MicroRNA Delivery by Graphene-Based Complexes into Glioblastoma Cells

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary and aggressive tumour in brain cancer. Novel therapies, despite achievements in chemotherapy, radiation and surgical techniques, are needed to improve the treatment of GBM tumours and extend patients’ survival. Gene delivery therapy mostly uses the viral vector, which causes serious adverse events in gene therapy. Graphene-based complexes can reduce the potential side effect of viral carries, with high efficiency of microRNA (miRNA) or antisense miRNA delivery to GBM cells. The objective of this study was to use graphene-based complexes to induce deregulation of miRNA level in GBM cancer cells and to regulate the selected gene expression involved in apoptosis. The complexes were characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning transmission electron microscopy and zeta potential. The efficiency of miRNA delivery to the cancer cells was analysed by flow cytometry. The effect of the anticancer activity of graphene-based complexes functionalised by the miRNA sequence was analysed using 2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxyanilide salt (XTT) assays at the gene expression level. The results partly explain the mechanisms of miRNA deregulation stress, which is affected by graphene-based complexes together with the forced transport of mimic miR-124, miR-137 and antisense miR-21, -221 and -222 as an anticancer supportive therapy.

Graphene family in cancer therapy: recent progress in cancer gene/drug delivery applications

“…Thus, using microRNAs as a cargo of gene therapy complexes may be an efficient way to cure diseases. 140 Kutwin et al 107 used two members of the graphene family, GO and rGO, for microRNA delivery to glioblastoma cell lines (U87, U118, U87, U251, and T98).…”

The mechanical, optical, and thermal properties of graphene influencing its pre-clinical use in treating neurological diseases

“…These complexes had less harmful effects on the viral carrier, but more efficiency of microRNA delivery than the viral carrier. GO and rGO functionalized with microRNA-induced microRNA deregulation stress, regulated relative gene expression to apoptosis, and increased GBM cell apoptosis (Kutwin et al, 2021). Wang Y. et al (2013) designed an initial drug-delivery system that used chemophotothermal treatment to target GBM cells.…”

Stage-specific treatment of colorectal cancer: A microRNA-nanocomposite approach

“…The delivery of GO and rGO complexed with either miRNA mimics (miRNA-124 and miRNA-137) or antisense oligonucleotides (miRNA-21, miRNA-221, and miRNA-222) was investigated in various glioblastoma (U87, U118, U251, and T98) and human fetal foreskin fibroblast (HFFF) 2 cells. The GO-miRNA complexes reduced cell viability by activating apoptosis in all glioblastoma cells and not HFFF2 cells, showing their potential as a promising delivery system in cancer therapy [ 144 ]. Graphene nanocarriers could be designed to achieve controlled drug release by making them responsive to external stimuli such as pH or temperature [ 145 ].…”