Nature Subsidiary: New RNA Nanotechnology Makes a Major Breakthrough in Cancer Therapy

Release date: 2017-12-13

On December 11th, Nature Nanotechnology published the latest results of "Nanoparticle orientation to control RNA loading and ligand display on extracellular vesicles for cancer regression". This study found that the incorporation of antibody-like RNA nanoparticles into microvesicles can specifically deliver efficient RNA therapy into cancer cells.

Image source: Nature Nanotechnology

Professor Guo Peixuan, the chief lecturer of Ohio State University and the chief scientific advisor of Shenzhen Xuanze Biotechnology, is the author of the paper. Fanzin Haque and Dr. Wang Shaoying of Xuanze Bio are co-authors of the paper.

Previous bottleneck

Professor Guo Peixuan said: "Therapy using siRNA (small interfering RNA) and RNA interference technology is changing cancer treatment, but since there is no way to directly deliver such drugs to cancer cells in the human body, clinical trials evaluating these drugs One by one failed. In addition, even though these drugs can reach and enter cancer cells, they are easily trapped in intracellular vesicles called endosome, resulting in reduced efficacy or even failure."

Professor Guo Peixuan

Conquer the puzzle

In this new study, Professor Guo Peixuan's team addressed two main problems: 1) targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to tumor cells via vesicles; 2) after entry of cancer cells containing therapeutic agents into cancer cells To enable it to escape the "capture" of the endosome.

Specifically, in the study, Professor Guo and his colleagues designed an extracellular microvesicles that carry antibody-like RNA molecules. Such antibody-like RNA molecules are called aptamers and bind to surface markers that are overexpressed by cancer cells:

1) In order to inhibit prostate cancer, vesicles are designed to specifically bind to prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA);

2) In order to inhibit breast cancer, vesicles are designed to specifically bind to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR);

3) In order to inhibit colorectal cancer transplantation of human origin, vesicles are designed to specifically bind to folate receptors.

In addition, all vesicles carry siRNA for down-regulating the survivin gene. This gene inhibits apoptosis and is overexpressed in a variety of cancer types.

Key result

In the end, the scientists got the following three key findings:

First, vesicles targeting PSMA completely inhibited prostate cancer growth in animal models and no toxic effects were observed;

Second, vesicles targeting EGFR effectively inhibit breast cancer growth in animal models;

Third, vesicles targeting folate receptors significantly inhibited tumor growth in colon cancer patients in animal models.

Image source: Network

Future prospects

For this achievement, Professor Guo Peixuan said: "Overall, our research shows that RNA nanotechnology can be used to design natural extracellular vesicles to specifically deliver siRNA to cancer cells."

Researchers are currently working to translate this technology into clinical use. In addition, scientists believe that the study is expected to promote the development of siRNA, microRNA and other RNA interference technologies for a new generation of anticancer drugs.

Reference materials:

Researchers Invent Novel RNA Nanotech to Decorate Exosomes for Effective Cancer Therapy

Source: Bio-Exploration

Food flavoring

Tartaric Acid, Vanillin, Menthol, Menthol Crystal, Flavoring agent, Baking powder

Xi'an Gawen Biotechnology Co., Ltd , http://www.ahualyn-bio.com