PolyMetformin combines carrier and anticancer activities for in vivo siRNA delivery

Yi Zhao, Wei Wang, Shutao Guo, Yuhua Wang, Lei Miao, Yang Xiong and Leaf Huang ()
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Yi Zhao: Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Wei Wang: Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Shutao Guo: Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Yuhua Wang: Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Lei Miao: Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Yang Xiong: Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Leaf Huang: Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Metformin, a widely implemented anti-diabetic drug, exhibits potent anticancer efficacies. Herein a polymeric construction of Metformin, PolyMetformin (PolyMet) is successfully synthesized through conjugation of linear polyethylenimine (PEI) with dicyandiamide. The delocalization of cationic charges in the biguanide groups of PolyMet reduces the toxicity of PEI both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the polycationic properties of PolyMet permits capture of siRNA into a core-membrane structured lipid-polycation-hyaluronic acid (LPH) nanoparticle for systemic gene delivery. Advances herein permit LPH-PolyMet nanoparticles to facilitate VEGF siRNA delivery for VEGF knockdown in a human lung cancer xenograft, leading to enhanced tumour suppressive efficacy. Even in the absence of RNAi, LPH-PolyMet nanoparticles act similarly to Metformin and induce antitumour efficacy through activation of the AMPK and inhibition of the mTOR. In essence, PolyMet successfully combines the intrinsic anticancer efficacy of Metformin with the capacity to carry siRNA to enhance the therapeutic activity of an anticancer gene therapy.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11822

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