Post cross-linked ROS-responsive poly(β-amino ester)-plasmid polyplex NPs for gene therapy of EBV-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most common tumors in South China and Southeast Asia and is thought to be associated with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection. Downregulation of latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) encoded by EBV can reduce the expression of NF-κB and PI3K, induce apoptosis, and inhibit the growth of EBV-related NPC. For targeted cleavage of the Lmp1 oncogene via the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system, a post cross-linked ROS-responsive poly(β-amino ester) (PBAE) polymeric vector was developed for the delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 plasmids both in vitro and in vivo. After composition optimization, the resultant polymer–plasmid polyplex nanoparticles (NPs) showed a diameter of ∼230 nm and a zeta potential of 22.3 mV with good stability. Compared with the non-cross-linked system, the cross-linked NPs exhibited efficient and quick cell uptake, higher transfection efficiency in EBV-positive C666-1 cells (53.5% vs. 40.6%), more efficient gene editing ability against the Mucin2 model gene (Muc2) (17.9% vs. 15.4%) and Lmp1 (8.5% vs. 5.6%), and lower intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. The NPs achieved good tumor penetration and tumor growth inhibition in the C666-1 xenograft tumor model via Lmp1 cleavage, indicating their potential for gene therapy of EBV-related NPC.