Maximizing the Supported Bilayer Phenomenon: Liposomes Comprised Exclusively of PEGylated Phospholipids for Enhanced Systemic and Lymphatic Delivery

Traditional liposomes degrade into lower-order micelles when PEGylated to even minor degrees (6–7 mol %) and therefore can offer only limited steric exclusion against opsonization during <i>in vivo</i> delivery. In this work, we present for the first time a liposome coated exclusively by PEGylated phospholipids, utilizing lipid-coated calcium phosphate (CaP) cores of diverse sizes (10–15 nm, 30–40 nm) as well as varying polyethylene glycol (PEG) chain lengths (350–5000 Da). Such fully-PEGylated liposome calcium phosphate (LCP) particles exhibit a PEG chain length-dependent circulation longevity and robust immune evasion, while facilitating both strong accumulation within solid tumors upon intravenous injection and a more rapid and extensive lymphatic drainage upon subcutaneous administration. Further, these fully-PEGylated liposomes remain amenable to active targeting strategies which facilitate improved degrees of focused distribution and nanoparticle uptake, represent a lipid packing density commensurate with the formation of a lipid bilayer, and avoid use of scale-limited physical resuspension methods. We expect such improved delivery properties to translate into improved therapeutic safety and efficacy for a variety of systemic and lymphatic diseases

How Does the Cell Overcome LCP Nanoparticle-Induced Calcium Toxicity?

To address the question of how cells respond to the possible Ca²⁺ toxicity caused by the release of Ca²⁺ into the cytoplasm by LCP nanoparticles, a series of <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> studies using Ca²⁺ pump inhibitors were conducted. The results indicated that two major Ca²⁺ pumps on the plasma membrane and the mitochondrial membrane, respectively, were able to rapidly respond to the elevated cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration and prevent Ca²⁺-induced apoptosis or necrosis. However, exposure to specific inhibitors of calcium pumps would cause LCP-treated H460 cells to undergo necrosis both <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>. These results demonstrated that the Ca²⁺ delivered by LCP was not toxic to cells when the cells contain functional Ca²⁺ pumps

A Highly Efficient Synthetic Vector: Nonhydrodynamic Delivery of DNA to Hepatocyte Nuclei <i>in Vivo</i>

Multifunctional membrane-core nanoparticles, composed of calcium phosphate cores, arginine-rich peptides, cationic and PEGylated lipid membranes, and galactose targeting ligands, have been developed as synthetic vectors for efficient nuclear delivery of plasmid DNA and subsequent gene expression in hepatocytes <i>in vivo</i>. Targeted particles exhibited rapid and extensive hepatic accumulation and were predominantly internalized by hepatocytes, while the inclusion of such peptides in LCP was sufficient to elicit high degrees of nuclear translocation of plasmid DNA. Monocyclic CR8C significantly enhanced <i>in vivo</i> gene expression over 10-fold more than linear CR8C, likely due to a release-favoring mechanism of the DNA/peptide complex. Though 100-fold lower in activity than that achieved <i>via</i> hydrodynamic injection, this formulation presents as a much less invasive alternative. To our knowledge, this is the most effective synthetic vector for liver gene transfer

Co-delivery of Cisplatin and Rapamycin for Enhanced Anticancer Therapy through Synergistic Effects and Microenvironment Modulation

The tumor microenvironment plays an important role in the tumor’s progression and metastasis. Therefore, successful alteration of this delicate setting against the tumor’s favor can open a window for therapeutic efficacy. We have developed a modality to bring about treatment-induced alterations in the tumor microenvironment by employing the synergistic effects between two drugs. Co-delivery of rapamycin (RAPA), an mTOR inhibitor that may offer notable therapy through antiangiogenic activity, alongside cisplatin can foster significant potency as RAPA sensitizes A375 melanoma cells to cisplatin therapy through microenvironment modulation. However, encapsulation of these drugs into poly(lactic-<i>co</i>-glycolic acid) (PLGA) NPs was inefficient due to the incompatibility between the two free drugs and the polymer matrix. Here, we show cisplatin can be made hydrophobic by coating a nanoprecipitate (cores) of the drug with dioleoylphosphatidic acid (DOPA). These DOPA coated cisplatin cores are compatible with PLGA and can be coencapsulated in PLGA NPs alongside RAPA at a molar ratio to promote synergistic antitumor activity. The presence of the cisplatin cores significantly improved the encapsulation of RAPA into PLGA NPs. Furthermore, PLGA NPs containing both cisplatin cores and RAPA induced significant apoptosis on A375-luc human melanoma cells <i>in vitro.</i> Additionally, they inhibited the growth of A375-luc melanoma in a xenograft tumor model through modulation of the tumor vasculature and permitted enhanced penetration of NPs into the tumor

Nanoparticle Delivery of Pooled siRNA for Effective Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Caner

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death. To explore the potential of small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapy for NSCLC, we have developed anisamide-targeted LCP to efficiently deliver siRNA into the cytoplasm of sigma receptor-expressing NSCLC cells. Targeted LCP demonstrated a 9-fold higher siRNA delivery efficiency compared to nontargeted LCP in A549 cells <i>in vitro</i>. To simultaneously target multiple oncogenic mechanisms, we coformulated three siRNA sequences targeting HDM2, c-myc and VEGF oncogenes, and investigated their efficacy of cell-killing in A549 and H460 cells <i>in vitro</i>. The results indicated that the pooled siRNA codelivered by the targeted LCP could effectively and simultaneously knock down HDM2, c-myc and VEGF expressions and significantly inhibit tumor cell growth. After iv injection of mice bearing A549 xenografted tumor with Texas Red-labeled siRNA formulated in the targeted LCP, siRNA was successfully delivered to and concentrated in the tumor cells. Repeated intravenous injections of mice with pooled siRNA formulated in the targeted LCP significantly impaired NSCLC growth <i>in vivo</i> (<i>p</i> < 0.01) for both A549 and H460 tumors, demonstrating an ED₅₀ for the treatment of ∼0.2 mg/kg in A549 tumors. The enhanced antitumor activity is due to the fact that the silencing of HDM2/c-myc/VEGF could inhibit tumor proliferation and angiogenesis and also simultaneously induce tumor apoptosis. Our results demonstrate that the targeted LCP is a promising vector to deliver pooled siRNA into tumors and to achieve multiple target blocking. This is potentially a valid therapeutic modality in the gene therapy of human NSCLC

Nanocarrier-Mediated Chemo-Immunotherapy Arrested Cancer Progression and Induced Tumor Dormancy in Desmoplastic Melanoma

In desmoplastic melanoma, tumor cells and tumor-associated fibroblasts are the major dominators playing a critical role in the fibrosis morphology as well as the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), compromising the efficacy of therapeutic options. To overcome this therapeutic hurdle, we developed an innovative chemo-immunostrategy based on targeted delivery of mitoxantrone (MIT) and celastrol (CEL), two potent medicines screened and selected with the best anticancer and antifibrosis potentials. Importantly, CEL worked in synergy with MIT to induce immunogenic tumor cell death. Here, we show that when effectively co-delivered to the tumor site at their optimal ratio by a TME-responsive nanocarrier, the 5:1 combination of MIT and CEL significantly triggered immunogenic tumor apoptosis and recovered tumor antigen recognition, thus eliciting overall antitumor immunity. Furthermore, the strong synergy benefitted the host in reduced drug exposure and side effects. Collectively, the nanocarrier-mediated chemo-immunotherapy successfully remodeled fibrotic and immunosuppressive TME, arrested cancer progression, and further inhibited tumor metastasis to major organs. The affected tumors remained dormant long after dosing stopped, resulting in a prolonged progression-free survival and sustained immune surveillance of the host bearing desmoplastic melanoma

Nickel(II) Dithiocarbamate Complexes Containing Sulforhodamine B as Fluorescent Probes for Selective Detection of Nitrogen Dioxide

We synthesized complexes of Ni­(II) with dithiocarbamate ligands derived from the ortho and para isomers of sulforhodamine B fluorophores and demonstrated they are highly selective in reactions with nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). Compared with the para isomer, the ortho isomer showed a much greater fluorescence increase upon reaction with NO₂, which led to oxidation and decomplexation of the dithiocarbamate ligand from Ni­(II). We applied this probe for visual detection of 1 ppm NO₂ in the gas phase and fluorescence imaging of NO₂ in macrophage cells treated with a nitrogen dioxide donor

Nickel(II) Dithiocarbamate Complexes Containing Sulforhodamine B as Fluorescent Probes for Selective Detection of Nitrogen Dioxide

We synthesized complexes of Ni­(II) with dithiocarbamate ligands derived from the ortho and para isomers of sulforhodamine B fluorophores and demonstrated they are highly selective in reactions with nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). Compared with the para isomer, the ortho isomer showed a much greater fluorescence increase upon reaction with NO₂, which led to oxidation and decomplexation of the dithiocarbamate ligand from Ni­(II). We applied this probe for visual detection of 1 ppm NO₂ in the gas phase and fluorescence imaging of NO₂ in macrophage cells treated with a nitrogen dioxide donor