Scott E. McNeil

Protein Corona Composition Does Not Accurately Predict Hematocompatibility of Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles

Proteins bound to nanoparticle surfaces are known to affect particle clearance by influencing immune cell uptake and distribution to the organs of the mononuclear phagocytic system. The composition of the protein corona has been described for several types of nanomaterials, but the role of the corona in nanoparticle biocompatibility is not well established. In this study we investigate the role of nanoparticle surface properties (PEGylation) and incubation times on the protein coronas of colloidal gold nanoparticles. While neither incubation time nor PEG molecular weight affected the specific proteins in the protein corona, the total amount of protein binding was governed by the molecular weight of PEG coating. Furthermore, the composition of the protein corona did not correlate with nanoparticle hematocompatibility. Specialized hematological tests should be used to deduce nanoparticle hematotoxicity. From the clinical editor: It is overall unclear how the protein corona associated with colloidal gold nanoparticles may influence hematotoxicity. This study warns that PEGylation itself may be insufficient, because composition of the protein corona does not directly correlate with nanoparticle hematocompatibility. The authors suggest that specialized hematological tests must be used to deduce nanoparticle hematotoxicity.

Strategy for selecting nanotechnology carriers to overcome immunological and hematological toxicities challenging clinical translation of nucleic acid-based therapeutics

Introduction: Clinical translation of nucleic acid-based therapeutics (NATs) is hampered by assorted challenges in immunotoxicity, hematotoxicity, pharmacokinetics, toxicology and formulation. Nanotechnology-based platforms are being considered to help address some of these challenges due to the nanoparticles’ ability to change drug biodistribution, stability, circulation half-life, route of administration and dosage. Addressing toxicology and pharmacology concerns by various means including NATs reformulation using nanotechnology-based carriers has been reviewed before. However, little attention was given to the immunological and hematological issues associated with nanotechnology reformulation. Areas covered: This review focuses on application of nanotechnology carriers for delivery of various types of NATs, and how reformulation using nanoparticles affects immunological and hematological toxicities of this promising class of therapeutic agents. Expert opinion: NATs share several immunological and hematological toxicities with common nanotechnology carriers. In order to avoid synergy or exaggeration of undesirable immunological and hematological effects of NATs by a nanocarrier, it is critical to consider the immunological compatibility of the nanotechnology platform and its components. Since receptors sensing nucleic acids are located essentially in all cellular compartments, a strategy for developing a nanoformulation with reduced immunotoxicity should first focus on precise delivery to the target site/cells and then on optimizing intracellular distribution.

Immunological and hematological toxicities challenging clinical translation of nucleic acid-based therapeutics

Introduction: Nucleic acid-based therapeutics (NATs) are proven agents in correcting disorders caused by gene mutations, as treatments against cancer, microbes and viruses, and as vaccine adjuvants. Although many traditional small molecule NATs have been approved for clinical use, commercialization of macromolecular NATs has been considerably slower, and only a few have successfully reached the market. Preclinical and clinical evaluation of macromolecular NATs has revealed many assorted challenges in immunotoxicity, hematotoxicity, pharmacokinetics (PKs), toxicology and formulation. Extensive review has been given to the PK and toxicological concerns of NATs including approaches designed to overcome these issues. Immunological and hematological issues are a commonly reported side effect of NAT treatment; however, literature exploring the mechanistic background of these effects is sparse. Areas covered: This review focuses on the immunomodulatory properties of various types of therapeutic nucleic acid concepts. The most commonly observed immunological and hematological toxicities are described for various NAT classes, with citations of how to circumvent these toxicities. Expert opinion: Although some success with overcoming immunological and hematological toxicities of NATs has been achieved in recent years, immunostimulation remains the main dose-limiting factor challenging clinical translation of these promising therapies. Novel delivery vehicles should be considered to overcome this challenge.

Stable isotope method to measure drug release from nanomedicines.

Existing methods to measure nanomedicine drug release in biological matrices are inadequate. A novel drug release method utilizing a stable isotope tracer has been developed. Stable isotope-labeled drug is spiked into plasma containing nanomedicine. The labeled drug equilibrates with plasma components identical to the normoisotopic drug released from the nanomedicine formulation. Therefore, the ultrafilterable fraction of the isotope-labeled drug represents a reliable measure of free normoisotopic drug fraction in plasma, and can be used to calculate nanomedicine encapsulated and unencapsulated drug fractions. To demonstrate the utility of this method, we performed a plasma drug release study with both a fast releasing commercial docetaxel formulation, Taxotere®, and a delayed releasing nanomicellar formulation of a docetaxel prodrug, Procet 8. The instability of the unencapsulated prodrug in plasma allowed us to compare our calculated prodrug release and docetaxel conversion with the actual docetaxel concentration measured directly without fractionation. Drug release estimates for the fast releasing Taxotere formulation demonstrated accuracy deviation and precision (%CV) of <15%. For the controlled release Procet 8 formulation, we calculated a slow release and conversion of the prodrug in rat plasma that was highly correlated with the direct docetaxel measurement (R(2)=0.98). We believe that this method will have tremendous utility in the development and regulatory evaluation of nanomedicines, and aid in determination of generic bioequivalence.

Induction of oxidative stress by Taxol® vehicle Cremophor-EL triggers production of interleukin-8 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells through the mechanism not requiring de novo synthesis of mRNA

UNLABELLED Understanding the ability of cytotoxic oncology drugs, and their carriers and formulation excipients, to induce pro-inflammatory responses is important for establishing safe and efficacious formulations. Literature data about cytokine response induction by the traditional formulation of paclitaxel, Taxol®, are controversial, and no data are available about the pro-inflammatory profile of the nano-albumin formulation of this drug, Abraxane®. Herein, we demonstrate and explain the difference in the cytokine induction profile between Taxol® and Abraxane®, and describe a novel mechanism of cytokine induction by a nanosized excipient, Cremophor EL, which is not unique to Taxol® and is commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry for delivery of a wide variety of small molecular drugs. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR Advances in nanotechnology have enabled the production of many nano-formulation drugs. The cellular response to drugs has been reported to be different between traditional and nano-formulations. In this article, the authors investigated and compared cytokine response induction profiles between Taxol® and Abraxane®. The findings here provided further understanding to create drugs with better safety profiles.

Quantitative analysis of PEG-functionalized colloidal gold nanoparticles using charged aerosol detection

AbstractSurface characteristics of a nanoparticle, such as functionalization with polyethylene glycol (PEG), are critical to understand and achieve optimal biocompatibility. Routine physicochemical characterization such as UV-vis spectroscopy (for gold nanoparticles), dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential are commonly used to assess the presence of PEG. However, these techniques are merely qualitative and are not sensitive enough to distinguish differences in PEG quantity, density, or presentation. As an alternative, two methods are described here which allow for quantitative measurement of PEG on PEGylated gold nanoparticles. The first, a displacement method, utilizes dithiothreitol to displace PEG from the gold surface. The dithiothreitol-coated gold nanoparticles are separated from the mixture via centrifugation, and the excess dithiothreitol and dissociated PEG are separated through reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The second, a dissolution method, utilizes potassium cyanide to dissolve the gold nanoparticles and liberate PEG. Excess CN−, Au(CN)2−, and free PEG are separated using RP-HPLC. In both techniques, the free PEG can be quantified against a standard curve using charged aerosol detection. The displacement and dissolution methods are validated here using 2-, 5-, 10-, and 20-kDa PEGylated 30-nm colloidal gold nanoparticles. Further value in these techniques is demonstrated not only by quantitating the total PEG fraction but also by being able to be adapted to quantitate the free unbound PEG and the bound PEG fractions. This is an important distinction, as differences in the bound and unbound PEG fractions can affect biocompatibility, which would not be detected in techniques that only quantitate the total PEG fraction. Graphical AbstractDisplacement and dissolution techniques to quantitate PEG on AuNPs. a The displacement method uses excess DTT to displace PEG from the surface of the gold nanoparticle. The displaced PEG and excess DTT (supernatant fraction) are separated from the gold nanoparticle (pellet fraction) by centrifugation. RPHPLC with CAD is used to separate and quantitate the PEG component. b The dissolution method used potassium cyanide (KCN) to dissolve the gold nanoparticle. The resulting mixture is then separated using RPHPLC and the PEG component is quantitated using CAD