Youxiang Wang

A facile approach to construct hyaluronic acid shielding polyplexes with improved stability and reduced cytotoxicity.

A facile approach for polymer gene carriers was used to construct hyaluronic acid (HA) shielding polyplexes due to the electrostatic interaction. By adding HA to PEI/DNA complexes, the ξ-potential of ternary polyplexes was changed from positive to negative. Spherical particles with diameter about 250nm were observed. Ethidium bromide exclusion assay indicated that the electrostatic complexation was loosened after addition of HA. However, DNA disassembly did not occur. The proper reason was that the intensity of negative charges was not strong enough to release DNA from the complexes in our experiment. The stability of PEI/DNA/HA polyplexes in physiological condition was improved and the cytotoxicity was reduced. Comparing with PEI/DNA polyplexes, the uptake and transfection efficiency of HA shielding polyplexes was lower for HEK293T cells probably due to the reduced adsorptive endocytosis, whereas it was higher for HepG2 cells due to HA receptor mediated endocytosis. This facile approach to constructing HA shielding polyplexes might have great potential application in non-viral gene delivery research and tumor therapy.

Design and formulation of trimethylated chitosan-graft-poly(ɛ-caprolactone) nanoparticles used for gene delivery

The ideal gene polyplexes should have a subtle balance between polyplex stability to protect DNA against nucleases, and polyplex instability to permit DNA dissociation inside cells. In this research, low molecular weight trimethylated chitosan was chemically modified with poly(ε-caprolactone). Owing to the amphiphilic character, trimethylated chitosan-graft-poly(ε-caprolactone) (TMC-g-PCL) formed nanoparticles in aqueous media. TMC-g-PCL nanoparticles could effectively condense pDNA into polyplexes about 200 nm in size. The TMC-g-PCL/DNA polyplexes were stable in physiological salt condition and showed high uptake efficiency probably due to the increasing cell membrane-carrier interaction as a result of hydrophobic modification. However, the high degree of quaternization influenced the buffer capacity of TMC-g-PCL and led to a reduction in the release from the lysosomes. By adding chloroquine to exclude the limitation of lysosome escape, the transfection efficiency of TMC-g-PCL/DNA polyplexes was similar to that of PEI/DNA polyplexes. This study demonstrated the potential of TMC-g-PCL/DNA nanoparticles as an efficient carrier for gene delivery.

Polypeptoids with tunable cloud point temperatures synthesized from N-substituted glycine N-thiocarboxyanhydrides

N-substituted glycine N-thiocarboxyanhydrides (NTAs) are alternative monomers for preparing polypeptoids. With an easy synthetic approach and stability during purification and storage, they have much more potential for mass production than the corresponding N-carboxyanhydrides (NCAs). Thermoresponsive copolypeptoids are synthesized by copolymerization of sarcosine NTA (Sar-NTA) with N-butylglycine NTA (NBG-NTA) initiated by benzylamine in THF at 60 °C. Polypeptoids with a degree of polymerization over 150 are obtained for the first time through primary amine-initiated NTA polymerizations. The molecular weights (MWs) and compositions of poly(sarcosine-r-N-butylglycine)s [P(Sar-r-NBG)s] are controlled by the feed molar ratios of [Sar]/[NBG]/[benzylamine]. The thermal behaviors of the copolypeptoids are investigated. Reactivity ratios of Sar-NTA and NBG-NTA are determined as 1.70(7) and 0.63(7), indicating a random distribution of the two monomers in the polypeptoid products. The structure and precise amino chain end of P(Sar-r-NBG) are confirmed by MALDI-ToF mass analysis. P(Sar-r-NBG)s have lower critical solution temperatures (LCST) and exhibit reversible phase transitions in aqueous solution. Their cloud point temperatures (Tcps) are tunable between 27 and 71 °C by adjusting the sarcosine molar fraction in copolymers. In addition, Tcp transitions depend on the MWs and the concentrations of the polypeptoids, as well as salt additives, to a certain degree. A biocompatibility study on P(Sar-r-NBG) reveals a controlled cytotoxicity related to the composition of polypeptoids. Easily accessible from NTA polymerizations, polypeptoids are therefore novel degradable materials with LCST for biomedical applications.

Redox-triggered intracellular dePEGylation based on diselenide-linked polycations for DNA delivery

Extracellular stability to protect DNA against nucleases and stimulus-triggered intracellular DNA release are key factors in designing non-viral gene vectors. In this study, the diselenide-linked polycation mPEG-SeSe-PEI was developed as a new type of PEG-detachable gene vector for redox-responsive gene delivery. The corresponding stable analog mPEG-PEI and the disulfide-linked polycation mPEG-SS-PEI were synthesized as controls. The results showed that all the PEGylated polycations could condense DNA into tightly packed spherical nanoparticles about 80 nm in size, which showed excellent stability under physiological conditions. The results of zeta-potential measurements, stability tests and DNA release ability assay indicated that at a GSH concentration of 0.3 mM, the diselenide bonds were more easily cleaved than disulfide bonds, which facilitated dePEGylation and DNA release. Meanwhile, it was interestingly found that mPEG-SeSe-PEI/DNA polyplexes showed higher gene expression than mPEG-SS-PEI/DNA polyplexes in both HEK293T and HepG2 cells. Confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) images revealed that mPEG-SeSe-PEI/DNA polyplexes showed more efficient endosomal escape ability than mPEG-SS-PEI/DNA polyplexes. Based on these results, the diselenide bonds as a novel strategy are more suitable to address the challenging problem of extracellular stability and intracellular DNA release.

Bioinspired phosphorylcholine-modified polyplexes as an effective strategy for selective uptake and transfection of cancer cells

We demonstrated here that the phosphorylcholine-modified polyplexes can be explored as effective gene vector for selective uptake and high transfection of cancer cells. 12-acryloyloxy dodecyl phosphorylcholine modified polyethyleneimine (PEI-ADPC) with grafting level about 13%, 8.3% and 4.5% was successfully synthesized. Gel retardation assay indicated that ADPC modification did not affect the DNA condensation ability. The PEI-ADPC13%/DNA and PEI-ADPC8.3%/DNA polyplexes were under 100nm with a beneficial neutral surface at N/P ratio of 30. Sufficient ADPC shell endowed the polyplexes with high colloidal stability and low cytotoxicity. Compared to PEGylated polyplexes, it was interesting to find out that the PEI-ADPC/DNA polyplexes were selectively uptaked by liver cancer HepG2 cells. At the presence of chloroquine to exclude the limitation of lysosome escape, the ADPC-modified polyplexes showed more effective gene transfection in cancer cells than in normal cells because of the selective cell uptake. In conclusion, the convenient PC-modification modality was found to have both the function of biostability in the physiological environment and targetability toward cancer cells uniquely, which might have great potential use in cancer gene therapy.

Cationized bovine serum albumin as gene carrier: Influence of specific secondary structure on DNA complexibility and gene transfection.

In this research, BSA, one of the natural rigid globular proteins with ca. 51% of α-helix secondary structure, was utilized to prepare cationized BSA (cBSA) as gene carrier. Tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) or polyethylenimine (PEI1800) was grafted to BSA with different grafting levels. Based on the circular dichoism (CD) spectra, all cBSA remained α-helical structure to some degree. This was exciting to endow cBSA with quite different DNA complexibility and cellular biology behavior from the random coiled and flexible polycations such as PEI and poly-l-lysine (PLL). Strangely, the DNA condensability decreased with the increment of TEPA or PEI1800 grafting level. Also, the cBSA could condense DNA effectively to form irregular nanoparticles around 50-200nm above N/P ratio of 10. On account of the excellent hydration of BSA, the cBSA/DNA complexes revealed good colloidal stability under physiological salt condition. Cell culture experiments indicated this BSA-based gene carrier possessed good cellular compatibility. Surprisingly, cBSA/DNA complexes could be uptaken excellently by up to 90% cells. This might be owing to the agitation effect of α-helical structure and the positive potential of these complexes. BSA-PEI1800/DNA complexes with quick endosome escape even had transfection efficiency as high as PEI25k/DNA complexes. Overall, this paper provided us the potential of cBSA as gene carrier and might have some instructions in the design of protein-based gene delivery system.

Programmed photosensitizer conjugated supramolecular nanocarriers with dual targeting ability for enhanced photodynamic therapy

A programmed supramolecular nanocarrier was developed for multistage targeted photodynamic therapy. This smart nanocarrier exhibited enhanced cellular uptake and controlled mitochondria targeting, as well as an excellent photodynamic therapeutic effect after light irradiation.

Regulation the morphology of cationized gold nanoparticles for effective gene delivery

Recent research indicated that the morphology of nanoparticles could result in distinct biological behaviors, thus played an important role in designing efficient gene delivery systems. Among them, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with various shapes were widely studied due to the good biocompatibility and easy modification ability. Our recent research indicated that polyethyleneimine-g-bovine serum albumin (BSA-PEI) as non-viral gene vector showed good colloid stability and high transfection efficiency. In this work, BSA-PEI was utilized to modify gold nanospheres (AuNSs) and gold nanorods (AuNRs) to investigate the influence of the morphology on gene delivery. Both AuNS@BSA-PEI and AuNR@BSA-PEI nanoparticles condensed DNA effectively at N/P ratio above 5 and maintained spherical or rod-like morphology respectively. Due to the higher surface charge density at the tips, the rod-like gene complexes were prone to use the tips to contact with cell membrane, which facilitated to be uptaked by HepG2 cells. The endocytosis inhibition experiments showed some differences in the endocytic pathway. Gene transfection experiment showed that the rod-like complexes had almost 100-fold higher of transfection level than that of spherical complexes at the N/P ratio of 20. This work provided a potential strategy for further design of gene vectors with improved transfection results by adjusting the morphology of gene vectors.

Effect of excessive dietary fluoride on nutrient digestibility and retention of iron, copper, zinc, and manganese in growing pigs.

Ninety-six crossbred growing pigs were used to evaluate the effects of fluoride levels on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and the retention of minerals in tissues. Four dietary treatments were formulated by supplementing fluorine (as NaF) to a corn-soybean basal diet (39.75 mg/kg F) to provide the following added fluorine levels: 0, 50 100, and 150 mg/kg fluorine. The results showed pigs of the 100 and 150 mg/kg fluorine-added groups had decreased average daily gain (ADG) and increased feed gain ratio (F/G) compared to the control (p<0.05). Apparent digestibility of protein and calcium in 100 and 150 mg/kg fluorinetreated groups was significantly lower than that of the control (p<0.05). On the other hand, iron, copper, zinc, and manganese levels in most tissues of the 100 and 150 mg/kg fluorine groups were markedly changed compared to the control (p<0.05). However, growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and mineral concentrations in all tissues of pigs were not significantly affected by the addition of 50 mg/kg fluorine (p>0.05). Thus, this study suggested that excess fluoride levels could decrease growth performance and change the retention of iron, copper, zinc, and manganese in pigs.

Azo-capped polysarcosine-b-polylysine as polypeptide gene vector: A new strategy to improve stability and easy optimization via host-guest interaction.

Polypeptide has been extensively researched in gene/drug delivery system due to the good biocompatibility. Herein, we synthesized total-polypeptide copolymers, i.e. Azo(azobenzene)-capped polysarcosine-b-polylysine (ASL) with narrow molecular weight distribution by α-amino acid N-carboxyanhydride (NCA) polymerization. Although the molecular weight of PLL segment was only about 6 kDa, ASL could condense DNA effectively and form about 150 nm spherical nanoparticles at N/P ratio of 15. The surface charge was significantly reduced due to the shielding effect of polysarcosine (PSAR) shell. ASL/DNA PeptoPlexes showed good colloidal stability under physiological salt condition and complexation competition stability in the presence of counter polyanion, which might improve the circulation time in vivo. The tip design of azobenzene provided a facile way for ligand modification via host-guest interaction, which could be flexibly optimized by changing its functional tags responding to a request. Our data showed that the introduction of CD-R8 could promote the internalization of gene into cytoplasm and even nucleus owing to the membrane penetrating effect of R8. Cell culture experiments indicated as a total-polypeptide system, ASL showed good cellular viability and comparable gene transfection level as PLL with molecular weight of 50 kDa. Overall, PSAR served as an ideal alternative of PEG and this total-polypeptide system showed us a good direction for gene carrier design.