Artificial Virus Delivers CRISPR-Cas9 System for Genome Editing of Cells in Mice.

CRISPR-Cas9 has emerged as a versatile genome-editing platform. However, due to the large size of the commonly used CRISPR-Cas9 system, its effective delivery has been a challenge and limits its utility for basic research and therapeutic applications. Herein, a multifunctional nucleus-targeting "core-shell" artificial virus (RRPHC) was constructed for the delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 system. The artificial virus could efficiently load with the CRISPR-Cas9 system, accelerate the endosomal escape, and promote the penetration into the nucleus without additional nuclear-localization signal, thus enabling targeted gene disruption. Notably, the artificial virus is more efficient than SuperFect, Lipofectamine 2000, and Lipofectamine 3000. When loaded with a CRISPR-Cas9 plasmid, it induced higher targeted gene disruption efficacy than that of Lipofectamine 3000. Furthermore, the artificial virus effectively targets the ovarian cancer via dual-receptor-mediated endocytosis and had minimum side effects. When loaded with the Cas9-hMTH1 system targeting MTH1 gene, RRPHC showed effective disruption of MTH1 in vivo. This strategy could be adapted for delivering CRISPR-Cas9 plasmid or other functional nucleic acids in vivo.

Paclitaxel and Tacrolimus Coencapsulated Polymeric Micelles That Enhance the Therapeutic Effect of Drug-Resistant Ovarian Cancer.

The combination of chemotherapy drugs and multidrug-resistant reversing agents for treating multidrug resistance in tumors has attracted increasing attention. However, the poor water solubility of some anticancer drugs restricted their clinical application. In this work, we prepared poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone) (MPEG-PCL) micelles as a codelivery system to load the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel (PTX) and the multidrug-resistant reversing agent tacrolimus (FK506). The PTX- and FK506-coloaded MPEG-PCL micelles (P-F/M) were prepared by a one-step solid dispersion method without any surfactants, toxic organic solvent, or severe experimental conditions. P-F/M had small particle size (28.7 ± 3.2 nm) and high encapsulation efficiency (99.3 ± 0.5%). Compared with A2780s cells (PTX-sensitive human ovarian cancer cells), P-F/M showed a stronger cytotoxicity and an improving intracellular drug concentration of PTX than PTX-loaded micelles (PTX/M) in A2780/T cells (PTX-resistant human ovarian cancer cells). Furthermore, a P-F/M codelivery system showed a more significant G2/M arrest and apoptosis induction effects, as well as activating apoptosis protein signaling pathway, in A2780/T cells than in A2780s cells. In summary, the results suggested that the codelivery micelles of PTX and FK506 may serve as a potential candidates against MDR human ovarian cancer.

Polymeric micelles encapsulating fisetin improve the therapeutic effect in colon cancer.

The natural flavonoid fisetin (3,3',4',7-tetrahydroxyflavone) was discovered to possess antitumor activity, revealing its potential value in future chemotherapy. However, its poor water solubility makes it difficult for intravenous administration. In this study, the monomethyl poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone) (MPEG-PCL) copolymer was applied to prepare nanoassemblies of fisetin by a self-assembly procedure. The prepared fisetin micelles gained a mean particle size of 22 ± 3 nm, polydisperse index of 0.163 ± 0.032, drug loading of 9.88 ± 0.14%, and encapsulation efficiency of 98.53 ± 0.02%. Compared with free fisetin, fisetin micelles demonstrated a sustained and prolonged in vitro release behavior, as well as enhanced cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and fisetin-induced apoptosis in CT26 cells. As for in vivo studies, fisetin micelles were more competent for suppressing tumor growth and prolonging survival time than free fisetin in the subcutaneous CT26 tumor model. Furthermore, histological analysis, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick-end labeling assay, immunohistochemical detection of Ki-67, and microvessel density detection were conducted, demonstrating that fisetin micelles gained increased tumor apoptosis induction, proliferation suppression, and antiangiogenesis activities. In conclusion, we have successfully produced a MPEG-PCL-based nanocarrier encapsulating fisetin with enhanced antitumor activity.

Biodegradable polymeric micelles encapsulated JK184 suppress tumor growth through inhibiting Hedgehog signaling pathway.

JK184 can specially inhibit Gli in the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway, which showed great promise for cancer therapeutics. For developing aqueous formulation and improving anti-tumor activity of JK184, we prepared JK184 encapsulated MPEG-PCL micelles by the solid dispersion method without using surfactants or toxic organic solvents. The cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of JK184 micelles were both increased compared with the free drug. JK184 micelles induced more apoptosis and blocked proliferation of Panc-1 and BxPC-3 tumor cells. In addition, JK184 micelles exerted a sustained in vitro release behavior and had a stronger inhibitory effect on proliferation, migration and invasion of HUVECs than free JK184. Furthermore, JK184 micelles had stronger tumor growth inhibiting effects in subcutaneous Panc-1 and BxPC-3 tumor models. Histological analysis showed that JK184 micelles improved anti-tumor activity by inducing more apoptosis, decreasing microvessel density and reducing expression of CD31, Ki67, and VEGF in tumor tissues. JK184 micelles showed a stronger inhibition of Gli expression in Hh signaling, which played an important role in pancreatic carcinoma. Furthermore, circulation time of JK184 in blood was prolonged after entrapment in polymeric micelles. Our results suggested that JK184 micelles are a promising drug candidate for treating pancreatic tumors with a highly inhibitory effect on Hh activity.

Assessment of therapeutic efficacy of liposomal nanoparticles mediated gene delivery by molecular imaging for cancer therapy.

The inadequate treatment efficacy, suboptimal cancer detection and disease monitoring in anticancer therapies have led to the quest for clinically relevant, innovative multifaceted solutions such as development of targeted and traceable approaches. Molecular imaging technologies with the versatility of liposomal nanoparticles platform offer tangible options to better guide treatment delivery and monitor outcome. In this study, we introduced noninvasive, quantitative and functional imaging techniques with reporter gene methods to probe breast cancer processes with liposomal nanoparticles by bioluminescence imaging (BLI). A breast cancer model was applied for therapy by injecting 5.0 x 10(5) 4T1 cells carrying a reporter system encoding a double fusion reporter gene consisting of firefly luciferase (Fluc) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) into BALB/c mice. Liposomal nanoparticles loaded with a triple fusion gene containing the herpes simplex virus truncated thymidine kinase (HSV-ttk) and renilla luciferase (Rluc) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) were applied by in situ injection for monitoring and evaluating gene therapy. The BALB/c mice were subsequently treated with ganciclovir (GCV) and the growth status of tumor was monitored by bioluminescence imaging of Fluc and the treatment delivery of liposomal nanoparticle was efficiently tracked by Rluc imaging. In fact, TF plasmids were shown to be useful for monitoring and evaluating targeting efficacy and gene therapy by non-invasive molecular imaging. In conclusion, the combination of noninvasive imaging techniques and liposomal nanoparticle can provide a practical and clinically useful way for gene delivery and monitoring the level of gene expression over time and treatment response in patients undergoing gene therapy.

CD44 antibody-targeted liposomal nanoparticles for molecular imaging and therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Most hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapies fail to target cancer stem cells (CSCs) and monitor cancer progression or regression. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibility of cancer imaging and simultaneously monitoring targeted therapy in a single animal by anti-CD44 antibody-mediated liposomal nanoparticle. In this study, an in situ liver tumor model was applied for therapy by injecting 1.0 × 10(6) HepG2 cells carrying a reporter system encoding a double fusion (DF) reporter gene consisting of firefly luciferase (Fluc) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) into the liver of NOD/SCID mice. A strategy was developed which specifically targeted HCC via anti-CD44 antibody-mediated liposomal nanoparticle delivery, loaded of either doxorubicin (Dox) or a triple fusion (TF) gene containing the herpes simplex virus truncated thymidine kinase (HSV-ttk) and renilla luciferase (Rluc) and red fluorescent protein (RFP). The NOD/SCID mice were subsequently treated with ganciclovir (GCV) and the growth status of tumor was monitored by optical bioluminescence imaging (BLI) of Fluc and specific targeting of the liposomal nanoparticle was tracked by Rluc imaging. CD44 antibody-mediated liposomal nanoparticle, loaded of TF plasmids, were shown to be useful for monitoring and evaluating targeting efficacy and gene therapy by non-invasive molecular imaging. Here, we demonstrate the time intensive preclinical steps involved in molecular target identification, validation, and characterization by dual molecular imaging. This targeted and traceable therapeutic strategy has potential advantages to overcome the problems of conventional tumor therapy and may open a new application for the treatment of HCC by targeting CSCs.