Cationic Amphiphilic Drugs Boost the Lysosomal Escape of Small Nucleic Acid Therapeutics in a Nanocarrier-Dependent Manner

Thijs Van de Vyver, Bram Bogaert, Lynn De Backer, Freya Joris, Roberta Guagliardo, Jelter Van Hoeck, Pieterjan Merckx, Serge Van Calenbergh, Srinivas Ramishetti, Dan Peer, Katrien Remaut, Stefaan C. De Smedt, Koen Raemdonck

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

52 Scopus citations

Abstract

Small nucleic acid (NA) therapeutics, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA), are generally formulated in nanoparticles (NPs) to overcome the multiple extra- and intracellular barriers upon in vivo administration. Interaction with target cells typically triggers endocytosis and sequesters the NPs in endosomes, thus hampering the pharmacological activity of the encapsulated siRNAs that occurs in the cytosol. Unfortunately, for most state-of-the-art NPs, endosomal escape is largely inefficient. As a result, the bulk of the endocytosed NA drug is rapidly trafficked toward the degradative lysosomes that are considered as a dead end for siRNA nanomedicines. In contrast to this paradigm, we recently reported that cationic amphiphilic drugs (CADs) could strongly promote functional siRNA delivery from the endolysosomal compartment via transient induction of lysosomal membrane permeabilization. However, many questions still remain regarding the broader applicability of such a CAD adjuvant effect on NA delivery. Here, we report a drug repurposing screen (National Institutes of Health Clinical Collection) that allowed identification of 56 CAD adjuvants. We furthermore demonstrate that the CAD adjuvant effect is dependent on the type of nanocarrier, with NPs that generate an appropriate pool of decomplexed siRNA in the endolysosomal compartment being most susceptible to CAD-promoted gene silencing. Finally, the CAD adjuvant effect was verified on human ovarian cancer cells and for antisense oligonucleotides. In conclusion, this study strongly expands our current knowledge on how CADs increase the cytosolic release of small NAs, providing relevant insights to more rationally combine CAD adjuvants with NA-loaded NPs for future therapeutic applications.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4774-4791
Number of pages18
JournalACS Nano
Volume14
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 28 2020

Keywords

  • cationic amphiphilic drugs
  • cellular delivery
  • drug repurposing
  • endosomal escape
  • lipid nanoparticles
  • lysosomal membrane permeabilization
  • nucleic acid therapeutics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Materials Science(all)
  • Engineering(all)
  • Physics and Astronomy(all)

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