One-pot synthesis of compact DNA silica particles for gene delivery and extraordinary DNA preservation

Repairing genetic defects using exogenous DNA is a major challenge the science is currently facing. This requires the design of vectors that can effectively encapsulate, protect and target nucleic acids to specific cells safely and precisely. Here we have designed silica-based physiologically responsive particles to encapsulate, store, and transfer DNA. Unlike existing vectors (e.g., viral or lipidic particles), these DNA@SiO2 systems are very stable at room temperature. We also demonstrate how they protect the encapsulated DNA from exposure to different biological and physicochemical stresses, including DNase, denaturation temperatures (>100 °C), or reactive oxygen species (ROS). Remarkably, upon cellular uptake, these vectors dissolve safely unpacking the DNA and transfecting the cells.Acknowledgments: We are grateful to D. Munoz for her technical support and Dr. Kirst for his criticisms of the manuscript. MLF acknowledges the financial support from the Spanish Instituto de Salud Carlos iii, and the European Union FEDER funds under Projects ref. PI22/00030 and PI19/00349, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, “Investing in your future” and Grant TED2021-129248 BeI00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by the “European Union Next Generation EU/PRTR”. We also thank the Gobierno Regional de Cantabria and IDIVAL for the project Refs IDI 20/22, INNVAL21/19, and IDI-020-022 fellowship to ARV and technological and administrative services. MACD acknowledges financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad under grant PID2020-113704RB-I00, Xunta de Galicia/FEDER (IN607A 2018/5 and Centro Singular de Investigacion de Galicia, Acc. 2019e2022, ED431G 2019e06), 0712/ACUINANO1E, 0624/ 2IQBIONEURO6E cofounded by FEDER through the program Interreg V-A Espana-Portugal (POCTEP), and NANOCULTURE (ERDF: 1.102.531) Interreg Atlantic Area, the European Union (European Regional Development Fund-ERDF). LMC acknowledges the Margarita Salas requalification grants for the training of young doctors Ref.: REC-Salas21, Uvigo-UC (Ministerio de Universidades). Figures and graphs have been created with BioRender software (BioRender.com, License ID: 9519A1C8-0002). We are grateful to Dr. Lansford, Dr. Parton, Dr. Greene, Dr. Davidson, Dr. Bement and Dr. Voeltz for the plasmids references in Table S1 (obtained fron Addgene)

Design of Polymeric and Biocompatible Delivery Systems by Dissolving Mesoporous Silica Templates

There are many nanoencapsulation systems available today. Among all these, mesoporous silica particles (MSPs) have received great attention in the last few years. Their large surface-to-volume ratio, biocompatibility, and versatility allow the encapsulation of a wide variety of drugs inside their pores. However, their chemical instability in biological fluids is a handicap to program the precise release of the therapeutic compounds. Taking advantage of the dissolving capacity of silica, in this study, we generate hollow capsules using MSPs as transitory sacrificial templates. We show how, upon MSP coating with different polyelectrolytes or proteins, fully customized hollow shells can be produced. These capsules are biocompatible, flexible, and biodegradable, and can be decorated with nanoparticles or carbon nanotubes to endow the systems with supplementary intrinsic properties. We also fill the capsules with a fluorescent dye to demonstrate intracellular compound release. Finally, we document how fluorescent polymeric capsules are engulfed by cells, releasing their encapsulated agent during the first 96 h. In summary, here, we describe how to assemble a highly versatile encapsulation structure based on silica mesoporous cores that are completely removed from the final polymeric capsule system. These drug encapsulation systems are highly customizable and have great versatility as they can be made using silica cores of different sizes and multiple coatings. This provides capsules with unique programmable attributes that are fully customizable according to the specific needs of each disease or target tissue for the development of nanocarriers in personalized medicine.This research was funded by ISCIII Projects ref. PI19/00349, DTS19/00033, co-funded by ERDF/ESF, “Investing in your future”; and MICINN Projects ref. CTM2017-84050-R, Xunta de Galicia (Centro Singular de Investigación de Galicia-Accreditation 2016-2019 and EM2014/035), European Union FEDER Funds (European Regional Development Fund-ERDF), and IDIVAL for INNVAL19/18 and INNVAL20/13 and the technical support

Silica particles for encapsulating nucleic acids

The present invention relates to silica particles comprising nucleic acids encapsulated inside the same. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for producing said particles and the uses thereof in gene transfer or cell marking and as a medicinal product, specifically as a medicinal product for protein/enzyme replacement therapy.Solicitud Internacional: PCT/ES2022/070528 (05.08.2022)Nº Pub. Solicitud Internacional: WO2023/021230A1 (23.02.2023

Partículas de sílice para encapsulación de ácidos nucleicos

Partículas de sílice para encapsulación de ácidos nucleicos. La presente invención se refiere a partículas de sílice que comprenden ácidos nucleicos encapsulados en su interior. Así mismo, la presente invención se refiere a un método para la producción de dichas partículas y sus usos en transferencia génica o marcaje celular y como medicamento, particularmente como medicamento de terapia de reemplazo proteico/enzimático.Solicitud: 202130804 (20.08.2021)Nº Pub. de Solicitud: ES2934282A1 (20.02.2023

Titanate Nanowires as One-Dimensional Hot Spot Generators for Broadband Au–TiO2 Photocatalysis

International audienceMetal–semiconductor nanocomposites have become interesting materials for the development of new photocatalytic hybrids. Along these lines, plasmonic nanoparticles have proven to be particularly efficient photosensitizers due to their ability to transfer plasmonic hot electrons onto large bandgap semiconductors such as TiO2, thus extending the activity of the latter into a broader range of the electromagnetic spectrum. The extent of this photosensitization process can be substantially enhanced in those geometries in which high electromagnetic fields are created at the metal–semiconductor interface. In this manner, the formation of plasmonic hot spots can be used as a versatile tool to engineer the photosensitization process in this family of hybrid materials. Herein, we introduce the use of titanate nanowires as ideal substrates for the assembly of Au nanorods and TiO2 nanoparticles, leading to the formation of robust hybrids with improved photocatalytic properties. Our approach shows that the correct choice of the individual units together with their rationa

Diseño y desarrollo de una herramienta audiovisual para la docencia virtual de la inspección veterinaria oficial de pescados y productos de la pesca en un mercado central

El objetivo global de este Proyecto de Innovación Docente es la creación de vídeos explicativos como una herramienta de aprendizaje incorporada en el Campus Virtual para mejorar el estudio sobre las actividades de higiene, inspección y control alimentario que se realizan en el Mercado Central de Pescados de Mercamadrid. La creación y el empleo de estos vídeos están dirigidos, en un principio, a los estudiantes universitarios de Grado en Veterinaria que cursan la asignatura de Higiene, Inspección y Seguridad Alimentaria. En este Proyecto se han creado vídeos explicativos que tratan sobre: (i) los controles oficiales realizados por los Técnicos Superiores Veterinarios de Mercamadrid; (ii) los riesgos sanitarios asociados al consumo de pescados, crustáceos y moluscos; (iii) la frescura del pescado; (iv) el etiquetado del pescado; (v) la identificación de especies de pescado y marisco; (vi) la prevención de fraudes en la comercialización de pescados y mariscos; y (vii) la autentificación de pescados fileteados mediante técnicas de análisis