Dendrimer-based nanoparticles for cancer therapy

Nanotechnology has led to a remarkable convergence of disparate fields including biology, applied physics, optics, computational analysis, and modeling, as well as materials science. Because of this, the application of nanoscale analytical, computational, and synthetic approaches to understanding and manipulating complex biological systems offers incredible potential for advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Utilizing these advances, our interdisciplinary team at the University of Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences (M-NIMBS) has developed a number of technical solutions that provide a scaffold strategy so that multifunctional combinatory therapeutics can be designed and built. The scaffold is a dendritic polymer that is uniquely suited to biomedical applications in that it is a synthetic material that can be uniformly produced and yet has a diameter of only 5 nm. We have completed preliminary work providing proof of concept^1,2 and our team is now developing several nanodevices that have shown success in animal trials. These designed, multifunctional devices will have applications as targeted imaging and diagnostic agents for cancer at the earliest stages as well as multifunctional devices that can deliver therapeutics directly to cancer cells.

The technology we have developed will facilitate the concept of targeted, non-intrusive sensing, signaling, and intervention for cancer. If this polymer-based approach is successful in vivo, the targeting, sensing, and therapeutic conjugates can be interchanged to address varied tumor types or different genetic or enzymatic alterations associated with different cancers. Thus, this approach would yield common, interchangeable therapeutic platforms that transcend any single tumor or cellular abnormality.

Most cancer therapeutics are small drug molecules that after being ingested or injected into the bloodstream can easily diffuse through vascular pores and the extracellular matrix to reach tumors. Complex therapeutics that involve drug delivery mechanisms or imaging moieties have tended to be much larger. While the exact size of molecules that can easily transverse vascular pores from the bloodstream and reach tumor tissue is unclear, it is probably limited to the size of proteins (< 20 nm). Studies have documented that molecules 100 nm in diameter do not effectively diffuse across the vascular endothelium,³ and even molecules 40 nm in diameter are problematic unless the endothelium is traumatized by radiation or heating.⁴ The vasculature in early neoplastic lesions may be more restrictive.⁵ Thus, designed nanoparticle-based therapeutics require a complex, multi-functional device that is still small enough to exit the vasculature in order to intimately interact with, and specifically eliminate cancer cells.

The nanoparticle therapeutic most often envisioned is a complex macromolecule that can identify specific targets on cancer cells in vivo. This device, however, will require more than the identification of specific pathophysiologic changes in particular cells. The analysis of cancer signature(s) must be coupled to one or more therapeutic agents that can be efficiently delivered to specifically kill the abnormal cells without collateral damage. This is difficult to accomplish since most chemotherapeutic agents will stop cell growth or induce apoptosis if inadvertently activated in normal cells.^6,7 Tumors often require higher doses of therapeutics since they have developed mechanisms of evading anticancer drugs, such as molecular pumps. Therapeutic agents will probably require several different mechanisms of action, working in parallel to prevent the development of resistant neoplasms. Finally, it will be important for the therapeutic agent to also monitor the response to therapy by identifying residual disease immediately after treatment. This is crucial since a few remaining cells may result in re-growth or worse, lead to a tumor that is resistant to therapy. Identifying residual disease at the end of therapy (rather than after tumor re-growth) will facilitate eradication of the few remaining tumor cells. Thus, an ideal therapeutic must have the ability to target cancer cells, image the extent of the tumor and sense its signatures, deliver a therapeutic, and monitor cells for their response. This is the goal for our nanotherapeutic.

Two technical advances underlie our research. The first is the successful development of multifunctional nanodevices based on the dendritic polymer or dendrimer.⁸ The second is the development of a linking strategy that allows the dendrimer molecules to be linked via complementary oligonucleotides.^1,2 In this review, we will discuss these two advances in sequence.

The first technical result that underlies our proposal is the use of dendrimer. These polymers are synthesized as well-defined spherical structures ranging from 1 to 10 nanometers in diameter. Molecular weight and the number of terminal groups increase exponentially as a function of generation (the number of layers) of the polymer (Figure 2 ). Different types of dendrimers can be synthesized based on the core structure that initiates the polymerization process.⁹ Poly(amidoamine) spherical dendrimers (PAMAM) with ethylene-diamine (EDA) as a tetravalent initiator core are used in our studies. These dendritic macromolecules are available commercially in kilogram quantities. We have now produced 100-gram lots of this material under current good manufacturing processes (GMP) for biotechnology applications. Dendrimers are characterized by electrosprayionization mass spectroscopy (ES-MS), ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with multi-angle laser light scattering, capillary electrophoresis (CE), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and a variety of gel electrophoresis techniques. These tests assure the uniformity of the polymer population and are essential to monitor quality control of dendrimer manufacture for GMP applications and in vivo usage. Importantly, extensive work has been completed with PAMAM dendrimers and in vivo studies have shown no evidence of toxicity when administered intravenously.^10,11 

Before we initiated our research, the performance of individual dendrimers had been demonstrated for essentially every desired component required for a viable anti-cancer nanostructure. PAMAM dendrimers have been used as a scaffold for the attachment of several types of biologic materials. This work has focused on the preparation of dendrimer-antibody conjugates for use in in vitro diagnostic applications,¹² for the production of dendrimer-chelant-antibody constructs, and for the development of boronated dendrimer-antibody conjugates (for neutron capture therapy); each of these latter compounds is used as a cancer therapeutic.^13,–16 Some of these conjugates have also been employed in the magnetic resonance imaging of tumors.^15,16 Results from these studies have documented that, when administered in vivo, antibodies can direct dendrimer-associated therapeutic agents to antigen-bearing tumors. Dendrimers also have been reported to enter tumors and carry either chemotherapeutic agents or genetic therapeutics. In particular, current studies show that cisplatin encapsulated in dendrimer polymers has increased efficacy and is less toxic.¹⁷ Dendrimers have also been conjugated to fluorochromes and shown to enter cells. They can then be detected within the cell in a manner compatible with sensing apparatus for evaluation of physiologic changes within cells.¹⁸ Finally, dendrimers have been constructed as differentiated block co-polymers where the outer portions of the molecule may be digested with either enzyme or light-induced catalysis.¹⁹ This would allow the controlled degradation of the polymer to release therapeutics at the disease site and could provide a mechanism for an external trigger to release the therapeutic agents.

Over the past several years, we have made great progress in developing nanomolecular, multifunctional devices. We have produced a single device that has the different functions necessary for a targeted, active sensing, imaging therapeutic agent on a single dendritic molecule (Figure 3 ). This involves coupling of functional groups such as sensing units, MRI contrast agents, triggering devices, and targeting molecules to the surface of a generation 5 dendritic polymer (MW 25,000 daltons, diameter 5 nm). This has proven to be an arduous synthetic endeavor given the multiple conjugation steps that are required. Several challenging protect-deprotect steps are needed to produce such a multifunctional agent. This dendrimer-based agent has multiple functions and can be used as a testing platform to evaluate nanostructure and function. Because of prior reports where folic acid was coupled to proteins or drugs as a means of targeting cells (through the high affinity folate receptor), we adopted folate as an initial targeting ligand to attach to the dendrimer. In addition, because we had experience with coupling FITC to proteins, we used FITC as a signaling device to follow the fate of the dendrimer complex within cells. The techniques for this are described extensively by Quintana et al.²⁰ While this was not an optimized system as the FITC bleaches and the material could only be analyzed once, it provided a direct means to evaluate structural aspects of the polymer scaffold, cell delivery, and cell internalization.

Research had suggested that when coupling folic acid to proteins or polymers, a net overall negative charge (predominantly carboxyl moieties) on the molecule surface was important for cellular targeting. However, PAMAM dendrimers are synthesized with a surface of primary amines, so we attempted to simply conjugate folate and FITC to amino surface dendrimers as a means to initiate our studies. When we placed this material in vitro with KB cells, which have elevated levels of the high affinity folate receptor, we saw very poor uptake that required several hours. More disconcerting, there was non-specific uptake in cell lines that lacked the high affinity folate receptor.

To improve this performance, we could have attempted many manipulations of the polymer surface or structure, all of which would have been synthetically complex and would have required considerable time to accomplish. Instead, we used computer modeling to evaluate several proposed polymer modifications that would improve delivery (Figure 4 ). Because differences in polymer surface charge were thought to be of paramount importance in the biological function of this scaffold, we first examined changes in the terminal groups on the polymer. Three different surface modifications were evaluated: carboxyl, hydroxyl and acetamide substitutions (Figure 4 ). The carboxyl modification previously reported to achieve efficient delivery to cells did appear to improve accessibility of folic acid molecules conjugated to the surface of the polymer. However, modeling studies also suggested that at higher concentrations of nanostructure, the carboxyl surface molecules would interact with secondary and tertiary amines in the dendrimer and would cause aggregation of these molecules. In contrast, both acetamide and hydroxyl surface modifications resulted in more compact structures in the dendrimer scaffold due to the loss of repulsion from adjacent surface charged molecules (Figure 4 ). In addition, it appeared that all of the folic acids on the surface of the molecule were accessible for binding with cellular receptors in the acetamide molecule, while approximately two thirds of the targeting moieties in the hydroxyl molecule were available for binding. The modeling of the amine surface molecule (data not shown; see Quintana et al²⁰) suggested that none of the folic acid molecules were externalized where they could bind to cellular receptors. This provided confidence that folic acid coupled polymer with neutralizing surface modifications might be able to efficiently target cells through the high affinity folate receptor.

Polymers with the three modified surfaces were synthesized and substituted with identical numbers of folic acid and FITC moieties. The activity of these molecules in targeting the folate receptor on KB cells in vitro was then evaluated and compared to that predicted in the molecular modeling. The results were dramatic (Figure 5 ). The cellular uptake of the acetamide and hydroxyl surface polymers was very rapid and very efficient. It occurred within minutes, peaking at approximately 20 or 30 minutes and appeared to resume after another 30 minutes, which corresponds to folate receptor recycling. Uptake was faster for the acetamide surface rather than the hydroxyl surface, confirming the modeling prediction that there were more surface folate groups available for binding. Also in accordance with the modeling, the carboxyl surface molecules initially had rapid uptake, but as the concentration of the nanostructure was increased, the uptake appeared to stop. This suggested that the molecules were aggregating and no longer available for binding to the cell surface receptor. The acetamide surface polymer continued to accumulate within the cells over time and appeared by confocal microscopy to internalize after approximately 4 to 6 hours.²⁰ 

The next step was to develop a more complex device in which fluorescein, folate and drug were conjugated on a single polymer. This was accomplished by first acetylating approximately 80% of the primary amines on the surface of the polymer followed by the sequential attachment of folate, fluorescein, and one of two different drugs—either Taxol or methotrexate (MTX). The drugs were attached through two linker mechanisms; one an ester linkage the other an amide linkage. The ester linkage should hydrolyze once the device internalized within the KB cell, while the amide linkage should retain drug and serve as a control. These conjugates were produced and tested in the KB cells. As shown in Figure 6 , the polymers with the drug were internalized as efficiently as polymers that had only fluorescein on their surface. In addition, this targeted material was tested for the ability to induce cytotoxicity in the KB cells, by both an assay of mitochondrial activity (in a MTT assay) and by clonagenic assay. The ester-linked drug delivered with the folate was active as a cytotoxic agent, whereas the amide-linked drug was not. This suggested that the ester-linked drug was active, because the drug was released approximately 4 to 6 hours after internalization within the cell. The concentration of dendrimer-delivered MTX that induced cytotoxicity was compared to free methotroxate. In this culture system, the folate-targeted material was 5-to 10-fold more active than equipotent ?? free drug. We believe that this might be due to polyvalent receptor interactions and that the data suggest that targeting this drug to resistant cancer cells might be more effective than using free drug. In addition, 50% of bound nanostructure remained after acidic wash at 0 ^oC, while free folate is easily removed by this treatment. This suggested that the folate-dendrimer conjugates have increased binding stability on the cell surface, possibly through multiple receptor-folate interactions.

With the completion of the in vitro studies, we initiated animals trials to examine distribution and efficacy of the targeted nanotherapeutic. Data in this sub-section document tumor cell-targeted delivery and therapeutic effect of drug-dendrimer conjugates in vivo.

We first examined the biodistribution and elimination of tritiated G5-³H-FA to test its ability to target the FR-positive human KB tumor xenografts established in immunodeficient nude mice. The mice were maintained on a folate-deficient diet for the duration of the experiment to minimize the circulating levels of FA.²¹ The free FA level achieved in the serum of the mice prior to the experiment approximated human serum levels.^22,23 Four pairs of nano-particles were synthesized, with both members of each pair containing the same tracer. One member of each pair contained FA—one pair with, one pair without the antineoplastic drug MTX—while the other conjugate lacked FA and served as a non-targeted control with or without the drug.

Mice were evaluated at various time points (5 minutes to 7 days) following intra-venous administration of the conjugates. Two groups of mice received either control non-targeted tritiated G5-³H dendrimer or targeted tritiated G5-³H-FA conjugate (Figures 7A, 7B ). Full details of the study can be found in Kukowska-Latallo et al.⁸ To summarize, the cumulative clearance of the targeted G5-³H-FA over the first 4 days was lower than that of G5-³H, which may reflect retention of G5-³H-FA within tissues expressing folate receptors. While the kidney is the major clearance organ for these dendrimers, it is also known to express high levels of the FR on its tubules. The level of non-targeted G5-³H in the kidney decreased rapidly and was maintained at a moderate level over the next several days (Figure 7A ). In contrast, the level of G5-³H-FA increased slightly over the first 24 hours, most likely due to FR present on the kidney tubules. This was followed by a decrease over the next several days as the compound was cleared by the kidney (Figure 7B ).

To further confirm and localize the dendrimer nanoparticles within tumor tissue, dendrimers conjugated with 6-TAMRA (6T) were employed. Confocal microscopy images were obtained of tumor samples at 15 hours following intravenous injection of the targeted G5-6T-FA and the non-targeted G5-6T conjugates (Figure 8 ). The tumor tissue demonstrated a significant number of fluorescent cells with targeted-dye-conjugated dendrimer G5-6T-FA (Figure 8C ) compared with those with non-targeted dendrimer (Figure 8B ). Flow cytometry analysis of a single-cell suspension isolated from the same tumors showed higher mean channel fluorescence for tumor cells from mice receiving G5-6T-FA.

Confocal microscopy also demonstrated that the conjugate is present in the tumors, attached to and internalized by many of the tumor cells. As the plane of view is moved from the top to the bottom of the tissue slide, cells are seen at their apical, medial, and finally their basal section. A given image typically appears in approximately 40 optical sections, and each section overlaps the optical section above and below it by 25% of its thickness. The medial sections of tumor cells show fluorescence throughout the cytosol from the 6-T of the conjugate, with the cell and nucleus boundary clearly visible (data not shown).

The efficacy of different doses of conjugates was tested on SCID C.B-17 mice bearing subcutaneous human KB xenografts and was compared with equivalent and higher doses of free MTX. Six groups of immunodeficient SCID mice with 5 mice in each group were injected subcutaneously on one flank with 5 × 10⁶ KB cells in 200 μL PBS suspension. Twice a week, starting on day 4 after tumor implantation, the animals received via the tail vein an injection of either a conjugate containing MTX, a conjugate without MTX, free MTX, or saline as a control. The compounds were delivered in a 200 μL volume of saline per 20 g of mouse. The highest total dose of G5-FI-FA-MTX therapeutic used equals 55.0 mg/kg and is equivalent to a 5.0 mg/kg total cumulative dose of free MTX (Figure 9 ). The therapeutic dose was compared with three different (cumulative) doses of free MTX equivalent to 33.3 mg/kg, 21.7 mg/kg, and 5.0 mg/kg accumulated in 10 to 15 injections, based on mouse survival. Saline and the conjugate without MTX (G5-FI-FA) were used as controls. The body weights of the mice were monitored throughout the experiment as an indication of adverse effects of the drug, and the changes of body weight demonstrated acute and chronic toxicity in the highest and in the second highest cumulative doses of free MTX equal to 33.3 mg/kg and 21.7 mg/kg, respectively (data not shown).

Although the two doses of free drug were affecting tumor growth, both became lethal by days 32 to 36 of the trial (Figure 9 ). The remaining experimental groups had very uniform body weight fluctuations non-indicative of toxicity when compared with control groups with saline or conjugate without MTX (data not shown). For the highest cumulative doses of free MTX used, histopathology analysis of the liver revealed advanced liver lesions, collections of inflammatory cells, and peri-portal inflammation. In contrast, neither the total accumulated dose of therapeutic conjugate equivalent to 5.0 mg/kg of free MTX nor free MTX at the same dose were toxic (Figure 9 , O). Importantly, the therapeutic dose of conjugate that was equal to the lowest dose of free MTX used was as equally effective as the second highest dose of free MTX (21.7 mg/kg in 13 injections), whereas the free drug at this concentration had no effect on tumor growth (Figure 9 , ▴). The conjugate without MTX also had no therapeutic effect when compared with injections of saline (Figure 9 , ▵).

During a second 99-day trial, there was a statistically significant (P < .05) slower growth of tumors that were treated with G5-FI-FA-MTX or G5-FA-MTX conjugate without FITC, compared with those treated with free MTX, saline or non-targeted G5-FI-MTX conjugate. The equivalent dose of MTX delivered with both targeted conjugates to the surviving mice was higher than the dose of free MTX because all of the mice receiving free MTX had died by day 66 of the trial. The survival of mice from groups receiving G5-FI-FA-MTX or G5-FA-MTX conjugate indicates that tumor growth based on the endpoint volume of 4 cm³ can be delayed by at least 30 days. This value indicates the anti-tumor effectiveness of the conjugate because it mimics clinical end-points and requires observation of the mice throughout the progression of the disease. We have achieved a complete cure in one mouse treated with G5-FA-MTX conjugate at day 39 of the trial. The tumor in this mouse was not palpable for the next 20 days up to day 60 of the trial. At the termination of the trial, there were 3 (out of 8) survivors receiving G5-FA-MTX and 2 (out of 8) survivors receiving G5-FI-Fa-MTX. There were no mice surviving in the group receiving free MTX or in any other control group. Figure 10  shows the mice dosed with MXT and those with MTX conjugated to targeted dendrimer. The effective dose of conjugate was not toxic based on weight change and histopathology examination.

All mice were observed for the duration of these studies for signs of dehydration, inability to eat or drink, weakness, or change in activity level. No gross toxicity, either acutely or chronically up to 99 days was observed regardless of whether or not the dendrimer conjugate contained MTX.

The second enabling technology, which we developed over the past few years, is clustering dendrimers with different functions using complementary oligonucleotides that are attached to each dendrimer (Figure 11 ). This approach allows greater flexibility than using a single dendrimer with multiple functions, as the clusters are self-assembling without additional chemical alterations that could harm the units. We expect the oligos to be susceptible to nuclease digestion, which would allow the breakdown of the device after it is delivered to the cells. Since the largest subunit will be a G5 (25 kDa), the fragments would be eliminated through the kidney. Finally, using different sets of complementary oligonucleotides, the ratios of different subunits in the cluster could be controlled allowing for construction of combinatorial libraries of dendrimer-linked anticancer therapeutics, imaging and targeting agents.

Development of a multifunctional nanostructure that does not require all of the synthetic chemistry involved to be performed on a single molecule is attractive for several reasons. Chemical modifications of a single polymer required for coupling different components can damage other components already on the device. Each specific device must be produced individually. While we clearly have been able to produce this type of agent (as described in the description above), an alternative approach uses a structure to assemble dendritic polymer components into a single molecule. This allows us to place each component of the nanostructure on a different polymer and assemble them as a single, supramolecular assembly. There are a number of possible architectures for such an assembly; a star topology is shown in Figure 11 .

We initiated our studies with the simplest conjugation strategy: two dendrimers linked via complimenary oligonucleotides in a dumbell configuration (Figure 12 ). We wanted to test the ability of this novel dendrimer platform to target to cancer cells over-expressing folate receptor by conjugating a targeting (FA) and an imaging (FITC) molecule to two different dendrimers, which are then linked with complementary oligonucleotides (34 bp). The prototype DNA-assembled nanocluster of the FA-conjugated dendrimer and FITC-conjugated dendrimer would then be characterized and evaluated in vitro to test tumor cell–specific binding and internalization.

The entire synthesis of the cluster agent consists of three conjugation reactions and one hybridization reaction (Scheme 1F16 ). The acetylation reaction of the amine-terminated dendrimer is very efficient and stoichiometrically controllable as reported by Majoros et al.²⁴ To determine the sub-stoichiometric equivalent of acetic anhydride to the dendrimer, the number of the terminal primary amine groups on the dendrimers was first determined to be 110 (as compared to the theoretical value of 128) by potentiometric titration and SEC-MALLS measurement. This result is consistent with other findings explaining the inherent structural defects from incomplete reactions or other problems in the divergent synthesis of the dendrimer causing: missing repeating unit, intramolecular cyclization, dimer formation and retro-Michael reaction in dendrimers.^9,25,26 The addition of 82 molar equivalents of acetic anhydride to the terminal, primary amine groups of the dendrimer in the presence of a triethylamine base resulted in partial conversion of the primary amine groups to acetamide moieties. The degree of acetylation was measured by ¹H NMR, using the specific acetyl proton peak at 1.9 ppm. The increasing intensity of this signal indicated that an average of 80 acetyl groups were added to each dendrimer (G5-Ac₈₀-(NH₂)₃₀). The yield of this reaction was 85% by weight (782 mg) and the calculated molecular weight of the final product was 28,752 g/mol.

FITC was qualitatively documented to be conjugated to the dendrimer by TLC analysis, which showed that FITC conjugated to dendrimer was being retained at the origin, while non-conjugated free FITC migrated at the solvent front (R_f = 0.72). The approximate number of conjugated FITC molecules per G5 dendrimer was determined by UV and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The A at 502 nm shows a linear relationship with the conjugate concentration; extinction coefficient = 246600 M⁻¹cm⁻¹. From the calibration curve of the free dye (data not shown), the average number of FITC molecules per dendrimer was calculated to be 5. This was consistent with ¹H NMR spectroscopy evaluation using the sum of the integrals of the aromatic protons of FITC.

The condensation reaction between the active ester of folic acid and the remaining primary amines on the partially acetylated dendrimer was conducted in the presence of water-soluble carbodiimide (1-ethy-3-(3-dimethylamino-propyl) carbodiimide; EDC). The UV spectrum of the conjugate in water at a concentration of 2 nM showed a maximum peak at 280 nm and a broad shoulder at 370 nm. From the calibration curve of the free FA, the number of FA molecules was calculated to be 2 ± 0.4, when five molar equivalents of FA to the dendrimer were used in the conjugation reaction. From the integral ratio of aromatic protons in FA molecules (8.6, 8.0, 7.6, 6.7 ppm) to the signal at 1.8 ppm, which corresponds to the methyl protons in the acetamide groups on the surface, the average number of FA moiety in the conjugate was calculated to be 2.5 molecules of FA residue per dendrimer, which agrees with the UV result. Synthetic DNA has been used as a tool to self-assemble nanoscale objects^27,–29 and the attachment of DNA oligonucleotides to organic or inorganic polymers, such as proteins and metallic nanoparticles, has been studied extensively.^27,–29 Recently, covalent attachment of oligonucleotide to either the core or the periphery of the dendron of various dendrimers has been reported, where SH-modified oligonucleotides or SH-core dendrons are coupled to a linker maleimide group or oligonucleotide to produce the conjugates.^30,31 

Figure 13  shows a representative example of AFM images of the DNA-linked dendrimer nanoclusters adsorbed to a mica substrate in dry state. Some of the larger objects appeared to be aggregates of many individual dendrimers and/or dendrimer clusters. However, there are a number of smaller, dumbbell-shaped clusters whose dimensions are consistent with the ones expected for individual DNA-linked dendrimers. Measuring the average volume (286 ± 80 nm³) of the imaged objects suggests assemblies of two or three dendrimers, which is close to that expected in a dimeric dendrimer cluster. Note that the very low aspect ratio of these topographical features helps to minimize tip convolution effects in the volume measurement.²⁶ Some of the particles have larger volumes indicating that more than two dendrimers with a few oligonucleotides attached have assembled into a cluster. The distances between the linked particles are consistently approximately 20 nm, which is in good agreement with the theoretical length of the hybridized cON50-sON50 oligonucleotides as schematically shown in Figure 13 .

We employed phosphoramidate chemistry developed by Chu et al³² between the 5′ phosphate group of single-stranded DNA and the terminal amine group of the PAMAM dendrimer to covalently attach a synthetic oligonucleotide DNA to the dendrimer surface. Given the potential for interaction of the positively charged amine-terminated dendrimer and the negatively charged DNA, charge interaction must be prevented to avoid insoluble complex formation.³³ Thus, the partial capping of the surface primary amine groups with acetamide groups was also necessary to minimize electrostatic interactions at physiological pH. In addition, the use of molar excesses of either dendrimer or DNA in conjunction with salt (LiCl) prevented complex formation. As we have reported earlier¹ and suggested by DeMattei et al,³⁴ minimizing non-specific interaction of DNA and dendrimer and limiting the number of DNA on each dendrimer are crucial to constructing dendrimer components into a nanostructure with defined size and shape.

In this study, we used a five molar excess of dendrimer to DNA so that the number of DNA conjugated to the dendrimer would be limited to approximately a single strand per dendrimer. In this way, any un-reacted dendrimer was removed after the hybridization reaction of the DNA-conjugates by centrifugal filtration using a 100 kDa MWCO membrane, which retains the desired DNA-linked functional dendrimer nanocluster. Since the cluster is assumed to have a dumbbell-like structure with a theoretical molecular weight of approximately 86 kDa, this separation method allows for separation of the target nanostructure from the unlinked globular FITC-conjugated or FA-conjugated dendrimers or unhybridized DNA-dendrimer components.

FA is known to be internalized into cells through a high affinity, receptor-mediated process.³⁵ The high affinity receptor for folic acid is over-expressed on a number of human tumors, including cancers of the ovary, kidney, uterus, testis, brain, colon, lung and myelocytic blood cells.^36 –39 The KB cells we employed for this study are a human epidermoid carcinoma type cell that over-expresses folate receptors, especially when grown in low folic acid medium. Since the affinity of folate conjugates for the cell surface folate receptors is high (K_D~ 10⁻¹⁰M), the folic acid modification of dendrimers allows the specific delivery of diagnostic and therapeutic agents to cancer cells. Thus, dendrimer folic acid conjugates linked to either a single drug molecule or assembly of molecules can bind to and enter receptor-expressing tumor cells via folate-mediated endocytosis.^20 ,40

The binding of the cluster nanodevice to KB cells showed concentration-dependent uptake with saturation occurring at around 40 nM (Figure 14A ). The sigmoidal profile of the dose-dependent curve suggests that the uptake of the dendrimer cluster is saturable, indicating the binding of the cluster to the KB cells over-expressing folate receptors with an apparent affinity of at least 15 nM to achieve 50% of maximal binding. The saturation of the binding curve occurred at 40 nM, which is comparable to the binding capacity (200 nM) of the single dendrimer nanodevices.²⁰ This binding capacity of the cluster allowed for a 200% increase in the mean fluorescence measured at 500 nm after incubation for 1 hour at 37°C with a concentration of 40 nM. In addition, increases in cell fluorescence from the binding of the cluster nanodevice were effectively blocked by the addition of free FA in the medium.

The binding observed in the flow cytometry studies (Figure 15 ) was further confirmed in confocal microscopic images of the cells. A significant difference of fluorescence from the PBS control was not obtained due to the low concentration of the DNA-linked cluster agent (80 nM) as well as autofluorescence of the control cells in the measured emission wavelength (515 nm). However, the confocal analysis documented the presence of the cell-associated fluorescence of the DNA-linked dendrimer cluster both in the periphery of the cell membrane and at the cytoplasm of the cell, suggesting that the clusters had been internalized across the membrane into the cell.

We also used several control samples to show that the cell-associated FITC fluorescence originated from the DNA-linked FITC-dendrimer and FA-dendrimer cluster rather than a non-specific aggregate of the two functional dendrimers (without regard to the presence of a duplex DNA linkage). The mixture of the DNA-conjugated dendrimer, which did not undergo the annealing process, bound poorly to the KB cells. The DNA-conjugated G5-FITC dendrimer (G5-FITC-cON34) alone did not show significant binding, suggesting the non-specific binding of the G5-FITC-cON34 is not significant. These control experiments document that non-specific associations of the DNA-conjugated functional dendrimers with the cell surface is not the cause of the cell binding and uptake we observed.

In summary, nanoparticle therapeutics based on dendrimers and oligonucleotide linked dendrimers appear to be able to improve the therapeutic index of cytotoxic drugs by direct delivery of the drugs to cancer cells. There is also hope that delivering drug by this approach could overcome drug resistance in tumor cells via bypassing p-glycoprotein pumps that would normally export drugs that must diffuse into cells. Further toxicological studies and GMP synthesis of this material are underway to allow the initiation of clinical trials.