Targeted delivery of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide by transferrin conjugated pH-sensitive lipopolyplex nanoparticles: a novel oligonucleotide-based therapeutic strategy in acute myeloid leukemia.
Therapeutic use of oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) that hybridize to and downregulate target mRNAs encoding proteins that contribute to malignant transformation has a sound rationale, but has had an overall limited clinical success in cancer due to insufficient intracellular delivery. Here we report a development of formulations capable of promoting targeted delivery and enhanced pharmacologic activity of ODNs in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines and patient primary cells. In this study, transferrin (Tf) conjugated pH-sensitive lipopolyplex nanoparticles (LPs) were prepared to deliver GTI-2040, an antisense ODN against the R2 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase that has been shown to contribute to chemoresistance in AML. LPs had an average particle size around 110 nm and a moderately positive zeta potential at approximately 10 mV. The ODN encapsulation efficiency of LPs was >90%. These nanoparticles could release ODNs at acidic endosomal pH and facilitate the cytoplasmic delivery of ODNs after endocytosis. In addition, Tf-mediated targeted delivery of GTI-2040 was achieved. R2 downregulation at both mRNA and protein levels was improved by 8-fold in Kasumi-1 cells and 2- to 20-fold in AML patient primary cells treated with GTI-2040-Tf-LPs, compared to free GTI-2040 treatment. Moreover, Tf-LPs were more effective than nontargeted LPs, with 10 to 100% improvement at various concentrations in Kasumi-1 cells and an average of 45% improvement at 3 microM concentration in AML patient primary cells. Treatment with 1 microM GTI-2040-Tf-LPs sensitized AML cells to the chemotherapy agent cytarabine, by decreasing its IC(50) value from 47.69 nM to 9.05 nM. This study suggests that the combination of pH sensitive LP formulation and Tf mediated targeting is a promising strategy for antisense ODN delivery in leukemia therapy.
NSF Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center, Division of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Yan
Y
Jin
Shujun
S
Liu
Bo
B
Yu
Sharon
S
Golan
Chee-Guan
CG
Koh
Jintao
J
Yang
Lenguyen
L
Huynh
Xiaojuan
X
Yang
Jiuxia
J
Pang
Natarajan
N
Muthusamy
Kenneth K
KK
Chan
John C
JC
Byrd
Yeshayahu
Y
Talmon
L James
LJ
Lee
Robert J
RJ
Lee
Guido
G
Marcucci
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001483:Base Sequence; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015536:Down-Regulation; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D020014:K562 Cells; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism; D012264:Ribonucleotide Reductases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D014168:Transferrin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D014168:Transferrin; D003561:Cytarabine; C464617:GTI2040; D012264:Ribonucleotide Reductases; C108427:ribonucleotide reductase R2 subunit