Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/10—Dispersions; Emulsions
  • A61K9/127—Synthetic bilayered vehicles, e.g. liposomes or liposomes with cholesterol as the only non-phosphatidyl surfactant
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
  • A61K31/56—Compounds containing cyclopenta[a]hydrophenanthrene ring systems; Derivatives thereof, e.g. steroids
  • A61K31/575—Compounds containing cyclopenta[a]hydrophenanthrene ring systems; Derivatives thereof, e.g. steroids substituted in position 17 beta by a chain of three or more carbon atoms, e.g. cholane, cholestane, ergosterol, sitosterol
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
  • A61K31/70—Carbohydrates; Sugars; Derivatives thereof
  • A61K31/7088—Compounds having three or more nucleosides or nucleotides
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
  • A61K31/70—Carbohydrates; Sugars; Derivatives thereof
  • A61K31/7088—Compounds having three or more nucleosides or nucleotides
  • A61K31/7105—Natural ribonucleic acids, i.e. containing only riboses attached to adenine, guanine, cytosine or uracil and having 3'-5' phosphodiester links
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
  • A61K31/70—Carbohydrates; Sugars; Derivatives thereof
  • A61K31/7088—Compounds having three or more nucleosides or nucleotides
  • A61K31/711—Natural deoxyribonucleic acids, i.e. containing only 2'-deoxyriboses attached to adenine, guanine, cytosine or thymine and having 3'-5' phosphodiester links
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
  • A61K31/70—Carbohydrates; Sugars; Derivatives thereof
  • A61K31/7088—Compounds having three or more nucleosides or nucleotides
  • A61K31/713—Double-stranded nucleic acids or oligonucleotides
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
  • A61K47/30—Macromolecular organic or inorganic compounds, e.g. inorganic polyphosphates
  • A61K47/32—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. carbomers, poly(meth)acrylates, or polyvinyl pyrrolidone
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
  • A61K47/44—Oils, fats or waxes according to two or more groups of A61K47/02-A61K47/42; Natural or modified natural oils, fats or waxes, e.g. castor oil, polyethoxylated castor oil, montan wax, lignite, shellac, rosin, beeswax or lanolin
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/0012—Galenical forms characterised by the site of application
  • A61K9/0019—Injectable compositions; Intramuscular, intravenous, arterial, subcutaneous administration; Compositions to be administered through the skin in an invasive manner
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/10—Dispersions; Emulsions
  • A61K9/127—Synthetic bilayered vehicles, e.g. liposomes or liposomes with cholesterol as the only non-phosphatidyl surfactant
  • A61K9/1277—Preparation processes; Proliposomes
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/48—Preparations in capsules, e.g. of gelatin, of chocolate
  • A61K9/50—Microcapsules having a gas, liquid or semi-solid filling; Solid microparticles or pellets surrounded by a distinct coating layer, e.g. coated microspheres, coated drug crystals
  • A61K9/51—Nanocapsules; Nanoparticles
  • A61K9/5107—Excipients; Inactive ingredients
  • A61K9/5123—Organic compounds, e.g. fats, sugars
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/48—Preparations in capsules, e.g. of gelatin, of chocolate
  • A61K9/50—Microcapsules having a gas, liquid or semi-solid filling; Solid microparticles or pellets surrounded by a distinct coating layer, e.g. coated microspheres, coated drug crystals
  • A61K9/51—Nanocapsules; Nanoparticles
  • A61K9/5192—Processes
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P43/00—Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
  • C12N15/00—Mutation or genetic engineering; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification; Use of hosts therefor
  • C12N15/09—Recombinant DNA-technology
  • C12N15/87—Introduction of foreign genetic material using processes not otherwise provided for, e.g. co-transformation
  • C12N15/88—Introduction of foreign genetic material using processes not otherwise provided for, e.g. co-transformation using microencapsulation, e.g. using amphiphile liposome vesicle

Definitions

• sequence listing associated with this application is provided in text format in lieu of a paper copy and is hereby incorporated by reference into the specification.
• the name of the text file containing the sequence listing is 43935_Sequence_Final_2014-03- 14.txt.
• the text file is 748 bytes; was created on March 14, 2014; and is being submitted via EFS-Web with the filing of the specification.
• Liposomes when dispersed in aqueous media readily form liposomes, such as unilamellar vesicles and multilamellar vesicles. Liposomes have been used successfully to encapsulate and deliver a wide range of chemicals including nucleic acids, proteins and small molecule drugs, to cells.
• Cationic liposomes prepared from a composition of cationic lipids and phospholipids readily form aggregates with anionic macromolecules such as DNA and RNA. These cationic liposome - nucleic acid aggregates are often engineered such that the net charge of the complex is positive, which is believed to facilitate interaction with the anionic cell surface thereby enhancing uptake of the encapsulated cargo and subsequent cell transfection.
• DOTMA N-[l-(2,3-dioleoyloxy)propyl]- ⁇ , ⁇ , ⁇ -trimethylammonium chloride
• DOPE dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine
• cationic liposome - nucleic acid aggregate is dependent on the lipid composition and the method of manufacture. These structures can range in size from several hundred nanometers to micrometers and often have heterogeneous morphologies when visualized by electron microscopy, including the classic "spaghetti and meatballs" conformation.
• Cationic liposome - nucleic acid aggregates have limited effectiveness in primary cells, i.e., cells harvested from a living organism. This is believed to be the result of toxicity due to excessive cationic charge. Toxicity plus large particle size also limits use of cationic liposome - nucleic acid aggregates for transfection in vivo.
• Lipid nanoparticles are the most clinically advanced drug delivery systems, with seven LNP -based drugs having received regulatory approval. These approved drugs contain small molecules such as anticancer drugs and exhibit improved efficacy and/or reduced toxicity compared to the "free" drug. LNP carrier technology has also been applied to delivery of "genetic" anionic macromolecules such as plasmids for protein expression or small interfering RNA (siRNA) oligonucleotides (OGN) for gene silencing.
• siRNA small interfering RNA
• siRNA-LNP cationic liposome - nucleic acid aggregates and mediate silencing of therapeutically relevant target genes in difficult-to-transfect primary cells and animal models, including non-human primates following intravenous (i.v.) injection.
• siRNA-LNP are currently under evaluation in several clinical trials.
• LNP systems containing genetic drugs A variety of methods have been developed to formulate LNP systems containing genetic drugs. These methods include mixing preformed LNP with OGN in the presence of ethanol, or mixing lipid dissolved in ethanol with an aqueous media containing OGN, and result in LNP with diameters of 100 nm or less and OGN encapsulation efficiencies of 65-95%. Both of these methods rely on the presence of cationic lipid to achieve encapsulation of OGN and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) lipids to inhibit aggregation and the formation of large structures.
• PEG poly(ethylene glycol)
• the properties of the LNP systems produced, including size and OGN encapsulation efficiency, are sensitive to a variety of formulation parameters such as ionic strength, lipid and ethanol concentration, pH, OGN concentration and mixing rates. In general, parameters such as the relative lipid and OGN concentrations at the time of mixing, as well as the mixing rates are difficult to control using current formulation procedures, resulting in variability in the characteristics of LNP produced
• Microfluidic devices rapidly mix fluids at the nanoliter scale with precise control over temperature, residence times, and solute concentrations. Controlled and rapid microfluidic mixing has been previously applied in the synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles and microparticles, and can outperform macroscale systems in large-scale production of nanoparticles. Microfluidic two-phase droplet techniques have been applied to produce monodisperse polymeric microparticles for drug delivery or to produce large vesicles for the encapsulation of cells, proteins, or other biomolecules. The use of hydrodynamic flow focusing, a common microfluidic technique to provide rapid mixing of reagents, to create monodisperse liposomes of controlled size has been demonstrated. This technique has also proven useful in the production of polymeric nanoparticles where smaller, more monodisperse particles were obtained, with higher encapsulation of small molecules as compared to bulk production methods.
• the present invention seeks to fulfill this need and provides further related advantages to address a major problem impeding the validation of aberrant genes, identified through genome sequencing of disease cells, as potential drug or biomarker targets.
• the invention provides a transfection reagent composition comprising lipids and surfactants.
• the transfection reagent comprises (a) one or more cationic lipids, (b) one or more second lipids, and (c) one or more sterols, and (d) one or more surfactants.
• the cationic lipid is l,17-bis(2-octylcyclopropyl)heptadecan- 9-yl-4-(dimethylamino)butanoate.
• the particle comprises from about 30 to about 95 mole percent cationic lipid.
• the second lipid is l,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3- phosphocholine (DSPC).
• the sterol is cholesterol
• the surfactant is polyoxyethylene (20) oleyl ether. In a further embodiment, the surfactant is polyoxyethylene (40) stearate. In certain embodiments, the particle comprises from about 0.1 to about 20 mole percent surfactant.
• the lipid nanoparticle comprises (a) one or more cationic lipids, (b) one or more second lipids, (c) one or more sterols, and (d) one or more surfactants; as defined herein.
• the cationic lipid is l,17-bis(2- octylcyclopropyl)heptadecan-9-yl-4-(dimethylamino)butanoate.
• the second lipid is l,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC).
• the sterol lipid is cholesterol.
• the surfactant is polyoxyethylene (20) oleyl ether.
• the lipid nanoparticle comprises (a) one or more cationic lipids, (b) one or more second lipids, (c) one or more sterols, and (d) one or more surfactants; as defined herein.
• the cationic lipid is l,17-bis(2- octylcyclopropyl)heptadecan-9-yl-4-(dimethylamino)butanoate.
• the second lipid is l,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC).
• the sterol lipid is cholesterol.
• the surfactant is Polyoxyethylene (40) stearate.
• the invention provides a lipid nanoparticle comprising a transfection reagent composition and an anionic macromolecule, wherein the lipid nanoparticle comprises a substantially solid core, as defined herein.
• the invention provides a lipid nanoparticle comprising a transfection reagent composition and a nucleic acid.
• the nucleic acid can be a DNA, a RNA, a locked nucleic acid, a nucleic acid analog, or a plasmid capable of expressing a DNA or an RNA.
• the invention provides a lipid nanoparticle comprising a transfection reagent composition and an antisense oligonucleotide hybridization probe.
• the hybridization probe can be a molecular beacon.
• the invention provides a lipid nanoparticle comprising (a) one or more cationic lipids, (b) one or more second lipids, (c) one or more sterols, and (d) one or more surfactants and one or more nucleic acids as defined herein.
• the cationic lipid is l,17-bis(2-octylcyclopropyl)heptadecan-9-yl- 4-(dimethylamino)butanoate.
• the second lipid is 1 ,2-distearoyl-sn- glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC).
• the sterol lipid is cholesterol.
• the surfactant is polyoxyethylene (20) oleyl ether.
• the nucleic acid is a siRNA.
• the invention provides a lipid nanoparticle comprising (a) one or more cationic lipids, (b) one or more second lipids, (c) one or more sterols, and (d) one or more surfactants and one or more nucleic acids as defined herein.
• the cationic lipid is l,17-bis(2-octylcyclopropyl)heptadecan-9-yl- 4-(dimethylamino)butanoate.
• the second lipid is 1 ,2-distearoyl-sn- glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC).
• the sterol lipid is cholesterol.
• the surfactant is polyoxyethylene (40) stearate.
• the nucleic acid is a siR A.
• the invention provides a lipid nanoparticle comprising (a) one or more cationic lipids, (b) one or more second lipids, (c) one or more sterols, and (d one or more surfactants and one or more nucleic acids as defined herein.
• the cationic lipid is l,17-bis(2-octylcyclopropyl)heptadecan-9-yl 4-(dimethylamino)butanoate.
• the second lipid is 1 ,2-distearoyl-sn- glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC).
• the sterol lipid is cholesterol.
• the surfactant is polyoxyethylene (20) oleyl ether.
• the nucleic acid is a plasmid DNA.
• the invention provides a lipid nanoparticle comprising (a) one or more cationic lipids, (b) one or more second lipids, (c) one or more sterols, and (d) one or more surfactants and one or more nucleic acids as defined herein.
• the cationic lipid is l,17-bis(2-octylcyclopropyl)heptadecan-9-yl- 4-(dimethylamino)butanoate.
• the second lipid is 1 ,2-distearoyl-sn- glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC).
• the sterol lipid is cholesterol.
• the surfactant is polyoxyethylene (40) stearate.
• the nucleic acid is a plasmid DNA.
• the invention provides a method for administering a nucleic acid to a subject, comprising administering a lipid nanoparticle of the invention to a subject in need thereof.
• the invention provides a method for introducing a nucleic acid into a cell, comprising contacting a cell with the lipid nanoparticle of the invention.
• the invention provides a method for modulating the expression of a target polynucleotide or polypeptide, comprising contacting a cell with the lipid nanoparticle of the invention, wherein the nucleic acid capable of modulating the expression of a target polynucleotide or polypeptide.
• the invention provides a method of treating a disease or disorder characterized by overexpression of a polypeptide in a subject, comprising administering to the subject the lipid nanoparticle of the invention, wherein the nucleic acid capable of silencing or decreasing the expression of the polypeptide.
• the invention provides a method of treating a disease or disorder characterized by the absence of expression, or under expression, of a polypeptide in a subject, comprising administering to the subject the lipid nanoparticle of the invention, wherein the nucleic acid capable of expressing or increasing the expression of the polypeptide.
• the invention provides a method for making lipid nanoparticles.
• the invention provides a method for making lipid nanoparticles containing a nucleic acid, comprising:
• transfection reagent composition in a second solvent into the device, wherein the device has a first region adapted for flowing one or more streams introduced into the microchannel and directing them into a second region for mixing the contents of the one or more streams, wherein the transfection reagent composition comprise a cationic lipid, and wherein the first and second solvents are not the same;
• the invention provides a method for making lipid nanoparticles containing a nucleic acid, comprising:
• mixing the contents of the one or more first streams and the one or more second streams comprises varying the concentration or relative mixing rates of the one or more first streams and the one or more second streams.
• the methods further comprise diluting the third stream with an aqueous buffer.
• diluting the third stream comprises flowing the third stream and an aqueous buffer into a second mixing structure.
• the methods further comprise dialyzing the aqueous buffer comprising lipid nanoparticles with encapsulated nucleic acids to reduce the amount of the second solvent.
• the first solvent is an aqueous buffer.
• the second solvent is an aqueous alcohol.
• mixing the contents of the first and second streams comprises chaotic advection. In certain embodiments of the above methods, mixing the contents of the first and second streams comprises mixing with a micromixer.
• the nucleic acid encapsulation efficiency is from about 80 to about 100%.
• mixing of the one or more first streams and the one or more second streams is prevented in the first region by a barrier.
• the barrier is a channel wall, sheath fluid, or concentric tubing.
• devices for making lipid nanoparticles are provided.
• the invention provides a device for producing a lipid nanoparticle encapsulating a nucleic acid, comprising:
• a first inlet for receiving a first solution comprising a nucleic acid in a first solvent
• a first inlet microchannel in fluid communication with the first inlet to provide a first stream comprising the nucleic acid in the first solvent
• a third microchannel for receiving the first and second streams, wherein the third microchannel has a first region adapted for flowing the first and second streams introduced into the microchannel and a second region adapted for mixing the contents of the first and second streams to provide a third stream comprising lipid nanoparticles with encapsulated nucleic acid.
• the device further comprises means for diluting the third stream to provide a diluted stream comprising stabilized lipid nanoparticles with encapsulated nucleic acid.
• the means for diluting the third stream comprises a micromixer.
• the microchannel has a hydrodynamic diameter from about 20 to about 300 ⁇ .
• the second region of the microchannel comprises bas-relief structures.
• the second region of the microchannel has a principal flow direction and one or more surfaces having at least one groove or protrusion defined therein, the groove or protrusion having an orientation that forms an angle with the principal direction.
• the second region comprises a micromixer.
• the device further comprises means for varying the flow rates of the first and second streams.
• the device further comprises a barrier effective to physically separate the one or more first streams from the one or more second streams in the first region.
• FIGURE 1 uses the Factor VII (FVII) Mouse Model to illustrate the in vivo silencing activity of siRNA-LNP prepared with different surfactants (polyoxyethylene (40) stearate (Myrj S40), polyoxyethylene (20) oleyl ether (Brij 98) Brij 35P - polyoxyethylene (23) lauryl ether (Brij 35P)).
• siRNA-LNP were manufactured using the microfluidic method.
• FIGURE 2 uses the Factor VII (FVII) Mouse Model to illustrate the in vivo silencing activity of siRNA-LNP prepared with the surfactant polyoxyethylene (40) stearate.
• siRNA-LNP were manufactured using the microfluidic method. Activity was measured as percent Residual FVII protein level as a function of siRNA dose and time. All LNP comprised: l,17-bis(2-octylcyclopropyl)heptadecan-9-yl-4- (dimethylamino)butanoate: DSPC:Cholesterol:polyoxyethylene (40) stearate (50: 10:37.5:2.5 mol%). siRNA-LNP-to-lipid ratio was 0.06 weight/weight.
• FVII Factor VII
• FIGURE 3 uses the Factor VII (FVII) Mouse Model to illustrate the in vivo silencing activity of siRNA-LNP prepared with the surfactant polyoxyethylene (20) oleyl ether.
• siRNA-LNP were manufactured using the microfluidic method. Activity was measured as percent Residual FVII protein level as a function of siRNA dose and time.
• All LNP comprised: l,17-bis(2-octylcyclopropyl)heptadecan-9-yl- 4(dimethylamino)butanoate: DSPC: Cholesterol: Polyoxyethylene (20) oleyl ether (50: 10:38:2 mol%).
• siR A-LNP-to-lipid ratio was 0.06 weight/weight.
• FIGURE 4 uses the Factor VII (FVII) Mouse Model to illustrate the in vivo silencing activity of siRNA-LNP prepared with the surfactant polyoxyethylene (23) lauryl ether.
• siRNA-LNP were manufactured using the micro fluidic method. Activity was measured as percent Residual FVII protein level as a function of siRNA dose and time. All LNP comprised: l,17-bis(2-octylcyclopropyl)heptadecan-9-yl-4- (dimethylamino)butanoate: DSPC: Cholesterol: polyoxyethylene (23) lauryl ether(50: 10:38:2 mol%). siRNA-LNP-to-lipid ratio was 0.06 wt/wt.
• FIGURE 5 is a schematic illustration of a representative microfluidic (MF) method of the invention for making lipid nanoparticles (LNP):
• MF microfluidic
• Lipid-ethanol and siRNA-aqueous solutions are pumped into inlets of a microfluidic mixing device; herringbone features in the device induce chaotic advection of the stream and cause the lipid species to rapidly mix with the aqueous stream and form lipid nanoparticles.
• the mixing channel is 300 ⁇ wide and 130 ⁇ high.
• the herringbone structures are 40 ⁇ high and 53 ⁇ thick.
• FIGURE 6 is a table that summarizes Z-Ave and PDI for representative lipid nanoparticles prepared from transfection reagent compositions of the invention.
• FIGURE 7 is a table that summarizes nucleic acid encapsulation efficiency for representative lipid nanoparticles prepared from transfection reagent compositions of the invention.
• FIGURE 8 is a schematic illustration of a representative device and method of the invention for preparing particles at small volumes: a device that uses a combination of input and output reservoirs (wells) to control flow rates and flow timing.
• input wells are used to contain input fluids.
• Channel impedances are used to determine the relative flow rates between flows from the inputs.
• An outlet well is added.
• a backpressure or stopper is applied to the outlet well to stop fluidic movement from the inputs due to the weight of fluids in the input wells or other phenomena, prior to a pressure applied to the inputs.
• a backpressure is achieved by adding fluid to the outlet well prior to adding fluids to the input wells.
• fluids with the lowest surface tension are added last because these are the fluids which move through the chip at the highest rate.
• the input fluids are then added into the input reservoirs and the inputs are pressurized to create fluid flow.
• Flow rates of the different flows are controlled by the impedances of the channels from the inputs to the mixer chamber.
• the flows can be timed to reach the mixer at a similar time by pressurizing the input wells simultaneously.
• the device is purged of remaining fluid by applying fluid (gas or liquid) to the inputs and flowed through the mixers following nanoparticle manufacture.
• FIGURE 9 is an example of a representative device illustrated in the schematic of FIGURE 8.
• This device has two inlet wells (one for an aqueous phase and one for an ethanol/lipid phase) and one outlet well.
• a dilution buffer is loaded into the outlet well, this buffer adds backpressure at the output of the device and lowers the ethanol concentration of the final product which stabilizes the particles.
• Aqueous reagents and lipids in ethanol are loaded into the input wells, a manifold is then clamped oven the inlet wells and pressurized using a syringe or other mechanism.
• the pressurization pushes the reagents in the inlet wells through the mixer (e.g., a staggered herringbone mixer) and into the outlet well.
• the formulated particles are then recovered using a pipette.
• the shown device is designed to have a flow ratio of 3 parts aqueous to 1 part ethanol, which is achieved with different channel lengths leading from the input wells to them mixer. In this case, the ratio of 2.5: 1 is used and this takes into account the desired flow ratio and the viscosity difference between the input reagents.
• FIGURE 10 is a schematic illustration of a representative device and method of the invention for preparing particles at small volumes: a device that flows a first stream of solvent (input wells 1 through n) into a second solvent contained in the outlet reservoir (dilution well). Mixing of the first stream with the contents of the outlet reservoir can occur through various mechanisms including (i) convection flows occurring by introducing the first stream into the reservoir and (ii) active mixing of the combined fluids as the first stream is introduced into the reservoir.
• FIGURE 11 is an example of a representative device illustrated in the schematic of FIGURE 10.
• the device has a single input well for a lipid/ethanol solution and an outlet well into which an aqueous solution is loaded.
• the device has a large number of microchannels leading into the outlet well, the impedance of microchannels is high compared to the channel feeding them. This is necessary for an even distribution of fluid.
• the inlet well is pressurized.
• the fluid in the inlet well flows through the microchannels and into the output well.
• the fluid is mixed by convection and by air bubbles flowing into the outlet well.
• FIGURE 12 is a schematic illustration of a representative device and method of the invention for preparing particles at small volumes: a device using valves either at the inlets or outlet to time the introduction of fluidic flows into the mixing chamber.
• the present invention provides a transfection reagent composition, lipid nanoparticles containing anionic macromolecule(s), methods and devices for making the lipid nanoparticles containing anionic macromolecule(s) using the transfection reagent composition, and methods for transfecting a cell using the lipid nanoparticles.
• the invention provides a transfection reagent composition.
• the transfection reagent composition includes one or more cationic lipids, one or more second lipids, one or more sterols and one or more surfactants.
• the invention provides lipid nanoparticles containing anionic macromolecule(s).
• the lipid nanoparticles include one or more cationic lipids, one or more second lipids, and one or more nucleic acids.
• the lipid nanoparticles include a cationic lipid.
• cationic lipid refers to a lipid that is cationic or becomes cationic (protonated) as the pH is lowered below the pK of the ionizable group of the lipid, but is progressively more neutral at higher pH values. At pH values below the pK, the lipid is then able to associate with negatively charged nucleic acids (e.g., oligonucleotides).
• nucleic acids e.g., oligonucleotides
• cationic lipid includes zwitterionic lipids that assume a positive charge on pH decrease. Cationic lipids useful in the invention do not include PEG-phospholipids (e.g., polyethylene oxide-containing phospholipids).
• cationic lipid refers to any of a number of lipid species which carry a net positive charge at a selective pH, such as physiological pH.
• lipids include, but are not limited to, N,N-dioleyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride (DODAC); N-(2,3- dioleyloxy)propyl)-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTMA); N,N-distearyl-N,N- dimethylammonium bromide (DDAB); N-(2,3-dioleoyloxy)propyl)-N,N,N- trimethylammonium chloride (DOTAP); 3-(N-(N',N'-dimethylaminoethane)- carbamoyl)cholesterol (DC-Choi); and N-(l,2-dimyristyloxyprop-3-yl)-N,N-dimethyl-N- hydroxyethyl ammonium bromide
• cationic lipids are available which can be used in the present invention. These include, for example, LIPOFECTIN® (commercially available cationic liposomes comprising DOTMA and l,2-dioleoyl-sn-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE), from GIBCO/BRL, Grand Island, N.Y.); LIPOFECTAMINE® (commercially available cationic liposomes comprising N-(l-(2,3-dioleyloxy)propyl)-N-(2-a number of commercial preparations of cationic lipids are available which can be used in the present invention. These include, for example, LIPOFECTIN® (commercially available cationic liposomes comprising DOTMA and l,2-dioleoyl-sn-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE), from GIBCO/BRL, Grand Island, N.Y.); LIPOFECTAMINE® (commercially available cationic liposomes comprising N-(l-(2,3-d
• DOSPA sperminecarboxamido)ethyl
• DOPE dimethyl-ammonium trifluoroacetate
• TRANSFECTAM® commercially available cationic lipids comprising dioctadecylamidoglycylcarboxyspermine (DOGS) in ethanol from Promega Corp., Madison, Wis.
• lipids are cationic and have a positive charge at below physiological pH: DODAP, DODMA, DMDMA, 1 ,2-dilinoleyloxy-N,N- dimethylaminopropane (DLinDMA), 1 ,2-dilinolenyloxy-N,N-dimethylaminopropane (DLenDMA), 1 , 17-bis(2-octylcyclopropyl)heptadecan-9-yl-4-(dimethylamino) butanoate (referred to here as "Cationic Lipid A").
• the cationic lipid is an amino lipid (or a pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof (e.g., hydrochloride salt)).
• Suitable amino lipids useful in the invention include those described in WO 2012/016184, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
• Representative amino lipids include l,2-dilinoleyoxy-3- (dimethylamino)acetoxypropane (DLin-DAC), 1 ,2-dilinoleyoxy-3-morpholinopropane (DLin-MA), l,2-dilinoleoyl-3-dimethylaminopropane (DLinDAP), l,2-dilinoleylthio-3- dimethylaminopropane (DLin-S-DMA), l-linoleoyl-2-linoleyloxy-3- dimethylaminopropane (DLin-2-DMAP), 1 ,2-dilinoleyloxy-3-trimethylaminopropane chloride salt (DLin-TMA.Cl), l,2-dilinoleoyl-3-trimethylaminopropane chloride salt (DLin-TAP.Cl), l,2-dilinoleyloxy-3-(N-methylpiperazino)propane (DL
• Suitable amino lipids include those having the formula:
• R ⁇ and R2 are either the same or different and independently optionally substituted C10-C24 alkyl, optionally substituted C10-C24 alkenyl, optionally substituted
• R 3 and R4 are either the same or different and independently optionally substituted C1-C6 alkyl, optionally substituted C2-C6 alkenyl, or optionally substituted C2-C6 alkynyl or R 3 and R4 may join to form an optionally substituted heterocyclic ring of 4 to 6 carbon atoms and 1 or 2 heteroatoms chosen from nitrogen and oxygen;
• R 5 is either absent or present and when present is hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl
• n, and p are either the same or different and independently either 0 or 1 with the proviso that m, n, and p are not simultaneously 0;
• q 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;
• Y and Z are either the same or different and independently O, S, or NH.
• the cationic lipid has the formula:
• Ri and R 2 are each independently H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and heterocyclyl, wherein each of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and heterocyclyl is optionally substituted by H; halo; hydroxy; cyano; oxo; Ci-C 6 alkyl optionally substituted by halo, hydroxy, or alkoxy;
• Ri and R 2 are taken together with the N atom to which they are both attached to form a 3-8 member heteroaryl or heterocyclyl; wherein each of the heteroaryl and heterocyclyl is optionally substituted by H; halo; hydroxy; cyano; oxo; nitro; Ci-C 6 alkyl optionally substituted by halo, hydroxyl, or alkoxy;
• R 3 is absent, H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or heterocyclyl;
• R4 and R 5 are each independently H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or heterocyclyl;
• alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and heterocyclyl is optionally substituted by H; halo; hydroxy; cyano; oxo; Ci-C 6 alkyl optionally substituted by halo, hydroxy, or alkoxy;
• Y and Z are independently Ci 0 to C 30 groups having the formula Li - (CR 6 Ry) a - [L 2 - (CReR 7 )p] Y - L 3 - R 8 , wherein
• Li is a bond, - (CR 6 R 7 ) -, - O -, - CO -, - NR 8 -, - S -, or a combination thereof; each 5 and R 7 , independently, is H; halo; hydroxyl, cyano; Ci-C 6 alkyl optionally substituted by halo, hydroxyl, or alkoxy: is a bond, - (CR 6 R 7 ) -, - O -, - CO -, - NR 8
• b, c, and d are each independently 0, 1, 2, or 3, given the sum of b, c, and d is at least 1 and no greater than 8; and Rg and Rio are each independently R 7 , or adjacent R 9 and Rio, taken together, are optionally a bond;
• L 3 is a bond, - (CR 6 R 7 ) -, - O -, - CO -, - NR 8 -, - S
• R 8 is independently H; halo; hydroxy; cyano; C1-C6 alkyl optionally substituted by halo, hydroxy, or alkoxy; aryl; heteroaryl; or heterocyclyl; or Rg has the formula:
• a 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;
• a 0-6;
• each ⁇ independently, is 0-6;
• ⁇ 0-6.
• Suitable cationic lipids include cationic lipids, which carry a net positive charge at about physiological pH, in addition to those specifically described above, N,N- dioleyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride (DODAC); N-(2,3-dioleyloxy)propyl-N,N ⁇ N- triethylammonium chloride (DOTMA); N,N-distearyl-N,N-dimethylammonium bromide (DDAB); N-(2,3-dioleoyloxy)propyl)-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTAP); l,2-dioleyloxy-3-trimethylaminopropane chloride salt (DOTAP C1); 3 ⁇ -( ⁇ -( ⁇ ', ⁇ '- dimethylaminoethane)carbamoyl)cholesterol (DC-Choi), N-(l -(2,3-dioleoyloxy)propyl)-
• cationic lipids can be used, such as, e.g., LIPOFECTIN (including DOTMA and DOPE, available from GIBCO/BRL), and LIPOFECTAMINE (comprising DOSPA and DOPE, available from GIBCO/BRL).
• LIPOFECTIN including DOTMA and DOPE, available from GIBCO/BRL
• LIPOFECTAMINE comprising DOSPA and DOPE, available from GIBCO/BRL
• the cationic lipid is present in the transfection reagent composition in an amount from about 30 to about 95 mole percent. In one embodiment, the cationic lipid is present in the transfection reagent composition in an amount from about 30 to about 70 mole percent. In one embodiment, the cationic lipid is present in the transfection reagent composition in an amount from about 40 to about 60 mole percent.
• the transfection reagent composition includes one or more neutral lipids.
• lipid refers to a group of organic compounds that are esters of fatty acids and are characterized by being insoluble in water but soluble in many organic solvents. Lipids are usually divided in at least three classes: (1) “simple lipids” which include fats and oils as well as waxes; (2) “compound lipids” which include phospholipids and glycolipids; and (3) “derived lipids” such as steroids.
• neutral lipid refers to any one of a number of lipid species that exist in either an uncharged or neutral zwitterionic form at physiological pH.
• Neutral lipids useful in the invention do not include PEG-phospholipids (e.g. polyethylene oxide- containing phospholipids).
• Representative neutral lipids include diacylphosphatidylcholines, diacylphosphatidylethanolamines, ceramides, sphingomyelins, dihydrosphingomyelins, cephalins, and cerebrosides.
• Exemplary lipids include, for example, distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC), dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC), dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol (DOPG), dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG), dioleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE), palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC), palmitoyloleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (POPE) and dioleoyl- phosphatidylethanolamine 4-(N-maleimidomethyl)-cyclohexane-l-carboxylate (DOPE- mal), dipalmitoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine (DPPE), dimyristoylphosphoethanolamine (DMPE), distearoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE), 16-
• the neutral lipid is l,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3- phosphocholine (DSPC).
• the transfection reagent composition includes one or more sterols.
• sterol refers to a subgroup of steroids also known as steroid alcohols. Sterols are usually divided into two classes: (1) plant sterols also known as “phytosterols”; and (2) animal sterols also known as “zoosterols.”
• Exemplary sterols include, for example, campesterol, sitosterol, stigmasterol, ergosterol and chloesterol.
• the sterol is cholesterol
• the transfection reagent composition includes one or more surfactants.
• surfactant refers to non-ionic, amphipathic compounds that contain both hydrophobic groups and hydrophilic groups.
• Surfactants useful in the invention do not include PEG-phospholipids (e.g. polyethylene oxide-containing phospholipids).
• a surfactant is represented by the formula
• R-! is H, Ci-C 6 alkyl
• R 2 and R 3 are each independently H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or heterocyclyl;
• alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and heterocyclyl is optionally substituted by H; halo; hydroxy; cyano; oxo; Ci-C 6 alkyl optionally substituted by halo, hydroxy, or alkoxy;
• Y is a C 10 to C40 group having the formula Li - - [L2 - (CR4Rs) ] y - L 3 - R6, wherein:
• Li is a bond, - (CR 4 R 5 ) -, - O -, - CO -, - NR 2 -, - S -, or a combination thereof; each R 4 and R 5 , independently, is H; halo; hydroxyl, cyano; Ci-C 6 alkyl optionally substituted by halo, hydroxyl, or alkoxy;
• L 2 and L 3 each, independently, are a bond, - (CR 4 R 5 ) -, - O -, - CO -, - NR 2 -, or a combination thereof;
• R ⁇ has the formula:
• a 2-100
• a 0-6;
• each ⁇ independently, is 0-6;
• ⁇ 0-6.
• a surfactant is represented by the formula
• a surfactant is represented by the formula
• the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyethylene alkyl esters, diblock polyoxyethylene alkyl ether co-polymers and triblock polyoxyethylene alkyl ether co-polymers.
• Suitable surfactants include polyoxyethylene (20) oleyl ether, polyoxyethylene (23) lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene (40) stearate, poly(propylene glycol) n -block- poly(ethylene glycol) 16 -block- poly(propylene glycol)n, poly(propylene glycol)i 2 -block- poly(ethylene glycol) 2 g -block- poly(propylene glycol) 12
• the surfactant is present in the transfection reagent composition in an amount from about 0.1 to about 20 mole percent. In one embodiment, the surfactant is present in the transfection reagent composition in an amount from about 0.5 to about 10 mole percent. In one embodiment, the surfactant is present in the lipid nanoparticle in about 2 mole percent.
• the surfactant is polyoxyethylene (20) oleyl ether.
• the surfactant is polyoxyethylene (40) stearate.
• the transfection reagent composition includes:
• the trans fection reagent composition includes:
• a neutral lipid that is l,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC);
• a sterol that is cholesterol;
• a surfactant that is selected from polyoxyethylene (20) oleyl ether, polyoxyethylene (23) lauryl ether, or polyoxyethylene (40) stearate.
• the transfection reagent compositions of the invention do not include PEG-phospholipids (e.g. polyethylene oxide-containing phospholipids).
• the lipid nanoparticles of the present invention are useful for the systemic or local delivery of anionic macromolecules.
• the transfection reagent composition is mixed with the anionic macromolecule which is incorporated into the resulting lipid nanoparticle.
• anionic macromolecule refers to a macromolecule that is anionic or becomes anionic (deprotonated) as the pH is increased above the pK of the ionizable group of the macromolecule, but is progressively more neutral at lower pH values. At pH values above the pK, the macromolecule is then able to associate with positively charged lipids (e.g., cationic lipids).
• anionic macromolecule includes zwitterionic macromolecules that assume a negative charge on pH increase.
• anionic macromolecule refers to any of a number of species which carry a net negative charge at a selective pH, such as physiological pH.
• Such macromolecules include, but are not limited to, nucleic acids, proteins, peptides and carbohydrates.
• the lipid nanoparticles of the present invention are useful for the systemic or local delivery of nucleic acids.
• the transfection reagent composition is mixed with the nucleic acid which is incorporated into the resulting lipid nanoparticle.
• nucleic acid is meant to include any oligonucleotide or polynucleotide. Fragments containing up to 50 nucleotides are generally termed oligonucleotides, and longer fragments are called polynucleotides. In particular embodiments, oligonucleotides of the present invention are 20-50 nucleotides in length.
• polynucleotide and oligonucleotide refer to a polymer or oligomer of nucleotide or nucleoside monomers consisting of naturally occurring bases, sugars and intersugar (backbone) linkages.
• polynucleotide and oligonucleotide also includes polymers or oligomers comprising non-naturally occurring monomers, or portions thereof, which function similarly. Such modified or substituted oligonucleotides are often preferred over native forms because of properties such as, for example, enhanced cellular uptake and increased stability in the presence of nucleases. Oligonucleotides are classified as deoxyribooligonucleotides or ribooligonucleotides.
• a deoxyribooligonucleotide consists of a 5-carbon sugar called deoxyribose joined covalently to phosphate at the 5' and 3' carbons of this sugar to form an alternating, unbranched polymer.
• a ribooligonucleotide consists of a similar repeating structure where the 5-carbon sugar is ribose.
• the nucleic acid that is present in a lipid nanoparticle according to this invention includes any form of nucleic acid that is known.
• the nucleic acids used herein can be single-stranded DNA or RNA, or double-stranded DNA or RNA, or DNA-RNA hybrids. Examples of double-stranded DNA include structural genes, genes including control and termination regions, and self-replicating systems such as viral or plasmid DNA. Examples of double-stranded RNA include siRNA and other RNA interference reagents. Single-stranded nucleic acids include antisense oligonucleotides, ribozymes, microRNA, and triplex-forming oligonucleotides.
• the polynucleic acid is an antisense oligonucleotide.
• the nucleic acid is an antisense nucleic acid, a ribozyme, tRNA, snRNA, siRNA, shRNA, ncRNA, miRNA, pre-condensed DNA, or an aptamer.
• nucleic acids also refers to ribonucleotides, deoxynucleotides, modified ribonucleotides, modified deoxyribonucleotides, modified phosphate-sugar- backbone oligonucleotides, other nucleotides, nucleotide analogs, and combinations thereof, and can be single stranded, double stranded, or contain portions of both double stranded and single stranded sequence, as appropriate.
• nucleotide as used herein, generically encompasses the following terms, which are defined below: nucleotide base, nucleoside, nucleotide analog, and universal nucleotide.
• nucleotide base refers to a substituted or unsubstituted parent aromatic ring or rings.
• the aromatic ring or rings contain at least one nitrogen atom.
• the nucleotide base is capable of forming Watson-Crick and/or Hoogsteen hydrogen bonds with an appropriately complementary nucleotide base.
• nucleotide bases and analogs thereof include, but are not limited to, purines such as 2-aminopurine, 2,6-diaminopurine, adenine (A), ethenoadenine, N6-2-isopentenyladenine (6iA), N6-2-isopentenyl-2-methylthioadenine (2 ms6iA), N6-methyladenine, guanine (G), isoguanine, N2-dimethylguanine (dmG), 7-methylguanine (7mG), 2-thiopyrimidine, 6-thioguanine (6sG) hypoxanthine and
• purines such as 2-aminopurine, 2,6-diaminopurine, adenine (A), ethenoadenine, N6-2-isopentenyladenine (6iA), N6-2-isopentenyl-2-methylthioadenine (2 ms6iA), N6-methyladenine, guanine (G), iso
• nucleotide bases are universal nucleotide bases.
• nucleotide bases can be found in Fasman, 1989, Practical Handbook of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, pp. 385-394, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla., and the references cited therein. Further examples of universal bases can be found, for example, in Loakes, N.A.R. 2001, 29:2437-2447, and Seela N.A.R. 2000, 28:3224-3232.
• nucleoside refers to a compound having a nucleotide base covalently linked to the C- ⁇ carbon of a pentose sugar. In some embodiments, the linkage is via a heteroaromatic ring nitrogen.
• Typical pentose sugars include, but are not limited to, those pentoses in which one or more of the carbon atoms are each independently substituted with one or more of the same or different ⁇ R,—OR, --NRR or halogen groups, where each R is independently hydrogen, (C1-C6) alkyl or (C5-C14) aryl.
• the pentose sugar may be saturated or unsaturated.
• Exemplary pentose sugars and analogs thereof include, but are not limited to, ribose, 2'-deoxyribose, 2'-(Cl- C6)alkoxyribose, 2'-(C5-C14)aryloxyribose, 2',3'-dideoxyribose, 2',3'-didehydroribose, 2'-deoxy-3'-haloribose, 2'-deoxy-3'-fluororibose, 2'-deoxy-3'-chlororibose, 2'-deoxy-3'- aminoribose, 2'-deoxy-3'-(Cl-C6)alkylribose, 2'-deoxy-3'-(Cl-C6)alkoxyribose and 2'-deoxy-3'-(C5-C14)aryloxyribose.
• ribose 2'-deoxyribose, 2'-(Cl- C6)
• LNA locked nucleic acid
• Sugars include modifications at the 2'- or 3 '-position such as methoxy, ethoxy, allyloxy, isopropoxy, butoxy, isobutoxy, methoxyethyl, alkoxy, phenoxy, azido, amino, alkylamino, fluoro, chloro and bromo.
• Nucleosides and nucleotides include the natural D configurational isomer (D-form), as well as the L configurational isomer (L-form) (Beigelman, U.S. Pat. No. 6,251,666; Chu, U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,789; Shudo, EP0540742; Garbesi (1993) Nucl. Acids Res.
• nucleobase is purine, e.g., A or G
• the ribose sugar is attached to the N9-position of the nucleobase.
• nucleobase is pyrimidine, e.g., C, T or U
• the pentose sugar is attached to the Nl -position of the nucleobase (Kornberg and Baker, (1992) ON A Replication, 2nd Ed., Freeman, San Francisco, Calif).
• One or more of the pentose carbons of a nucleoside may be substituted with a phosphate ester.
• the phosphate ester is attached to the 3'- or 5 '-carbon of the pentose.
• the nucleosides are those in which the nucleotide base is a purine, a 7-deazapurine, a pyrimidine, a universal nucleotide base, a specific nucleotide base, or an analog thereof.
• nucleotide analog refers to embodiments in which the pentose sugar and/or the nucleotide base and/or one or more of the phosphate esters of a nucleoside may be replaced with its respective analog.
• exemplary pentose sugar analogs are those described above.
• nucleotide analogs have a nucleotide base analog as described above.
• exemplary phosphate ester analogs include, but are not limited to, alkylphosphonates, methylphosphonates, phosphoramidates, phosphotriesters, phosphorothioates, phosphorodithioates, phosphoroselenoates, phosphorodiselenoates, phosphoroanilothioates, phosphoroanilidates, phosphoroamidates, boronophosphates, and may include associated counterions.
• Other nucleic acid analogs and bases include for example intercalating nucleic acids (INAs, as described in Christensen and Pedersen, 2002), and AEGIS bases (Eragen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,272).
• nucleic analogs comprise phosphorodithioates (Briu et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 111:2321 (1989)), O-methylphosphoroamidite linkages (see Eckstein, Oligonucleotides and Analogues: A Practical Approach, Oxford University Press), those with positive backbones (Denpcy et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
• universal nucleotide base refers to an aromatic ring moiety, which may or may not contain nitrogen atoms.
• a universal base may be covalently attached to the C- ⁇ carbon of a pentose sugar to make a universal nucleotide.
• a universal nucleotide base does not hydrogen bond specifically with another nucleotide base.
• a universal nucleotide base hydrogen bonds with nucleotide base, up to and including all nucleotide bases in a particular target polynucleotide.
• a nucleotide base may interact with adjacent nucleotide bases on the same nucleic acid strand by hydrophobic stacking.
• Universal nucleotides include, but are not limited to, deoxy-7- azaindole triphosphate (d7AITP), deoxyisocarbostyril triphosphate (dICSTP), deoxypropynylisocarbostyril triphosphate (dPICSTP), deoxymethyl-7-azaindole triphosphate (dM7AITP), deoxylmPy triphosphate (dImPyTP), deoxyPP triphosphate (dPPTP), or deoxypropynyl-7-azaindole triphosphate (dP7AITP). Further examples of such universal bases can be found, inter alia, in Published U.S. Application No. 10/290,672, and U.S. Patent. No. 6,433,134.
• polynucleotide and “oligonucleotide” are used interchangeably and mean single-stranded and double-stranded polymers of nucleotide monomers, including 2'-deoxyribonucleotides (DNA) and ribonucleotides (RNA) linked by internucleotidephosphodiester bond linkages, e.g., 3 -5' and 2'-5', inverted linkages, e.g., 3'-3' and 5'-5', branched structures, or internucleotide analogs.
• Polynucleotides have associated counter ions, such as H+, NH4+, trialkylammonium, Mg2+, Na+, and the like.
• a polynucleotide may be composed entirely of deoxyribonucleotides, entirely of ribonucleotides, or chimeric compositions thereof.
• Polynucleotides may be comprised of internucleotide, nucleobase and/or sugar analogs.
• Polynucleotides typically range in size from a few monomeric units, e.g., 3-40 when they are more commonly frequently referred to in the art as oligonucleotides, to several thousands of monomeric nucleotide units.
• nucleobase means those naturally occurring and those non-naturally occurring heterocyclic moieties commonly known to those who utilize nucleic acid technology or utilize peptide nucleic acid technology to thereby generate polymers that can sequence specifically bind to nucleic acids.
• Non-limiting examples of suitable nucleobases include: adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine, uracil, 5-propynyl- uracil, 2-thio-5-propynyl-uracil, 5-methylcytosine, pseudoisocytosine, 2-thiouracil and 2-thiothymine, 2-aminopurine, N9-(2-amino-6-chloropurine), N9-(2,6-diaminopurine), hypoxanthine, N9-(7-deaza-guanine), N9-(7-deaza-8-aza-guanine) and N8-(7-deaza-8- aza-adenine).
• Other non-limiting examples of suitable nucleobase include those nucleobases illustrated in FIGS. 2(A) and 2(B) of Buchardt et al. (WO92/20702 or WO92/20703).
• nucleobase sequence means any segment, or aggregate of two or more segments (e.g., the aggregate nucleobase sequence of two or more oligomer blocks), of a polymer that comprises nucleobase-containing subunits.
• suitable polymers or polymers segments include oligodeoxynucleotides (e.g., DNA), oligoribonucleotides (e.g., R A), peptide nucleic acids (PNA), PNA chimeras, PNA combination oligomers, nucleic acid analogs and/or nucleic acid mimics.
• polynucleobase strand means a complete single polymer strand comprising nucleobase subunits.
• a single nucleic acid strand of a double stranded nucleic acid is a polynucleobase strand.
• nucleic acid is a nucleobase sequence-containing polymer, or polymer segment, having a backbone formed from nucleotides, or analogs thereof.
• Preferred nucleic acids are DNA and RNA.
• nucleic acids may also refer to "peptide nucleic acid” or "PNA” means any oligomer or polymer segment (e.g., block oligomer) comprising two or more PNA subunits (residues), but not nucleic acid subunits (or analogs thereof), including, but not limited to, any of the oligomer or polymer segments referred to or claimed as peptide nucleic acids in U.S. Patent Nos.
• peptide nucleic acid or "PNA” shall also apply to any oligomer or polymer segment comprising two or more subunits of those nucleic acid mimics described in the following publications: Lagriffoul et al., Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 4:1081-1082 (1994); Petersen et al, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters (5:793-796 (1996); Diderichsen et al, Tett. Lett. 57:475-478 (1996); Fujii et al, Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 7:637-627 (1997); Jordan et al, Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett.
• the lipid nanoparticle of the invention differs from other similarly constituted materials by its morphology and characterized as having a substantially solid core.
• a lipid nanoparticle having a substantially solid core is a particle that does not have extended aqueous regions on the interior and that has an interior that is primarily lipid.
• an extended region is a continuous aqueous region with a volume greater than half the particle volume.
• an extended aqueous region is more than 25% of the particle volume.
• the extent of internal aqueous regions may be determined by electron microscopy and appear as regions of low electron density.
• the aqueous content of the particle (the "trapped volume") per lipid constituting the particle is less than that expected for a unilamellar bilayer lipid vesicle with the same radius.
• the trapped volume is less than 50% of that expected for a unilamellar bilayer vesicle with the same radius.
• the trapped volume is less than 25% of that expected for a unilamellar bilayer vesicle of the same size.
• the trapped volume is less than 20% of the total volume of the particle.
• the trapped volume per lipid is less than 2 microliter per micromole lipid. In another embodiment the trapped volume is less than 1 microliter per micromole lipid. In addition, while the trapped volume per lipid increases substantially for a bilayer lipid vesicle as the radius of the vesicle is increased, the trapped volume per lipid does not increase substantially as the radius of solid core nanoparticles is increased. In one embodiment, the trapped volume per lipid increases by less than 50% as the mean size is increased from a diameter of 20 nm to a diameter of 100 nm. In a second embodiment, the trapped volume per lipid increases by less than 25% as the mean size is increased from a diameter of 20 nm to a diameter of 100 nm.
• the trapped volume can be measured employing a variety of techniques described in the literature. Because solid core systems contain lipid inside the particle, the total number of particles of a given radius generated per mole of lipid is less than expected for bilayer vesicle systems. The number of particles generated per mol of lipid can be measured by fluorescence techniques amongst others.
• the lipid nanoparticles of the invention can also be characterized by electron microscopy.
• the particles of the invention having a substantially solid core have an electron dense core as seen by electron microscopy.
• Electron density is calculated as the absolute value of the difference in image intensity of the region of interest from the background intensity in a region containing no nanoparticle.
• the lipid nanoparticles of the invention can be further distinguished by the encapsulation efficiency.
• the lipid nanoparticles of the invention are prepared by a process by which nearly 100% (e.g., 80-100%>) of the nucleic acid used in the formation process is encapsulated in the particles.
• the lipid nanoparticles are prepared by a process by which from about 90 to about 95% of the nucleic acid used in the formation process is encapsulated in the particles.
• the invention provides a method for making lipid nanoparticles containing an anionicmacromolecule using the lipid transfection reagent composition.
• the method includes:
• an anionic macromolecules e.g., polynucleic acid
• transfection reagent composition comprises an ionizable cationic lipid, a neutral lipid, a sterol and a surfactant and wherein the first and second solvents are not the same;
• the contents of the first and second streams can be mixed by chaotic advection.
• mixing the contents of the one or more first streams and the one or more second streams comprises varying the concentration or relative mixing rates of the one or more first streams and the one or more second streams.
• the method does not include a dilution after mixing.
• the method can, but need not further include, comprising diluting the third stream with an aqueous buffer.
• diluting the third stream includes flowing the third stream and an aqueous buffer into a second mixing structure.
• the aqueous buffer comprising lipid nanoparticles with encapsulated anionic macromolecules is dialyzed to reduce the amount of the second solvent.
• the first stream includes anionic macromolecules in a first solvent.
• Suitable first solvents include solvents in which the anionic macromolecules are soluble and that are miscible with the second solvent.
• Suitable first solvents include aqueous buffers.
• Representative first solvents include citrate and acetate buffers.
• the second stream includes transfection reagent composition in a second solvent.
• Suitable second solvents include solvents in which the lipids and surfactants are soluble and that are miscible with the first solvent.
• Suitable second solvents include 1 ,4-dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, acetone, acetonitrile, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylformamide, acids, and alcohols.
• Representative second solvents include aqueous ethanol 90%.
• the methods of the invention are distinguished from other microfluidic mixing methods in several ways. Whereas certain known methods require an equal or substantially equal proportion of aqueous and organic solvents (i.e., 1 : 1), the method of the invention generally utilizes a solvent ratio of aqueous to organic that exceeds 1 : 1. In certain embodiments, the solvent ratio of aqueous to organic is about 2: 1. In certain embodiments, the solvent ratio of aqueous to organic is about 3: 1. In certain embodiments, the solvent ratio of aqueous to organic is about 4: 1. In certain other embodiments, the solvent ratio of aqueous to organic is about 5: 1, about 10: 1, about 50: 1, about 100: 1, or greater.
• the lipid nanoparticles of the invention are advantageously formed in a microfluidic process that utilizes relatively rapid mixing and high flow rates.
• the rapid mixing provides lipid nanoparticles having the advantageous properties noted above including size, homogeneity, encapsulation efficiency.
• Mixing rates used in the practice of the method of the invention range from about 100 ⁇ to about 10 msec. Representative mixing rates include from about 1 to about 5 msec.
• hydrodynamic flow focusing methods operate at relatively low flow rates (e.g., 5 to 100 ⁇ / ⁇ ) with relatively low lipid volumes
• the method of the invention operates at relatively high flow rates and relatively high lipid volumes.
• the flow rate is about 10 mL/min.
• the methods of the invention can be readily scaled to provide quantities of lipid nanoparticles necessary for demanding production requirements. Coupled with the advantageous particle size and homogeneity and encapsulation efficiencies realized, the method of the invention overcomes disadvantages of known micro fluidic methods for producing the lipid nanoparticles.
• One advantage of the methods of the invention for making the lipid nanoparticles is that the methods are scalable, which means that the methods do not change on scaling and that there is excellent correspondence on scaling.
• the invention provides devices for producing a lipid nanoparticle encapsulating an anionic macromolecule using the transfection reagent composition.
• the device includes:
• the device further includes means for diluting the third stream to provide a diluted stream comprising stabilized lipid nanoparticles with encapsulated anionic macromolecules.
• the device of the invention is a microfluidic device including one or more microchannels (i.e., a channel having its greatest dimension less than 1 millimeter).
• the microchannel has a hydrodynamic diameter from about 20 to about 300 ⁇ .
• the microchannel has two regions: a first region for receiving and flowing at least two streams (e.g., one or more first streams and one or more second streams) into the device. The contents of the first and second streams are mixed in the microchannel's second region.
• the second region of the microchannel has a principal flow direction and one or more surfaces having at least one groove or protrusion defined therein, the groove or protrusion having an orientation that forms an angle with the principal direction (e.g., a staggered herringbone mixer), as described in U.S. Application Publication No. 2004/0262223, expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
• the second region of the microchannel comprises bas-relief structures. To achieve maximal mixing rates, it is advantageous to avoid undue fluidic resistance prior to the mixing region.
• one embodiment of the invention is a device in which non-microfluidic channels, having dimensions greater than 1000 microns, are used to deliver the fluids to a single mixing channel.
• the microfluidic device was produced by soft lithography, the replica molding of microfabricated masters in elastomer.
• the device has two inlets, one for each of the solutions prepared above, and one outlet.
• the microfluidic device was produced by soft lithography, the replica molding of microfabricated masters in elastomer.
• the device features a 300 ⁇ wide and approximately 130 ⁇ high mixing channel with herringbone structures formed by approximately 40 ⁇ high and 75 m thick features on the roof of the channel.
• the device was sealed using an oxygen plasma treatment to a 40 x 36 x 2 mm glass slide with three 1.5 mm holes drilled to match the inlet and outlet ports of the device.
• microfluidic devices are produced from a hard thermoplastic such as cyclic olefin copolymer.
• a negative tool was machined using a CNC mill and devices formed using injection molding. Channel dimensions were preserved with the addition of a draft angle ranging between 1° and 5° on vertical surfaces. Molded pieces were sealed to a blank substrate using a variety of techniques, including but not limited to: lamination, solvent welding, heat pressing and combinations thereof. Bonded devices were annealed to remove residual stresses from the production processes. Once formed, devices were installed and used in the custom instrument in the same way as elastomer devices.
• the first and second streams are mixed with other micromixers.
• Suitable micromixers include droplet mixers, T-mixers, zigzag mixers, multilaminate mixers, or other active mixers.
• Mixing of the first and second streams can also be accomplished with means for varying the concentration and relative flow rates of the first and second streams.
• the device for producing a lipid nanoparticle encapsulating a anionic macromolecule includes microchannel for receiving the first and second streams, wherein the microchannel has a first region adapted for flowing the first and second streams introduced into the microchannel and a second region adapted for mixing the contents of the first and second streams to provide a third stream comprising lipid nanoparticles with encapsulated anionic macromolecules.
• the first and second streams are introduced into the microchannel by means other than first and second microchannels as noted above.
• one embodiment of the invention is a device in which non-micro fluidic channels, having dimensions greater than 1000 microns, are used to deliver fluids to a single mixing channel.
• This device for producing a lipid nanoparticle encapsulating an anionic macromolecule includes:
• the first and second streams are introduced into the microchannel by a single inlet or by one or two channels not having micro-dimensions, for example, a channel or channels having dimensions greater than 1000 ⁇ (e.g., 1500 or 2000 ⁇ or larger). These channels may be introduced to the inlet microchannel using adjacent or concentric macrosized channels.
• the transfection reagent composition of the present invention may be used to prepare lipid nanoparticles to deliver an anionic macromolecule to a cell, in vitro or in vivo.
• the anionic macromolecule is a nucleic acid, which is delivered to a cell using nucleic acid-lipid nanoparticles of the present invention.
• the methods and transfection reagent composition may be readily adapted for the delivery of any suitable anionic macromolecules for the treatment of any disease or disorder that would benefit from such treatment.
• the present invention provides methods for introducing a nucleic acid into a cell.
• Preferred nucleic acids for introduction into cells are siRNA, miRNA, immune-stimulating oligonucleotides, plasmids, antisense and ribozymes. These methods may be carried out by contacting the lipid nanoparticles prepared with the transfection reagent composition of the present invention with the cells for a period of time sufficient for intracellular delivery to occur.
• Typical applications include using well known procedures to provide intracellular delivery of siRNA to knock down or silence specific cellular targets.
• Alternatively applications include delivery of DNA or mRNA sequences that code for therapeutically useful polypeptides. In this manner, therapy is provided for genetic diseases by supplying deficient or absent gene products.
• Methods of the present invention may be practiced in vitro, ex vivo, or in vivo.
• the compositions of the present invention can also be used for delivery of nucleic acids to cells in vivo, using methods which are known to those of skill in the art.
• siRNA delivery by a lipid nanoparticle prepared using the transfection reagent composition of the invention and its effectiveness in silencing gene expression is described below.
• the pharmaceutical compositions are preferably administered parenterally (e.g., intraarticularly, intravenously, intraperitoneally, subcutaneous ly, or intramuscularly).
• the pharmaceutical compositions are administered intravenously or intraperitoneally by a bolus injection.
• Other routes of administration include topical (skin, eyes, mucus membranes), oral, pulmonary, intranasal, sublingual, rectal, and vaginal.
• the present invention provides a method of modulating the expression of a target polynucleotide or polypeptide.
• These methods generally comprise contacting a cell with a lipid nanoparticle prepared using the transfection reagent of the present invention that is associated with a nucleic acid capable of modulating the expression of a target polynucleotide or polypeptide.
• modulating refers to altering the expression of a target polynucleotide or polypeptide. Modulating can mean increasing or enhancing, or it can mean decreasing or reducing.
• the present invention provides a method of treating a disease or disorder characterized by overexpression of a polypeptide in a subject, comprising providing to the subject a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention, wherein the anionic macromolecule is selected from an siRNA, a microRNA, an antisense oligonucleotide, and a plasmid capable of expressing an siRNA, a microRNA, or an antisense oligonucleotide, and wherein the siRNA, microRNA, or antisense RNA comprises a polynucleotide that specifically binds to a polynucleotide that encodes the polypeptide, or a complement thereof.
• the anionic macromolecule is selected from an siRNA, a microRNA, an antisense oligonucleotide, and a plasmid capable of expressing an siRNA, a microRNA, or an antisense oligonucleotide
• the siRNA, microRNA, or antisense RNA comprises a polynucleo
• the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition
• a pharmaceutical composition comprising a lipid nanoparticle prepared using the transfection reagent of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.
• pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or diluents include solutions for intravenous injection (e.g., saline or dextrose).
• the composition can take the form of a cream, ointment, gel, suspension, or emulsion.
• the following is a description of a representative transfection reagent composition, lipid nanoparticle system, device and method for making the lipid nanoparticle system using the transfection reagent composition, and method for using a LNP for delivering anionic macromolecules.
• Formulation of lipid nanoparticles was performed by rapidly mixing a lipid-ethanol solution with an aqueous buffer inside a microfluidic mixer (FIG. 5) designed to induce chaotic advection and provide a controlled mixing environment at intermediate Reynolds number (24 ⁇ Re ⁇ 240).
• the microfluidic channel contains herringbones that generate a chaotic flow by changing the orientation of herringbone structures between half cycles, causing a periodic change in the centers of local rotational and extensional flow.
• the following representative transfection reagent composition include an ionizable cationic lipid, l,17-bis(2-octylcyclopropyl)heptadecan-9-yl- 4-(dimethylamino)butanoate (Cationic Lipid A) having an apparent pKa of 6.3 rendering the lipid suitable for encapsulation of siRNA at low pH and providing a near neutral cationic surface charge density at physiological pH.
• Cationic Lipid A ionizable cationic lipid
• siRNA-LNP particle size was dependent on choice of surfactant and the mol% surfactant present in the transfection reagent composition. Particle size decreased with increasing mol% of surfactant in the transfection reagent composition. Increasing the proportion of the surfactant polyoxyethylene (40) stearate in the transfection reagent composition from 1 mol% to 10 mol% decreased resultant siRNA-LNP particle diameter from 103.2 nm to 37.4 nm (Table 1).
• siRNA-LNP formulations achieved percent encapsulation approaching 100 percent independent of surfactant used and relative proportion of surfactant (Table 2).
• siRNA-LNP Systems Produced by Microfluidics Using Transfection Reagent Composition Can Be Highly Potent Gene Silencing Agents In Vivo
• siRNA-LNP systems The ability of siRNA-LNP systems to induce gene silencing in vivo following i.v. injection was investigated using the mouse Factor VII model.
• FIG. 1 Blood collection was performed 24 hrs post-injection and FVII levels were determined by colorimetric assay. The data (FIG. 1) indicates that FVII levels in the blood were reduced by >95% compared to control 24 hours after a single intravenous injection equivalent to siRNA dose of 1 mg/kg.
• microfluidic device containing a staggered herringbone mixer can be used to generate LNP using transfection reagent compositions varying in lipid compositions, can be used to efficiently encapsulate OGN such as siRNA and that the siRNA-LNPsystems produced exhibit excellent gene silencing capabilities both in vitro and in vivo.
• the microfluidics device and system of the invention allow for use of the transfection reagent composition to form LNP, and to form LNP containing OGN of 100 nm size or smaller and provide OGN encapsulation 100%.
• the rate and ratio of mixing are clearly the important parameters. Rapid mixing of the ethanol-lipid solution with aqueous buffer results in an increased polarity of the medium that reduces the solubility of dissolved lipids, causing them to precipitate out of solution and form nanoparticles. Rapid mixing causes the solution to quickly achieve a state of high supersaturation of lipid unimers throughout the entire mixing volume, resulting in the rapid and homogeneous nucleation of nanoparticles. Increased nucleation and growth of nanoparticles depletes the surrounding liquid of free lipid, thereby limiting subsequent growth by the aggregation of free lipid.
• LNP structures exhibit limit sizes indicating that ionizable cationic lipid forms inverted micellar structures in the LNP interior.
• the contribution of the cationic lipid to the electron dense LNP core raises the question of what the molecular structure of such LNP systems may be. It is logical to propose that the cationic lipid, in association with a counter-ion, adopts an inverted structure such as an inverted micelle, consistent with the propensity of these lipids for inverted structures such as the hexagonal H n phase in compositions with anionic lipids.
• LNP systems composed of pure cationic lipid should exhibit limit sizes with diameters in the range of 10 nm, which is essentially the thickness of two bilayers surrounding an inverted micelle interior with diameter 2-3 nm.
• the diameter of the aqueous channels found for phosphatidylethanolamine in the ⁇ ⁇ phase is 2.6 nm.
• the microfluidics formulation process provides fast mixing kinetics that drive the generation of limit size systems for LNP systems.
• the model provides an understanding of how siRNA encapsulation efficiencies approaching 100% can be achieved during the microfluidic mixing formulation process. This is a major problem for siRNA encapsulation in bilayer systems because, assuming the cationic lipid is equally distributed on both sides of the bilayer, a maximum of 50% siRNA internalization would be expected.
• the model points to ways in which siRNA-LNP size, composition, and surface charge may be readily modulated. With regard to size, the limit size structure is clearly one that contains one siRNA monomer per particle, suggesting a limit size of approximately 15-20 nm. Such siRNA-LNP particles are readily achieved using microfluidic method of the invention.
• the limit size siRNA- LNP system consisting of a monomer of siRNA can be potentially used as a building block to achieve siRNA-LNP systems of varying composition and surface charge using microfluidic mixing technology. Rapid mixing of preformed limit size siRNA-LNP with an ethanol solution containing negatively charged lipids, for example, may be expected to result in an interaction with excess cationic lipids to produce internal inverted micellar core structures and a negatively charged surface.
• transfection reagent compositions and lipid nanoparticles of the invention described herein include (i.e., comprise) the components recited.
• the transfection reagent compositions and the lipid nanoparticles of the invention include the recited components and other additional components that do not affect the characteristics of the particles (i.e., the transfection reagent compositions and the lipid nanoparticles consist essentially of the recited components).
• the transfection reagent compositions and the lipid nanoparticles' characteristics include components such as additional anionic macromolecules that disadvantageously alter or affect therapeutic profile and efficacy of the particles, additional components that disadvantageously alter or affect the ability of the particles to solubilize the recited anionic macromolecules components, and additional components that disadvantageously alter or affect the ability of the particles to increase the cellular uptake or bioavailability of the recited anionic macromolecules components.
• the transfection reagent compositions and the lipid nanoparticles of the invention include only (i.e., consist of) the recited components.
• the invention provides kits for preparing lipid nanoparticles.
• the kits include the transfection reagent composition of the invention.
• the kits include an anionic macromolecule (e.g., nucleic acid).
• the kits optionally include a device (e.g., microfluidic mixer) for making lipid nanoparticles.
• Useful devices for use in the kit include devices described above and those described in WO 2011/140627 and WO 2013/059922, each expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
• the device useful in the kit is a device for producing particles at small volumes.
• small volume refers to volumes less than 2 mL and, in certain embodiments, volumes less than 1 mL (e.g., tens of microliters).
• the device includes:
• a third channel for receiving first and second streams flowed from the first and second wells through the first and second channels., respectively, wherein the third channel has a first region adapted for flowing the first and second streams introduced into the channel and a second region adapted for mixing the contents of the first and second streams to provide a third stream comprising particles;
• the device can include one or more first wells, one or more first channels, one or more second wells, one or more second channels, one or more third channels, and one or more third wells.
• the device further includes means for diluting the third stream to provide a diluted stream comprising stabilized particles.
• the device includes:
• a second well for receiving a second solution comprising a second solvent, wherein the second well further receives a first stream flowed from the first well through the first channel, and wherein the second well is adapted for mixing the contents of the first stream and second solution in the second well to provide a third solution comprising particles.
• FIGURES 10 and 11 This embodiment is illustrated in FIGURES 10 and 11.
• the device can include one or more first wells, one or more first channels, and one or more second wells.
• the devices are macrofiuidic or microfiuidic devices.
• the first and second streams can be mixed by chaotic advection, turbulent mixing, jetting, vortex methods, bubble mixing, micro acoustic streaming, stirring, or other mixing methods.
• Mixing may be achieved by an active mixing device or passive mixing device.
• the mixing may occur in a continuous flow format or in defined volume format.
• the mixing may be achieved using a microfiuidic mixer, including a herringbone mixer, zig-zag mixer, micro-jet mixer, or micro-vortex mixer.
• the mixing may be achieved using a macroscopic mixer, including a T-mixer, Y-mixer, or W-mixer.
• the device is a microfiuidic device including one or more microchannels (i.e., a channel having its greatest dimension less than 1 millimeter).
• the microchannel has a hydrodynamic diameter from about 20 to about 400 ⁇ .
• the microchannel has two regions: a first region for receiving and flowing at least two streams (e.g., one or more first streams and one or more second streams) into the device. The contents of the first and second streams are mixed in the microchannel's second region.
• the second region of the microchannel has a principal flow direction and one or more surfaces having at least one groove or protrusion defined therein, the groove or protrusion having an orientation that forms an angle with the principal direction (e.g., a staggered herringbone mixer), as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0262223, expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
• the second region of the microchannel comprises bas-relief structures. To achieve maximal mixing rates, it is advantageous to avoid undue fluidic resistance prior to the mixing region.
• one embodiment of the invention is a device in which non-microfluidic channels, having dimensions greater than 1000 microns, are used to deliver the fluids to a single mixing channel.
• mixing of the first and second streams can also be accomplished with means for varying the concentration and relative flow rates of the first and second streams.
• Differing flow rations may be enabled by either differential pressure applied to the flows, differential pressure drops across the flow channels, differential channel impedances, or combination therein, applied to the first and second streams.
• Differential impedances of the channels through varying the channel heights, widths, lengths, or surface properties, may be used to achieve different flow rates.
• Fluidic surface tensions, viscosities, and other surface properties of the flows in the one or more first streams and the one or more second streams may be used or considered to achieve different flow rates.
• the device further includes means for complete or partial purging of the system to minimize the waste volume.
• the device After or during manufacture of particles, the device is able to be flown into the one or more first streams and the one or more second streams from the first region of the channel into the second region of the channel a fluid or gas to expel the first stream and second streams.
• the first and second channel may be fully purged or partially purged under this method. Gasses such as air, nitrogen, argon or others may be used. Liquids including water, aqueous buffer, ethanol, oils, or any other liquid may be used.
• the device enables backpressures to be applied to ensure the flows of the one or more first streams and the one or more second streams from the first region of the channel into the second region is limited until an initial desired input pressure is achieved. This may be achieved by applying pressure to the outlet channels, negative pressures to the input channels. This may be achieved by loading an outlet reservoir with fluid that may or may not be required in the final particle solution.
• the device is designed such that fluids are introduced into the device in ways that minimize fluidic waste. This may be achieved by pipetting fluids into the device, pipetting fluids out of the device, connecting the device to syringes, or other methods.
• the device is microfluidic and produced by soft lithography, the replica molding of microfabricated masters in elastomer.
• the device has two inlets, one for each of the solutions prepared above, and one outlet.
• the microfluidic device was produced by soft lithography, the replica molding of microfabricated masters in elastomer.
• the device features are 200 ⁇ wide and approximately 70 ⁇ high mixing channel with herringbone structures formed by approximately 25 ⁇ high and 50 ⁇ thick features on the roof of the channel.
• the device was sealed using an oxygen plasma treatment to a 75 x 25 x 1.5 mm glass slide.
• Other examples include devices with widths and associated relative dimensions that are smaller (120 ⁇ wide) or larger (300 ⁇ wide). Input and output ports are drilled into the device.
• the device is microfluidic and produced from a hard thermoplastic such as cyclic olefin copolymer.
• a negative tool is machined using a CNC mill and devices formed using injection molding. Channel dimensions are preserved with the addition of a draft angle ranging between 1° and 5° on vertical surfaces. Molded pieces are sealed to a blank substrate using a variety of techniques, including but not limited to: lamination, solvent welding, heat pressing and combinations thereof. Bonded devices are annealed to remove residual stresses from the production processes. Once formed, devices are installed and used in the custom instrument in the same way as elastomer devices.
• the device has non-micro fluidic channels, having dimensions greater than 1000 microns, which are used to deliver fluids to a single mixing channel.
• This device for producing particles includes:
• the first and second streams are introduced into the channel by a single inlet or by one or two channels not having micro-dimensions, for example, a channel or channels having dimensions greater than 1000 ⁇ (e.g., 1500 or 2000 ⁇ or larger). These channels may be introduced to the inlet channel using adjacent or concentric macrosized channels.
• DSPC l,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine
• HEP 4-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazine-l- ethanesulfonic acid
• RNase A was obtained from Applied Biosystems/Ambion (Austin, Tex.).
• Factor VII (FVII) targeting, and low GC negative control siR A were purchased from Invitrogen (Carlsbad, Calif).
• siRNA-LNP systems were made using the preformed vesicle method as described in N. Maurer, K. F. Wong, H. Stark, L. Louie, D. Mcintosh, T. Wong, P. Scherrer, S. Semple and P. R. Cullis, "Spontaneous Entrapment of Polynucleotides Upon Electrostatic Interaction With Ethanol Destabilized Cationic Liposomes: Formation of Small Multilamellar Liposomes," Biophys. J. 80:2310-2326 (2001). Cationic lipid, DSPC, cholesterol and PEG-lipid were first solubilized in ethanol at the appropriate molar ratio.
• the lipid composition was then added dropwise to an aqueous buffer (citrate or acetate buffer, pH 4) while vortexing to a final ethanol and lipid concentration of 30% (v/v).
• the hydrated lipids were then extruded five times through two stacked 80 nm pore-sized filters (Nuclepore) at room temperature using a Lipex Extruder (Northern Lipids, Vancouver, Canada).
• the siRNA (solubilized in an identical aqueous solution containing 30% ethanol) was added to the vesicle suspension while mixing. A target siRNA/lipid ratio of 0.06 (wt/wt) was generally used. This composition was incubated for 30 minutes at 35° C.
• PBS phosphate-buffered saline
• siRNA-LNP a representative transfection reagent composition used to prepare a siRNA-LNP system of the invention using a microfluidic staggered herringbone mixer is described.
• Oligonucleotide (siR A) solution was prepared in 25 mM acetate buffer at pH 4.0. Depending on the desired oligonucleotide-to-lipid ratio and formulation concentration, solutions were prepared at a target concentration of 0.3 mg/ml to 1.9 mg/ml total lipid.
• a lipid solution containing l,17-bis(2- octylcyclopropyl)heptadecan-9-yl 4-(dimethylamino)butanoate, DSPC, cholesterol, and a surfactant at the appropriate molar ratio was prepared in ethanol and diluted with 25 mM acetate buffer to achieve an ethanol concentration of 90% (v/v).
• the device has two inlets, one for each of the solutions prepared above, and one outlet.
• the microfluidic device was produced by soft lithography, the replica molding of microfabricated masters in elastomer.
• the device has two inlets, one for each of the solutions prepared above, and one outlet.
• the microfluidic device was produced by soft lithography, the replica molding of microfabricated masters in elastomer.
• the device features a 300 ⁇ wide and approximately 130 ⁇ high mixing channel with herringbone structures formed by approximately 40 ⁇ high and 75 ⁇ thick features on the roof of the channel.
• the device was sealed using an oxygen plasma treatment to a 40 x 36 x 2 mm glass slide with three 1.5 mm holes drilled to match the inlet and outlet ports of the device.
• the bonded device was installed into a custom instrument, having a top plate with o-rings to seal the device to the instrument, and a back plate with luer fitting for loading reagents in syringes.
• the instrument acted as a syringe pump to dispense the fluid at the prescribed rate through the device.
• the flow rate of each stream was varied from 0.1 ml/min to 20 ml/min.
• the instrument introduces the two solutions into the microfluidic device, where they come into contact at a Y-junction. Insignificant mixing occurs under laminar flow by diffusion at this point, whereas the two solutions become mixed as they pass along the herringbone structures and around the serpentine channels.
• Particle size was determined by dynamic light scattering using a Nicomp model 370 Submicron Particle Sizer (Particle Sizing Systems, Santa Barbara, Calif). Number- weighted and intensity- weighted distribution data was used. Lipid concentrations were verified by measuring total cholesterol using the Cholesterol E enzymatic assay from Wako Chemicals USA (Richmond, Va.). Removal of free siRNA was performed with VivaPureDMiniH columns (Sartorius Stedim Biotech GmbH, Goettingen, Germany). The eluents were then lysed in 75% ethanol and siRNA was quantified by measuring absorbance at 260 nm. Encapsulation efficiency was determined from the ratio of oligonucleotide before and after removal of free oligonucleotide content, normalized to lipid content.
• siRNA-LNP containing Factor VII siRNA were filtered through a 0.2 ⁇ filter and diluted to the required concentrations in sterile phosphate buffered saline prior to use.
• the formulations were administered intravenously via the lateral tail vein at a volume of 10 ml/kg.
• animals were anaesthetized with Ketamine/Xylazine and blood was collected by cardiac puncture.
• Samples were processed to serum (Microtainer Serum Separator Tubes; Becton Dickinson, N.J.) and tested immediately or stored at -70° C. for later analysis of serum Factor VII levels. All procedures were performed in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations as applicable and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
• IACUC Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
• the siRNA solution was prepared at 0.67 mg/mL in 25 mM acetate buffer, pH 4.0.
• the lipid solution was prepared to contain l,17-bis(2- octylcyclopropyl)heptadecan-9-yl-4-(dimethylamino)butanoate: DSPC : cholesterol: SurfactantMryj 52 (50: 10:37.5:2.5 mol%) at a concentration of 19.82 mg/mL in ethanol.
• the siRNA-to-lipid ratio was 0.07 (wt/wt).
• Each solution was input into the microfluidic mixer at a flow rate ratio of 3: 1 aqueous: ethanol and a total flow rate of 12 mL/min resulting in a final ethanol concentration of 25 vol%.
• Ethanol was removed by dialysis with MES Citrate pH 6.7 (1 :500 dilution).
• the final siRNA-LNP was prepared by further dialysis in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) pH 7.4.
• PBS phosphate-buffered saline

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