Pinpoint modification strategy for stabilization of single guide RNA.

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR associated protein9 (CRISPR-Cas9) system, which includes a single guide RNA (sgRNA) and a Cas9 protein, is an emerging and promising gene editing technology that produces specific changes, including insertions, deletions, or substitutions, in desired targets. This approach can be applied in novel therapeutic areas for multiple cancers and genetic diseases, including Parkinson's disease, sickle cell disease, and muscular dystrophy. However, there are many limitations to its potential application to therapeutics.

Low immunogenicity of LNP allows repeated administrations of CRISPR-Cas9 mRNA into skeletal muscle in mice.

Genome editing therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) holds great promise, however, one major obstacle is delivery of the CRISPR-Cas9/sgRNA system to skeletal muscle tissues. In general, AAV vectors are used for in vivo delivery, but AAV injections cannot be repeated because of neutralization antibodies. Here we report a chemically defined lipid nanoparticle (LNP) system which is able to deliver Cas9 mRNA and sgRNA into skeletal muscle by repeated intramuscular injections.

Anti-tumor activity of KNTC2 siRNA in orthotopic tumor model mice of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still one of the major causes of cancer-related death. Kinetochore-associated protein 2 (KNTC2) is specifically upregulated in tumor tissues of HCC patients and recognized as a potential candidate target for the treatment of HCC. However, the relationship between KNTC2 and in vivo tumor growth of HCC is not yet fully understood.

Development of antibody-siRNA conjugate targeted to cardiac and skeletal muscles.

Despite considerable efforts to develop efficient carriers, the major target organ of short-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) remains limited to the liver. Expanding the application outside the liver is required to increase the value of siRNAs. Here we report on a novel platform targeted to muscular organs by conjugation of siRNAs with anti-CD71 Fab' fragment.

Systemic delivery of small interfering RNA by use of targeted polycation liposomes for cancer therapy.

Novel polycation liposomes decorated with cyclic(Cys-Arg-Gly-Asp-D-Phe) peptide (cyclicRGD)-polyethylene glycol (PEG) (RGD-PEG-polycation liposomes (PCL)) were previously developed for cancer therapy based on RNA interference. Here, we demonstrate the in vivo delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to tumors by use of RGD-PEG-PCL in B16F10 melanoma-bearing mice. Pharmacokinetic data obtained by positron emission tomography showed that cholesterol-conjugated siRNA formulated in RGD-PEG-PCL markedly accumulated in the tumors.

RGD-based active targeting of novel polycation liposomes bearing siRNA for cancer treatment.

For the purpose of systemic delivery of siRNA, we previously developed polycation liposomes (PCLs) containing dicetylphosphate-tetraethylenepentamine (DCP-TEPA) as an effective siRNA carrier. In the present study, to endow these PCLs (TEPA-PCL) actively target cancer cells and angiogenic vessels, we decorated the PCLs with cyclic RGD, by using cyclic RGD-grafted distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine-polyethylene glycol (DSPE-PEG), and investigated the usefulness of this type of carrier (RGD-PEG-PCL) for active targeting. Firstly, the gene-silencing efficacy of siRNA for luciferase (siLuc2) formulated in RGD-PEG-PCL (RGD-PEG-PCL/siLuc2) was examined in vitro by using B16F10-luc2 murine melanoma cells stably expressing the luciferase 2 gene, where the siRNA was grafted with cholesterol at the 3'-end of the sense strand (siRNA-C) for the stable association of the siRNA with the PCL.

Dicetyl phosphate-tetraethylenepentamine-based liposomes for systemic siRNA delivery.

Dicetyl phosphate-tetraethylenepentamine (DCP-TEPA) conjugate was newly synthesized and formed into liposomes for efficient siRNA delivery. Formulation of DCP-TEPA-based polycation liposomes (TEPA-PCL) complexed with siRNA was examined by performing knockdown experiments using stable EGFP-transfected HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cells and siRNA for GFP. An adequate amount of DCP-TEPA in TEPA-PCL and N/P ratio of TEPA-PCL/siRNA complexes were determined based on the knockdown efficiency.

T cell-independent B cell response is responsible for ABC phenomenon induced by repeated injection of PEGylated liposomes.

Repeated injection of polyethyleneglycol-modified (PEGylated) liposomes causes a rapid clearance of them from the bloodstream, this phenomenon is called accelerated blood clearance (ABC). In the present study, we focused on the immune system responsible for the ABC phenomenon. PEGylated liposomes were preadministered to BALB/c mice and [(3)H]-labeled ones were then administered to them 3 days after the preadministration.

Development of double-stranded siRNA labeling method using positron emitter and its in vivo trafficking analyzed by positron emission tomography.

Pharmacokinetic study of small interfering RNA (siRNA) is an important issue for the development of siRNAs for use as a medicine. For this purpose, a novel and favorable positron emitter-labeled siRNA was prepared by amino group-modification using N-succinimidyl 4-[fluorine-18] fluorobenzoate ([(18)F]SFB), and real-time analysis of siRNA trafficking was performed by using positron emission tomography (PET). Naked [(18)F]-labeled siRNA or cationic liposome/[(18)F]-labeled siRNA complexes were administered to mice, and differential biodistribution of the label was imaged by PET.

Particle size-dependent triggering of accelerated blood clearance phenomenon.

A repeat-injection of polyethylene glycol-modified liposomes (PEGylated liposomes) causes a rapid clearance of them from the blood circulation in certain cases that is referred to as the accelerated blood clearance (ABC) phenomenon. In the present study, we examined whether polymeric micelles trigger ABC phenomenon or not. As a preconditioning treatment, polymeric micelles (9.