Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 27 in total

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  1. Recognizing CRISPR as the new age disease-modifying drug: Strategies to bioengineer CRISPR/Cas for direct in vivo delivery
    Thevendran R, Maheswaran S
    Biotechnol J, 2023 Sep;18(9):e2300077.
    PMID: 37179485 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202300077
    Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) have established itself as a frontier technology in genetic engineering. Researchers have successfully used the CRISPR/Cas system as precise gene editing tools and have further expanded their scope beyond both imaging and diagnostic applications. The most prominent utility of CRISPR is its capacity for gene therapy, serving as the contemporary, disease-modifying drug at the genetic level of human medical disorders. Correcting these diseases using CRISPR-based gene editing has developed to the extent of preclinical trials and possible patient treatments. A major impediment in actualizing this is the complications associated with in vivo delivery of the CRISPR/Cas complex. Currently, only the viral vectors (e.g., lentivirus) and non-viral encapsulation (e.g., lipid particles, polymer-based, and gold nanoparticles) techniques have been extensively reviewed, neglecting the efficiency of direct delivery. However, the direct delivery of CRISPR/Cas for in vivo gene editing therapies is an intricate process with numerous drawbacks. Hence, this paper discusses in detail both the need and the strategies that can potentially improve the direct delivery aspects of CRISPR/Cas biomolecules for gene therapy of human diseases. Here, we focus on enhancing the molecular and functional features of the CRISPR/Cas system for targeted in vivo delivery such as on-site localization, internalization, reduced immunogenicity, and better in vivo stability. We additionally emphasize the CRISPR/Cas complex as a multifaceted, biomolecular vehicle for co-delivery with therapeutic agents in targeted disease treatments. The delivery formats of efficient CRISPR/Cas systems for human gene editing are also briefly elaborated.
    Matched MeSH terms: Gene Editing/methods
  2. dCas9 Tells Tales: Probing Gene Function and Transcription Regulation in Cancer
    Mohamad Zamberi NN, Abuhamad AY, Low TY, Mohtar MA, Syafruddin SE
    CRISPR J, 2024 Apr;7(2):73-87.
    PMID: 38635328 DOI: 10.1089/crispr.2023.0078
    Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based genome editing is evolving into an essential tool in the field of biological and medical research. Notably, the development of catalytically deactivated Cas9 (dCas9) enzyme has substantially broadened its traditional boundaries in gene editing or perturbation. The conjugation of dCas9 with various molecular effectors allows precise control over transcriptional processes, epigenetic modifications, visualization of chromosomal dynamics, and several other applications. This expanded repertoire of CRISPR-Cas9 applications has emerged as an invaluable molecular tool kit that empowers researchers to comprehensively interrogate and gain insights into health and diseases. This review delves into the advancements in Cas9 protein engineering, specifically on the generation of various dCas9 tools that have significantly enhanced the CRISPR-based technology capability and versatility. We subsequently discuss the multifaceted applications of dCas9, especially in interrogating the regulation and function of genes that involve in supporting cancer pathogenesis. In addition, we also delineate the designing and utilization of dCas9-based tools as well as highlighting its current constraints and transformative potentials in cancer research.
    Matched MeSH terms: Gene Editing*
  3. CRISPR-Cas9 Genome Editing Tool for the Production of Industrial Biopharmaceuticals
    Khan AH, Tye GJ, Noordin R
    Mol Biotechnol, 2020 Sep;62(9):401-411.
    PMID: 32749657 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-020-00265-9
    A broad range of cell lines with characteristic features are used as bio-factories to produce recombinant proteins for basic research and therapeutic purposes. Genetic engineering strategies have been used to manipulate the genome of mammalian cells, insects, and yeasts for heterologous expression. One reason is that the glycosylation pattern of the expression hosts differs somehow from mammalian cells, which may cause immunogenic reactions upon administration in humans. CRISPR-Cas9 is a simple, efficient, and versatile genome engineering tool that can be programmed to precisely make double-stranded breaks at the desired loci. Compared to the classical genome editing methods, a CRISPR-Cas9 system is an ideal tool, providing the opportunity to integrate or delete genes from the target organisms. Besides broadened applications, limited studies have used CRISPR-Cas9 for editing the endogenous pathways in expression systems for biopharmaceutical applications. In the present review, we discuss the use of CRISPR-Cas9 in expression systems to improve host cell lines, increase product yield, and humanize glycosylation pathways by targeting intrinsic genes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Gene Editing*
  4. Harnessing the potential of mutation breeding, CRISPR genome editing, and beyond for sustainable agriculture
    Nor A'azizam NM, Chopra S, Guleria P, Kumar V, Abd Rahim MH, Yaacob JS
    Funct Integr Genomics, 2024 Feb 29;24(2):44.
    PMID: 38421529 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-024-01325-y
    By 2050, the global population is projected to exceed 9.5 billion, posing a formidable challenge to ensure food security worldwide. To address this pressing issue, mutation breeding in horticultural crops, utilizing physical or chemical methods, has emerged as a promising biotechnological strategy. However, the efficacy of these mutagens can be influenced by various factors, including biological and environmental variables, as well as targeted plant materials. This review highlights the global challenges related to food security and explores the potential of mutation breeding as an indispensable biotechnological tool in overcoming food insecurity. This review also covers the emergence of CRISPR-Cas9, a breakthrough technology offering precise genome editing for the development of high-yield, stress-tolerant crops. Together, mutation breeding and CRISPR can potentially address future food demands. This review focuses into these biotechnological advancements, emphasizing their combined potential to fortify global food security in the face of a booming population.
    Matched MeSH terms: Gene Editing*
  5. Fulltext CRISPR/dCas9 platforms in plants: strategies and applications beyond genome editing
    Moradpour M, Abdulah SNA
    Plant Biotechnol J, 2020 Jan;18(1):32-44.
    PMID: 31392820 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13232
    Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) and Cas9-associated protein systems provide a powerful genetic manipulation tool that can drive plant research forward. Nuclease-dead Cas9 (dCas9) is an enzymatically inactive mutant of Cas9 in which its endonuclease activity is non-functional. The applications of CRISPR/dCas9 have expanded and diversified in recent years. Originally, dCas9 was used as a CRISPR/Cas9 re-engineering tool that enables targeted expression of any gene or multiple genes through recruitment of transcriptional effector domains without introducing irreversible DNA-damaging mutations. Subsequent applications have made use of its ability to recruit modifying enzymes and reporter proteins to DNA target sites. In this paper, the most recent progress in the applications of CRISPR/dCas9 in plants, which include gene activation and repression, epigenome editing, modulation of chromatin topology, live-cell chromatin imaging and DNA-free genetic modification, will be reviewed. The associated strategies for exploiting the CRISPR/dCas9 system for crop improvement with a dimer of the future of the CRISPR/dCas9 system in the functional genomics of crops and the development of traits will be briefly discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Gene Editing*
  6. Genetic engineering of microalgae for enhanced biorefinery capabilities
    Fayyaz M, Chew KW, Show PL, Ling TC, Ng IS, Chang JS
    Biotechnol Adv, 2020 11 01;43:107554.
    PMID: 32437732 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2020.107554
    Microalgae-based bioproducts are in limelight because of their promising future, novel characteristics, the current situation of population needs, and rising prices of rapidly depleting energy resources. Algae-based products are considered as clean sustainable energy and food resources. At present, they are not commercialized due to their high production cost and low yield. In recent years, novel genome editing tools like RNAi, ZNFs, TALENs, and CRISPR/Cas9 are used to enhance the quality and quantity of the desired products. Genetic and metabolic engineering are frequently applied because of their rapid and precise results than random mutagenesis. Omic approaches help enhance biorefinery capabilities and are now in the developing stage for algae. The future is very bright for transgenic algae with increased biomass yield, carbon dioxide uptake rate, accumulating high-value compounds, reduction in cultivation, and production costs, thus reaching the goal in the global algal market and capital flow. However, microalgae are primary producers and any harmful exposure to the wild strains can affect the entire ecosystem. Therefore, strict regulation and monitoring are required to assess the potential risks before introducing genetically modified microalgae into the natural ecosystem.
    Matched MeSH terms: Gene Editing
  7. Microalgae with artificial intelligence: A digitalized perspective on genetics, systems and products
    Teng SY, Yew GY, Sukačová K, Show PL, Máša V, Chang JS
    Biotechnol Adv, 2020 11 15;44:107631.
    PMID: 32931875 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2020.107631
    With recent advances in novel gene-editing tools such as RNAi, ZFNs, TALENs, and CRISPR-Cas9, the possibility of altering microalgae toward designed properties for various application is becoming a reality. Alteration of microalgae genomes can modify metabolic pathways to give elevated yields in lipids, biomass, and other components. The potential of such genetically optimized microalgae can give a "domino effect" in further providing optimization leverages down the supply chain, in aspects such as cultivation, processing, system design, process integration, and revolutionary products. However, the current level of understanding the functional information of various microalgae gene sequences is still primitive and insufficient as microalgae genome sequences are long and complex. From this perspective, this work proposes to link up this knowledge gap between microalgae genetic information and optimized bioproducts using Artificial Intelligence (AI). With the recent acceleration of AI research, large and complex data from microalgae research can be properly analyzed by combining the cutting-edge of both fields. In this work, the most suitable class of AI algorithms (such as active learning, semi-supervised learning, and meta-learning) are discussed for different cases of microalgae applications. This work concisely reviews the current state of the research milestones and highlight some of the state-of-art that has been carried out, providing insightful future pathways. The utilization of AI algorithms in microalgae cultivation, system optimization, and other aspects of the supply chain is also discussed. This work opens the pathway to a digitalized future for microalgae research and applications.
    Matched MeSH terms: Gene Editing
  8. Current advancements in systems and synthetic biology studies of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
    Ting TY, Li Y, Bunawan H, Ramzi AB, Goh HH
    J Biosci Bioeng, 2023 Apr;135(4):259-265.
    PMID: 36803862 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2023.01.010
    Saccharomyces cerevisiae has a long-standing history of biotechnological applications even before the dawn of modern biotechnology. The field is undergoing accelerated advancement with the recent systems and synthetic biology approaches. In this review, we highlight the recent findings in the field with a focus on omics studies of S. cerevisiae to investigate its stress tolerance in different industries. The latest advancements in S. cerevisiae systems and synthetic biology approaches for the development of genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) and molecular tools such as multiplex Cas9, Cas12a, Cpf1, and Csy4 genome editing tools, modular expression cassette with optimal transcription factors, promoters, and terminator libraries as well as metabolic engineering. Omics data analysis is key to the identification of exploitable native genes/proteins/pathways in S. cerevisiae with the optimization of heterologous pathway implementation and fermentation conditions. Through systems and synthetic biology, various heterologous compound productions that require non-native biosynthetic pathways in a cell factory have been established via different strategies of metabolic engineering integrated with machine learning.
    Matched MeSH terms: Gene Editing
  9. Recent trends in cancer therapy: A review on the current state of gene delivery
    Yahya EB, Alqadhi AM
    Life Sci, 2021 Mar 15;269:119087.
    PMID: 33476633 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119087
    Cancer treatment has been always considered one of the most critical and vital themes of clinical issues. Many approaches have been developed, depending on the type and the stage of tumor. Gene therapy has the potential to revolutionize different cancer therapy. With the advent of recent bioinformatics technologies and genetic science, it become possible to identify, diagnose and determine the potential treatment using the technology of gene delivery. Several approaches have been developed and experimented in vitro and vivo for cancer therapy including: naked nucleic acids based therapy, targeting micro RNAs, oncolytic virotherapy, suicide gene based therapy, targeting telomerase, cell mediated gene therapy, and CRISPR/Cas9 based therapy. In this review, we present a straightforward introduction to cancer biology and occurrence, highlighting different viral and non-viral gene delivery systems for gene therapy and critically discussed the current and various strategies for cancer gene therapy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Gene Editing*
  10. The Promises and Pitfalls of CRISPR-Mediated Base Editing in Stem Cells
    Wong PK, Mohamad Zamberi NN, Syafruddin SE, Cheah FC, Azmi N, Law JX, et al.
    CRISPR J, 2023 Jun;6(3):196-215.
    PMID: 37219623 DOI: 10.1089/crispr.2023.0013
    Stem cells such as induced pluripotent stem cells, embryonic stem cells, and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells are growing in importance in disease modeling and regenerative medicine. The applications of CRISPR-based gene editing to create a mélange of disease and nondisease stem cell lines have further enhanced the utility of this innately versatile group of cells in the studies of human genetic disorders. Precise base edits can be achieved using a variety of CRISPR-centric approaches, particularly homology-directed repair and the recently developed base editors and prime editors. Despite its much-touted potential, editing single DNA bases is technically challenging. In this review, we discuss the strategies for achieving exact base edits in the creation of various stem cell-based models for use in elucidating disease mechanisms and assessing drug efficacy, and the unique characteristics of stem cells that warrant special considerations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Gene Editing*
  11. A potential paradigm in CRISPR/Cas systems delivery: at the crossroad of microalgal gene editing and algal-mediated nanoparticles
    Feng S, Xie X, Liu J, Li A, Wang Q, Guo D, et al.
    J Nanobiotechnology, 2023 Oct 10;21(1):370.
    PMID: 37817254 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-023-02139-z
    Microalgae as the photosynthetic organisms offer enormous promise in a variety of industries, such as the generation of high-value byproducts, biofuels, pharmaceuticals, environmental remediation, and others. With the rapid advancement of gene editing technology, CRISPR/Cas system has evolved into an effective tool that revolutionised the genetic engineering of microalgae due to its robustness, high target specificity, and programmability. However, due to the lack of robust delivery system, the efficacy of gene editing is significantly impaired, limiting its application in microalgae. Nanomaterials have become a potential delivery platform for CRISPR/Cas systems due to their advantages of precise targeting, high stability, safety, and improved immune system. Notably, algal-mediated nanoparticles (AMNPs), especially the microalgae-derived nanoparticles, are appealing as a sustainable delivery platform because of their biocompatibility and low toxicity in a homologous relationship. In addition, living microalgae demonstrated effective and regulated distribution into specified areas as the biohybrid microrobots. This review extensively summarised the uses of CRISPR/Cas systems in microalgae and the recent developments of nanoparticle-based CRISPR/Cas delivery systems. A systematic description of the properties and uses of AMNPs, microalgae-derived nanoparticles, and microalgae microrobots has also been discussed. Finally, this review highlights the challenges and future research directions for the development of gene-edited microalgae.
    Matched MeSH terms: Gene Editing
  12. Fulltext In vivo assembly of DNA-fragments in the moss, Physcomitrella patens
    King BC, Vavitsas K, Ikram NK, Schrøder J, Scharff LB, Bassard JÉ, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2016 04 29;6:25030.
    PMID: 27126800 DOI: 10.1038/srep25030
    Direct assembly of multiple linear DNA fragments via homologous recombination, a phenomenon known as in vivo assembly or transformation associated recombination, is used in biotechnology to assemble DNA constructs ranging in size from a few kilobases to full synthetic microbial genomes. It has also enabled the complete replacement of eukaryotic chromosomes with heterologous DNA. The moss Physcomitrella patens, a non-vascular and spore producing land plant (Bryophyte), has a well-established capacity for homologous recombination. Here, we demonstrate the in vivo assembly of multiple DNA fragments in P. patens with three examples of effective genome editing: we (i) efficiently deleted a genomic locus for diterpenoid metabolism yielding a biosynthetic knockout, (ii) introduced a salt inducible promoter, and (iii) re-routed endogenous metabolism into the formation of amorphadiene, a precursor of high-value therapeutics. These proof-of-principle experiments pave the way for more complex and increasingly flexible approaches for large-scale metabolic engineering in plant biotechnology.
    Matched MeSH terms: Gene Editing
  13. The Smart Programmable CRISPR Technology: A Next Generation Genome Editing Tool for Investigators
    Chakraborty C, Teoh SL, Das S
    Curr Drug Targets, 2017;18(14):1653-1663.
    PMID: 27231109 DOI: 10.2174/1389450117666160527142321
    BACKGROUND: The present era is fast experiencing rapid innovation in the genome-editing technology. CRISPR Cas9-mediated targeted genetic manipulation is an easy, cost-effective and scalable method. As a result, it can be used for a broad range of targeted genome engineering.

    OBJECTIVE: The main objective of the present review is to highlight the structural signature, classification, its mechanism and application from basic science to medicine and future challenges for this genome editing tool kit.

    RESULTS: The present review provides a brief description of the recent development of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology. We discuss the paradigms shift for this next generation genome editing technology, CRISPR. The CRISPR structural significance, classification and its different applications are also being discussed. We portray the future challenges for this extraordinary genome in vivo editing tool. We also highlight the role of CRISPR genome editing in curing many diseases.

    CONCLUSION: Scientists and researchers are constantly looking one genome editing tool that is competent, simple and low-cost assembly of nucleases. It can target any particular site without any off-target mutations in the genome. The CRISPR-Cas9 has all of the above characteristics. The genome engineering technology may be a strong and inspiring technology meant for the next generation of drug development.

    Matched MeSH terms: Gene Editing*
  14. Fulltext Therapeutic potentials of CRISPR-Cas genome editing technology in human viral infections
    Najafi S, Tan SC, Aghamiri S, Raee P, Ebrahimi Z, Jahromi ZK, et al.
    Biomed Pharmacother, 2022 Apr;148:112743.
    PMID: 35228065 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112743
    Viral infections are a common cause of morbidity worldwide. The emergence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to more attention to viral infections and finding novel therapeutics. The CRISPR-Cas9 system has been recently proposed as a potential therapeutic tool for the treatment of viral diseases. Here, we review the research progress in the use of CRISPR-Cas technology for treating viral infections, as well as the strategies for improving the delivery of this gene-editing tool in vivo. Key challenges that hinder the widespread clinical application of CRISPR-Cas9 technology are also discussed, and several possible directions for future research are proposed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Gene Editing/methods*
  15. Fulltext Harnessing the Potential of CRISPR/Cas in Atherosclerosis: Disease Modeling and Therapeutic Applications
    Siew WS, Tang YQ, Kong CK, Goh BH, Zacchigna S, Dua K, et al.
    Int J Mol Sci, 2021 Aug 05;22(16).
    PMID: 34445123 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168422
    Atherosclerosis represents one of the major causes of death globally. The high mortality rates and limitations of current therapeutic modalities have urged researchers to explore potential alternative therapies. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system is commonly deployed for investigating the genetic aspects of Atherosclerosis. Besides, advances in CRISPR/Cas system has led to extensive options for researchers to study the pathogenesis of this disease. The recent discovery of Cas9 variants, such as dCas9, Cas9n, and xCas9 have been established for various applications, including single base editing, regulation of gene expression, live-cell imaging, epigenetic modification, and genome landscaping. Meanwhile, other Cas proteins, such as Cas12 and Cas13, are gaining popularity for their applications in nucleic acid detection and single-base DNA/RNA modifications. To date, many studies have utilized the CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate disease models of atherosclerosis and identify potential molecular targets that are associated with atherosclerosis. These studies provided proof-of-concept evidence which have established the feasibility of implementing the CRISPR/Cas system in correcting disease-causing alleles. The CRISPR/Cas system holds great potential to be developed as a targeted treatment for patients who are suffering from atherosclerosis. This review highlights the advances in CRISPR/Cas systems and their applications in establishing pathogenetic and therapeutic role of specific genes in atherosclerosis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Gene Editing/methods
  16. Fulltext The Impact of CRISPR-Cas System on Antiviral Therapy
    Bayat H, Naderi F, Khan AH, Memarnejadian A, Rahimpour A
    Adv Pharm Bull, 2018 Nov;8(4):591-597.
    PMID: 30607331 DOI: 10.15171/apb.2018.067
    Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated protein nuclease (Cas) is identified as an adaptive immune system in archaea and bacteria. Type II of this system, CRISPR-Cas9, is the most versatile form that has enabled facile and efficient targeted genome editing. Viral infections have serious impacts on global health and conventional antiviral therapies have not yielded a successful solution hitherto. The CRISPR-Cas9 system represents a promising tool for eliminating viral infections. In this review, we highlight 1) the recent progress of CRISPR-Cas technology in decoding and diagnosis of viral outbreaks, 2) its applications to eliminate viral infections in both pre-integration and provirus stages, and 3) various delivery systems that are employed to introduce the platform into target cells.
    Matched MeSH terms: Gene Editing
  17. Identification of biomarkers and genetic approaches toward chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
    Wadhwa R, Aggarwal T, Malyla V, Kumar N, Gupta G, Chellappan DK, et al.
    J Cell Physiol, 2019 08;234(10):16703-16723.
    PMID: 30912142 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.28482
    Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease accounts as the leading cause of mortality worldwide prominently affected by genetic and environmental factors. The disease is characterized by persistent coughing, breathlessness airways inflammation followed by a decrease in forced expiratory volume1 and exacerbations, which affect the quality of life. Determination of genetic, epigenetic, and oxidant biomarkers to evaluate the progression of disease has proved complicated and challenging. Approaches including exome sequencing, genome-wide association studies, linkage studies, and inheritance and segregation studies played a crucial role in the identification of genes, their pathways and variation in genes. This review highlights multiple approaches for biomarker and gene identification, which can be used for differential diagnosis along with the genome editing tools to study genes associated with the development of disease and models their function. Further, we have discussed the approaches to rectify the abnormal gene functioning of respiratory tissues and various novel gene editing techniques like Zinc finger nucleases (ZFN), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN), and clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9).
    Matched MeSH terms: Gene Editing
  18. Fulltext CRISPR Gene-Editing Models Geared Toward Therapy for Hereditary and Developmental Neurological Disorders
    Wong PK, Cheah FC, Syafruddin SE, Mohtar MA, Azmi N, Ng PY, et al.
    Front Pediatr, 2021;9:592571.
    PMID: 33791256 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.592571
    Hereditary or developmental neurological disorders (HNDs or DNDs) affect the quality of life and contribute to the high mortality rates among neonates. Most HNDs are incurable, and the search for new and effective treatments is hampered by challenges peculiar to the human brain, which is guarded by the near-impervious blood-brain barrier. Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat (CRISPR), a gene-editing tool repurposed from bacterial defense systems against viruses, has been touted by some as a panacea for genetic diseases. CRISPR has expedited the research into HNDs, enabling the generation of in vitro and in vivo models to simulate the changes in human physiology caused by genetic variation. In this review, we describe the basic principles and workings of CRISPR and the modifications that have been made to broaden its applications. Then, we review important CRISPR-based studies that have opened new doors to the treatment of HNDs such as fragile X syndrome and Down syndrome. We also discuss how CRISPR can be used to generate research models to examine the effects of genetic variation and caffeine therapy on the developing brain. Several drawbacks of CRISPR may preclude its use at the clinics, particularly the vulnerability of neuronal cells to the adverse effect of gene editing, and the inefficiency of CRISPR delivery into the brain. In concluding the review, we offer some suggestions for enhancing the gene-editing efficacy of CRISPR and how it may be morphed into safe and effective therapy for HNDs and other brain disorders.
    Matched MeSH terms: Gene Editing
  19. Fulltext Electrosprayed Alginate Nanoparticles as CRISPR Plasmid DNA Delivery Carrier: Preparation, Optimization, and Characterization
    Alallam B, Altahhan S, Taher M, Mohd Nasir MH, Doolaanea AA
    Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 2020 Jul 22;13(8).
    PMID: 32707857 DOI: 10.3390/ph13080158
    Therapeutic gene editing is becoming more feasible with the emergence of the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) system. However, the successful implementation of CRISPR/Cas9-based therapeutics requires a safe and efficient in vivo delivery of the CRISPR components, which remains challenging. This study presents successful preparation, optimization, and characterization of alginate nanoparticles (ALG NPs), loaded with two CRISPR plasmids, using electrospray technique. The aim of this delivery system is to edit a target gene in another plasmid (green fluorescent protein (GFP)). The effect of formulation and process variables were evaluated. CRISPR ALG NPs showed mean size and zeta potential of 228 nm and -4.42 mV, respectively. Over 99.0% encapsulation efficiency was achieved while preserving payload integrity. The presence of CRISPR plasmids in the ALG NPs was confirmed by Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The tests revealed that the nanoparticles were cytocompatible and successfully introduced the Cas9 transgene in HepG2 cells. Nanoparticles-transfected HepG2 was able to edit its target plasmid by introducing double-strand break (DSB) in GFP gene, indicating the bioactivity of CRISPR plasmids encapsulated in alginate nanoparticles. This suggests that this method is suitable for biomedical application in vitro or ex vivo. Future investigation of theses nanoparticles might result in nanocarrier suitable for in vivo delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 system.
    Matched MeSH terms: Gene Editing
  20. Fulltext Small Interfering RNA (siRNA) and Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR): emerging molecular tools for genetic manipulation
    Simon I. Okekpa, Rabiatul Basria S.M.N. Mydin, Munirah Mohd Nor, Emmanuel Jairaj Moses
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2020;16(3):300-308.
    MyJurnal
    Gene manipulation tools have transformed biomedical research and improved the possibilities of their uses for therapeutic purposes. These tools have aided effective genomic modification in many organisms and have been successfully applied in biomedical engineering, biotechnology and biomedicine. They also shown a potential for therapeutic applications to alleviate genetic and non-genetic diseases. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) and clustered regularly inter-spaced short-palindromic repeat/associated-protein system (CRISPR/Cas) are two of the tools applied in genetic manipulation. This review aims to evaluate the molecular influence of siRNA and CRISPR/Cas as novel tools for genetic manipulations. This review discusses the molecular mechanism of siRNA and CRISPR/Cas, and the advantages and disadvantages of siRNA and CRISPR/Cas. This review also presents comparison between siRNA and CRISPR/Cas as potential tools for gene therapy. siRNA therapeutic applications occur through protein knockout with- out causing damage to cells. siRNA knocks down gene expression at the mRNA level, whereas CRISPR/Cas knocks out gene permanently at the DNA level. Inconclusion, gene manipulation tools have potential for applications that improve therapeutic strategies and plant-derived products, but ethical standards must be established before the clin- ical application of gene editing.

    Matched MeSH terms: Gene Editing
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