ◽  
Yanyan Du ◽  
Yingnan Cao ◽  
Yang Xuan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: During the course of gene transfection, the interaction kinetics between liposomes and DNA is speculated to play very important role for blood stability, cellular uptake, DNA release and finally transfection efficiency.Results: As cationic peptide liposomes exhibited great gene transfer activities both in vitro and in vivo, two peptide lipids, containing a tri-ornithine head (LOrn3) and a mono-ornithine head (LOrn1), were chosen to further clarify the process of liposome-mediated gene delivery in this study. The results show that the electrostatically-driven binding between DNA and liposomes reached nearly 100% at equilibrium, and high affinity of LOrn3 to DNA led to fast binding rate between them. The binding process between LOrn3 and DNA conformed to the kinetics equation: y = 1.663631 × exp(-0.003427x) + 6.278163. Compared to liposome LOrn1, the liposome LOrn3/DNA lipoplex exhibited a faster and more uniform uptake in HeLa cells, as LOrn3 with a tri-ornithine peptide headgroup had a stronger interaction with the negatively charged cell membrane than LOrn1. The efficient endosomal escape of DNA from LOrn3 lipoplex was facilitated by the acidity in late endosomes, resulting in broken carbamate bonds, as well as the “proton sponge effect” of the lipid.Conclusions: The interaction kinetics is a key factor for DNA transfection efficiency. This work provided insights into peptide lipid-mediated DNA delivery that could guide the development of the next generation of delivery systems for gene therapeutics.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yinan Zhao ◽  
Tianyi Zhao ◽  
Yanyan Du ◽  
Yingnan Cao ◽  
Yang Xuan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: During the course of gene transfection, the interaction kinetics between liposomes and DNA is speculated to play very important role for blood stability, cellular uptake, DNA release and finally transfection efficiency. Results: As cationic peptide liposomes exhibited great gene transfer activities both in vitro and in vivo, two peptide lipids, containing a tri-ornithine head (LOrn3) and a mono-ornithine head (LOrn1), were chosen to further clarify the process of liposome-mediated gene delivery in this study. The results show that the electrostatically-driven binding between DNA and liposomes reached nearly 100% at equilibrium, and high affinity of LOrn3 to DNA led to fast binding rate between them. The binding process between LOrn3 and DNA conformed to the kinetics equation: y = 1.663631 × exp(-0.003427x) + 6.278163. Compared to liposome LOrn1, the liposome LOrn3/DNA lipoplex exhibited a faster and more uniform uptake in HeLa cells, as LOrn3 with a tri-ornithine peptide headgroup had a stronger interaction with the negatively charged cell membrane than LOrn1. The efficient endosomal escape of DNA from LOrn3 lipoplex was facilitated by the acidity in late endosomes, resulting in broken carbamate bonds, as well as the“proton sponge effect”of the lipid. Conclusions: The interaction kinetics is a key factor for DNA transfection efficiency. This work provided insights into peptide lipid-mediated DNA delivery that could guide the development of the next generation of delivery systems for gene therapeutics.


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