Anti-HSP47 siRNA lipid nanoparticle ND-L02-s0201 reverses interstitial pulmonary fibrosis in preclinical rat models.

ND-L02-s0201 is a lipid nanoparticle encapsulating an siRNA which inhibits expression of heat shock protein 47 (HSP47), a collagen-specific chaperone. Accumulated evidence demonstrates a close association between increased level of HSP47 and excessive accumulation of collagen in fibrotic diseases. Our objective was to test ND-L02-s0201 efficacy in preclinical lung fibrosis models and characterise the downstream histological and functional consequences of inhibiting the expression of HSP47. Comprehensive optimisation and characterisation of bleomycin (BLM) and silica-induced rat lung fibrosis models were conducted, which ensured progressive pathological changes were sustained throughout the study during evaluation of the anti-fibrotic potential of ND-L02-s0201. In the BLM model, we demonstrated dose-dependent and statistically significant reduction in the relative lung weight, collagen deposition and histology, and fibrosis scores following ND-L02-s0201 treatment. Lung tissue mRNA profiling demonstrated that 11 out of 84 fibrosis-relevant genes were upregulated following BLM induction and were downregulated by approximately 4.5-fold following ND-L02-s0201 treatment. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition was characterised in the BLM model following ND-L02-s0201 treatment. Cell enrichment demonstrated that myofibroblasts contained the highest HSP47 mRNA expression. BLM led to more than a five-fold increase in myofibroblasts and ND-L02-s0201 treatment reduced the myofibroblasts to sham levels. Statistically significant improvement in lung function was noted in the BLM model which was determined by running endurance capacity using a 7-minute treadmill test. Comparable anti-fibrotic efficacy was also observed in the silica model. Results from two robust chronic rodent models of pulmonary fibrosis demonstrated significant anti-fibrotic effects and improved lung function which support the evaluation of ND-L02-s0201 in subjects with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

A cell-based pharmacokinetics assay for evaluating tubulin-binding drugs.

Increasing evidence reveals that traditional pharmacokinetics parameters based on plasma drug concentrations are insufficient to reliably demonstrate accurate pharmacological effects of drugs in target organs or cells in vivo. This underscores the increasing need to improve the types and qualities of cellular pharmacokinetic information for drug preclinical screening and clinical efficacy assessments. Here we report a whole cell-based method to assess drugs that disturb microtubule dynamics to better understand different formulation-mediated intracellular drug release profiles. As proof of concept for this approach, we compared the well-known taxane class of anti-microtubule drugs based on paclitaxel (PTX), including clinically familiar albumin nanoparticle-based Abraxane™, and a polymer nanoparticle-based degradable paclitaxel carrier, poly(L-glutamic acid)-paclitaxel conjugate (PGA-PTX, also known as CT-2103) versus control PTX. This in vitro cell-based evaluation of PTX efficacy includes determining the cellular kinetics of tubulin polymerization, relative populations of cells under G2 mitotic arrest, cell proliferation and total cell viability. For these taxane tubulin-binding compounds, the kinetics of cell microtubule stabilization directly correlate with G2 arrest and cell proliferation, reflecting the kinetics and amounts of intracellular PTX release. Each individual cell-based dose-response experiment correlates with published, key therapeutic parameters and taken together, provide a comprehensive understanding of drug intracellular pharmacokinetics at both cellular and molecular levels. This whole cell-based evaluating method is convenient, quantitative and cost-effective for evaluating new formulations designed to optimize cellular pharmacokinetics for drugs perturbing tubulin polymerization as well as assisting in explaining drug mechanisms of action at cellular levels.

Effect of PEGylation on biodistribution and gene silencing of siRNA/lipid nanoparticle complexes.

PURPOSE: To determine the influence of physicochemical properties of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) carrying siRNA on their gene silencing in vivo. Mechanistic understanding of how the architecture of the nanoparticle can alter gene expression has also been studied. METHODS: The effect of 3-N-[(ω-methoxypoly(ethylene glycol)2000)carbamoyl]-1,2-dimyristyloxy-propylamine (PEG-C-DMA) on hepatic distribution and FVII gene silencing was determined. FVII mRNA in hepatocytes and liver tissues was determined by Q-PCR. Hepatic distribution was quantified by FACS analysis using Cy5 labeled siRNA. RESULTS: Gene silencing was highly dependent on the amount of PEG-C-DMA present. FVII gene silencing inversely correlated to the amount of PEG-C-DMA in LNPs. High FVII gene silencing was obtained in vitro and in vivo when the molar ratio of PEG-C-DMA to lipid was 0.5 mol%. Surprisingly, PEGylation didn't alter the hepatic distribution of the LNPs at 5 h post administration. Instead the amount of PEG present in the LNPs has an effect on red blood cell disruption at low pH. CONCLUSION: Low but sufficient PEG-C-DMA amount in LNPs plays an important role for efficient FVII gene silencing in vivo. PEGylation did not alter the hepatic distribution of LNPs, but altered gene silencing efficacy by potentially reducing endosomal disruption.

Effect of molecular weight of PGG-paclitaxel conjugates on in vitro and in vivo efficacy.

Polymeric prodrugs are one of the most promising chemotherapeutic agent delivery approaches, displaying unique drug release profiles, serum stability, formulation flexibility, and reduced drug resistance. One of the most important aspects of a polymeric prodrug, albeit a less-extensively studied one, is the polymer's molecular weight, which affects particle formation, drug release and PK/PD profiles, drug stability, and cell uptake; these factors in turn affect the prodrug's maximum tolerated dose and anticancer efficacy. Poly(L-γ-glutamylglutamine) (PGG) is a linear polymer designed to improve the therapeutic index of attached drugs. In this study we selected poly(L-γ-glutamylglutamine)-paclitaxel (PGG­PTX), as a model system for the methodical investigation into the effects of the poly(L-γ-glutamylglutamine) backbone molecular weight on its pharmacological performance. The polymeric prodrug was characterized by NMR, DLS and GPC-MALS, and its anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo was assessed. Herein we present data which provide valuable insight into improving anticancer polymer-based prodrug design and development.