RNA-Eluting Surfaces for the Modulation of Gene Expression as A Novel Stent Concept.

Presently, a new era of drug-eluting stents is continuing to improve late adverse effects such as thrombosis after coronary stent implantation in atherosclerotic vessels. The application of gene expression-modulating stents releasing specific small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) or messenger RNAs (mRNAs) to the vascular wall might have the potential to improve the regeneration of the vessel wall and to inhibit adverse effects as a new promising therapeutic strategy. Different poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) resomers for their ability as an siRNA delivery carrier against intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 with a depot effect were tested. Biodegradability, hemocompatibility, and high cell viability were found in all PLGAs. We generated PLGA coatings with incorporated siRNA that were able to transfect EA.hy926 and human vascular endothelial cells. Transfected EA.hy926 showed significant siICAM-1 knockdown. Furthermore, co-transfection of siRNA and enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) mRNA led to the expression of eGFP as well as to the siRNA transfection. Using our PLGA and siRNA multilayers, we reached high transfection efficiencies in EA.hy926 cells until day six and long-lasting transfection until day 20. Our results indicate that siRNA and mRNA nanoparticles incorporated in PLGA films have the potential for the modulation of gene expression after stent implantation to achieve accelerated regeneration of endothelial cells and to reduce the risk of restenosis.

Endotoxins affect diverse biological activity of chitosans in matters of hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility.

Chitosan is used in several pharmaceutical and medical applications, owing to its good cytocompatibility and hemocompatibility. However, there are conflicting reports regarding the biological activities of chitosan with some studies reporting anti-inflammatory properties while others report pro-inflammatory properties. In this regards we analyzed the endotoxin content in five different chitosans and examined these chitosans with their different deacetylation degrees for their hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility. Therefore, we incubated primary human endothelial cells or whole blood with different chitosan concentrations and studied the protein and mRNA expression of different inflammatory markers or cytokines. Our data indicate a correlation of the endotoxin content and cytokine up-regulation in whole blood for Poly-Morpho-Nuclear (PMN)-Elastase, soluble terminal complement complex SC5b-9, complement component C5/C5a, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, Interleukin-8 (IL), IL-10, IL-13, IL-17E, Il-32α and monocyte chemotactic protein-1. In contrast, the incubation of low endotoxin containing chitosans with primary endothelial cells resulted in increased expression of E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion protein-1, IL-1ß, IL-6 and IL-8 in endothelial cells. We suggest that the endotoxin content in chitosan plays a major role in the biological activity of chitosan. Therefore, we strongly recommend analysis of the endotoxin concentration in chitosan, before further determining if it has pro- or anti-inflammatory properties or if it is applicable for pharmaceutical and medical fields.

Hyaluronic acid/chitosan multilayer coatings on neuronal implants for localized delivery of siRNA nanoplexes.

Binding, stabilizing and promoting cellular uptake of siRNA are all critical efforts in creating matrices for the localized delivery of siRNA molecules to target cells. In this study, we describe the generation of chitosan imidazole/siRNA nanoplexes (NPs) embedded in nano scope polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) composed of hyaluronic acid and chitosan for sustained and localized drug delivery. Regular PEM build-up, successful integration of NPs and controlled release under physiological conditions were shown. Biological efficacy was evaluated in neuronal cell culture concerning cell adhesion, viability, NPs uptake and gene silencing. The additionally shown biological functionalization of neuronal implants possesses potential for future applications in the field of regenerative medicine and treatment of spinal cord injuries.

Impact of polyelectrolytes and their corresponding multilayers to human primary endothelial cells.

The layer-by-layer technique, which allows simple preparation of polyelectrolyte multilayers, came into the focus of research for development of functionalized medical devices. Numerous literature exist that concentrate on the film build-up and the behaviour of cells on polyelectrolyte multilayers. However, in case of very soft polyelectrolyte multilayers, studies of the cell behaviour on these films are sometimes misleading with regard to clinical applications because cells do not die due to cytotoxicity but due to apoptosis by missing cell adhesion. It turns out that the adhesion in vitro, and thus, the viability of cells on polyelectrolyte multilayers is mostly influenced by their mechanical properties. In order to decide, which polyelectrolyte multilayers are suitable for implants, we take this problem into account by putting the substrates with soft films on top of pre-cultured human primary endothelial cells ('reverse assay'). Hence, the present work aims giving a more complete and reliable study of typical polyelectrolyte multilayers with regard to clinical applications. In particular, coatings consisting of hyaluronic acid and chitosan as natural polymers and sulfonated polystyrene and polyallylamine hydrochlorite as synthetic polymers were studied. The adsorption of polyelectrolytes was characterized by physico-chemical methods which show regular buildup. Biological examination of the native or modified polyelectrolyte multilayers was based on their effect to cell adhesion and morphology of endothelial cells by viability assays, immunostaining and scanning electron microscopy. Using the standard method, which is typically applied in literature--seeding cells on top of films--shows that the best adhesion and thus, viability can be achieved using sulfonated polystyrene/polyallylamine hydrochlorite. However, putting the films on top of endothelial cells reveals that hyaluronic acid/chitosan may also be suitable for clinical applications: This result is especially remarkable, since hyaluronic acid and chitosan mediate per se no cytotoxic effects, whereas the individual polyelectrolytes, sulfonated polystyrene and polyallylamine hydrochlorite, and their complexes show slight cytotoxicity.