Structural Stabilization of Clinically Oriented Oligomeric Proteins During their Transit through Synthetic Secretory Amyloids.

Developing time-sustained drug delivery systems is a main goal in innovative medicines. Inspired by the architecture of secretory granules from the mammalian endocrine system it has generated non-toxic microscale amyloid materials through the coordination between divalent metals and poly-histidine stretches. Like their natural counterparts that keep the functionalities of the assembled protein, those synthetic structures release biologically active proteins during a slow self-disintegration process occurring in vitro and upon in vivo administration. Being these granules formed by a single pure protein species and therefore, chemically homogenous, they act as highly promising time-sustained drug delivery systems. Despite their enormous clinical potential, the nature of the clustering process and the quality of the released protein have been so far neglected issues. By using diverse polypeptide species and their protein-only oligomeric nanoscale versions as convenient models, a conformational rearrangement and a stabilization of the building blocks during their transit through the secretory granules, being the released material structurally distinguishable from the original source is proved here. This fact indicates a dynamic nature of secretory amyloids that act as conformational arrangers rather than as plain, inert protein-recruiting/protein-releasing granular depots.

Efficient Delivery of Antimicrobial Peptides in an Innovative, Slow-Release Pharmacological Formulation.

Both nanostructure and multivalency enhance the biological activities of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), whose mechanism of action is cooperative. In addition, the efficacy of a particular AMP should benefit from a steady concentration at the local place of action and, therefore, from a slow release after a dynamic repository. In the context of emerging multi-resistant bacterial infections and the urgent need for novel and effective antimicrobial drugs, we tested these concepts through the engineering of four AMPs into supramolecular complexes as pharmacological entities. For that purpose, GWH1, T22, Pt5, and PaD, produced as GFP or human nidogen-based His-tagged fusion proteins, were engineered as self-assembling oligomeric nanoparticles ranging from 10 to 70 nm and further packaged into nanoparticle-leaking submicron granules. Since these materials slowly release functional nanoparticles during their time-sustained unpacking, they are suitable for use as drug depots in vivo. In this context, a particular AMP version (GWH1-NIDO-H6) was selected for in vivo validation in a zebrafish model of a complex bacterial infection. The GWH1-NIDO-H6-secreting protein granules are protective in zebrafish against infection by the multi-resistant bacterium Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, proving the potential of innovative formulations based on nanostructured and slowly released recombinant AMPs in the fight against bacterial infections.

High-precision targeting and destruction of cancer-associated PDGFR-ß+ stromal fibroblasts through self-assembling, protein-only nanoparticles.

The need for more effective and precision medicines for cancer has pushed the exploration of new materials appropriate for drug delivery and imaging, and alternative receptors for targeting. Among the most promising strategies, finding suitable cell surface receptors and targeting agents for cancer-associated platelet derived growth factor receptor ß (PDGFR-ß)+ stromal fibroblasts is highly appealing. As a neglected target, this cell type mechanically and biologically supports the growth, progression, and infiltration of solid tumors in non-small cell lung, breast, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers. We have developed a family of PDGFR-ß-targeted nanoparticles based on biofabricated, self-assembling proteins, upon hierarchical and iterative selective processes starting from four initial candidates. The modular protein PDGFD-GFP-H6 is well produced in recombinant bacteria, resulting in structurally robust oligomeric particles that selectively penetrates into PDGFR-ß+ stromal fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner, by means of the PDGFR-ß ligand PDGFD. Upon in vivo administration, these GFP-carrying protein nanoparticles precisely accumulate in tumor tissues and enlighten them for IVIS observation. When GFP is replaced by a microbial toxin, selective tumor tissue destruction is observed associated with a significant reduction in tumor volume growth. The presented data validate the PDGFR-ß/PDGFD pair as a promising toolbox for targeted drug delivery in the tumor microenvironment and oligomeric protein nanoparticles as a powerful instrument to mediate highly selective biosafe targeting in cancer through non-cancer cells. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: We have developed a transversal platform for nanoparticle-based drug delivery into cancer-associated fibroblasts. This is based on the engineered modular protein PDGFD-GFP-H6 that spontaneously self-assemble and selectively penetrates into PDGFR-ß+ stromal fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner, by means of the PDGFR-ß ligand PDGFD. In vivo, these protein nanoparticles accumulate in tumor and when incorporating a microbial toxin, they destroy tumor tissues with a significant reduction in tumor volume, in absence of side toxicities. The data presented here validate the PDGFR-ß/PDGFD pair as a fully versatile toolbox for targeted drug delivery in the tumor microenvironment intended as a synergistic treatment.

Protein features instruct the secretion dynamics from metal-supported synthetic amyloids.

Hexahistidine-tagged proteins can be clustered by divalent cations into self-containing, dynamic protein depots at the microscale, which under physiological conditions leak functional protein. While such protein granules show promise in clinics as time-sustained drug delivery systems, little is known about how the nature of their components, that is, the protein and the particular cation used as cross-linker, impact on the disintegration of the material and on its secretory performance. By using four model proteins and four different cation formulations to control aggregation, we have here determined a moderate influence of the used cation and a potent impact of some protein properties on the release kinetics and on the final fraction of releasable protein. In particular, the electrostatic charge at the amino terminus and the instability and hydropathicity indexes determine the disintegration profile of the depot. These data offer clues for the fabrication of efficient and fully exploitable secretory granules that being biocompatible and chemically homogenous allow their tailored use as drug delivery platforms in biological systems.

Lymphocyte infiltration and antitumoral effect promoted by cytotoxic inflammatory proteins formulated as self-assembling, protein-only nanoparticles.

Two human proteins involved in the inflammatory cell death, namely Gasdermin D (GSDMD) and the Mixed Lineage Kinase Domain-Like (MLKL) protein have been engineered to accommodate an efficient ligand of the tumoral cell marker CXCR4, and a set of additional peptide agents that allow their spontaneous self-assembling. Upon production in bacterial cells and further purification, both proteins organized as stable nanoparticles of 46 and 54 nm respectively, that show, in this form, a moderate but dose-dependent cytotoxicity in cell culture. In vivo, and when administered in mouse models of colorectal cancer through repeated doses, the nanoscale forms of tumor-targeted GSDMD and, at a lesser extent, of MLKL promoted CD8+ and CD20+ lymphocyte infiltration in the tumor and an important reduction of tumor size, in absence of systemic toxicity. The potential of these novel pharmacological agents as anticancer drugs is discussed in the context of synergistic approaches to more effective cancer treatments.

T22-PE24-H6 Nanotoxin Selectively Kills CXCR4-High Expressing AML Patient Cells In Vitro and Potently Blocks Dissemination In Vivo.

Despite advances in the development of targeted therapies for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), most patients relapse. For that reason, it is still necessary to develop novel therapies that improve treatment effectiveness and overcome drug resistance. We developed T22-PE24-H6, a protein nanoparticle that contains the exotoxin A from the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa and is able to specifically deliver this cytotoxic domain to CXCR4+ leukemic cells. Next, we evaluated the selective delivery and antitumor activity of T22-PE24-H6 in CXCR4+ AML cell lines and BM samples from AML patients. Moreover, we assessed the in vivo antitumor effect of this nanotoxin in a disseminated mouse model generated from CXCR4+ AML cells. T22-PE24-H6 showed a potent, CXCR4-dependent antineoplastic effect in vitro in the MONO-MAC-6 AML cell line. In addition, mice treated with nanotoxins in daily doses reduced the dissemination of CXCR4+ AML cells compared to buffer-treated mice, as shown by the significant decrease in BLI signaling. Furthermore, we did not observe any sign of toxicity or changes in mouse body weight, biochemical parameters, or histopathology in normal tissues. Finally, T22-PE24-H6 exhibited a significant inhibition of cell viability in CXCR4high AML patient samples but showed no activity in CXCR4low samples. These data strongly support the use of T22-PE24-H6 therapy to benefit high-CXCR4-expressing AML patients.

Endosomal escape for cell-targeted proteins. Going out after going in.

Protein-based nanocarriers are versatile and biocompatible drug delivery systems. They are of particular interest in nanomedicine as they can recruit multiple functions in a single modular polypeptide. Many cell-targeting peptides or protein domains can promote cell uptake when included in these nanoparticles through receptor-mediated endocytosis. In that way, targeting drugs to specific cell receptors allows a selective intracellular delivery process, avoiding potential side effects of the payload. However, once internalized, the endo-lysosomal route taken by the engulfed material usually results in full degradation, preventing their adequate subcellular localization, bioavailability and subsequent therapeutic effect. Thus, entrapment into endo-lysosomes is a main bottleneck in the efficacy of protein-drug nanomedicines. Promoting endosomal escape and preventing lysosomal degradation would make this therapeutic approach clinically plausible. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms intended to evade lysosomal degradation of proteins, with the most relevant examples and associated strategies, and the methods available to measure that effect. In addition, based on the increasing catalogue of peptide domains tailored to face this challenge as components of protein nanocarriers, we emphasize how their particular mechanisms of action can potentially alter the functionality of accompanying protein materials, especially in terms of targeting and specificity in the delivery process.

The Diphtheria Toxin Translocation Domain Impairs Receptor Selectivity in Cancer Cell-Targeted Protein Nanoparticles.

Protein-based materials intended as nanostructured drugs or drug carriers are progressively gaining interest in nanomedicine, since their structure, assembly and cellular interactivity can be tailored by recruiting functional domains. The main bottleneck in the development of deliverable protein materials is the lysosomal degradation that follows endosome maturation. This is especially disappointing in the case of receptor-targeted protein constructs, which, while being highly promising and in demand in precision medicines, enter cells via endosomal/lysosomal routes. In the search for suitable protein agents that might promote endosome escape, we have explored the translocation domain (TD) of the diphtheria toxin as a functional domain in CXCR4-targeted oligomeric nanoparticles designed for cancer therapies. The pharmacological interest of such protein materials could be largely enhanced by improving their proteolytic stability. The incorporation of TD into the building blocks enhances the amount of the material detected inside of exposed CXCR4+ cells up to around 25-fold, in absence of cytotoxicity. This rise cannot be accounted for by endosomal escape, since the lysosomal degradation of the new construct decreases only moderately. On the other hand, a significant loss in the specificity of the CXCR4-dependent cellular penetration indicates the unexpected role of the toxin segment as a cell-penetrating peptide in a dose-dependent and receptor-independent fashion. These data reveal that the diphtheria toxin TD displayed on receptor-targeted oligomeric nanoparticles partially abolishes the exquisite receptor specificity of the parental material and it induces nonspecific internalization in mammalian cells.

Protein scaffolds in human clinics.

Fundamental clinical areas such as drug delivery and regenerative medicine require biocompatible materials as mechanically stable scaffolds or as nanoscale drug carriers. Among the wide set of emerging biomaterials, polypeptides offer enticing properties over alternative polymers, including full biocompatibility, biodegradability, precise interactivity, structural stability and conformational and functional versatility, all of them tunable by conventional protein engineering. However, proteins from non-human sources elicit immunotoxicities that might bottleneck further development and narrow their clinical applicability. In this context, selecting human proteins or developing humanized protein versions as building blocks is a strict demand to design non-immunogenic protein materials. We review here the expanding catalogue of human or humanized proteins tailored to execute different levels of scaffolding functions and how they can be engineered as self-assembling materials in form of oligomers, polymers or complex networks. In particular, we emphasize those that are under clinical development, revising their fields of applicability and how they have been adapted to offer, apart from mere mechanical support, highly refined functions and precise molecular interactions.

Novel Endometrial Cancer Models Using Sensitive Metastasis Tracing for CXCR4-Targeted Therapy in Advanced Disease.

Advanced endometrial cancer (EC) lacks therapy, thus, there is a need for novel treatment targets. CXCR4 overexpression is associated with a poor prognosis in several cancers, whereas its inhibition prevents metastases. We assessed CXCR4 expression in EC in women by using IHC. Orthotopic models were generated with transendometrial implantation of CXCR4-transduced EC cells. After in vitro evaluation of the CXCR4-targeted T22-GFP-H6 nanocarrier, subcutaneous EC models were used to study its uptake in tumor and normal organs. Of the women, 91% overexpressed CXCR4, making them candidates for CXCR4-targeted therapies. Thus, we developed CXCR4+ EC mouse models to improve metastagenesis compared to current models and to use them to develop novel CXCR4-targeted therapies for unresponsive EC. It showed enhanced dissemination, especially in the lungs and liver, and displayed 100% metastasis penetrance at all clinically relevant sites with anti-hVimentin IHC, improving detection sensitivity. Regarding the CXCR4-targeted nanocarrier, 60% accumulated in the SC tumor; therefore, selectively targeting CXCR4+ cancer cells, without toxicity in non-tumor organs. Our CXCR4+ EC models will allow testing of novel CXCR4-targeted drugs and development of nanomedicines derived from T22-GFP-H6 to deliver drugs to CXCR4+ cells in advanced EC. This novel approach provides a therapeutic option for women with metastatic, high risk or recurrent EC that have a dismal prognosis and lack effective therapies.

Self-assembling protein nanocarrier for selective delivery of cytotoxic polypeptides to CXCR4+ head and neck squamous cell carcinoma tumors.

Loco-regional recurrences and distant metastases represent the main cause of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) mortality. The overexpression of chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) in HNSCC primary tumors associates with higher risk of developing loco-regional recurrences and distant metastases, thus making CXCR4 an ideal entry pathway for targeted drug delivery. In this context, our group has generated the self-assembling protein nanocarrier T22-GFP-H6, displaying multiple T22 peptidic ligands that specifically target CXCR4. This study aimed to validate T22-GFP-H6 as a suitable nanocarrier to selectively deliver cytotoxic agents to CXCR4+ tumors in a HNSCC model. Here we demonstrate that T22-GFP-H6 selectively internalizes in CXCR4+ HNSCC cells, achieving a high accumulation in CXCR4+ tumors in vivo, while showing negligible nanocarrier distribution in non-tumor bearing organs. Moreover, this T22-empowered nanocarrier can incorporate bacterial toxin domains to generate therapeutic nanotoxins that induce cell death in CXCR4-overexpressing tumors in the absence of histological alterations in normal organs. Altogether, these results show the potential use of this T22-empowered nanocarrier platform to incorporate polypeptidic domains of choice to selectively eliminate CXCR4+ cells in HNSCC. Remarkably, to our knowledge, this is the first study testing targeted protein-only nanoparticles in this cancer type, which may represent a novel treatment approach for HNSCC patients.

Toxicity Profiling of Bacterial Inclusion Bodies in Human Caco-2 Cells.

Bacterial inclusion bodies (IBs) are discrete macromolecular complexes that appear in recombinant prokaryotic cells under stress conditions. These structures are often discarded for biotechnological uses given the difficulty in recovering proteins of interest from them in a soluble form. However, recent approaches have revealed the potential of these protein clusters as biomaterials to promote cell growth and as protein depots for the release of recombinant proteins for biotechnological and biomedical applications. Although these kinds of natural supramolecular complexes have attracted great interest, no comprehensive study of their toxicity in cell cultures has been carried out. In this study, caco-2 cells were exposed to natural IBs, soluble protein-only nanoparticles (NPs), and non-assembled versions of the same protein for comparative purposes. Cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and genotoxicity were analyzed for all these protein formats. Natural IBs and soluble protein formats demonstrated their safety in eukaryotic cells. No cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, or oxidative stress was detected in caco-2 cells exposed to the protein samples in any of the experimental conditions evaluated, which covered protein concentrations used in previous biological activity assays. These conditions evaluated the activity of protein samples obtained from three prokaryotic hosts [Escherichia coli and the endotoxin-free expression systems Lactococcus lactis and ClearColi® BL21 (DE3)]. Our results demonstrate that natural IBs and soluble protein nanoparticles are non-toxic materials for eukaryotic cells and that this may represent an interesting alternative to the classical unassembled format of recombinant proteins for certain applications in biotechnology and biomedicine.

GSDMD-dependent pyroptotic induction by a multivalent CXCR4-targeted nanotoxin blocks colorectal cancer metastases.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the third cause of cancer-related mortality in Western countries, metastases are the main cause of death. CRC treatment remains limited by systemic toxicity and chemotherapy resistance. Therefore, nanoparticle-mediated delivery of cytotoxic agents selectively to cancer cells represents an efficient strategy to increase the therapeutic index and overcome drug resistance. We have developed the T22-PE24-H6 therapeutic protein-only nanoparticle that incorporates the exotoxin A from Pseudomonas aeruginosa to selectively target CRC cells because of its multivalent ligand display that triggers a high selectivity interaction with the CXCR4 receptor overexpressed on the surface of CRC stem cells. We here observed a CXCR4-dependent cytotoxic effect for T22-PE24-H6, which was not mediated by apoptosis, but instead capable of inducing a time-dependent and sequential activation of pyroptotic markers in CRC cells in vitro. Next, we demonstrated that repeated doses of T22-PE24-H6 inhibit tumor growth in a subcutaneous CXCR4+ CRC model, also through pyroptotic activation. Most importantly, this nanoparticle also blocked the development of lymphatic and hematogenous metastases, in a highly aggressive CXCR4+ SW1417 orthotopic CRC model, in the absence of systemic toxicity. This targeted drug delivery approach supports for the first time the clinical relevance of inducing GSDMD-dependent pyroptosis, a cell death mechanism alternative to apoptosis, in CRC models, leading to the selective elimination of CXCR4+ cancer stem cells, which are associated with resistance, metastases and anti-apoptotic upregulation.

An In Silico Methodology That Facilitates Decision Making in the Engineering of Nanoscale Protein Materials.

Under the need for new functional and biocompatible materials for biomedical applications, protein engineering allows the design of assemblable polypeptides, which, as convenient building blocks of supramolecular complexes, can be produced in recombinant cells by simple and scalable methodologies. However, the stability of such materials is often overlooked or disregarded, becoming a potential bottleneck in the development and viability of novel products. In this context, we propose a design strategy based on in silico tools to detect instability areas in protein materials and to facilitate the decision making in the rational mutagenesis aimed to increase their stability and solubility. As a case study, we demonstrate the potential of this methodology to improve the stability of a humanized scaffold protein (a domain of the human nidogen), with the ability to oligomerize into regular nanoparticles usable to deliver payload drugs to tumor cells. Several nidogen mutants suggested by the method showed important and measurable improvements in their structural stability while retaining the functionalities and production yields of the original protein. Then, we propose the procedure developed here as a cost-effective routine tool in the design and optimization of multimeric protein materials prior to any experimental testing.

A Novel CXCR4-Targeted Diphtheria Toxin Nanoparticle Inhibits Invasion and Metastatic Dissemination in a Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Mouse Model.

Loco-regional recurrences and metastasis represent the leading causes of death in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients, highlighting the need for novel therapies. Chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) has been related to loco-regional and distant recurrence and worse patient prognosis. In this regard, we developed a novel protein nanoparticle, T22-DITOX-H6, aiming to selectively deliver the diphtheria toxin cytotoxic domain to CXCR4+ HNSCC cells. The antimetastatic effect of T22-DITOX-H6 was evaluated in vivo in an orthotopic mouse model. IVIS imaging system was utilized to assess the metastatic dissemination in the mouse model. Immunohistochemistry and histopathological analyses were used to study the CXCR4 expression in the cancer cells, to evaluate the effect of the nanotoxin treatment, and its potential off-target toxicity. In this study, we report that CXCR4+ cancer cells were present in the invasive tumor front in an orthotopic mouse model. Upon repeated T22-DITOX-H6 administration, the number of CXCR4+ cancer cells was significantly reduced. Similarly, nanotoxin treatment effectively blocked regional and distant metastatic dissemination in the absence of systemic toxicity in the metastatic HNSCC mouse model. The repeated administration of T22-DITOX-H6 clearly abrogates tumor invasiveness and metastatic dissemination without inducing any off-target toxicity. Thus, T22-DITOX-H6 holds great promise for the treatment of CXCR4+ HNSCC patients presenting worse prognosis.

A diphtheria toxin-based nanoparticle achieves specific cytotoxic effect on CXCR4+ lymphoma cells without toxicity in immunocompromised and immunocompetent mice.

High rates of relapsed and refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients and life-threatening side effects associated with immunochemotherapy make an urgent need to develop new therapies for DLBCL patients. Immunotoxins seem very potent anticancer therapies but their use is limited because of their high toxicity. Accordingly, the self-assembling polypeptidic nanoparticle, T22-DITOX-H6, incorporating the diphtheria toxin and targeted to CXCR4 receptor, which is overexpressed in DLBCL cells, could offer a new strategy to selectively eliminate CXCR4+ DLBCL cells without adverse effects. In these terms, our work demonstrated that T22-DITOX-H6 showed high specific cytotoxicity towards CXCR4+ DLBCL cells at the low nanomolar range, which was dependent on caspase-3 cleavage, PARP activation and an increase of cells in early/late apoptosis. Repeated nanoparticle administration induced antineoplastic effect, in vivo and ex vivo, in a disseminated immunocompromised mouse model generated by intravenous injection of human luminescent CXCR4+ DLBCL cells. Moreover, T22-DITOX-H6 inhibited tumor growth in a subcutaneous immunocompetent mouse model bearing mouse CXCR4+ lymphoma cells in the absence of alterations in the hemogram, liver or kidney injury markers or on-target or off-target organ histology. Thus, T22-DITOX-H6 demonstrates a selective cytotoxicity towards CXCR4+ DLBCL cells without the induction of toxicity in non-lymphoma infiltrated organs nor hematologic toxicity.

The Poly-Histidine Tag H6 Mediates Structural and Functional Properties of Disintegrating, Protein-Releasing Inclusion Bodies.

The coordination between histidine-rich peptides and divalent cations supports the formation of nano- and micro-scale protein biomaterials, including toxic and non-toxic functional amyloids, which can be adapted as drug delivery systems. Among them, inclusion bodies (IBs) formed in recombinant bacteria have shown promise as protein depots for time-sustained protein release. We have demonstrated here that the hexahistidine (H6) tag, fused to recombinant proteins, impacts both on the formation of bacterial IBs and on the conformation of the IB-forming protein, which shows a higher content of cross-beta intermolecular interactions in H6-tagged versions. Additionally, the addition of EDTA during the spontaneous disintegration of isolated IBs largely affects the protein leakage rate, again protein release being stimulated in His-tagged materials. This event depends on the number of His residues but irrespective of the location of the tag in the protein, as it occurs in either C-tagged or N-tagged proteins. The architectonic role of H6 in the formation of bacterial IBs, probably through coordination with divalent cations, offers an easy approach to manipulate protein leakage and to tailor the applicability of this material as a secretory amyloidal depot in different biomedical interfaces. In addition, the findings also offer a model to finely investigate, in a simple set-up, the mechanics of protein release from functional secretory amyloids.

CXCR4-targeted nanotoxins induce GSDME-dependent pyroptosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Therapy resistance, which leads to the development of loco-regional relapses and distant metastases after treatment, constitutes one of the major problems that head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients currently face. Thus, novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. Targeted drug delivery to the chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) represents a promising approach for HNSCC management. In this context, we have developed the self-assembling protein nanotoxins T22-PE24-H6 and T22-DITOX-H6, which incorporate the de-immunized catalytic domain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PE24) exotoxin A and the diphtheria exotoxin (DITOX) domain, respectively. Both nanotoxins contain the T22 peptide ligand to specifically target CXCR4-overexpressing HNSCC cells. In this study, we evaluate the potential use of T22-PE24-H6 and T22-DITOX-H6 nanotoxins for the treatment of HNSCC. METHODS: T22-PE24-H6 and T22-DITOX-H6 CXCR4-dependent cytotoxic effect was evaluated in vitro in two different HNSCC cell lines. Both nanotoxins cell death mechanisms were assessed in HNSCC cell lines by phase-contrast microscopy, AnnexinV/ propidium iodide (PI) staining, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays, and western blotting. Nanotoxins antitumor effect in vivo was studied in a CXCR4+ HNSCC subcutaneous mouse model. Immunohistochemistry, histopathology, and toxicity analyses were used to evaluate both nanotoxins antitumor effect and possible treatment toxicity. GSMDE and CXCR4 expression in HNSCC patient tumor samples was also assessed by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: First, we found that both nanotoxins exhibit a potent CXCR4-dependent cytotoxic effect in vitro. Importantly, nanotoxin treatment triggered caspase-3/Gasdermin E (GSDME)-mediated pyroptosis. The activation of this alternative cell death pathway that differs from traditional apoptosis, becomes a promising strategy to bypass therapy resistance. In addition, T22-PE24-H6 and T22-DITOX-H6 displayed a potent antitumor effect in the absence of systemic toxicity in a CXCR4+ subcutaneous HNSCC mouse model. Lastly, GSDME was found to be overexpressed in tumor tissue from HNSCC patients, highlighting the relevance of this strategy. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, our results show that T22-PE24-H6 and T22-DITOX-H6 represent a promising therapy for HNSCC patients. Remarkably, this is the first study showing that both nanotoxins are capable of activating caspase-3/GSDME-dependent pyroptosis, opening a novel avenue for HNSCC treatment.

Engineering non-antibody human proteins as efficient scaffolds for selective, receptor-targeted drug delivery.

Self-assembling non-immunoglobulin scaffold proteins are a promising class of nanoscale carriers for drug delivery and interesting alternatives to antibody-based carriers that are not sufficiently efficient in systemic administration. To exploit their potentialities in clinics, protein scaffolds need to be further tailored to confer appropriate targeting and to overcome their potential immunogenicity, short half-life in plasma and proteolytic degradation. We have here engineered three human scaffold proteins as drug carrier nanoparticles to target the cytokine receptor CXCR4, a tumoral cell surface marker of high clinical relevance. The capability of these scaffolds for the selective delivery of Monomethyl auristatin E has been comparatively evaluated in a disseminated mouse model of human, CXCR4+ acute myeloid leukemia. Monomethyl auristatin E is an ultra-potent anti-mitotic drug used against a range of hematological neoplasias, which because of its high toxicity is not currently administered as a free drug but as payload in antibody-drug conjugates. The protein nanoconjugates generated here offer a collective strength of simple manufacturing process, high proteolytic and structural stability and multivalent ligand receptor interactions that result in a highly efficient and selective delivery of the payload drug and in a potent anticancer effect. The approach shown here stresses this class of human scaffold proteins as promising alternatives to antibodies for targeted drug delivery in the rapidly evolving drug development landscape.