Elisabeth Garanger

A simple method to achieve high doxorubicin loading in biodegradable polymersomes.

Doxorubicin (Dox), an anthracycline anticancer drug, was successfully incorporated into block copolymer vesicles of poly(trimethylene carbonate)-b-poly(L-glutamic acid) (PTMC-b-PGA) by a solvent-displacement (nanoprecipitation) method. pH conditions were shown to have a strong influence on loading capacity and release profiles. Substantial drug loading (47% w/w) was achieved at pH 10.5. After pH neutralization, aqueous dispersions of drug-loaded vesicles were found stable for a prolonged period of time (at least 6months) without vesicle disruption or drug precipitation. Dox-loaded vesicles exhibited in vitro pH and temperature-dependent drug release profiles: release kinetics fastened in acid conditions or by increasing temperature. These features strongly support the interest of developing PTMC-b-PGA polymersomes as carriers for the controlled delivery of Dox.

Tumor Targeting with RGD Peptide Ligands-Design of New Molecular Conjugates for Imaging and Therapy of Cancers

Development of molecular devices endowed with tumor-targeting functions and carrying cytotoxic components should enable the specific delivery of chemotherapeutics to malignant tissues, thus increasing their local efficacy while limiting their peripheral toxicity. Such molecular vectors can pave the way for the development of new classes of therapeutics, fighting against protagonists of neoplastic development. In line with this concept, peptide ligands containing the Arginine-Glycine-Aspartate (RGD) triad, which display a strong affinity and selectivity to the alpha(V)beta(3) integrin, have been developed to target the tumor-associated cells expressing the alpha (V)beta (3) receptors. Among the validated ligands, the leader compound is the cyclic pentapeptide c[-RGDf(NMe)V-] (Cilengitide) developed by kessler et al. (J. Med. Chem., 1999, 42, 3033-3040). This compound has entered phase II clinical trials as an anti-angiogenic agent. Further studies have been directed to develop molecular conjugates of the parent c[-RGDfK-] with conventional chemotherapeutics or with labels for non-invasive imaging technologies. More recently, multimeric RGD containing compounds have been exploited to improve the targeting potential as well as cell-membrane breaching, through receptor-mediated endocytosis. The latter have been constructed on various scaffolds (polylysines or polyglutamates, liposomes, nanoparticles...). Our group has developed a chemical system combining all these properties where multivalent RGD targeting functions are associated with functional molecules through a cyclopeptide template. The latter represents a relevant non-viral vector for tumor targeting, imaging and therapy. This review describes the considerations for the design of the diverse RGD ligands developed so far and reports an overview of the main applications of these structures in cancer research.

Molecular MRI of Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis With Simultaneous Delayed-Enhancement MRI Distinguishes Apoptotic and Necrotic Myocytes In Vivo Potential for Midmyocardial Salvage in Acute Ischemia

Background—A novel dual-contrast molecular MRI technique to image both cardiomyocyte apoptosis and necrosis in vivo within 4 to 6 hours of ischemia is presented. The technique uses the annexin-based nanoparticle AnxCLIO-Cy5.5 (apoptosis) and simultaneous delayed-enhancement imaging with a novel gadolinium chelate, Gd-DTPA-NBD (necrosis). Methods and Results—Mice with transient coronary ligation were injected intravenously at the onset of reperfusion with AnxCLIO-Cy5.5 (n=7) or the control probe Inact_CLIO-Cy5.5 (n=6). T2*-weighted MR images (9.4 T) were acquired within 4 to 6 hours of reperfusion. The contrast-to-noise ratio between injured and uninjured myocardium was measured. The mice were then injected with Gd-DTPA-NBD, and delayed-enhancement imaging was performed within 10 to 30 minutes. Uptake of AnxCLIO-Cy5.5 was most prominent in the midmyocardium and was significantly greater than that of Inact_CLIO-Cy5.5 (contrast-to-noise ratio, 8.82±1.5 versus 3.78±1.1; P<0.05). Only 21±3% of the myocardium with accumulation of AnxCLIO-Cy5.5 showed delayed-enhancement of Gd-DTPA-NBD. Wall thickening was significantly reduced in segments with delayed enhancement and/or transmural accumulation of AnxCLIO-Cy5.5 (P<0.001). Fluorescence microscopy of AnxCLIO-Cy5.5 and immunohistochemistry of Gd-DTPA-NBD confirmed the presence of large numbers of apoptotic but potentially viable cardiomyocytes (AnxCLIO-Cy5.5 positive, Gd-DTPA-NBD negative) in the midmyocardium. Conclusions—A novel technique to image cardiomyocyte apoptosis and necrosis in vivo within 4 to 6 hours of injury is presented and reveals large areas of apoptotic but viable myocardium in the midmyocardium. Strategies to salvage the numerous apoptotic but potentially viable cardiomyocytes in the midmyocardium in acute ischemia should be investigated.

Multivalent RGD synthetic peptides as potent αVβ3 integrin ligands

We study herein the multivalency effect of a cluster of alphaVbeta3-ligands held on a cyclodecapeptide template. An array of RAFT(c[-RGDfK-])n derivatives containing from one to sixteen clustered RGD motifs were synthesized and comparatively assayed in vitro on alphaVbeta3-expressing cells. Efficient inhibition of the alphaVbeta3-specific 23C6 monoclonal antibody fixation was observed with ligands displaying three and four copies of the cyclo[-RGDfK-] peptide.

Noninvasive Optical Imaging of Ovarian Metastases Using Cy5-labeled RAFT-c(-RGDfK-)4

Our group has developed a new molecular tool based on the use of a regioselectively addressable, functionalized template (RAFT) scaffold, where four cyclic (Arg-Gly-Asp) (cRGD) peptide motifs were grafted. The aim of this study was to determine whether RAFT-c(-RGDfK-)4 combined with optical imaging could allow noninvasive detection of deep ovarian metastases. Human ovarian adenocarcinoma IGROV1 cells expressing low levels of integrin αvβ3 (the main receptor for the cRGD peptide) were used for in vitro and in vivo assays in combination with Cy5-labeled RAFT-c(-RGDfK-)4, cRGD, or RAFT-c(-RβADfK-)4. In vivo fluorescence imaging was performed on subcutaneous (SC) tumors and intraperitoneal IGROV1 metastases in nude mice. The accumulation of RGD-Cy5 conjugates in cultured cells or in tumor tissues was examined using confocal laser scanning microscopy. RAFT-c(-RGDfK-)4 exhibited stronger staining in vitro, enhanced tumor-to-background ratio for SC tumors, and allowed early detection of 1- to 5-mm large intraabdominal nodules using noninvasive optical imaging. Histological study revealed that RAFT-c(-RGDfK-)4 accumulated into tumor neovasculature but also into tumor cells. Our data demonstrate that a Cy5-labeled RAFT-c(-RGDfK-)4 is an efficient optical probe for early and noninvasive tumor detection.

A DNA-binding Gd chelate for the detection of cell death by MRI

GadoTO, a MR contrast agent for the detection of cell death, consists of a nucleic acid-binding fluorophore attached to a gadolinium chelate.

Single Reporter for Targeted Multimodal in Vivo Imaging

We have developed a multifaceted, highly specific reporter for multimodal in vivo imaging and applied it for detection of brain tumors. A metabolically biotinylated, membrane-bound form of Gaussia luciferase was synthesized, termed mbGluc-biotin. We engineered glioma cells to express this reporter and showed that brain tumor formation can be temporally imaged by bioluminescence following systemic administration of coelenterazine. Brain tumors expressing this reporter had high sensitivity for detection by magnetic resonance and fluorescence tomographic imaging upon injection of streptavidin conjugated to magnetic nanoparticles or fluorophore, respectively. Moreover, single photon emission computed tomography showed enhanced imaging of these tumors upon injection with streptavidin complexed to (111)In-DTPA-biotin. This work shows for the first time a single small reporter (∼40 kDa) which can be monitored with most available molecular imaging modalities and can be extended for single cell imaging using intravital microscopy, allowing real-time tracking of any cell expressing it in vivo.

Synthesis and biological characterisation of targeted pro-apoptotic peptide.

We report herein the synthesis and in vitro assay of new, multimeric RGD‐peptide conjugates for cell‐targeted drug delivery. We generated a peptide scaffold comprising two functional domains, one a tumour blood vessel “homing” motif and the other a programmed cell‐death‐inducing peptide sequence. RGD peptides were selected to direct the molecular conjugate to αVβ3 integrin‐containing tumour cells. The pro‐apoptotic (Lys‐Leu‐Ala‐Lys‐Leu‐Ala‐Lys)2 peptide was found to be nontoxic outside cells, but toxic when internalized into targeted cells as it disrupted the mitochondrial membrane. The synthesis of these targeted pro‐apoptotic conjugates was carried out by assembling three different units (that is, scaffold, RGD units and pro‐apoptotic peptide) through chemoselective ligations. We show that one compound displays significant biological effect in αVβ3 integrin‐containing tumour cells.

Simplified syntheses of complex multifunctional nanomaterials

Multifunctional probes are synthesized in a single step using peptide scaffold-based multifunctional single-attachment-point (MSAP) reagents.

Expression and purification of short hydrophobic elastin-like polypeptides with maltose-binding protein as a solubility tag.

Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are biodegradable polymers with interesting physico-chemical properties for biomedical and biotechnological applications. The recombinant expression of hydrophobic elastin-like polypeptides is often difficult because they possess low transition temperatures, and therefore form aggregates at sub-ambient temperatures. To circumvent this difficulty, we expressed in Escherichia coli three hydrophobic ELPs (VPGIG)n with variable lengths (n=20, 40, and 60) in fusion with the maltose-binding protein (MBP). Fusion proteins were soluble and yields of purified MBP-ELP ranged between 66 and 127mg/L culture. After digestion of the fusion proteins by enterokinase, the ELP moiety was purified by using inverse transition cycling. The purified fraction containing ELP40 was slightly contaminated by traces of undigested fusion protein. Purification of ELP60 was impaired because of co-purification of the MBP tag during inverse transition cycling. ELP20 was successfully purified to homogeneity, as assessed by gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry analyses. The transition temperature of ELP20 was measured at 15.4°C in low salt buffer. In conclusion, this method can be used to produce hydrophobic ELP of low molecular mass.