Le virus de l’hépatite C (VHC) est, encore aujourd’hui, un problème de santé mondiale majeur entraînant dans certains cas des cirrhoses et des hépatocarcinomes. De nombreux efforts ont été fournis depuis les années 80 afin de développer un traitement efficace et sûr de cette infection touchant les hépatocytes. Le traitement interféron/ribavirine, utilisé dans les années 2000, a aujourd’hui été remplacé par des thérapies utilisant des agents antiviraux directs, beaucoup plus efficaces. Ces traitements restent cependant perfectibles notamment du fait de certains effets secondaires, de leur coût élevé et de potentielles interactions médicamenteuses avec d’autres composés thérapeutiques. L’équipe de glycochimie du Laboratoire de Chimie Biologique s’est intéressée à la synthèse de C-nucléosides analogues de la ribavirine. Parmi-eux, un composé, le SRO91, s’est révélé efficace contre des réplicons du VHC et présente une faible toxicité. Dans le but d’améliorer l’activité anti-VHC du SRO91, deux axes ont été développés dans ce projet : l’adressage vers les cellules du foie, et l’amélioration de la pénétration cellulaire. Un premier conjugué entre un galactoside et SRO91 a ainsi été synthétisé, afin de profiter de la forte interaction du galactose avec les récepteurs aux asialoglycoprotéines, principalement exprimés à la surface des hépatocytes. Afin d’améliorer sa pénétration cellulaire, le nucléoside a également été conjugué à des peptides de fusion du VHC. Ces séquences peptidiques très hydrophobes sont capables de s’insérer dans la membrane cellulaire et de permettre la fusion. Trois peptides ont été sélectionnés en se basant sur la littérature : HCV3 (VFLVG), HCV6 (YVGDLSGSVFL) et HCV7 (SWHINRTALNSNDS), synthétisés par SPPS puis conjugués au nucléoside ou à un fluorophore. L’activité membranotropique des peptides sur des liposomes a alors été étudiée par calorimétrie (DSC et ITC), spectrofluorescence et microscopie à épifluorescence. Ces études ont ainsi permis de montrer que, parmi les séquences sélectionnées, HCV7 semble montrer la meilleure activité en pénétration membranaire alors que HCV6 s’est révélé être la séquence la plus fusogénique. / Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a global healthcare issue responsible for cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. Strong efforts have been made since the 80’s to develop efficient and safe treatments for this liver infection. Hence, the treatment based on interferon/ribavirin, developed in 2002, has been replaced by much more efficient therapies involving direct-acting antivirals. However, the different side-effects, high cost and possible drug-drug interactions make room for improvements to this treatment. In the Laboratoire de Chimie Biologique, several C-nucleosides, analogs of ribavirin have been developed. Among them, one compound, named SRO91, seems effective against HCV replicons with low toxicity. This thesis work focused on improving SRO91 anti-HCV activity by implementing a targeting strategy and enhancing cell-penetration. We built our targeting strategy on the strong interaction between galactose and asialoglycoprotein receptors. Thus, a SRO91-galactose conjugate was synthesized, in order to address the antiviral to hepatocytes. To enhance cell-penetration we conjugated our nucleoside to HCV fusion peptides, since these highly hydrophobic sequences are able to anchor in cell membranes, leading to fusion. Three peptides were selected based on the literature: HCV3 (VFLVG), HCV6 (YVGDLSGSVFL) and HCV7 (SWHINRTALNSNDS), synthesized by SPPS and conjugated to SRO91 or a fluorescent tag. Several techniques were used to study the membranotropic activity of theses sequences on liposomes as membrane models, including calorimetry (DSC and ITC), spectrofluorescence and epifluorescence microscopy. Thus, among the selected peptides, HCV7 seems to be the more potent as a membrane-penetrating agent but HCV6 shows the best fusogenic activity.

Nous avons démontré que structurellement flexibles poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimères sont efficaces système de livraison de siRNA in vitro et in vivo récemment. Nous voulons mener une enquête plus approfondie sur la livraison de siRNA ciblés en utilisant des dendrimères conjugués avec des ligands spécifiques ou d'anticorps, qui peuvent reconnaître les récepteurs correspondants ou des protéines exprimées à la surface des cellules. De cette façon, le siRNA peuvent être livrés spécifiquement aux cellules d'intérêt, conduisant à une délivrance ciblée, ce qui peut améliorer l'efficacité livraison et de réduire la toxicité en évitant les interactions non spécifiques et à des doses plus faibles. À cette fin, nous avons développé des dendrimères portant une chaîne PEG long et un dendron individu polyvalent. La chaîne PEG est de libérer l'encombrement stérique entre dendrimère et ligand / anticorps, tandis que le dendron multivalent fournit une plate-forme d'une conjugaison contrôlable de ligands. Par ailleurs, nous avons également conçu et synthétisé une autre dendrimères PEGylées portant un groupe thiol libre pour la préparation des anticorps / dendrimère conjugués. / We have demonstrated that structurally flexible poly(amido)amine (PAMAM) dendrimers are efficient siRNA delivery system in vitro and in vivo recently. We would like to undertake further investigation on targeted siRNA delivery using dendrimers conjugated with specific ligands or antibodies, which can recognize the corresponding receptors or proteins expressed on the cell surface. In this way, siRNA can be delivered specifically to the cells of interest, leading to targeted delivery, which can further improve the delivery efficiency and reduce the toxicity by avoiding non-specific interactions and at lower doses. To this end, we have developed dendrimers bearing a long PEG chain and an individual multivalent dendron. The PEG chain is to release the steric congestion between dendrimer and ligand/antibody, whereas the multivalent dendron provides a platform of a controllable conjugation for ligands. Besides, we also designed and synthesized another PEGylated dendrimers bearing a free thiol group for the preparation of antibody/dendrimer conjugates.

Abstract Macrophages found in the tumor microenvironment play a crucial role in initiating an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that negatively impacts immunotherapy efficacy and aids tumor progression and metastasis. Constituting the most abundant immune cell in tumor microenvironment (TME), tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) have emerged as an attractive approach for anti-cancer therapy. However, two major challenges need to be overcome for successfully utilizing macrophages for immunotherapy. First, tumors repolarize the TAMs predominantly to M2 tumor-aiding phenotype by secreting various immunosuppressive cytokines. Second, cancer cells overexpress a membrane protein CD47 that interacts with signal-regulating protein alpha (SIRPalpha) expressed on macrophages. This crosstalk provides a downregulatory signal in the form of activation of SHP1/2 that inhibits cancer cell phagocytosis, and CD47, therefore, functions as a “don’t-eat-me” signal. We rationalized that these challenges can be overcome by engineering a nanoparticle system that can deliver a rationale combination of immunomodulatory agents to the TAMs that can both repolarize the M2 macrophages to M1 phenotype efficiently and concurrently block CD47-SIRPalpha interactions by inhibiting SHP2 signaling. Herein, we designed a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) system loaded with amphiphilic R848-cholesterol in its hydrophobic lipid bilayer, while SHP099 gets encapsulated in the hydrophilic core. Our previous studies have shown that the conjugation of cholesterol to the inhibitor stabilizes the lipid bilayer at a high inhibitor concentration. The LNPs showed high optimal drug loading, size, and stability. In vitro studies showed that the M2 macrophages treated with the LNPs system repolarized to M1 phenotype and expressed co-stimulatory molecules while having enhanced phagocytic potential. In vivo efficacy studies in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice showed that LNPs exhibit superior anti-tumor efficacy compared to other treatments. We evaluated the effect of MARCO-targeted LPNs by the conjugating anti-MARCO antibody on the LPN surface. However, no comparable difference in treatment efficacy was observed between the targeted MARCO-LNPs and the non-targeted LNPs. These results demonstrate that the MARCO targeting system designed in this study is largely ineffective in the targeted delivery of its drug cargo specifically to TAMs. Thus, the lipid nanoparticle-mediated co-delivery of a rational combination of TLR7/8 agonist and SHP2 inhibitor in the TAMs increases M2 to M1 repolarization and phagocytosis potential of macrophages. Recommended Citation Malik, V., Ramesh, A. and Kulkarni, A.A. (2021), TLR7/8 Agonist and SHP2 Inhibitor Loaded Nanoparticle Enhances Macrophage Immunotherapy Efficacy. Adv. Therap., 4: 2100086. https://doi.org/10.1002/adtp.202100086

No description available.

Yes / Prostate cancer is the 2nd most common cancer in men worldwide. Chemotherapeutic treatment of prostate cancer with mitoxantrone (MTX) has limited efficacy due to severe side effects in which cardiotoxicity and myelosuppression are the two major causes of its dose-limiting toxicity. This study aimed to obtain a poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticle that can precisely deliver MTX to the prostate cancer cells overexpressing the Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) receptor-sparing healthy tissues and co-loading Indocyanine green (ICG) as a fluorescent photothermal/photodynamic agent for precise combinatory therapy in prostate cancer. The biocompatible polymer PLGA was covalently modified with the peptide of sequence (WQPDTAHHWATL) to actively target the PSMA receptor. Factors like the peptide-to-polymer ratio or the peptide's orientation during the polymer's chemical modification were investigated to enhance the active targeting of the nanoparticles (NPs). NPs were characterised using dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and UV–vis spectroscopy to determine their morphological and colloidal properties and optimal MTX and ICG encapsulation efficiency. Quantitative FACS analysis of LNCaP and PC-3 cells incubated with Nile Red-labelled non-targeted PLGA or PLGA-PSMA targeted NPs was assessed to identify the best formulation that bound selectively to PSMA. The orientation of the peptide conjugated to the polymer, which has the C-terminal end of the peptide sequence accessible for interaction with the cell receptor, maximises the targeting capacity of the system. Photothermal experiments using 808 nm near-infrared laser irradiation were conducted, and cytotoxicity was assessed using the resazurin viability assay. Remarkably, our results confirmed the safety and efficacy of a targeted and activatable therapy using polymeric NPs functionalised with the peptide and co-loaded with MTX and ICG. This pioneer nanosystem opens new perspectives for exploring advanced targeted delivery in prostate cancer. It offers a straightforward methodology for functionalising drug delivery systems with bioactive peptides that can be applied to different types of cancer. / Royal Society Research Grant (RGS\R1\221399); MRC Confidence in Concept grant (RM0039); University of Bradford. This work was partially supported by a grant to I.H. (PID2021-122216OB-I00) funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness at the European Regional Development Fund

A range of microgels with two different functionalities were synthesized, and their utility in novel bioapplications was examined. Cationic microgels with varying properties were developed by tuning synthesis conditions. Their size and primary amine content was analyzed, and one microgel system was selected as a model construct. Its primary amine groups were conjugated to two dyes with properties favorable for utilization as contrast agents in photoacoustic imaging. The concentration of contrast agent in single particles was determined. The implications of a high local dye concentration in the generation of high intensity photoacoustic signals, are discussed. The second bioapplication involved the targeted delivery of fibrinolytics to fibrin clots, in order to bring about dissolution of abnormal thrombi. For this purpose, core/shell microgels with carboxylic acid groups in their shells were synthesized in three size ranges. Following this, their dimension based differential localization in and around porous fibrin clots was examined. Fibrin-specific peptides were then conjugated onto the shells of these particles and the conjugates were shown to demonstrate strong interactions with the fibrin clots. The microgels conjugated to the peptide with the highest binding affinity to fibrin, were observed to bring about disruption of fibrin clots, merely through interference in the dynamic interactions among clot fibers, due to the equilibrium nature of the fibrin polymer. The implications of these novel results and future studies required to facilitate a better understanding of the phenomena involved, are discussed.

Dans les dernières 15 ans, la recherche biomédicale a exploré en profondeur l’utilisation de nanoparticules pour la délivrance ciblée de médicaments. Parmi plusieurs matériaux étudiés, la silice mésoporeuse représente une plateforme exceptionnelle pour ce type d’applications puisque elle est biocompatible et capable d’être chargé avec une quantité élevée de médicament, tout en étant facile à synthétiser et à fonctionnaliser. La connaissance des interactions entre nanoparticules de silice et environnement biologique est nécessaire pour concevoir des vecteurs thérapeutiques efficaces et pas toxiques. Cet étude a développé une nouvelle méthode d’analyse in situ pour suivre les interactions entre silice mésoporeuse et fluides biologiques réels (sérum et sang), employant une cellule d’analyse microfluidique et l’ellipsométrie en réflexion totale interne. Nous avons ainsi réalisé le suivi dynamique de la dégradation de vecteurs models à base de silice poreuse structuré dans une solution tampon à pH physiologique et une solution concentré de protéines. Ces analyses ont permis d’évaluer l’influence de la structure poreuse, de l’adsorption de protéines sur la surface et de la vitesse du flux sur la dissolution de la silice mésoporeuse. / Dans les dernières 15 ans, la recherche biomédicale a exploré en profondeur l’utilisation de nanoparticules pour la délivrance ciblée de médicaments. Parmi plusieurs matériaux étudiés, la silice mesoporeuse représente une plateforme exceptionnelle pour ce type d’applications puisque elle est biocompatible et capable d’être chargé avec une quantité élevée de médicament, tout en étant facile à synthétiser et à fonctionnaliser .La connaissance des interactions entre nanoparticules de silice et environnement biologique est nécessaire pour concevoir des vecteurs thérapeutiques efficaces et pas toxiques. Cet étude a développé une nouvelle méthode d’analyse in situ pour suivre les interactions entre silice mesoporeuse et fluides biologiques réels (serum et sang), employant une cellule d’analyse microfluidique et l’ellipsometrie en réflexion totale interne. Nous avons ainsi réalisé le suivi dynamique de la dégradation de vecteurs models à base de silice poreuse structuré dans une solution tampon à pH physiologique et une solution concentré de protéines. Ces analyses ont permis d’évaluer l’influence de la structure poreuse, de l’adsorption de protéines sur la surface et de la vitesse du flux sur la dissolution de la silice mesoporeuse.

Submitted by Neusa Fagundes (neusa.fagundes@unioeste.br) on 2018-03-06T19:28:50Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Giovane_Zanin2014.pdf: 3169659 bytes, checksum: ca4852dea2558da8d3c74260c79fc413 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-06T19:28:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Giovane_Zanin2014.pdf: 3169659 bytes, checksum: ca4852dea2558da8d3c74260c79fc413 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-09-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The polyvinyl acetate is a polymer used in the development of formulations for sustained release of drugs. Hyaluronic acid (HA) can interact with receptors on the plasma membrane, especially CD44 that overexpressed in tumor cells. This paper presents a pre-formulation study of isolated polyvinyl acetate films with the addition of HA to the application perspective in pharmaceutical dosage forms destined to modified drug release. The films were prepared using the solvent evaporation method and evaluated according to macroscopic and morphologic characteristics, thickness, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal analyses (thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry), scanning electron microscopy, water vapor transmission, and swelling index. Addition of HA enabled the formation of isolated films, influencing transparency, flexibility, and thickness. FTIR spectra demonstrated that only physical mixing occurred. TG and DSC curves indicated that films are thermally stable up to 200C. Electron micrographs showed modifications in the polymer mesh structure in samples (85:15 and 80:20) previously immersed in simulated gastric fluid and more pronounced after immersion in simulated intestinal fluid. The HA concentration also influenced water vapor permeability and swelling increasing these indices. We propose that films with 95:05 and 90:10 compositions can be used for modified drug release, as they were similar to a reference film and maintained targeted delivery. / O acetato polivinílico (AcPV) é um polímero utilizado no desenvolvimento de formulações para liberação sustentadas de fármacos. O ácido hialurônico (AH) possui a habilidade de interagir com receptores nas membranas plasmáticas celulares, em especial o CD44 que esta super-expresso em células tumorais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar um estudo de pré-formulação em filmes isolados de acetato polivinílico (AcPV) adicionados de AH na perspectiva de aplicação em formas farmacêuticas destinadas à liberação modificada de fármacos. Os filmes foram produzidos pelo método de evaporação do solvente e avaliados quanto as características macroscópicas e morfológicas, espessura, espectroscopia no infravermelho (FT-IR), análises térmicas (TG e DSC), microscopia eletrônica de varredura, transmissão de vapor de água e índice de intumescimento. Os resultados demonstraram que adição de AH permitiu a formação de filmes isolados adequados influenciando na transparência, flexibilidade e espessura. Espectro no FT-IR evidenciaram ocorrência apenas de mistura física entre os constituintes. As curvas TG e DSC indicaram que os filmes são termicamente estáveis até a temperatura de 200 ºC. Nas micrografias eletrônicas foi possível observar alterações na estrutural da malha polimérica nas composições 85:15 e 80:20 para as amostras previamente imersas em fluido de simulação gástrica, sendo ainda mais pronunciado após imersão em fluído de simulação intestinal. A concentração do AH também influenciou diretamente permeabilidade ao vapor de água e o intumescimento, aumentando estes índices. Na perspectiva de aplicação dos filmes avaliados, destacamos as composições 95:05 e 90:10, as quais sugerem maior potencial para aplicação em formas farmacêuticas para liberação modificada de fármacos uma vez que foram os mais semelhantes ao filme padrão e que mantiveram a possível capacidade de sítio alvo especificidade.

Prostate cancer is one of the most abundant types of cancer among men and the demand for a specific treatment is very high. In this thesis, I have focused on using Glutamate Carboxypepti- dase II (GCPII), as a target for a proof-of-principle delivery system. GCPII is a transmembrane protein that internalizes after a binding of a ligand and is overexpressed in prostate cancer. Virus-like particles from Murine polyomavirus (VLPs) are a suitable nanocarrier for the delivery of imaging agents and drugs. Here I describe modifying these VLPs with inhibitors of GCPII and fluorescent dyes and characterize their binding to GCPII on surface plasmon resonance and to cells expressing GCPII on confocal microscopy. VLPs carrying a GCPII inhibitor show specific binding to GCPII on surface plasmon reso- nance, however they bind non-specifically to cells that don't express GCPII. Several approaches have been tried to avoid that. The substitution of BC loop on the exterior surface of VLPs that is partially responsible for the binding of sialic acid did not seem to affect specificity on cells. Another approach tested was coating of the wild-type VLPs with large polymer carrying a flu- orescent label and a GCPII inhibitor. After the conjugation of the polymer to the VLP, specific binding and internalization in GCPII-positive...

The goal of cancer chemotherapy is to develop effective, safe, and well-tolerated medications. The over-expression of certain receptors on cancer cell membrane provides a basis for active targeting by not only specific interaction between drug delivery system and cells, but also facilitated cellular uptake via receptor-mediated endocytosis. In this study, LDV oligomers up to six LDV repeating units were synthesized via solid phase peptide synthesis method, and evaluated as drug carrier as well as targeting moiety to deliver doxorubicin (Dox) to human malignant melanoma cells (A375), which over-express integrin α 4 β 1 . Cells expressing different levels of integrin α 4 β 1 or modulated using integrin α 4 -specific siRNA knock-down technique were verified by western blot and PCR. Magnetic beads with tripeptides LDV, VDL, or LNV on the surface were used in the binding specificity studies. Results verified that LDV was the minimally required ligand sequence for the specific binding to integrin α 4 β 1 , of which the interaction depends on the amount of integrin and can be utilized for the design of targeted drug delivery. The studies on A375 cells uptake of FITC-labeled LDV oligomers examined the effects of EDTA, temperature, endocytosis inhibitor, and competitive ligand. Cellular uptake mechanism was revealed to be temperature-dependent, receptor-mediated endocytosis, involving the specific interaction between LDV and integrin α 4 β 1 . The internalization extent of LDV monomer was the highest and was also inhibited to the most by the addition of free LDV when compared to other LDV oligomers. Cytotoxicity profiles of Dox-conjugated LDV oligomers were obtained on wild-type A375, integrin α4 knock-down A375, and normal human epithelial keratinocytes (NHEK) using SRB assay. A significant decrease (3∼6 folds) in the cytotoxicity of oligo(LDV)-Dox on A375 cells were observed when the integrin α4 expression was knocked down by ∼50%. Cytotoxicity further decreased on NHEK, which has the lowest integrin α4 expression among three cell lines. In contrast to oligo(LDV)-Dox, free Dox was not able to differentiate between cancerous and normal cells. This result demonstrated the potential of oligo(LDV) as targeting ligand. However, increase of repeating LDV unit did not lead to any apparent trend in cytotoxicity capacity. To facilitate the intracellular Dox release, hydrazone bond (HYD) was introduced between LDV and Dox. In vitro Dox release profiles in pH 6.0, 7.4, and rat plasma proved the pH-sensitivity of LDV-HYD-Dox. Cytotoxicity studies showed an increased cytotoxic effect of LDV-HYD-Dox when compared with LDV-Dox on wild-type A375 (2.5 times), knock-down A375 (1.5 times); while no significant difference in cytotoxicity on NHEK was observed. In vivo animal study supported the in vitro findings on LDV-HYD-Dox, which showed a significant inhibition of tumor growth and longest mice life span when compared to free Dox, poly(L,D,V)-Dox, and LDV-Dox, with averagely only ¼ of the tumor size and almost twice the life span of that from the free Dox group. In conclusion, based on the concept of specific interaction between LDV and integrin α 4 β 1 , oligo(LDV)-Dox targeted drug delivery system was developed and proved to be effective in the delivery of Dox to melanoma cells.