Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jens Casper, Susanne H. Schenk, Elahehnaz Parhizkar, Pascal Detampel, Ali Dehshahri, Jorg Huwyler
Summary: This review summarizes the applications of Polyethlyenimine (PEI) in DNA delivery, discusses the obstacles to its clinical use, and highlights potential future prospects. The review is divided into three sections, covering the mechanism of action, cellular toxicity, in vivo performance, and clinical trials of PEI-based formulations.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Tilahun Ayane Debele, Chi-Kang Chen, Lu-Yi Yu, Chun-Liang Lo
Summary: A biocompatible lipopolyplex was synthesized for the co-delivery of chemotherapeutic agents and genes to treat cancers. The lipopolyplex successfully released doxorubicin to kill cancer cells and induced siRNA out of endosomes to inhibit the translation of FAK proteins. Efficient accumulation of the lipopolyplex in tumors led to excellent cancer therapeutic efficacy.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Landon Mott, Caleb Akers, Daniel W. Pack
Summary: The design of non-viral gene delivery vectors needs to optimize various physical properties to achieve maximum transgene expression. The surface charge of polyplexes plays a crucial role in their interactions with biological constituents. This study investigates how different surface charges of polyplexes affect cellular internalization and intracellular trafficking. Positively charged polyplexes show superior gene delivery efficiency and are internalized primarily through caveolin-dependent endocytosis, while negatively charged polyplexes are internalized through clathrin-dependent endocytosis and found in acidified endolysosomal compartments, leading to degradation and poor gene delivery. The addition of targeting ligands that facilitate caveolin-dependent endocytosis may enhance the transfection efficiency of PGA/PEI/DNA polyplexes.
JOURNAL OF DRUG DELIVERY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Pablo Lujan, Jessica Angulo-Capel, Morgan Chabanon, Felix Campelo
Summary: Biomolecules in the secretory pathway utilize membrane trafficking to reach their final destinations, involving interorganelle communication to maintain their identity, shape, and function. Recent studies have uncovered new mechanisms of interorganelle communication, aiding in the organization of the early secretory pathway.
CURRENT OPINION IN CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Thavasyappan Thambi, Jeongmin Lee, A-Rum Yoon, Dayananda Kasala, Chae-Ok Yun
Summary: In this study, a pH- and glutathione-responsive polymer was developed to increase the transduction efficiency of adenoviruses in cancer gene therapy.
Review
Polymer Science
Yuhe Zhang, Jiahao Shi, Bin Ma, Ya-Nan Zhou, Haiyang Yong, Jianzhong Li, Xiangyi Kong, Dezhong Zhou
Summary: Protein drugs have gained popularity due to their high activity, specificity, and low cytotoxicity, but face limitations in terms of structural stability, immune clearance, and cell penetration. Functionalizing polymers can enhance the delivery of protein drugs by improving stability, immune evasion, and cellular uptake.
PROGRESS IN POLYMER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Hui Liu, Xiaoyun Zhao, Yu Bai, Huichao Xie, Zhen Yang, Yichen Wang, Yongfeng Chen, Yucen Luo, Mengrui Ma, Wenwen Lu, Jizhuang Ma, Tianzhi Yang, Bo Jin, Pingtian Ding
Summary: In this study, a class of amphiphilic polymer vectors with different hydrophobicities and biodegradability were synthesized to improve gene delivery efficiency and reduce cytotoxicity through hydrophobic modification. These vectors could form flexible and uniform nanoparticles, enhance endocytosis efficiency, and demonstrate higher transfection efficiency. Moreover, the hydrophobic structural domain of the vectors improved serum stability and exhibited the ability to inhibit tumor growth in breast cancer models.
MATERIALS & DESIGN
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Igor D. Zlotnikov, Stanislav M. Malashkeevich, Natalia G. Belogurova, Elena V. Kudryashova
Summary: Thermosensitive gels based on copolymers have been developed as promising polycations for DNA polyplexes and drugs with prolonged release. These compounds can be injected into muscle tissue and form a gel at body temperature, providing a controlled release of therapeutic agents such as antibacterials or cytostatics. The formation of polyplexes between polycationic polymers and DNA was studied, and the physico-chemical parameters were analyzed. The results showed that the cationic polymers could form gels and exhibit thermoreversible properties, making them suitable for sustained drug delivery systems.
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Hussein H. Genedy, Thierry Delair, Alexandra Montembault
Summary: Vectorization of microRNAs using polymeric nanoparticles, particularly chitosan, has great potential for treating various diseases. Chitosan, being biodegradable and biocompatible, can easily encapsulate microRNA and form polyplexes. However, fine tuning of chitosan's characteristics is crucial for successful formulation. This review summarizes chitosan microRNA formulations studied in the past decade, highlighting differences in materials, formulation processes, and intended applications. Factors contributing to the superiority of optimized systems are also discussed to maximize the potential of chitosan microRNA nanocarriers.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cheng-Chung Chang, Hsi-Kai Tsou, Hsu-Hsin Chang, Long Yi Chan, Guan-Yu Zhuo, Tomoji Maeda, Chin-Yu Lin
Summary: The delivery of anabolic factor Runx1 through a polyplex nanomicelle system plays a key role in alleviating the progression of degenerative disc disease (DDD). This platform has favorable safety characteristics and biocompatibility, making it a promising strategy for regenerative medicine.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Ursula Altanerova, Jana Jakubechova, Katarina Benejova, Petra Priscakova, Vanda Repiska, Andrea Babelova, Bozena Smolkova, Cestmir Altaner
Summary: Exosomes containing suicide gene mRNA secreted from engineered MSCs have the potential to be a specific therapy for tumors and potentially for metastases by inducing cell death in tumor cells without inhibiting the growth of normal cells. This innovative approach utilizes exosomes as a delivery system for suicide genes, showing promising results in cancer treatment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Nan Zheng, Xiaoqin Luo, Zhiyi Zhang, Aiguo Wang, Wangze Song
Summary: This study introduces a library of polymerized and cationic photosensitive drugs (pPSs) with HIF-1 alpha siRNA delivery capability for gene therapy. By using a ROS-cleavable linker, successful segregation of PS monomers was achieved, enhancing the PDT effect. The drug exhibited desired siRNA delivery and gene silencing both in vitro and in vivo.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Naoto Yoshinaga, Takaaki Miyamoto, Masaki Odahara, Noriko Takeda-Kamiya, Kiminori Toyooka, Seia Nara, Haruna Nishimura, Feng Ling, Masayuki Su'etsugu, Minoru Yoshida, Keiji Numata
Summary: This study proposes a simple and effective mitochondrial gene delivery system that uses artificial peptides to guide exogenous mtDNA into mitochondria, enabling simultaneous multigene expression and restoration of mitochondrial functions. This technology is of great importance for mitochondrial engineering and clinical applications for mitochondrial diseases.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Marco Herrera-Barrera, Milan Gautam, Abhijeet Lokras, Kseniia Vlasova, Camilla Foged, Gaurav Sahay
Summary: Prime editing is an advanced gene editing platform that can correct almost any disease-causing mutation. This study developed lipid nanoparticles as delivery vehicles for prime editors, which resulted in improved efficiency and speed of editing. The use of these nanoparticles has the potential to revolutionize gene therapy and open up new possibilities for treatment.
Review
Immunology
Tatiana M. Clemente, Rajendra K. Angara, Stacey D. Gilk
Summary: Obligate intracellular pathogens can either reside freely in the host cell cytoplasm or be confined in a membrane-bound vacuole. The pathogens in membrane-bound vacuoles are protected from the innate immune system and antimicrobial drugs, but they face challenges such as obtaining membrane components, maintaining a suitable microenvironment, acquiring essential nutrients from the host cell, and manipulating the host cell through a specialized secretion system.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)