Genome Editing Against Cancer
Gene editing is one of the hottest topics in cancer research. Wenfu Zheng, Xingyu Jiang, National Center for NanoScience and Technology, Beijing, China, and colleagues have developed a gold-nanoparticle-based multifunctional vehicle to transport “gene scissors” to the tumor cell genome. The developed nonviral transport and release platform of gene-editing systems has the advantage of combining hyperthermal cancer therapy with genetic modification.
Since its discovery in 2002, the bacterial antiviral defense strategy CRISPR-Cas9 has emerged as one of the most popular genome engineering approaches, with wide applications in the fields of molecular biology and biomedicine. Using the CRISPR-Cas9 system, a target gene can be edited, knocked out, or inserted into eukaryotic cells in a relatively simple and convenient manner. However, one of its weak points is its sheer size, which demands the use of specific nonviral vehicles to deliver the large plasmid to the nucleus.
Modified Gold Nanoparticles for Tumor Therapy
Combining established lipid formulations with gold nanoparticles, the team has found and tested a multifunctional tool based on simple components that effectively delivers and releases the CRISPR-Cas9 system into tumors. Laser irradiation was used to disassemble the lipid–nanogold vehicle after its entry into the tumor cells and enable the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. The knockout of the targeted gene then led to apoptosis and tumor growth inhibition.
Gold nanoparticles are especially attractive carriers for various biological molecules because of their easy modification, stability, and light-irradiation response. To convert them into a versatile biological transport and delivery vehicle, the scientists first attached Tat peptides—which facilitate the crossing of the cell nucleus membrane—to gold nanoparticles. Then, the CRISPR-Cas9 plasmid containing the RNA targeting the Plk-1 gene—the knockout of which would severely impair tumor cell function—was attached to the Tat peptides through electrostatic interactions so that they would release their load right after entering the nucleus. Finally, the nanoparticle system was coated with a formulation of lipids to improve cellular uptake.
Thermo-Triggered Release
The CRISPR-Cas9-plasmid-carrying nanogold vehicle was tested on both cells and tumor-bearing mice, and the release of the gene-editing machine was triggered by a laser. “In this study, light irradiation caused the release of the Tat peptide from the gold nanoparticles in a time- and laser-intensity-dependent manner,” the researchers explain. Other approaches are also possible: As the gold nanoparticles heat up upon irradiation, they could serve as thermotherapeutic agents themselves.
In summary, this relatively simple design using gold nanoparticles, peptides, and lipids assembled into a sophisticated multifunctional carrier/release system could serve as a multifunctional delivery platform for various aspects of gene therapy.
- Thermo-triggered Release of CRISPR-Cas9 System by Lipid-Encapsulated Gold Nanoparticles for Tumor Therapy,
Peng Wang, Lingmin Zhang, Wenfu Zheng, Liman Cong, Zhaorong Guo, Yangzhouyun Xie, Le Wang, Rongbing Tang, Qiang Feng, Yoh Hamada, Kohsuke Gonda, Zhijian Hu, Xiaochun Wu, Xingyu Jiang,
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018.
https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201708689
