Innovative Technologies in Nanomedicines: From Passive Targeting to Active Targeting/From Controlled Pharmacokinetics to Controlled Intracellular Pharmacokinetics.

Nanomedicines promise to extend drug therapy from small molecular compounds to proteins/nucleic acids/genes. Multifunctional envelope-type nanodevices (MENDs) have been developed for delivering such molecules to the site of action. The YSK-MEND contains new types of pH-responsive cationic lipids to efficiently deliver siRNA to hepatocytes via receptor-mediated endocytosis and use in treating hepatitis C and B in model mice. The RGD ligand is introduced to target tumor endothelial cells (TEC) and RGD-MEND is able to send siRNA to TEC to regulate the function of tumor microenvironments. The MITO-Porter is also developed to target mitochondria via membrane fusion. Antisense oligo RNA in the MITO-Porter permits the knock down of mitochondrial function. Finally, the ssPalms is designed based on a new concept of pH-dependent protonation in endosomes and cleavage of SS bonds in the reducing conditions in cytosol. These new technologies promise to stimulate the use of Nanomedicines in the future.

Sato Y ，Sakurai Y ，Kajimoto K ，Nakamura T ，Yamada Y ，Akita H ，Harashima H ... -  《-》

Development of a multifunctional envelope-type nano device and its application to nanomedicine.

Successful nanomedicines should be based on sound drug delivery systems (DDS) the permit intracellular trafficking as well as the biodistribution of cargos to be controlled. We have been developing new types of DDS that are multifunctional envelope-type nano devices referred to as MENDs. First, we will focus the in vivo delivery of siRNA to hepatocytes using a YSK-MEND which is composed of pH-responsive cationic lipids. The YSK-MEND is capable of inducing efficient silencing activity in hepatocytes and can be used to cure mice that are infected with hepatitis C or B. The YSK-MEND can also be applied to cancer immunotherapy through the activation of immune cells by delivering different compounds such as cyclic-di-GMP, siRNA or alpha-galactosylceramide as a lipid antigen. The findings indicate that, as predicted, these compounds, when encapsulated in the YSK-MEND, can be delivered to the site of action and induced immune activation through different mechanisms. Finally, a MITO-Porter, a membrane fusion-based delivery system to mitochondria, is introduced as an organelle targeting DDS and a new strategy for cancer therapy is proposed by delivering gentamicin to mitochondria of cancer cells. These new technologies are expected to extend the therapeutic area of Nanomedicine by increasing the power of DDS, especially from the view point of controlled intracellular trafficking.

Sato Y ，Nakamura T ，Yamada Y ，Harashima H ... -  《-》

Multifunctional enveloped nanodevices (MENDs).

Sato Y ，Nakamura T ，Yamada Y ，Akita H ，Harashima H ... -  《Advances in Genetics》

A multifunctional envelope-type nanodevice for use in nanomedicine: concept and applications.

Nakamura T ，Akita H ，Yamada Y ，Hatakeyama H ，Harashima H ... -  《-》

Multifunctional envelope-type nano device for controlled intracellular trafficking and selective targeting in vivo.

Nanomedicine is expected to be a basic technology for using nucleic acids as a drug, in which treating the cause of diseases represent the ultimate therapy. However, a sophisticated delivery system is required for efficient delivery of RNA/DNA, since these compounds need precise control of intracellular trafficking as well as biodistribution. Here we report on the use of a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) which is capable of intracellular trafficking such as endosomal escape, delivery to mitochondria, as well as active targeting to selective tissues/cells in vivo. In this review, we focused on the controlled intracellular trafficking of antigens for advanced immunotherapy, and then introduced a mitochondrial delivery system as an organelle targeting system for unmet medical needs. We also provide a successful in vivo delivery of siRNA to the liver based on a newly designed pH-responsive cationic lipid. Finally we will discuss an important role of an active targeting system using a peptide ligand to adipose vasculature. These progresses in drug delivery system will break through the barriers exist in our body, tissues and cells and open a window for future Nanomedicine.

Kajimoto K ，Sato Y ，Nakamura T ，Yamada Y ，Harashima H ... -  《-》