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Transformation of CD4+ T cell effector to regulatory (Teff to Treg) cells have been shown to attenuate disease progression by restoring immunological balance during the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. In our prior studies, we defined a safe and effective pathway to restore this balance by restoring Treg numbers and function through the daily administration of the cytokine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). These studies were conducted as a proof-of-concept testing in Parkinson's disease (PD) preclinical models and early phase I clinical investigations. In both instances, they served to ameliorate disease associated signs and symptoms. However, despite the recorded efficacy, the cytokine's short half-life, low bioavailability, and injection site reactions proved to be limitations for any broader use. To overcome these limitations, mRNA lipid nanoparticles encoding an extended half-life albumin-GM-CSF fusion protein were developed for both mouse (Msa-GM-CSF) and rat (Rsa-GM-CSF). These formulations were tested for immunomodulatory and neuroprotective efficacy using 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and human wild-type alpha-synuclein (αSyn) overexpression preclinical models of PD. A single dose of the extended half-life mouse and rat mRNA lipid nanoparticles generated measurable GM-CSF plasma cytokine levels up to four days. Increased Treg frequency and function were associated with a resting microglial phenotype, nigrostriatal neuroprotection, and restoration of brain tissue immune homeostasis. These findings were substantively beyond the recorded efficacy of daily recombinant wild-type GM-CSF with a recorded half-life of six hours. Mechanistic evaluation of neuropathological transcriptional profiles performed in the disease-affected nigral brain region demonstrated an upregulation of neuroprotective CREB and synaptogenesis signaling and neurovascular coupling pathways. These findings highlight the mRNA-encoded albumin GM-CSF fusion protein modification linked to improvements in therapeutic efficacy. The improvements achieved were associated with the medicine's increased bioavailability. Taken together, the data demonstrate that mRNA LNP encoding the extended half-life albumin-GM-CSF fusion protein can serve as a benchmark for PD immune-based therapeutics. This is especially notable for improving adherence of drug regimens in a disease-affected patient population with known tremors and gait abnormalities., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) for human immunodeficiency virus type one (HIV-1) infection shows limitations in pharmacokinetics and biodistribution while inducing metabolic and cytotoxic aberrations. In turn, ART commonly requires complex dosing schedules and leads to the emergence of viral resistance and treatment failures. We posit that the development of nanoformulated ART could preclude such limitations and affect improved clinical outcomes. To this end, we wet-milled 20 nanoparticle formulations of crystalline indinavir, ritonavir, atazanavir, and efavirenz, collectively referred to as "nanoART," then assessed their performance using a range of physicochemical and biological tests. These tests were based on cell-nanoparticle interactions using monocyte-derived macrophages and their abilities to uptake and release nanoformulated drugs and affect viral replication. We demonstrate that physical characteristics such as particle size, surfactant coating, surface charge, and most importantly shape are predictors of cell uptake and antiretroviral efficacy. These studies bring this line of research a step closer to developing nanoART that can be used in the clinic to affect the course of HIV-1 infection., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cancer chemotherapy is believed to be impeded by multidrug resistance (MDR). Pluronic (triblock copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(propylene oxide) (PPO), PEO-b-PPO-b-PEO) were previously shown to sensitize MDR tumors to antineoplastic agents. This study uses animal models of Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL-M27) and T-lymphocytic leukemia (P388/ADR and P388) derived solid tumors to delineate mechanisms of sensitization of MDR tumors by Pluronic P85 (P85) in vivo. First, non-invasive single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and tumor tissue radioactivity sampling demonstrate that intravenous co-administration of P85 with a Pgp substrate, 99Tc-sestamibi, greatly increases the tumor uptake of this substrate in the MDR tumors. Second, 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) in live animals and tumor tissue sampling for ATP suggest that P85 and doxorubicin (Dox) formulations induce pronounced ATP depletion in MDR tumors. Third, these formulations are shown to increase tumor apoptosis in vivo by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for caspases 8 and 9. Altogether, formulation of Dox with P85 results in increased inhibition of the growth solid tumors in mice and represents novel and promising strategy for therapy of drug resistant cancers., (Published by Elsevier B.V.)