Despite several advantages of non-viral vectors over viral vectors in gene therapy, few clinical trials have investigated non-viral systems. A major reason for the suboptimal performance of non-viral gene approaches is their low transfection efficiency especially in vivo. Extensive investigations into the major limiting factors during the cellular trafficking processes have provided spectra of tools anticipated to circumvent the extracellular and intracellular obstacles in successful use of non-viral systems. Polymeric vectors demonstrate great flexibility in their design and functionalization. Biodegradable or non-degradable polycations are often used as DNA condensing vectors and modifying a few functional groups helps targeting and trafficking into the nucleus. However, current approaches are not truly well-defined because the modified polycations are electrostatically and randomly complexed with anionic genes. A poorly defined vector preparation with a few functionalities and inadequate exposure of the functional groups at the right places are primarily responsible for low efficiency. A novel approach proposed in this application is to accommodate all functionalities (as many as needed) for gene trafficking from an injection site to the nucleus, which include shielding the positively charged surface in the blood stream, cell targeting ligands, endosomolytic agents, controlled release of DNA from polyplex, nuclear pore dilation and nuclear import. All these functionalities will be incorporated into nanoscaled assemblies constructed by a layer-by-layer method, resulting in triple layered gene vectors;the core, mantle, and the shell layers. More importantly the nanoconstruct is expected to expose the functional groups at the place required in the intracellular compartments in a well defined manner and each layer will be peeled-off after serving its due role, leaving minimal components for nuclear import of the incorporated gene. This unique assembly approach assures high potential for pharmaceutical gene formulations for future translational studies. The long term goal will be accomplished in four specific aims: first three aims for core layer, mantle layer and shell layer respectively. Each layer will be customized for target cells;proliferating and non-proliferating cells, endosomal pH, and ligand receptor. The fourth specific aim will test and prove the proposed concept in vivo.

Public Health Relevance

Despite several advantages of non-viral vectors over viral owns in gene therapy, particularly in reproducible production of pharmaceutical formulations, most clinical trials for gene therapy employed viral systems. This application is for development of polymeric gene carriers based on a new design concept, which is anticipated to present a high potential for a translational study, for acceptable transfection efficiency in vivo and have minimal toxicity. The novel and unique design principle will accommodate all functionalities required for effective gene transfection and these functionalities will be exposed in the appropriate intracellular compartments where needed the most in a well-defined fashion. The nano-sized gene carrier will be constructed from pharmaceutically-friendly polymers.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM082866-04
Application #
8257580
Study Section
Gene and Drug Delivery Systems Study Section (GDD)
Program Officer
Okita, Richard T
Project Start
2009-05-01
Project End
2014-04-30
Budget Start
2012-05-01
Budget End
2014-04-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$275,098
Indirect Cost
$92,309
Name
University of Utah
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Pharmacy
DUNS #
009095365
City
Salt Lake City
State
UT
Country
United States
Zip Code
84112
Kang, Han Chang; Cho, Hana; Bae, You Han (2015) DNA Polyplexes as Combinatory Drug Carriers of Doxorubicin and Cisplatin: An in Vitro Study. Mol Pharm 12:2845-57
Hwang, Hee Sook; Hu, Jun; Na, Kun et al. (2014) Role of polymeric endosomolytic agents in gene transfection: a comparative study of poly(L-lysine) grafted with monomeric L-histidine analogue and poly(L-histidine). Biomacromolecules 15:3577-86
Mishra, Deepa; Kang, Han Chang; Cho, Hana et al. (2014) Dexamethasone-loaded reconstitutable charged polymeric (PLGA)n -b-bPEI micelles for enhanced nuclear delivery of gene therapeutics. Macromol Biosci 14:831-41
Hwang, Hee Sook; Kang, Han Chang; Bae, You Han (2013) Bioreducible polymers as a determining factor for polyplex decomplexation rate and transfection. Biomacromolecules 14:548-56
Kang, Han Chang; Lee, Ji Eun; Bae, You Han (2012) Nanoscaled buffering zone of charged (PLGA)n-b-bPEI micelles in acidic microclimate for potential protein delivery application. J Control Release 160:440-50
Kang, Han Chang; Samsonova, Olga; Kang, Sun-Woong et al. (2012) The effect of environmental pH on polymeric transfection efficiency. Biomaterials 33:1651-62
Kang, Han Chang; Huh, Kang Moo; Bae, You Han (2012) Polymeric nucleic acid carriers: current issues and novel design approaches. J Control Release 164:256-64
Mishra, Deepa; Kang, Han Chang; Bae, You Han (2011) Reconstitutable charged polymeric (PLGA)(2)-b-PEI micelles for gene therapeutics delivery. Biomaterials 32:3845-54
Chang Kang, Han; Bae, You Han (2011) Co-delivery of small interfering RNA and plasmid DNA using a polymeric vector incorporating endosomolytic oligomeric sulfonamide. Biomaterials 32:4914-24
Kang, Han Chang; Kang, Ho-Jung; Bae, You Han (2011) A reducible polycationic gene vector derived from thiolated low molecular weight branched polyethyleneimine linked by 2-iminothiolane. Biomaterials 32:1193-203

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