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Inhalable dry powder mRNA vaccines based on extracellular vesicles

ABSTRACT: Respiratory diseases are a global burden, with millions of deaths attributed to pulmonary illnesses and dysfunctions. Therapeutics have been developed, but they present major limitations regarding pulmonary bioavailability and product stability. To circumvent such limitations, we developed room-temperature-stable inhalable lung-derived extracellular vesicles or exosomes (Lung-Exos) as mRNA and protein drug carriers. Compared with standard synthetic nanoparticle liposomes (Lipos), Lung-Exos exhibited superior distribution to the bronchioles and parenchyma and are deliverable to the lungs of rodents and nonhuman primates (NHPs) by dry powder inhalation. In a vaccine application, severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike (S) protein encoding mRNA-loaded Lung-Exos (S-Exos) elicited greater immunoglobulin G (IgG) and secretory IgA (SIgA) responses than its loaded liposome (S-Lipo) counterpart. Importantly, S-Exos remained functional at room-temperature storage for one month. Our results suggest that extracellular vesicles can serve as an inhaled mRNA drug-delivery system that is superior to synthetic liposomes. Graphical abstract Progress and potential statement Research in extracellular vesicles (EVs) is important to the field of translational medicine to develop therapeutics that are limited by poor cellular targeting and efficacy. The biological composition of EVs can be exploited as drug-delivery vehicles that may be engineered for cellular targeting or eliciting specific immune responses through their functions in membrane trafficking and cellular signaling. With the molecular composition of EVs varying depending on their parent-cell origin, the derivation of EVs can further refine nanomedicine by utilizing nanoparticles that are recognized by specific cellular microenvironments. EVs are found in almost all biological fluids, opening the application of EVs as tailored drug-delivery vesicles to a wide range of diseases. Lipid nanoparticles have limitations in inhaled drug delivery, including low pulmonary bioavailability and unoptimized formulation. Lung-derived extracellular vesicles (Lung-Exos) may be naturally equipped for drug delivery to the lung. We determined the biodistribution of Lung-Exos following nebulization and dry powder inhalation, where Lung-Exos outperformed their biological and synthetic nanoparticle counterparts in drug distribution and retention. As an inhalable vaccine, Lung-Exos elicited greater protective antibody responses and pseudoviral clearance than their synthetic counterpart.

SUBMITTER: Popowski K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9272513 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, predominantly affects the respiratory tract. As a consequence, it seems intuitive to develop antiviral agents capable of targeting the virus right on its main anatomical site of replication. Ivermectin, a U.S. FDA-approved anti-parasitic drug, was originally shown to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro, albeit at relatively high concentrations, which is difficult to achieve in the lung. In this study, we tested the spray-drying conditions to develop an inhalable dry powder formulation that could ensure sufficient antiviral drug concentrations, which are difficult to achieve in the lungs based on the oral dosage used in clinical trials. Here, by using ivermectin as a proof-of-concept, we evaluated spray-drying conditions that could lead to the development of antivirals in an inhalable dry powder formulation, which could then be used to ensure sufficient drug concentrations in the lung. Thus, we used ivermectin in proof-of-principle experiments to evaluate our system, including physical characterization and in vitro aerosolization of prepared dry powder. The ivermectin dry powder was prepared with a mini spray-dryer (Buchi B-290), using a 23 factorial design and manipulating spray-drying conditions such as feed concentration (0.2% w/v and 0.8% w/v), inlet temperature (80 °C and 100 °C) and presence/absence of L-leucine (0% and 10%). The prepared dry powder was in the size range of 1-5 μm and amorphous in nature with wrinkle morphology. We observed a higher fine particle fraction (82.5 ± 1.4%) in high feed concentration (0.8% w/v), high inlet temperature (100 °C) and the presence of L-leucine (10% w/w). The stability study conducted for 28 days confirmed that the spray-dried powder was stable at 25 ± 2 °C/<15% RH and 25 ± 2 °C/ 53% RH. Interestingly, the ivermectin dry powder formulation inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro with a potency similar to ivermectin solution (EC50 values of 15.8 µM and 14.1 µM, respectively), with a comparable cell toxicity profile in Calu-3 cells. In summary, we were able to manipulate the spray-drying conditions to develop an effective ivermectin inhalable dry powder. Ongoing studies based on this system will allow the development of novel formulations based on single or combinations of drugs that could be used to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in the respiratory tract.

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Inhalable dry powder mRNA vaccines based on extracellular vesicles

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