Ultra-small lipid nanoparticles encapsulating sorafenib and midkine-siRNA selectively-eradicate sorafenib-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo

• Published in: Journal of controlled release 2021-03, Vol.331, p.335-349
• Main Authors: Younis, Mahmoud A., Khalil, Ikramy A., Elewa, Yaser H.A., Kon, Yasuhiro, Harashima, Hideyoshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Gene therapy; Microfluidic device; Midkine; Sorafenib-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma; Stroma barrier; Ultra-small lipid nanoparticles
• ISSN: 0168-3659; 1873-4995
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.01.021

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a fatal disease with limited therapeutic choices. The stroma-rich tumor microenvironment hinders the in vivo delivery of most nanomedicines. Ultra-small lipid nanoparticles (usLNPs) were designed for the selective co-delivery of the cytotoxic drug, sorafenib (SOR), and siRNA against the Midkine gene (MK-siRNA) to HCC in mice. The usLNPs composed of a novel pH-sensitive lipid, a diversity of phospholipids and a highly-selective targeting peptide. A microfluidic device, iLiNP, was used and a variety of factors were controlled to tune particle size aiming at maximizing tumor penetration efficiency. Optimizing the composition and physico-chemical properties of the usLNPs resulted in an enhanced tumor accumulation, selectivity and in vivo gene silencing. The optimized usLNPs exerted potent gene silencing in the tumor (median effective dose, ED50~0.1 mg/Kg) with limited effect on the healthy liver. The novel combination synergistically-eradicated HCC in mice (~85%) at a surprisingly-low dose of SOR (2.5 mg/Kg) which could not be achieved via individual monotherapy. Toxicity studies revealed the biosafety of the usLNPs upon either acute or chronic treatment. Furthermore, the SOR-resistant HCC established in mice was eradicated by 70% using this approach. We conclude that our strategy is promising for potential clinical applications in HCC treatment. [Display omitted] •Ultra-small lipid nanoparticles designed to penetrate the stroma barrier in HCC.•Tweaking the nanocarriers' composition affects their gene delivery performance.•Novel nanocarriers show highly-selective and potent gene silencing in HCC in vivo.•Novel synergistic combination eradicates HCC in mice at low doses.•Midkine-siRNA reverses the resistance to sorafenib and eradicates resistant HCC.