Gene Therapy Based on Lipid Nanoparticles as Non-viral Vectors for Glioma Treatment

Title:Gene Therapy Based on Lipid Nanoparticles as Non-viral Vectors for Glioma Treatment

Volume: 21 Issue: 5

Author(s): Marcela Tavares Luiz, Larissa Bueno Tofani, Victor Hugo Sousa Araújo, Leonardo Delello Di Filippo, Jonatas Lobato Duarte, Juliana Maldonado Marchetti and Marlus Chorilli*

Affiliation:

• School of Pharmaceutical Science of Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, Sao Paulo,Brazil

Keywords: Brain tumor, blood-brain barrier, glioblastoma multiforme, nanocarriers, nanomedicine, nanotechnology, nanosystems.

Abstract: Gliomas are primary brain tumors originating from glial cells, representing 30% of all Central Nervous System (CNS) neoplasia. Among them, the astrocytoma grade IV (glioblastoma multiforme) is the most common, presenting an invasive and aggressive profile, with an estimated life expectancy of about 15 months after diagnosis even after treatment with radiation, surgical resection, and chemotherapy. This poor prognosis is related to the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and multidrug resistance mechanisms that prevent the uptake and retention of chemotherapeutics inside the brain. Gene therapy has been a promising strategy to overcome these treatment limitations since it has the ability to modify the defective genetic information in tumor cells, being able to induce cellular apoptosis and silence the genes responsible for multidrug resistance. Lipidbased nanoparticles, non-viral vectors, have been investigated to deliver genes across the BBB to reach the glioma cell target. Besides, their low immunogenicity, easy production, ability to incorporate ligands to specific target cells, and capacity to carry higher size genes have made the gene therapy based on non-viral vectors a promising glioma treatment. In this context, this review addresses the most common non-viral vectors based on lipid-based nanoparticles used for glioma gene therapy, such as liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, and nanoemulsions.

Cite this article as:

Luiz Tavares Marcela , Tofani Bueno Larissa , Araújo Hugo Sousa Victor , Di Filippo Delello Leonardo , Duarte Lobato Jonatas , Marchetti Maldonado Juliana and Chorilli Marlus *, Gene Therapy Based on Lipid Nanoparticles as Non-viral Vectors for Glioma Treatment, Current Gene Therapy 2021; 21 (5) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1566523220999201230205126