Engineering pH‐Sensitive Stable Nanovesicles for Delivery of MicroRNA Therapeutics

• Published in: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Germany), 2022-01, Vol.18 (3), p.e2101959-n/a
• Main Authors: Boloix, Ariadna, Feiner‐Gracia, Natalia, Köber, Mariana, Repetto, Javier, Pascarella, Rosa, Soriano, Aroa, Masanas, Marc, Segovia, Nathaly, Vargas‐Nadal, Guillem, Merlo‐Mas, Josep, Danino, Dganit, Abutbul‐Ionita, Inbal, Foradada, Laia, Roma, Josep, Córdoba, Alba, Sala, Santi, Toledo, Josep Sánchez, Gallego, Soledad, Veciana, Jaume, Albertazzi, Lorenzo, Segura, Miguel F., Ventosa, Nora
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomolecules; cancer therapy; Conjugation; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Lipids; MicroRNAs; MicroRNAs - chemistry; miRNAs delivery; nanocarriers; Nanoparticles; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Nanotechnology; nanovesicles; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - therapy; neuroblastoma; pediatric cancer; quatsomes; siRNAs delivery; Tumors; Xenotransplantation
• ISSN: 1613-6810; 1613-6829
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.202101959

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non‐coding endogenous RNAs, which are attracting a growing interest as therapeutic molecules due to their central role in major diseases. However, the transformation of these biomolecules into drugs is limited due to their unstability in the bloodstream, caused by nucleases abundantly present in the blood, and poor capacity to enter cells. The conjugation of miRNAs to nanoparticles (NPs) could be an effective strategy for their clinical delivery. Herein, the engineering of non‐liposomal lipid nanovesicles, named quatsomes (QS), for the delivery of miRNAs and other small RNAs into the cytosol of tumor cells, triggering a tumor‐suppressive response is reported. The engineered pH‐sensitive nanovesicles have controlled structure (unilamellar), size (24 weeks), and are prepared by a green, GMP compliant, and scalable one‐step procedure, which are all unavoidable requirements for the arrival to the clinical practice of NP based miRNA therapeutics. Furthermore, QS protect miRNAs from RNAses and when injected intravenously, deliver them into liver, lung, and neuroblastoma xenografts tumors. These stable nanovesicles with tunable pH sensitiveness constitute an attractive platform for the efficient delivery of miRNAs and other small RNAs with therapeutic activity and their exploitation in the clinics. Here is reported the engineering of non‐liposomal lipid nanovesicles, named quatsomes, for the effective delivery of miRNAs and other small RNAs into the citosol of tumor cells, triggering a tumor‐suppressive response. These stable nanovesicles with tunnable pH sensitiveness constitute an attractive platform for the delivery of nucleic acids with therapeutic activity and their exploitation in the clinics.