Classifications

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  • 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
  • C12N15/63—Introduction of foreign genetic material using vectors; Vectors; Use of hosts therefor; Regulation of expression
  • C12N15/79—Vectors or expression systems specially adapted for eukaryotic hosts
  • C12N15/85—Vectors or expression systems specially adapted for eukaryotic hosts for animal cells
• • 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
  • A61K47/50—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 the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates
  • A61K47/51—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 the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent
  • A61K47/62—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 the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent the modifying agent being a protein, peptide or polyamino acid
  • A61K47/64—Drug-peptide, drug-protein or drug-polyamino acid conjugates, i.e. the modifying agent being a peptide, protein or polyamino acid which is covalently bonded or complexed to a therapeutically active agent
  • A61K47/645—Polycationic or polyanionic oligopeptides, polypeptides or polyamino acids, e.g. polylysine, polyarginine, polyglutamic acid or peptide TAT
  • A61K47/6455—Polycationic oligopeptides, polypeptides or polyamino acids, e.g. for complexing nucleic acids
• • 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
  • A61K47/50—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 the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates
  • A61K47/69—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 the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the conjugate being characterised by physical or galenical forms, e.g. emulsion, particle, inclusion complex, stent or kit
  • A61K47/6921—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 the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the conjugate being characterised by physical or galenical forms, e.g. emulsion, particle, inclusion complex, stent or kit the form being a particulate, a powder, an adsorbate, a bead or a sphere
  • A61K47/6923—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 the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the conjugate being characterised by physical or galenical forms, e.g. emulsion, particle, inclusion complex, stent or kit the form being a particulate, a powder, an adsorbate, a bead or a sphere the form being an inorganic particle, e.g. ceramic particles, silica particles, ferrite or synsorb
• • 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
  • A61K47/50—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 the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates
  • A61K47/69—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 the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the conjugate being characterised by physical or galenical forms, e.g. emulsion, particle, inclusion complex, stent or kit
  • A61K47/6921—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 the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the conjugate being characterised by physical or galenical forms, e.g. emulsion, particle, inclusion complex, stent or kit the form being a particulate, a powder, an adsorbate, a bead or a sphere
  • A61K47/6927—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 the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the conjugate being characterised by physical or galenical forms, e.g. emulsion, particle, inclusion complex, stent or kit the form being a particulate, a powder, an adsorbate, a bead or a sphere the form being a solid microparticle having no hollow or gas-filled cores
  • A61K47/6929—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 the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the conjugate being characterised by physical or galenical forms, e.g. emulsion, particle, inclusion complex, stent or kit the form being a particulate, a powder, an adsorbate, a bead or a sphere the form being a solid microparticle having no hollow or gas-filled cores the form being a nanoparticle, e.g. an immuno-nanoparticle
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P19/00—Drugs for skeletal disorders
  • A61P19/08—Drugs for skeletal disorders for bone diseases, e.g. rachitism, Paget's disease
  • A61P19/10—Drugs for skeletal disorders for bone diseases, e.g. rachitism, Paget's disease for osteoporosis
• • 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
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K48/00—Medicinal preparations containing genetic material which is inserted into cells of the living body to treat genetic diseases; Gene therapy
  • A61K48/0008—Medicinal preparations containing genetic material which is inserted into cells of the living body to treat genetic diseases; Gene therapy characterised by an aspect of the 'non-active' part of the composition delivered, e.g. wherein such 'non-active' part is not delivered simultaneously with the 'active' part of the composition
  • A61K48/0025—Medicinal preparations containing genetic material which is inserted into cells of the living body to treat genetic diseases; Gene therapy characterised by an aspect of the 'non-active' part of the composition delivered, e.g. wherein such 'non-active' part is not delivered simultaneously with the 'active' part of the composition wherein the non-active part clearly interacts with the delivered nucleic acid
  • A61K48/0041—Medicinal preparations containing genetic material which is inserted into cells of the living body to treat genetic diseases; Gene therapy characterised by an aspect of the 'non-active' part of the composition delivered, e.g. wherein such 'non-active' part is not delivered simultaneously with the 'active' part of the composition wherein the non-active part clearly interacts with the delivered nucleic acid the non-active part being polymeric
• • 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
  • C12N2800/00—Nucleic acids vectors
  • C12N2800/95—Protection of vectors from inactivation by agents such as antibodies or enzymes, e.g. using polymers
• • 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
  • C12N9/00—Enzymes; Proenzymes; Compositions thereof; Processes for preparing, activating, inhibiting, separating or purifying enzymes
  • C12N9/14—Hydrolases (3)
  • C12N9/16—Hydrolases (3) acting on ester bonds (3.1)
  • C12N9/22—Ribonucleases [RNase]; Deoxyribonucleases [DNase]

Definitions

• the present invention generally relates to use of nanoparticles to transfect cells. More particularly, the present invention relates to coated nanoparticles with a polyplex core for intracellular delivery of ploynucleotides to modify gene expression.
• the shortcomings of the prior art are overcome, and additional advantages are provided, through the provision, in one aspect, of a nanoparticle.
• the nanoparticle includes a core polyplex and a silica coating on the core polyplex, and the polyplex includes an anionic polymer, a cationic polymer, a cationic polypeptide, and a polynucleotide.
• the nanoparticle may also include a polymer attached to an outer surface of the silica coating.
• a method of modifying intracellular polynucleotides includes contacting a cell with a nanoparticle that includes a core polyplex and a silica coating on the core polyplex, and the polyplex includes an anionic polymer, a cationic polymer, a cationic polypeptide, and a polynucleotide.
• the nanoparticle may also include a polymer attached to an outer surface of the silica coating.
• FIGs. 1A-1B are diagrammatic representations of some embodiments of a nanoparticle and components thereof in accordance with an aspect of the present invention
• FIGs. 2A is a diagrammatic representation of how a nanoparticle may be manufactured in accordance with an aspect of the present invention
• FIG. 2B is a diagrammatic representation of means by which a cell may uptake and intracellularly process a nanoparticle in accordance with an aspect of the present invention
• FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating the effects on polyplex complexation of including different ratios of various charged polymers and polynucleotides in accordance with an aspect of the present invention
• FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating the effects on polyplex complexation of including different ratios of various charged polymers and polynucleotides, with or without including an anionic polymer in the polyplex, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention
• FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating the destabilizing effect on a polyplex of including increasing amounts of an anionic polymer in the presence or absence of cationic polypeptides in accordance with an aspect of the present invention
• FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating sizes of nanoparticles possessing various layers in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.
• FIG. 7 is photomicrographs of cells transfected with various nanoparticles demonstrating cellular uptake and subcellular localization of nanoparticles following transfection in accordance with an aspect of the present invention
• FIG. 8 is photomicrographs of cells transfected with nanoparticles showing duration of residence of nanoparticles in cells following transfection in accordance with an aspect of the present invention
• FIGs. 9A-B is photomicrographs showing cellular uptake of nanoparticles possessing a layer of polymers attached to the outside of a silica coating of a polyplex in accordance with an aspect of the present invention
• FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic representation of TALEN peptides encoded for by a nucleic acid included in a nanoparticle that cause knockdown of expression of sclerostin in accordance with an aspect of the present invention
• FIGs. 1 lA-11C are graphs illustrating the effects transfecting cells with different amounts of nanoparticles that target sclerostin expression on sclerostin and ⁇ -catenin expression in accordance with an aspect of the present invention
• FIGs. 12A-12F are graphs illustrating the effects of transfecting cells with different amounts of nanoparticles that target sclerostin expression on expression levels of various cellular signaling peptides in accordance with an aspect of the present invention
• FIG. 13 is photomicrographs demonstrating effects of transfecting cells with nanoparticles that target sclerostin expression on expression of a co-transfected reporter gene that is responsive to transcription factors whose activity is inhibited by sclerostin-mediated signalling in accordance with an aspect of the present invention
• FIGs. 14A-14C are photomicrographs demonstrating effects of transfecting cells with nanoparticles that target sclerostin expression on mineralization in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.
• the present disclosure provides, in part, a multilayered nanoparticle for transfecting cells with agents to modify gene expression.
• Nanoparticles designed for improved serum stability, targetted delivery to specific cell types, greater nuclear specificity and compartment-specific unpackaging, improved ability to retain significant payload levels during initial stages of internalization, and ability to maintain release of payload for a various durations following internalization, and methods of use thereof, are provided.
• complexes of polynucleotides with polymers, or polyplexes, created by condensation of cationic polymers and polynucleotides in the presence of anionic polymers may mediate increased transfection efficiency over polynucleotide - cationic polymer conjugates. Though this process may produce more particles and increase the net surface area of nanoparticles exposed for cellular uptake, an improved electrostatic repulsory element may also be at play in releasing nucleic acids through this technique.
• including an anionic polymer in a nanoparticle polyplex core may prolong the duration of intracellular residence of the nanoparticle and release of agents that affect gene expression or otherwise regulate cellular function, or payloads.
• a cationic polypeptide in a nanoparticle may mediate stability, subcellular compartmentalization, and payload release.
• fragments of the N-terminus of histone peptides, referred to generally as histone tail peptides, within various polyplexes are not only capable of being deprotonated by various histone modifications, such as in the case of histone acetyltransferase-mediated acetylation, but may also mediate effective nuclear- specific unpackaging as components of polyplexes.
• histone tail peptide may promote nuclear localization of nanoparticles and result in enzyme -mediated release of polynucleotide payload therefrom.
• silica coatings of polyplexes may seal their payloads before and during initial cellular uptake.
• Commonly used polyplexes consisting of poly(ethylenimine) and DNA have a tendency to shed the majority ( ⁇ 90%) of their payloads during cellular internalization, with the remaining payload often remaining bound to its cationic nanocarrier's polymeric remains. With transiently stabilizing interlayers of silica, greater intracellular delivery efficiency may be observed despite decreased probability of cellular uptake.
• coating a nanoparticle polyplex with a silica coating may seal the polyplex, stablizing it until its release upon processing in the intended subcellular compartment.
• transfection efficiency may be further increased by adding another layer of cationic polymer, making the delivery efficiency as much as two orders of magnitude greater than a bare or silica-coated polyplex, presumably due to the anionic nature of an oligomeric silica coating being cell repulsive.
• silica-coated polyplexes and their further-layered derivatives are stable in serum and are suitable for in vivo experiments unlike cationic polymer/nucleic acid conjugates on their own.
• FIGs. 1A-1B show examples of components of a nanoparticle in accordance with the present invention.
• a nanoparticle polyplex core may include a polynucleotide, an anionic polymer, a cationic polymer, and a cationic polypeptide.
• a silica coating may then be applied to the polyplex core, and polymers may then be attached to an outer surface of the silica coating.
• the polynucleotide may be a DNA vector for driving intracellular expression of a nucleic acid sequence it contains.
• a nanoparticle may also comprise other types of polynucleotides, such as linear DNA or various types of RNA, including dsDNA, ssDNA, mRNA, siRNA, or CRISPR RNA sequences, or others, or any combination of the foregoing.
• polynucleotides such as linear DNA or various types of RNA, including dsDNA, ssDNA, mRNA, siRNA, or CRISPR RNA sequences, or others, or any combination of the foregoing.
• a nanoparticle may also include, in addition to or in place of any of the foregoing examples of polynucleotides, a peptide nucleic acid, other charged or polar small molecules between 50 and 1000 Da, or alternatively between 200 and 10 kDa, in size, such as cyclic nucleotides such as cAMP, DNA origami templates, aptamers, charged polypeptides, proteins or protein fragments between 2 and 100 kDa, peptoids, phosphorylated or sulfated constituents, anionically modified constituents, and multimeric or oligomeric combinations of the foregoing.
• a person of ordinary skill would understand any of the foregoing, or any combination thereof, as being included within the present invention.
• a cationic polymer within the polyplex may be a polypeptide containing cationic amino acids and may be, for example, poly(arginine), poly(lysine), poly(histidine), poly(ornithine), poly(citrulline), or a polypeptide that comprises any combination of more than one of the foregoing.
• a nanoparticle may also include, in addition to or in place of any of the foregoing examples of cationic polymers, poly(ethylenimine), poly(aspartamide), polypeptoids, a charge-functionalized polyester, a cationic polysaccharide, an acetylated amino sugar, chitosan, or a variant or variants that comprise any
• a cationic polymer may comprise a poly(arginine), such as poly(L-arginine).
• a cationic polymer within the polyplex may have a molecular weight of between 1 kDa and 200 kDa.
• a cationic polymer within the polyplex may also have a molecular weight of between 10 kDa and 100 kDa.
• a cationic polymer within the polyplex may also have a molecular weight of between 15 kDa and 50 kDa.
• a cationic polymer comprises poly(L-arginine) with a molecular weight of approximately 29 kDa, as represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 (PLR).
• a cationic polymer may comprise linear poly(ethylenimine) with a molecular weight of 25 kDa (PEI). In another example, a cationic polymer may comprise branched poly(ethylenimine) with molecular weight of 10 kDa. In another example, a cationic polymer may comprise branched poly(ethylenimine) with a molecular weight of 70 kDa.
• a cationic polymer may comprise a D-isomer of poly(arginine) or of any of the foregoing polymers such as polypeptides, which may be particularly advantageous because polymers such as polypeptides containing a D-isomer may be less susceptible to degradation within a cell and therefore have a prolonged effect on influencing payload release and the rate thereof over time.
• an anionic polymer within the polyplex may be a polypeptide containing anionic amino acids, and may be, for example, poly-glutamic acid or poly-aspartic acid, or a polypeptide that comprises any combination of the foregoing.
• a nanoparticle may also include, in addition to or in place of any of the foregoing examples of anionic polymers, a glycosaminoglycan, a glycoprotein, a polysaccharide, poly(mannuronic acid), poly(guluronic acid), heparin, heparin sulfate, chondroitin, chondroitin sulfate, keratan, keratan sulfate, aggrecan, poly(glucosamine), or an anionic polymer that comprises any combination of the foregoing.
• an anionic polymer may comprise poly-glutamic acid.
• An anionic polymer within the polyplex may have a molecular weight of between 1 kDa and 200 kDa.
• An anionic polymer within the polyplex may also have a molecular weight of between 10 kDa and 100 kDa.
• An anionic polymer within the polyplex may also have a molecular weight of between 15 kDa and 50 kDa.
• an anionic polymer is poly(glutamic acid) with a molecular weight of approximately 15 kDa.
• Polymers consisting of or including a D- isomer of glutamic acid may be particularly advantageous because they may be less susceptible to degradation within a cell and therefore have a prolonged effect on influencing payload release and the rate thereof over time.
• the anionic polymer within the polyplex may have the sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 (PDGA).
• an anionic polymer may comprise a D-isomer of any of the foregoing polymers or polypeptides, which may be particularly advantageous because polymers such as polypeptides containing a D-isomer may be less susceptible to degradation within a cell and therefore have a prolonged effect on influencing payload release and the rate thereof over time.
• a cationic peptide in a nanoparticle's polyplex core may be a fragment of a histone peptide, such as of the HI, H2, H3, or H4 proteins.
• the fragment may include amino acids whose sequence corresponds to the N-terminus of a histone protein.
• the fragment may comprise up to the first 5 (SEQ ID NO: 9), 10 (SEQ ID NO: 10), 15 (SEQ ID NO: 11), 20 (SEQ ID NO 12), 25 (SEQ ID NO: 13) or more N-terminal amino acids of a histone protein.
• the fragment may also be amidated on its C-terminus.
• the fragment may also have been modified such that one or more lysine residue is methylated, one or more histidine, lysine, arginine, or other complementary residues are acetylated or susceptible to acetylation as a histone acetyltransferase or acetyl CoA substrate, or any combination of the foregoing.
• a cationic peptide in a nanoparticle polyplex core may have the sequence as represented by SEQ ID NO: 3, which comprises the first 25 amino acids of the human histone 3 protein, amidated on its C- terminus, and tri-methylated on the lysine 4 in accordance with the present invention (HTP).
• a nanoparticle may include or contain, in addition to or in place of any of the foregoing cationic polypeptides, a nuclear localization sequence.
• a cationic polypeptide may comprise a nuclear localization sequence on its N- or C-terminus.
• a nuclear localization sequence may comprise an importin or karyopherin substrate, or may have or contain a sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 8.
• a nanoparticle may include, in addition to or in place of any of the foregoing cationic polypeptides, a mitochondrial localization signal or a peptide fragment of mtHSP70.
• the nanoparticle may comprise a reversible coating that provides stability to the polyplex core prior to cellular or compartmental internalization, preventing premature degradation or destabilization.
• a silica coating may be applied to the polyplex core.
• calcium phosphate or hydroxyapatite may be applied to a polyplex core.
• a branched cationic polymer, polypeptide, or peptoid may be applied to a a polyplex core, with an anionic charge excess.
• a coating, such as a silica coating may protect the polyplex from degradation before exposure to the endosomal microenvironment.
• a nanoparticle may comprise a layer of polymers attached to or electrostatically bound with the external surface of coated polyplex, such as to or with the external surface of a silica coating.
• Such external polymers may serve to prevent cellular repulsion of the coated polyplex so as to promote contact with and uptake by a cell.
• An external polymer layer may also serve to promote
• a polymer in a polymer layer attached to the outer surface of coating on a polyplex may be from between 0.1 to 20 kDa in size, or may be up to 40 or 50 kDa in size.
• polymer comprising a polymer layer attached to the external surface of the coated core polyplex examples include those represented by SEQ ID NO: 4, which is an approximately 10 kDa poly(arginine) polymer, and SEQ ID NO: 5, which is human vasoactive endothelial growth factor protein, in accordance with the present invention.
• a polymer comprising a layer attached to the external surface of the coated core polyplex may comprise an anchor substrate of from between 1 to 25 repeating anionic or cationic moieties at the N-terminus, C-terminus, 5 ' , or 3 ' end of a polymer, polypeptide, or polynucleotide to provide electrostatic conjugation of a targeting motif contained in the polymer, polypeptide, or
• a polymer comprising a layer attached to the external surface of the coated core polyplex may comprise a polymer, polypeptide, or polynucleotide sequence that exhibits base pair
• a cationic polyplex is created, then coated with a silica coating.
• Polyplex cores of nanoparticles may be created via electrostatic interactions leading to condensation.
• Two equal- volume solutions may be created, one with pH-unadjusted 40 mM HEPES (pH -5.5) combined with 0.1% w/v a cationic polymer and a cationic polypeptide in water and the other with 30 mM Tris-HCl (pH ⁇ 7.4) combined with 0.1% w/v anionic polymers and a polynucleotide in water.
• the cationic polymer comprises SEQ ID NO: 1
• the anionic polymer comprises SEQ ID NO: 2
• the cationic polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO: 3.
• Nanoparticles may further be resuspended in a solution containing a polymer to be attached to the external surface of the silica coating. For example, they may be resuspended in a solution comprising a polymer represented by SEQ ID NO: 4 or SEQ ID NO: 5 at 0.1% w/v for one hour. Nanoparticles may then be centrifuged again before resuspension in transfection medium. This method is but one example of manufacturing nanoparticles in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 2B is a diagrammatic representation of contacting a cell with a nanoparticle in accordance with the present invention leading to cellular
• Nanoparticles may further be retrogradely transported through the Golgi and endoplasmic reticulum or processed through lysosomal pathways, resulting in loss of the coating, such as a silica coating, and exposure of the polyplex core.
• the polyplex core may further be translocated into the cell nucleus, where enzymatic processing my degrade the cationic polymer, such as through activity of arginases, or otherwise promote unpackaging of the polyplex core, such as through acetylation of a histone tail peptide within the polyplex, leading to release of polynucleotides such as plasmid DNA from the polyplex core, in accordance with the present invention.
• the present invention includes optimized ratios of anionic and cationic polymers, cationic polypeptides, and polynucleotides for complexation of a polyplex core as part of a nanoparticle.
• plasmid DNA was fluorescently tagged with ethidium bromide (40 ng EtBr / ug DNA) before addition of various polymeric constituents in molar [l(positive)]:[l(negative)] ratios of [amine (n)]: [phosphate (p) + carboxylate (c)], or of c:p in the instance of poly(D-glutamic acid) (PDGA; SEQ ID NO: 2) addition.
• PEI linear poly(ethylenimine)
• PLR poly(L-arginine)
• HTP histone tail peptide
• FIG. 3 is a graph showing the effects of varying the ratio of anionic or cationic polymers or polypeptides to polynucleotides.
• the X axis shows charged polymer-to-phosphate ratio and the Y axis shows relative fluorescence following combination of indicated constituents.
• a decrease in relative fluorescence indicates displacement of EtBr from DNA and polyplex formation.
• Ratios of cationic polymer, or of cationic polymer and cationic polypeptide, to DNA of approximately 5 : 1 and higher exhibited an approximately 40% decrease in fluorescence indicating complexation of DNA and polymers into polyplexes. Addition of PDGA in the absence of cationic polymers or cationic polypeptides did not affect complexation.
• FIG. 4 indicates the effects of adding PDGA to cationic polymers and cationic polypeptides on polyplex complexation kinetics.
• DNA was complexed with HTP, PLR or PEI, with or without addition of PDGA.
• Addition of PDGA did not impair complexation kinetics at any of the molar ratios tested.
• Cationic polypeptide incorporation, and/or inclusion of cationic constituents of disparate molecular weights or sizes, into a nanoparticle polyplex core may beneficially enhance the ability of a cationic polymer to promote dissociation and release of the polynucleotide payload from the polyplex and its other constituents.
• Nanoparticles containing core polyplexes with plasmid DNA, PLR, PDGA, and HTP, at a molar ratio of [amide]: [(phosphate)] of 5.5: 1 were complexed as described.
• Some polyplex cores were further coated with silica as described.
• Some silica-coated polyplexes were further layered with cationic polymer (SEQ ID NO: 4) as described. 30 - 60 minutes of measurements were obtained following initial core formation of ternary complexes, silica coating of cores, and cationic polymer-coating of silica-coated cores.
• FIG. 6 is a graph showing diameters of nanoparticles.
• Uncoated polyplex cores and polyplex cores coated with silica were approximately 70-150 nm in diameter on average.
• polyplex cores and silica-coated polyplex cores may be within a range of 100-170 nm in average diameter. Adding a cationic polymer coating to the silica coating yielded a nanoparticle with an average diameter of approximately 170 nm.
• silica-coated polyplex cores with an additional layer of cationic polymer attached to the outer layer of silica may be within a range of approximately 80-200 nm in average diameter.
• FITC Fluorescein isothiocyanate
• mCherry plasmid (Addgene) was included in nanoparticles to permit fluorescent detection of plasmid- driven expression.
• MC3T3 murine osteoblasts were cultured on polystyrene T-75 tissue culture plastic flasks (Corning, CA, USA). Dulbecco's modified eagle medium
• osteoblasts were plated at 1000 cells/well in 96-well plates and allowed to adhere for 12 - 16 hours in antibiotic-free DMEM containing 10% FBS. Immediately before transfection, medium was replaced with equal volumes of OptiMEM-suspended nanoparticles and DMEM containing 10% FBS.
• bimodal fluorescent imaging allowed for simultaneous observation of FITC-labeled nanoparticles (488 ex./520 em.) and the mCherry gene expression that they were responsible for (633 ex./680 em.). A minimum of 20 cells were observed at different locations in each well and
• ImageJ was used to process the overlaid images and combine phase-contrast, 488/520 and 633/680 channels.
• Circles in FIG. 7 indicate where high levels of nuclear localization is apparent.
• Silica- coated binary nanoparticles show burst release properties (i.e., nuclear localization is not apparent in the DNA-PLR + silica samples).
• Inclusion of PDGA in polyplex cores causes prolonged release of plasmid within cell nuclei. This effect of PDGA to cause prolonged release was surprising in light of literature suggesting the opposite: that including cationic polymers in nanoparticle polyplexes would hasten, and shorten the duration of, dissociation of polynucleotide payload from other polyplex constituents. Addition of HTP also causes extensive nuclear localization.
• FIG. 8 is photomicrographs showing cellular uptake and retention of silica-coated FITC- conjugated polyplex cores, to which an additional layer of poly(L-arginine) (SEQ ID NO: 4) has been added, by MC3T3 murine osteoblasts, in accordance with the present invention. Unlike for silica-coated nanoparticles shown in FIG.
• nanoparticles containing an additional layer of cationic polymers on the outside of the silica coating are observable in FIG. 8, indicating that such nanoparticles remain stable in serum. Furthermore, these nanoparticles are observed to display extended residence within the cell nucleus such that fluorescence qualitatively peaks within approximately 1.5 days and detectable fluorescence was sustained through 14 days.
• silica-coated polyplex cores with polymers specifically directed to bind to particular cell types can further enhance uptake.
• Associating ligands for cellular receptors with the surface of a nanoparticle can enhance affinity of the nanoparticle for cells that express such receptors and increase transfection of such cells.
• silica-coated polyplexes were coated with VEGF (SEQ ID NO: 5), a high-affinity ligand for VEGF receptors, which are expressed at high levels by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).
• HUVECs were incubated with silica-coated FITC-conjugated polyplexes with poly(L-arginine) (SEQ ID NO: 4) or human VEGF (SEQ ID NO: 5) attached to the outer surface of the silica coating for 40 min before being washed twice with PBS then resuspended in DMEM (10% FBS). Cells were imaged 4 hrs later. After this short incubation period, only low levels of transfection with nanoparticles containing a poly(L-arginine) layer attached to the external silica surface (FIG. 9A) was observed, whereas coating with VEGF instead of poly(L- arginine) resulted in significantly greater cellular internalization at this four-hour time point.
• a layer of polymers may be attached to the outer layer of silica-coated polyplex cores to promote or otherwise influence this effect.
• other means of contacting cells with nanoparticles to effect such outcomes such as i.p., i.v., i.m. or s.c. or other injection or transdermal administration or via suppository to, or ingestion or oral or nasal inhalation by, a human or animal, or contact with explanted tissue or cells or stem cells, would also be included within the present invention.
• a polynucleotide encoding a nuclease may be incorporated into the nanoparticle polyplex core.
• a polynucleotide that encodes and drives expression of a TALEN Transcription Factor- Like Effector Nucleases
• TALENs utilize a modular DNA binding motif (TALE) that can be modified to introduce new DNA binding specificities and even nucleases (TALEN).
• TALEs consist of multiple repeat variable diresidues (RVDs) which each specify binding to a single nucleotide.
• TALE arrays are made by stringing together RVDs in a specific order to provide specificity and binding affinity to desired DNA sequences.
• these genome-splicing tools are engineered by fusing non-specific cleavage domains, such as Fokl nucleases, to TALEs.
• TALEN assembly protocols are available that allow assembly of these repetitive sequences, including an open source assembly method known as Golden Gate.
• nanoparticles may be designed and used in a manner to regulate expression of signaling molecules to alter cellular function.
• sequences of chromosomal DNA may be deleted or altered to generate cellular or animal models of disease states or treatments therefor, or to treat disease states or otherwise enhance human health.
• a protein whose expression may be modified in accordance with the present invention is sclerostin (SOST).
• SOST binding to the LRP5/6 receptor inhibits Wnt signaling, perhaps via feedback systems between Wnt3A, Wnt7B, WntlOA, sclerostin, ⁇ - catenin, LEF1, and TCF1. Desuppressing these cascades via removal of sclerostin may result in significantly increased mineralization activity.
• Osteoprogenitor (OPG) and RANKL are also expected to play a responsive role to SOST deletion, where RANKL expresses itself as a receptor for promoting osteoclastogenesis via osteoclast-linked RANK or ODF (osteoclast differentiation factor) binding, and OPG binds antagonistically to RANKL.
• OPG osteoprogenitor
• RANKL expresses itself as a receptor for promoting osteoclastogenesis via osteoclast-linked RANK or ODF (osteoclast differentiation factor) binding
• OPG binds antagonistically to RANKL.
• the ratio between OPG and RANKL is a determinant of the relationship between bone formation and resorption.
• single cultures of osteoblasts will communicate through other forms of paracrine signaling and this ratio should be more reflective of behavior of altered cells in co-culture with osteoclasts or in vivo.
• a nanoparticle may be designed so as to allow transfection with a TALEN that may disrupt expression of SOST and consequently generate a high bone -mass phenotype.
• TALENS may be engineered to specifically bind to loci in the SOST gene and create double- stranded breaks in the genome to disrupt transcription or translation and reduce SOST expression.
• a nanoparticle may contain plasmids that encode two TALENs that create double-stranded breaks on either side of the chromosomal locus of the start codon for SOST.
• a diagrammatic representation of this model is shown in FIG. 10, where a "left" TALEN and "right” TALEN bind to and cleave sites on opposite sides of the SOST start codon locus.
• a left TALEN may have the sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 6
• a right TALEN may have the sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 7.
• a nanoparticle may comprise an expression plasmid, such as pUC19 (Genbank
• a nanoparticle may also include combinations of expression plasmids that comprise sequences that encode left and right TALENs.
• a nanoparticle may also comprise other TALEN sequences, targeting SOST or any other gene of interest, and also may comprise other expression vectors, in accordance with the present invention.
• a nanoparticle may comprise other types of polynucleotides or analogs thereof, such as species of RNA or DNA including mRNA, siRNA, miRNA, aptamers, shRNA, AAV-derived nucleic acids, morpholeno RNA, peptoid and peptide nucleic acids, cDNA, DNA origami, DNA and R A with synthetic nucleotides, DNA and RNA with predefined secondary structures, CRISPR sequences, and multimers and oligomers, and any combination of the foregoing, in accordance with the present invention.
• a nanoparticle may comprise polynucleotides whose sequence may encode other products such as any protein or polypeptide whose expression is desired.
• 1 lA-11C are graphs demonstrating the effectiveness of different amounts (800 ng, 1600 ng, or 2500 ng) of nanoparticles (NP) containing expression plasmids comprising nucleotide sequences that encode left (SEQ ID NO: 6) and right (SEQ ID NO: 7) SOST TALENs, in accordance with the present invention, in modulating SOST expression and ⁇ -catenin expression over a period of up to over 20 days following transfection.
• NP nanoparticles
• SEQ ID NO: 7 expression plasmids comprising nucleotide sequences that encode left (SEQ ID NO: 6) and right (SEQ ID NO: 7) SOST TALENs, in accordance with the present invention, in modulating SOST expression and ⁇ -catenin expression over a period of up to over 20 days following transfection.
• other cells were transfected with mRNA encoding the same TALENS using Lipofectamine, a known agent for cellular transfection. As shown in
• qPCR was also performed to determine whether down-regulation of SOST expression with nanoparticles in accordance with the present invention may have downstream effects on other components of the relevant signaling cascade.
• Cells were transfected as described above. Results on expression of numerous components of the signaling pathway (SOST, ⁇ -catenin, TCF1, LEF1, Wnt3A, Wnt7B, WntlOb, OPG, and RANKL), at 5, 14, and 21 days after transfection with different amounts of nanoparticles as indicated, are shown in FIGs. 12A-12F. For comparison, other cells were transfected with mRNA encoding the same TALENS using Lipofectamine.
• the real time PCR results showed a greater up regulation of Wnt responsive genes in the cell lines transfected with nanoparticles delivering SO ST TALENS as compared to the SO ST TALENS delivered by Lipofectamine by up to 2 to 6 times as a response to knockdown of the Wnt signaling inhibitor sclerostin.
• TCF/LEF-1 -mediated transcription may also be upregulated following knockdown of SOST expression in accordance with the present invention.
• MC3T3- El cells were transfected with TOPflash and control FOPflash luciferase reporter plasmid constructs (Addgene# 12456 and 12457) that contain TCF/LEF-1 binding sites. The cells were plated at the density of 5000 cells/well of the 8-well labtek chamber slides and transfected with 1 ug of TOPflash and FOPflash plasmid separately. To control for the efficiency of transfection a control plasmid Renilla (Promega) was used.
• FIG 13 is photomicrographs showing upregulation of
• nanoparticles containing plasmids encoding SOST-directed TALENS in accordance with the present invention, consistent with an upregulation of TCF/LEF-1 expression and activity following transfection with the invented nanoparticles.
• Knockdown of SOST expression in accordance with the present invention may also increase mineralization in stromal bone marrow cells and osteoblasts.
• FIGs 14A-14C show the effects of transfection with nanoparticles in accordance with the present invention on mineralization following SOST knockdown.
• FIG. 14A is photomicrographs of staining of the mineralized matrix formed 25 days after SOST knockdown. Stromal cells are shown in panels A-C, wherein panel A show control cells, panel B shows cells transfected via Lipofectamine, and panel C shows cells transfected with nanoparticles containing plasmids encoding SOST- directed TALENs as described and in accordance with the present invention.
• FIGs. 14B and 14C are graphs showing quantification of mineralization.
• FIGs 14 A-C demonstrate increased calcium concentration in stromal bone marrow cells and osteoblasts following transfection with SOST-targetting TALENS via nanoparticles in accordance with the present invention, further confirming the effectiveness of this technique of modifying the cellular expression and activity of genes and downstream signaling pathways.

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