7 research outputs found
Lipophilic Polycation Vehicles Display High Plasmid DNA Delivery to Multiple Cell Types
A class of cationic poly(alkylamidoamine)s
(PAAAs) containing lipophilic
methylene linkers were designed and examined as in vitro plasmid DNA
(pDNA) delivery agents. The PAAAs were synthesized via step-growth
polymerization between a diamine monomer and each of four different
diacid chloride monomers with varying methylene linker lengths, including
glutaryl chloride, adipoyl chloride, pimeloyl chloride, and suberoyl
chloride, which served to systematically increase the lipophilicity
of the polymers. The synthesized polymers successfully complexed with
pDNA in reduced serum medium at N/P ratios of 5 and greater, resulting
in polyplexes with hydrodynamic diameters of approximately 1 μm.
These polyplexes were tested for in vitro transgene expression and
cytotoxicity using HDFa (human dermal fibroblast), HeLa (human cervical
carcinoma), HMEC (human mammary epithelial), and HUVEC (human umbilical
vein endothelial) cells. Interestingly, select PAAA polyplex formulations
were found to be more effective than Lipofectamine 2000 at promoting
transgene expression (GFP) while maintaining comparable or higher
cell viability. Transgene expression was highest in HeLa cells (∼90%
for most formulations) and lowest in HDFa cells (up to ∼20%)
as measured by GFP fluorescence. In addition, the cytotoxicity of
PAAA polyplex formulations was significantly increased as the molecular
weight, N/P ratio, and methylene linker length were increased. The
PAAA vehicles developed herein provide a new delivery vehicle design
strategy of displaying attributes of both polycations and lipids,
which show promise as a tunable scaffold for refining the structure–activity–toxicity
profiles for future genome editing studies
Glucose-Containing Diblock Polycations Exhibit Molecular Weight, Charge, and Cell-Type Dependence for pDNA Delivery
A series
of diblock glycopolycations were created by polymerizing
2-deoxy-2-methacrylamido glucopyranose (MAG) with either a tertiary
amine-containing monomer, <i>N</i>-[3-(<i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-dimethylamino) propyl] methacrylamide (DMAPMA),
or a primary amine-containing unit, <i>N</i>-(2-aminoethyl)
methacrylamide (AEMA). Seven structures were synthesized via aqueous
reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization
that varied in the block lengths of MAG, DMAPMA, and AEMA along with
two homopolymer controls of DMAPMA and AEMA that lacked a MAG block.
The polymers were all able to complex plasmid DNA into polyplex structures
and to prevent colloidal aggregation of polyplexes in physiological
salt conditions. In vitro transfection experiments were performed
in both HeLa (human cervix adenocarcinoma) cells and HepG2 (human
liver hepatocellular carcinoma) cells to examine the role of charge
type, block length, and cell type on transfection efficiency and toxicity.
The glycopolycation vehicles with primary amine blocks and PAEMA homopolymers
revealed much higher transfection efficiency and lower toxicity when
compared to analogs created with DMAPMA. Block length was also shown
to influence cellular delivery and toxicity; as the block length of
DMAPMA increased in the glycopolycation-based polyplexes, toxicity
increased while transfection decreased. While the charge block played
a major role in delivery, the MAG block length did not affect these
cellular parameters. Lastly, cell type played a major role in efficiency.
These glycopolymers revealed higher cellular uptake and transfection
efficiency in HepG2 cells than in HeLa cells, while homopolycations
(PAEMA and PDMAPMA) lacking the MAG blocks exhibited the opposite
trend, signifying that the MAG block could aid in hepatocyte transfection
Poly(2-deoxy-2-methacrylamido glucopyranose)‑<i>b</i>‑Poly(methacrylate amine)s: Optimization of Diblock Glycopolycations for Nucleic Acid Delivery
A series of nine poly(2-deoxy-2-methacrylamido
glucopyranose)-<i>b</i>-poly(methacrylate amine) diblock
copolycations has been
synthesized as new colloidally stable polynucleotide vehicles. The
cationic block was varied in length and in the degree of methyl group
substitution (secondary, tertiary, quaternary) on the pendant amine
in an effort to optimize the structure and activity for plasmid DNA
(pDNA) delivery. Upon a thorough kinetic study of polymerization for
each polymer, the glycopolymers were prepared with well-controlled <i>M</i><sub>n</sub> and Đ. The binding and colloidal stability
of the polymer–pDNA nanocomplexes at different N/P ratios and
in biological media have been investigated using gel electrophoresis
and light scattering techniques. The toxicity and transfection efficiency
of the polyplexes have been evaluated with Hep G2 (human liver hepatocellular
carcinoma) cells; several polymers displayed excellent delivery and
toxicity profiles justifying their further development for in vivo
gene therapy
Poly(trehalose): Sugar-Coated Nanocomplexes Promote Stabilization and Effective Polyplex-Mediated siRNA Delivery
When nanoparticles interact with
their environment, the nature
of that interaction is governed largely by the properties of its outermost
surface layer. Here, we exploit the exceptional properties of a common
disaccharide, trehalose, which is well-known for its unique biological
stabilization effects. To this end, we have developed a synthetic
procedure that readily affords a polymer of this disaccharide, poly(methacrylamidotrehalose)
or “poly(trehalose)” and diblock copolycations containing
this polymer with 51 repeat units chain extended with aminoethylmethacrylamide
(AEMA) at three degrees of polymerization (<i>n</i> = 34,
65, and 84). Two series of experiments were conducted to study these
diblock copolymers in detail and to compare their properties to two
control polymers [PEG-P(AEMA) and P(AEMA)]. First, we demonstrate
that the poly(trehalose) coating ensures colloidal stability of polyplexes
containing siRNA in the presence of high salt concentrations and serum
proteins. Poly(trehalose) retains the ability of trehalose to lower
the phase transition energy associated with water freezing and can
protect siRNA polyplexes during freeze-drying, allowing complete nanoparticle
resuspension without loss of biological function. Second, we show
that siRNA polyplexes coated with poly(trehalose) have exceptional
cellular internalization into glioblastoma cells that proceeds with
zero-order kinetics. Moreover, the amount of siRNA delivered by poly(trehalose)
block copolycations can be controlled by the siRNA concentration in
cell culture media. Using confocal microscopy we show that trehalose-coated
polyplexes undergo active trafficking in cytoplasm upon internalization
and significant siRNA-induced target gene down-regulation was achieved
with an IC<sub>50</sub> of 19 nM. These findings coupled with a negligible
cytotoxicity suggests that poly(trehalose) has the potential to serve
as an important component of therapeutic nanoparticle formulations
of nucleic acids and has great promise to be extended as a new coating
for other nanobased technologies and macromolecules, in particular,
those related to nanomedicine applications
Poly(trehalose): Sugar-Coated Nanocomplexes Promote Stabilization and Effective Polyplex-Mediated siRNA Delivery
When nanoparticles interact with
their environment, the nature
of that interaction is governed largely by the properties of its outermost
surface layer. Here, we exploit the exceptional properties of a common
disaccharide, trehalose, which is well-known for its unique biological
stabilization effects. To this end, we have developed a synthetic
procedure that readily affords a polymer of this disaccharide, poly(methacrylamidotrehalose)
or “poly(trehalose)” and diblock copolycations containing
this polymer with 51 repeat units chain extended with aminoethylmethacrylamide
(AEMA) at three degrees of polymerization (<i>n</i> = 34,
65, and 84). Two series of experiments were conducted to study these
diblock copolymers in detail and to compare their properties to two
control polymers [PEG-P(AEMA) and P(AEMA)]. First, we demonstrate
that the poly(trehalose) coating ensures colloidal stability of polyplexes
containing siRNA in the presence of high salt concentrations and serum
proteins. Poly(trehalose) retains the ability of trehalose to lower
the phase transition energy associated with water freezing and can
protect siRNA polyplexes during freeze-drying, allowing complete nanoparticle
resuspension without loss of biological function. Second, we show
that siRNA polyplexes coated with poly(trehalose) have exceptional
cellular internalization into glioblastoma cells that proceeds with
zero-order kinetics. Moreover, the amount of siRNA delivered by poly(trehalose)
block copolycations can be controlled by the siRNA concentration in
cell culture media. Using confocal microscopy we show that trehalose-coated
polyplexes undergo active trafficking in cytoplasm upon internalization
and significant siRNA-induced target gene down-regulation was achieved
with an IC<sub>50</sub> of 19 nM. These findings coupled with a negligible
cytotoxicity suggests that poly(trehalose) has the potential to serve
as an important component of therapeutic nanoparticle formulations
of nucleic acids and has great promise to be extended as a new coating
for other nanobased technologies and macromolecules, in particular,
those related to nanomedicine applications
Trehalose-Based Block Copolycations Promote Polyplex Stabilization for Lyophilization and in Vivo pDNA Delivery
The
development and thorough characterization of nonviral delivery
agents for nucleic acid and genome editing therapies are of high interest
to the field of nanomedicine. Indeed, this vehicle class offers the
ability to tune chemical architecture/biological activity and readily
package nucleic acids of various sizes and morphologies for a variety
of applications. Herein, we present the synthesis and characterization
of a class of trehalose-based block copolycations designed to stabilize
polyplex formulations for lyophilization and in vivo administration.
A 6-methacrylamido-6-deoxy trehalose (MAT) monomer was synthesized
from trehalose and polymerized via reversible addition–fragmentation
chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization to yield pMAT<sub>43</sub>. The
pMAT<sub>43</sub> macro-chain transfer agent was then chain-extended
with aminoethylmethacrylamide (AEMA) to yield three different pMAT-<i>b</i>-AEMA cationic-block copolymers, pMAT-<i>b</i>-AEMA-1 (21 AEMA repeats), -2 (44 AEMA repeats), and -3 (57 AEMA
repeats). These polymers along with a series of controls were used
to form polyplexes with plasmids encoding firefly luciferase behind
a strong ubiquitous promoter. The trehalose-coated polyplexes were
characterized in detail and found to be resistant to colloidal aggregation
in culture media containing salt and serum. The trehalose-polyplexes
also retained colloidal stability and promoted high gene expression
following lyophilization and reconstitution. Cytotoxicity, cellular
uptake, and transfection ability were assessed in vitro using both
human glioblastoma (U87) and human liver carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines
wherein pMAT-<i>b</i>-AEMA-2 was found to have the optimal
combination of high gene expression and low toxicity. pMAT-<i>b</i>-AEMA-2 polyplexes were evaluated in mice via slow tail
vein infusion. The vehicle displayed minimal toxicity and discouraged
nonspecific internalization in the liver, kidney, spleen, and lungs
as determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and
fluorescence imaging experiments. Hydrodynamic infusion of the polyplexes,
however, led to very specific localization of the polyplexes to the
mouse liver and promoted excellent gene expression in vivo
A Supramolecular Vaccine Platform Based on α‑Helical Peptide Nanofibers
A supramolecular
peptide vaccine system was designed in which epitope-bearing
peptides self-assemble into elongated nanofibers composed almost entirely
of α-helical structure. The nanofibers were readily internalized
by antigen presenting cells and produced robust antibody, CD4+ T-cell,
and CD8+ T-cell responses without supplemental adjuvants in mice.
Epitopes studied included a cancer B-cell epitope from the epidermal
growth factor receptor class III variant (EGFRvIII), the universal
CD4+ T-cell epitope PADRE, and the model CD8+ T-cell epitope SIINFEKL,
each of which could be incorporated into supramolecular multiepitope
nanofibers in a modular fashion