A light-triggerable formulation to control the stability of pro-angiogenic transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)

Nanoscale. 2020 May 14;12(18):9935-9942. doi: 10.1039/c9nr10503d.

Abstract

The control of vascular remodeling mediated by transcription factor HIF-1α is critical in the treatment of several diseases including cancer, retinopathies, chronic wounds, and ischemic heart disease, among others. Gene silencing using a small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a promising therapeutic strategy to regulate HIF-1α; however, the delivery systems developed so far have limited endothelial targeting and efficiency. Herein, we have synthesized a light-triggerable polymeric nanoparticle (NP) library composed of 110 formulations which showed variable morphology, charge and disassembly rates after UV exposure. More than 35% of the formulations of the library were more efficient in gene knockdown than the siRNA delivered by a commercial transfection agent (lipofectamine RNAiMAX). The most efficient siRNA delivery formulations were tested against different cell types to identify one with preferential targeting to endothelial cells. Using a two-step methodology, we have identified a formulation that shows exquisite targeting to endothelial cells and is able to deliver more efficiently the siRNA that modulates HIF-1α than commercial transfection agents. Overall, the strategy reported here increases the specificity for tissue regulation and the efficiency for the intracellular delivery of siRNAs.

MeSH terms

  • Acrylamides / chemistry
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Chemistry, Pharmaceutical
  • Diamines / chemistry
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / chemistry
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism*
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Proline Dioxygenases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Proline Dioxygenases / genetics
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Proline Dioxygenases / metabolism
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Protein Stability
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / chemistry
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Transfection / methods
  • Ultraviolet Rays*

Substances

  • Acrylamides
  • Diamines
  • Drug Carriers
  • HIF1A protein, human
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Polymers
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • EGLN1 protein, human
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Proline Dioxygenases