[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition having good effects
of preventing or treating atopic diseases.
[Background Art]
[0002] Atopic dermatitis is an intractable disease with chronic itching and skin inflammatory
symptoms. The major difference in the clinical manifestations of atopic dermatitis
and urticaria is due to a difference in mechanisms causing itching. In general, itching
in urticaria is mediated by histamine secreted from mast cells, thus being treated
with antihistamine. However, itching of atopic dermatitis is mediated by various immune
inflammatory reactions in addition to histamine, such that antihystamine alone cannot
effectively control itchy symptoms. Therefore, for effective treatment of atopic diseases,
it is very important to heal the itch mediated by the immune response.
[0003] Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is greatly secreted by keratinocytes as dermal
epithelial cells due to a chronic inflammatory response of atopic diseases, and is
an important factor mediating the progression of chronic atopic dermatitis patients
to complex asthma disease patients. In addition, TSLP secreted from dermal epithelial
cells activates TRPA-1 positive-sensory neurons, causing itching. Although all of
the detailed functions of TSLP are not known in the art, recent studies have shown
that the expression of TSLP expression is associated with atopic diseases such as
atopic dermatitis and/or asthma disease in aspects of pathology, immunology and molecular
biology. Therefore, TSLP is considered as a cosmetic, therapeutic, and pharmaceutical
important factor.
[0004] In order to inhibit TSLP expression, antisense nucleic acids may be used, or a method
known as intervention of RNA may be used, such as a chemical treatment method. In
addition, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) oligonucleotides and siRNA oligonucleotides
may be used.
[0005] Meanwhile, cationic polymers, lipid nanoparticles (LNP), viruses and various nanomaterials
have been developed for delivery of siRNAs up to now. The clinical application of
cationic polymers and LNPs should be prudent due to toxicity and/or instability of
the structure
in vivo, and viral gene transfer has a problem of mutagenesis in addition to low packaging
capacity. Chemical modifications of siRNA backbones may increase stability and cell
uptake, but still have disadvantages such as high costs, labor intensive and time
consuming processing, and high amounts of siRNA administration for satisfactory efficacy
in target cells.
[Summary of Invention]
[Problems to be Solved by Invention]
[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a composition with high efficiency
of inhibiting TSLP expression and good effects of preventing or treating atopic diseases.
[Means for Solving Problems]
[0007] To achieve the above objects, the following technical solutions are adopted in the
present invention.
- 1. A pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating atopic diseases, including:
porous silica particles carrying nucleic acid molecules that complementarily bind
to at least a portion of TSLP mRNA,
wherein the porous silica particles are characterized in that t, at which an absorbance
ratio in the following Equation 1 becomes 1/2, is 24 or more,

(wherein A0 is absorbance of the porous silica particles measured by putting 5 ml of suspension
containing 1 mg/ml of porous silica particles into a cylindrical permeable membrane
having pores with a pore diameter of 50 kDa,
15 ml of the same solvent as the suspension comes into contact with an outside of
the permeable membrane, and the inside/outside of the permeable membrane are horizontally
stirred at 60 rpm and at 37 °C,
pH of the suspension is 7.4, and
At indicates absorbance of the porous silica particle measured after lapse of "t" hours
since Ao was measured).
- 2. The pharmaceutical composition according to the above 1, wherein the porous silica
particles are prepared by: reacting the silica particles having pores of less than
5 nm in diameter with a swelling agent at 120 to 180 °C for 24 to 96 hours to expand
the pores of less than 5 nm in diameter; and calcining the pores of the expanded silica
particles at a temperature of 400 °C or higher for 3 hours or more.
- 3. The pharmaceutical composition according to the above 1, wherein an average diameter
of the porous silica particles ranges from 150 to 1000 nm, a BET surface area ranges
from 200 to 700 m2/g, and a volume per gram ranges from 0.7 to 2.2 ml.
- 4. The pharmaceutical composition according to the above 1, wherein the nucleic acid
molecule is one of siRNA, dsRNA, PNA or miRNA.
- 5. The pharmaceutical composition according to the above 4,
wherein the nucleic acid molecules includes at least one siRNA or dsRNA selected from
the group consisting of: siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID
NO: 1 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 47; dsRNA composed of a
strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24 and another strand complementary thereto;
siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 and an antisense RNA
having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 48; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence of
SEQ ID NO: 25 and another strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 49; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26 and another
strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 4 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 50; dsRNA composed of
a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27 and another strand complementary thereto;
siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 and an antisense RNA
having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 51; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence of
SEQ ID NO: 28 and another strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 52; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 29 and another
strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 7 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 53; dsRNA composed of
a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 30 and another strand complementary thereto;
siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8 and an antisense RNA
having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 54; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence of
SEQ ID NO: 31 and another strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 55; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 32 and another
strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 10 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 56; dsRNA composed
of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 33 and another strand complementary thereto;
siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11 and an antisense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 57; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence
of SEQ ID NO: 34 and another strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 58; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 35 and another
strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 13 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 59; dsRNA composed
of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 36 and another strand complementary thereto;
siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14 and an antisense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 60; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence
of SEQ ID NO: 37 and another strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 61; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 38 and another
strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 16 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 62; dsRNA composed
of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 39 and another strand complementary thereto;
siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17 and an antisense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 63; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence
of SEQ ID NO: 40 and another strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 64; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 41 and another
strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 19 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 65; dsRNA composed
of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 42 and another strand complementary thereto;
siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20 and an antisense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 66; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence
of SEQ ID NO: 43 and another strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 21 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 67; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 44 and another
strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 22 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 68; dsRNA composed
of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 45 and another strand complementary thereto;
siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23 and an antisense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 69; and dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence
of SEQ ID NO: 46 and another strand complementary thereto.
- 6. The pharmaceutical composition according to the above 5, further including a sequence
of UU at 3'-terminals of the sense RNA and the antisense RNA sequence.
- 7. The pharmaceutical composition according to the above 5, further including a sequence
of dTdT at 3'-terminals of the sense RNA and the antisense RNA sequence.
- 8. The pharmaceutical composition according to the above 5, wherein the nucleic acid
molecule is at least one siRNA or dsRNA selected from the group consisting of: siRNA
composed of a sense RNA having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and an antisense RNA having
the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 47; dsRNA composed of a strand having the sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 24 and another strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense RNA
having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14 and an antisense RNA having the sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 60; dsRNA composed of a strand having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 37 and another
strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense RNA having the sequence of
SEQ ID NO: 21 and an antisense RNA having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 67; and dsRNA
composed of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 44 and another strand complementary
thereto.
- 9. The pharmaceutical composition according to the above 8, wherein the nucleic acid
molecule include the siRNA composed of a sense RNA having the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
1 and an antisense RNA having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 47, or the dsRNA composed
of a strand having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24 and a complementary thereof.
- 10. The pharmaceutical composition according to the above 1, wherein the porous silica
particles are positively charged at neutral pH on an outer surface thereof or an inside
of the pores.
- 11. The pharmaceutical composition according to the above 1, wherein the porous silica
particles have hydrophilic or hydrophobic functional groups.
- 12. The pharmaceutical composition according to the above 1, wherein the atopic disease
is at least one selected from the group consisting of bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis,
urticaria, atopic dermatitis, allergic conjunctivitis, allergic dermatitis, allergic
contact dermatitis, inflammatory skin disease, pruritus and food allergy.
[Advantageous Effects]
[0008] The composition of the present invention may deliver a nucleic acid molecule capable
of effectively inhibiting TSLP expression with high efficiency in a sustained manner
so as to inhibit TSLP expression with excellent efficiency, thus exhibiting effects
of preventing or treating various atopic diseases due to TSLP overexpression.
[Brief Description of Drawings]
[0009]
FIG. 1 is diagrams illustrating MS analysis values of the synthesized SLIGRL peptide.
FIG. 2 is micrographs of porous silica particles according to one embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 3 is micrographs of porous silica particles according one embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 4 is micrographs of small pore particles obtained in a manufacturing process
of the porous silica particles according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is micrographs of the small pore particles according to one embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 6 is micrographs of the porous silica particles for each pore diameter according
to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] DDV (Degradable Delivery Vehicle) is the particles according to an embodiment, wherein
the number in parenthesis means the diameter of the particle and the number of subscripts
means the pore diameter. For example, DDV(200)
10 refers to a particle having a particle diameter (that is, particle size) of 200 nm
and a pore diameter of 10 nm according to an embodiment.
FIG. 7 is micrographs to identify biodegradability of the porous silica particles
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a tube having a cylindrical permeable membrane according
to one illustrative example.
FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating results of decreasing absorbance of the porous silica
particles over time according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is diagrams illustrating results of decreasing absorbance of the porous silica
particles for each particle size over time according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 11 is diagrams illustrating results of decreasing absorbance of the porous silica
particles for each pore diameter over time according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 12 is a graph illustrating results of decreasing absorbance of the porous silica
particles for each pH of the environment over time according to one embodiment of
the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a graph illustrating results of decreasing absorbance of the porous silica
particles over time according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a tube to identify siRNA or dsRNA release according
to one illustrative example.
FIG. 15 is a graph illustrating a degree of release of siRNA supported on the porous
silica particles over time according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 shows morphological features in HaCaT cells of DDV loaded with siRNA.
FIG. 17 shows morphological features in HeLa cells of DDV loaded with siRNA.
FIG. 18 illustrates that TSLP expression is induced upon SLIGRL treatment in HaCaT
cells.
FIG. 19 is a graph illustrating results of identifying TSLP gene expression level
through RT-PCR after treatment of HaCaT cells with LEM-siTSLP #1, LEM-siTSLP #14 and
LEM-siTSLP #21, followed by SLIGRL treatment to induce TSLP, 12 hours before harvesting.
FIG. 20 is a graph illustrating results of comparing TSLP gene expression levels by
treating HaCaT cells with LNPs carrying LEM-siTSLP and siTSLP, respectively.
FIG. 21 is a fluorescent image obtained by injecting LEM-siTSLP (mouse) into the skin
of a mouse and extracting the skin.
FIG. 22 is a fluorescent image obtained by injecting FITC-conjugated siTSLP (mouse)
not loaded in DegradaBALL into the skin of a mouse and extracting the skin.
FIG. 23 is a fluorescent image obtained by injecting LEM-siTSLP (mouse) into the skin
of a mouse, extracting the skin and determining LEM-siTSLP (mouse) delivery effects
as well as a change in distribution.
FIG. 24 is a graph illustrating results of scratching behavior analysis of mice injected
with LEM-siTSLP (mouse).
FIG. 25 is a graph illustrating results of scratching behavior analysis of mice injected
with LEM-siTSLP (mouse).
FIG. 26 is a graph illustrating experimental results of observing cell viability after
treatment with DegradaBALL.
[Mode for Carrying out Invention]
[0011] In the detailed description of the present invention, specific meanings of terms
are defined, however, substantially accepted as common meanings understood by those
skilled in the art and not intended to be limited to the specific meanings defined
below.
[0012] "siRNA" refers to a nucleic acid molecule capable of mediating RNA interference or
gene silencing. siRNA can suppress expression of a target gene and thus is provided
as an efficient gene knockdown method or gene therapy method. The siRNA molecule may
have a structure in which a sense strand (a sequence corresponding to mRNA sequence
of a target gene) and an antisense strand (a sequence complementary to the mRNA sequence
of the target gene) are positioned opposite to each other to form a double-chain.
Further, the siRNA molecule may have a single chain structure with self-complementary
sense and antisense strands. siRNA is not limited to the complete pairing of double-stranded
RNA portions wherein RNAs are paired, but may include impaired portions due to mismatch
(the corresponding bases are not complementary), bulge (without bases corresponding
to one chain), etc. The siRNA terminal structure may be either blunt or cohesive,
as long as the expression of the target gene may be suppressed by RNAi (RNA interference)
effects. The cohesive terminal structure may be both a 3'-terminal protrusion structure
and a 5'-terminal protrusion structure. Further, the siRNA molecule may include a
short nucleotide sequence (e.g., about 5-15 nt) inserted between self-complementary
sense and antisense strands. In this case, the siRNA molecule formed by expression
of the nucleotide sequence may form a hairpin structure by intramolecular hybridization
and form a stem-and-loop structure as a whole. The stem-and-loop structure may be
processed
in vitro or
in vivo to produce active siRNA molecules capable of mediating RNAi.
[0013] "dsRNA" is to a precursor molecule of siRNA, meets RISC complex containing DICER
enzyme (Ribonuclease III) of a target cell, and is cleaved into siRNA. In this process,
RNAi occurs. dsRNA has a sequence longer by several nucleotides than siRNA, and may
have a structure in which a sense strand (a sequence corresponding to mRNA sequence
of a target gene) and an antisense strand (a sequence complementary to the mRNA sequence
of the target gene) are positioned opposite to each other to form a double-chain.
[0014] "PNA" is a synthetic polymer that has a structure similar to DNA or RNA, but is designed
to have no charge unlike DNA or RNA thus to have a strong binding force, wherein the
DNA and RNA have deoxyribose or ribose backbones, respectively, while a backbone of
the PNA has a structure of repeated N-(2-aminoethyl)-glycine ((N-(2-aminoethyl)-glycine)
units linked by peptide bonds. The above structure is a structure of purine and pyrimidine
bases linked to the backbone by methylene (-CH
2-) and carbonyl groups (-C=O-), and has N-terminal and C-terminal at both ends thereof
similar to peptide.
[0015] The term "nucleic acid" means inclusion of any PNA, DNA or RNA, for example, chromosomes,
mitochondria, viruses and/or bacterial nucleic acids present in a tissue sample. One
or both strands of a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule are included, and any fragment
or portion of an intact nucleic acid molecule is also included.
[0016] The term "gene" refers to any nucleic acid sequence or a portion thereof that play
a functional role in protein coding or transcription or in regulation of other gene
expression. The gene may consist of any nucleic acid encoding a functional protein
or only a portion of the nucleic acid encoding or expressing protein. A nucleic acid
sequence may include gene abnormalities in exons, introns, initial or terminal regions,
promoter sequences, other regulatory sequences, or unique sequences adjacent to genes.
[0017] The term "gene expression" generally refers to a cellular process in which biologically
active polypeptide is produced from a DNA sequence and exhibits biological activity
in a cell. In this meaning, the gene expression includes not only transcriptional
and translational processes, but also post-transcriptional and post-translational
processes that may possibly affect the biological activity of a gene or gene product.
The processes include RNA synthesis, processing and transport, as well as polypeptide
synthesis, transport and post-translational modifications of polypeptide, but it is
not limited thereto. In the case of genes that do not encode protein products, such
as siRNA genes, the term "gene expression" refers to a process by which precursor
siRNAs are produced from a gene. Typically, this process is referred to as transcription
although a transcription product of siRNA gene does not produce a protein by translation,
which is different from transcription induced by RNA polymerase II with regard to
a protein coding gene. Nevertheless, generation of mature siRNA from siRNA gene is
encompassed by the term "gene expression" as that term is used herein.
[0018] The term "target gene" refers to a gene that is targeted to be regulated using the
methods and compositions as the subject matters disclosed herein. Therefore, the target
gene includes a nucleic acid sequence whose expression level is down regulated by
siRNA to the mRNA or polypeptide level. Similarly, the term "target RNA" or "target
mRNA" refers to the transcript of a target gene to which siRNA is bound to induce
regulation of expression of the target gene.
[0019] The term "transcription" refers to a cellular process that involves interaction of
an expression inducible gene as RNA of structural information present in a coding
sequence of the gene with RNA polymerase.
[0020] The expression "down-regulation" refers to considerable reduction in expression of
specific genes into mRNAs or proteins by intracellular gene transcription or gene
translation in activated cells, as compared to normal tissue cells.
[0021] The term "treatment" means an approach to obtain beneficial or desirable clinical
results. For the purposes of the present invention, beneficial or desirable clinical
outcomes include, without limitation thereof, alleviation of symptoms, reduction of
disease range, stabilization of disease state (i.e., not worsening), delayed or sustained
disease progression, improvement or temporary mitigation and alleviation of disease
state (partially or wholly), whether it is detectable or not detected. The term "treatment"
may also mean increasing survival compared to expected survival when untreated. The
treatment refers to both therapeutic treatment and prophylactic or preventive measures.
Such treatment includes not only treatment of disorders to be prevented but also treatment
required for already occurring disorders.
[0022] The term "prevention" means any action that inhibits or delays development of a relevant
disease. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the composition of the
present invention can prevent initial symptoms, or related diseases if administered
before occurrence of the diseases.
[0023] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.
[0024] The present invention provides a composition for inhibiting thymic stromal lymphopoietin
(TSLP) gene expression; including: porous silica particles carrying nucleic acid molecules
that complementarily bind to at least a portion of the transcript of the TSLP gene.
The porous silica particles are particles of silica (SiO
2) material and have a nano-scaled particle size.
[0025] The porous silica nanoparticles of the present invention may include porous particles
having nano-sized pores, and may carry the nucleic acid molecules that complementarily
bind to at least a portion of TSLP mRNA on a surface of the particles and/or an inside
of the pores.
[0026] TSLP mRNA of the present invention may be mRNA derived from the same species as the
target species, for example, a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 149 for humans, but it is not
limited thereto. For example, the TSLP mRNA of the present invention may be human
TSLP mRNA, mouse TSLP mRNA, monkey TSLP mRNA, rabbit TSLP mRNA, preferably human TSLP
mRNA, but it is not limited thereto.
[0027] The nucleic acid molecule of the present invention may be produced differently according
to the TSLP mRNA sequences. For example, the nucleic acid molecule of the present
invention may be designed to complementarily bind to a human TSLP mRNA sequence, but
it is not limited thereto.
[0028] The porous silica particles of the present invention are biodegradable particles,
which carry a nucleic acid molecule that complementarily binds to at least a portion
of TSLP mRNA, and can release the same, that is, the nucleic acid molecule that complementarily
binds to at least a portion of TSLP mRNA while being biodegraded in the body when
administered to the body. In fact, the porous silica particles of the present invention
may be slowly degraded in the body to allow sustained release of the supported nucleic
acid molecule that complementarily binds to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA. For
example, "t", at which a ratio of absorbance of the following Equation 1 becomes 1/2,
is 24 or more:
(wherein A0 is absorbance of the porous silica particles measured by putting 5 ml of suspension
containing 1 mg/ml of porous silica particles into a cylindrical permeable membrane
having pores with a pore diameter of 50 kDa,
15 ml of the same solvent as the suspension comes into contact with an outside of
the permeable membrane, and the inside/outside of the permeable membrane are horizontally
stirred at 60 rpm and at 37 °C,
pH of the suspension is 7.4, and
At indicates absorbance of the porous silica particle measured after lapse of "t" hours
since Ao was measured).
[0029] The above Equation 1 means what a rate the porous silica particles are degraded in
an environment similar to the body.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 8, for example, absorbances A
0 and A
t in the above Equation 1 may be measured after placing porous silica particles and
a suspension in a cylindrical permeable membrane and also placing the same suspension
outside the permeable membrane.
[0031] The porous silica particles of the present invention are biodegradable, and may be
slowly degraded in the suspension. The diameter of 50 kDa corresponds to about 5 nm,
which allows biodegradable porous silica particles to pass through a permeable membrane
having a diameter of 50 kDa, and a cylindrical permeable membrane is under horizontal
agitation at 60 rpm to evenly blend the suspension, such that the degraded porous
silica particles can come out of the permeable membrane.
[0032] The absorbance in the above Equation 1 may be measured, for example, under an environment
in which the suspension outside the permeable membrane is replaced with a new suspension.
The suspension may be continuously replaced, or replaced every period wherein the
period is periodic or irregular. For example, the suspension may be replaced at 1
hour interval, 2 hours interval, 3 hours interval, 6 hours interval, 12 hours interval,
24 hours interval, 2 days interval, 3 days interval, 4 days interval, 7 days interval,
etc., within a range of 1 hour to 1 week, but it is not limited thereto.
[0033] The absorbance ratio of 1/2 means that the absorbance is half of the initial absorbance
after t hours, that is, that approximately half of the porous silica particles are
degraded.
[0034] The suspension may be a buffer solution, for example, at least one selected from
the group consisting of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and simulated body fluid (SBF),
and more specifically, PBS.
[0035] "t" in the above Equation 1 of the present invention, at which the absorbance ratio
becomes 1/2, may be 24 or more, for example, t may range from 24 to 120. That is,
within the above range, t may range from 24 to 96, 24 to 72, 30 to 70, 40 to 70, 50
to 65, etc., but it is not limited thereto.
[0036] With regard to the porous silica particles of the present invention, t at which the
absorbance ratio in the above Equation 1 becomes 1/5 may range from 70 to 140. For
example, t may range from 80 to 140, 80 to 120, 80 to 110, 70 to 140, 70 to 120, 70
to 110, etc. within the above range, but it is not limited thereto.
[0037] With regard to the porous silica particles of the present invention, t at which the
absorbance ratio in the above Equation 1 becomes 1/20 may range from 130 to 220. For
example, t may range from 130 to 200, 140 to 200, 140 to 180, 150 to 180, etc. within
the above range, but it is not limited thereto.
[0038] With regard to the porous silica particles of the present invention, t at which the
absorbance ratio in the above Equation 1 becomes 0.01 or less may be 250 or more.
For example, t may be 300 or more, 350 or more, 400 or more, 500 or more, 1000 or
more, etc. and the upper limit may be 2000, but it is not limited thereto.
[0039] With regard to the porous silica particles of the present invention, the absorbance
ratio and t in the above Equation 1 have high positive correlation. For example, Pearson
correlation coefficient may be 0.8 or more, and for example, 0.9 or more and 0.95
or more.
[0040] "t" in the above Equation 1 means how fast the porous silica particles are degraded
under the environment similar to the body. That is, t may be regulated by adjusting,
for example, a surface area, a particle size, a pore diameter, substituents on the
surface of the porous silica particles and/or the inside of the pores, compactness
of the surface and the like.
[0041] For example, the surface area of the particles may be increased to reduce t, or the
surface area may be decreased to increase t. The surface area may be regulated by
adjusting the particle size and the pore diameter of the particles. Further, if direct
exposure of the porous silica particles to the environment (such as solvents) is reduced
by placing substituents on the surface of the particles and/or the inside of the pores,
t may be increased. Further, when the porous silica particles support or carry the
nucleic acid molecule that complementarily binds to at least a portion of the TSLP
mRNA, and when increasing affinity between the nucleic acid molecule that complementarily
binds to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA and the porous silica particles, direct
exposure of the porous silica particles to the environment may be reduced, thereby
increasing t. In addition, t may be increased by preparing the particles with more
compact surface. As described above, various examples of adjusting t in the above
Equation 1 have been described, but it is not limited thereto.
[0042] The porous silica particles of the present invention may have a spherical shape,
but it is not limited thereto.
[0043] The porous silica particles of the present invention may have an average diameter
of, for example, 150 to 1000 nm. For example, the average diameter may range from
150 to 800 nm, 150 to 500 nm, 150 to 400 nm, 150 to 300 nm, and 150 to 200 nm, etc.
within the above range, but it is not limited thereto.
[0044] The porous silica particles of the present invention may have an average pore diameter
of, for example, 1 to 100 nm. For example, the pore diameter may range from 5 to 100
nm, 7 to 100 nm, 7 to 50 nm, 10 to 50 nm, 10 to 30 nm, 7 to 30 nm, etc., within the
above range, but it is not limited thereto. The porous silica particles having a large
diameter as described above may carry a large amount of the nucleic acid molecule
that complementarily binds to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA, and may further
carry the nucleic acid molecules that complementarily bind to at least a portion of
large-sized TSLP mRNA.
[0045] The porous silica particles of the present invention may have a BET surface area
of, for example, 200 to 700 m
2/g. For example, the BET surface area may range from 200 to 700 m
2/g, 200 to 650 m
2/g, 250 to 650 m
2/g, 300 to 700 m
2/g, 300 to 650 m
2/g, 300 to 600 m
2/g, 300 to 550 m
2/g, 300 to 500 m
2/g, 300 to 450 m
2/g, etc. within the above range, but it is not limited thereto.
[0046] Porous silica nanoparticles of the present invention may have a volume per gram,
for example, 0.7 to 2.2 ml. For example, the volume may range from 0.7 to 2.0 ml,
0.8 to 2.2 ml, 0.8 to 2.0 ml, 0.9 to 2.0 ml, 1.0 to 2.0 ml, etc. within the above
range, but it is not limited thereto. If the volume per gram is too small, a degradation
rate may be too high. Further, it is difficult to manufacture excessively large particles
or particles having an intact shape.
[0047] The porous silica particles of the present invention may have hydrophilic substituents
and/or hydrophobic substituents on an outer surface thereof and/or an inside of the
pores. For example, only hydrophilic substituents or only hydrophobic substituents
may exist on both the surface of the particles and inside of the pores, hydrophilic
substituents or hydrophobic substituents may be present on either the surface of the
particles or the inside of the pores, or hydrophilic substituents may be present on
the surface of the particles while hydrophobic substituents may exist inside of the
pores, or vice versa.
[0048] Release of the nucleic acid molecule that complementarily binds to at least a portion
of the TSLP mRNA supported on the porous silica particles according to the present
invention is mainly performed by degradation of nanoparticles. Specifically, interaction
of the porous silica particles with the release environment of the nucleic acid molecule
that complementarily binds to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA is adjusted to regulate
a degradation rate of the nanoparticles, so that a release rate of the nucleic acid
molecule that complementarily binds to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA may be
regulated. Further, the nucleic acid molecule that complementarily binds to at least
a portion of the TSLP mRNA may be diffused and released from the nanoparticles, wherein
adjusting substituents may regulate a binding force of the nucleic acid molecule that
complementarily binds to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA to the nanoparticles,
thereby controlling release of the nucleic acid molecule that complementarily binds
to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA.
[0049] Further, in order to increase a binding force of the silica particle to a nucleic
acid molecule or material that complementarily binds to at least a portion of poorly
soluble (hydrophobic) TSLP mRNA, hydrophobic substituents may be present inside of
the pores of the particle. Further, in aspects of easy use and formulation, the surface
of the particles may also be treated to have hydrophilic substituents.
[0050] The hydrophilic substituents may include, for example, hydroxyl group, carboxy group,
amino group, carbonyl group, sulfhydryl group, phosphate group, thiol group, ammonium
group, ester group, imide group, thioimide group, keto group, ether group, indene
group, sulfonyl group, polyethyleneglycol group and the like. Further, the hydrophobic
substituent may include, for example, substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C30 alkyl
group, substituted or unsubstituted C3 to C30 cycloalkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted
C6 to C30 aryl group, substituted or unsubstituted C2 to C30 heteroaryl group, halogen
group, C1 to C30 ester group, halogen-containing group and the like.
[0051] Further, the porous silica particles of the present invention may be positively charged,
negatively charged and/or uncharged at an outer surface thereof and/or an inside of
the pores. For example, both the surface of the particles and the inside of the pores
may be positively charged or negatively charged, only the surface of the particles
or the inside of the pores may be positively charged or negatively charged. Alternatively,
the surface of the particles may be positively charged while the inside of the pores
may be negatively charged or vice versa, which is similar to the case of being uncharged.
[0052] The charging may be performed, for example, by the presence of a nonionic substituent,
a cationic substituent or an anionic substituent.
[0053] The cationic substituent may include, for example, amino group or any other nitrogen-containing
group as a basic group, specifically, at least one functional group selected from
the group consisting of amino group, aminoalkyl group, alkylamino group, a heterocyclic
aromatic compound group containing a nitrogen atom, cyan group and guanidine group,
but it is not limited thereto.
[0054] The anionic substituent may include, for example, a carboxy group (-COOH), sulfonic
acid group (-SO
3H), thiol group (-SH), etc. as an acidic group, but it is not limited thereto.
[0055] Likewise, when interaction of the porous silica particles with release environment
of the nucleic acid molecule that complementarily binds to at least a portion of the
TSLP mRNA is regulated by adjusting the substituents through charging, a degradation
rate of nanoparticles may be regulated to control a release rate of the nucleic acid
molecule that complementarily binds to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA. Further,
the nucleic acid molecule that complementarily binds to at least a portion of the
TSLP mRNA may be diffused and released from the nanoparticles. In this regard, adjusting
the substituents may regulate a binding force of the nucleic acid molecule that complementarily
binds to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA to the nanoparticles, thereby controlling
release of the nucleic acid molecule that complementarily binds to at least a portion
of the TSLP mRNA.
[0056] Further, the porous silica particles of the present invention may include substituents
for the purposes of: supporting the nucleic acid molecule that complementarily binds
to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA on the surface of the particles and/or the
inside of the pores; delivery of the nucleic acid molecule that complementarily binds
to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA into a target cell; supporting other substances
for other purposes; or binding of additional substituents. Further, the porous silica
particles may also include antibodies, ligands, cell permeable peptides, or aptamers
bound thereto.
[0057] The substituents on the surface of the particles and/or the inside of the pores,
charge, binders, etc. described above may be added by, for example, surface modification.
[0058] Surface modification may be performed, for example, by reacting a compound having
a substituent to be introduced with the particles, wherein the compound may be, for
example, alkoxysilane having C1 to C10 alkoxy group, but it is not limited thereto.
The alkoxysilane has one or more alkoxy groups, for example, 1 to 3 alkoxy groups.
Further, there may be a substituent to be introduced into a site where the alkoxy
group is not bound, or a substituent substituted with the same.
[0059] The porous silica particles of the present invention may be manufactured, for example,
through small pore particle preparation and pore expansion processes and, if necessary,
may be manufactured further through calcination, or surface modification process and
the like. If both the calcination and the surface modification processes have been
implemented, the particles may be surface-modified after calcination.
[0060] The small pore particles may be, for example, particles having an average pore diameter
of 1 to 5 nm.
[0061] The small pore particles may be harvested by adding a surfactant and a silica precursor
in a solvent, followed by agitation and homogenization.
[0062] The solvent may be water and/or an organic solvent, and the organic solvent may include,
for example: ethers such as 1,4-dioxane (particularly cyclic ethers); halogenated
hydrocarbons such as chloroform, methylene chloride, carbon tetrachloride, 1,2-dichloroethane,
dichloroethylene, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, dichloropropane, amyl chloride,
1,2-dibromoethane, etc.; ketones such as acetone, methylisobutylketone, γ-butyrolactone,
1,3-dimethyl-imidazolidinone, methylethylketone, cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone,
etc.; aromatic carbon-based materials such as benzene, toluene, xylene, tetramethylbenzene,
etc.; alkyl amides such as N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dibutylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide,
N-methylpyrrolidone, etc.; alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol,
etc.; glycol ethers (cellosolve) such as ethyleneglycol monoethyl ether, ethyleneglycol
monomethyl ether, ethyleneglycol monobutyl ether, diethyleneglycol monoethyl ether,
diethyleneglycol monomethyl ether, diethyleneglycol monobutyl ether, propyleneglycol
monomethyl ether, propyleneglycol monoethyl ether, dipropyleneglycol diethyl ether,
triethyleneglycol monoethyl ether, etc.; others such as dimethylacetamide (DMAc),
N,N-diethylacetamide, dimethylformamide (DMF), diethylformamide (DEF), N,N-dimethylacetamide
(DMAc), N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), N-ethylpyrrolidone (NEP), 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone,
N,N-dimethylmethoxyacetamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, pyridine, dimethyl sulfone, hexamethylphosphoamide,
tetramethylurea, N-methylcarrolactam, tetrahydrofuran, m-dioxane, P-dioxane, 1,2-dimethoxyethane
and the like. Specifically, alcohol, more specifically methanol may be used, but it
is not limited thereto.
[0063] When using a mixed solvent of water and the organic solvent, a relative ratio of
water and organic solvent may be, for example, in a volume ratio of 1:0.7 to 1.5,
for example, 1:0.8 to 1.3, but it is not limited thereto.
[0064] The surfactant may include, for example, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), hexadecyltrimethylammonium
bromide (TMABr), hexadecyltrimethylpyridinium chloride (TMPrCl), tetramethylammonium
chloride (TMACl), etc., and specifically, CTAB may be used.
[0065] The surfactant may be added, for example, in an amount of 1 to 10 g, for example,
1 to 8 g, 2 to 8 g or 3 to 8 g per liter of solvent, but it is not limited thereto.
[0066] The silica precursor may be added after stirring with addition of a surfactant to
the solvent. The silica precursor may be, for example, tetramethyl orthosilicate (TMOS),
but it is not limited thereto.
[0067] The stirring may be conducted, for example, for 10 to 30 minutes, but it is not limited
thereto.
[0068] The silica precursor may be added in an amount of 0.5 to 5 ml per liter of solvent,
for example, 0.5 ml to 4 ml, 0.5 to 3 ml, 0.5 to 2 ml, 1 to 2 ml, etc. within the
above range, but it is not limited thereto.
[0069] If necessary, sodium hydroxide may further be used as a catalyst, specifically, and
may be added under stirring after addition of the surfactant and before addition of
the silica precursor to the solvent.
[0070] The sodium hydroxide may be added in an amount of 0.5 to 8 ml per liter of solvent,
for example, 0.5 to 5 ml, 0.5 to 4 ml, 1 to 4 ml, 1 to 3 ml, 2 to 3 ml, etc. within
the above range with respect to 1 M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, but it is not
thereto.
[0071] After addition of the silica precursor, the solution may be reacted with stirring.
The stirring may be conducted for 2 to 15 hours, for example, 3 to 15 hours, 4 to
15 hours, 4 to 13 hours, 5 to 12 hours, 6 to 12 hours, 6 to 10 hours, etc. within
the above range, but it is not limited thereto. If the stirring time (reaction time)
is too short, nucleation may be insufficient.
[0072] After agitation, the solution may be aged. Aging may be performed for 8 to 24 hours,
for example, for 8 to 20 hours, 8 to 18 hours, 8 to 16 hours, 8 to 14 hours, 10 to
16 hours, 10 to 14 hours, etc. within the above range, but it is not limited thereto.
[0073] Thereafter, the reaction product may be washed and dried to harvest porous silica
particles and, if necessary, separation of unreacted material may proceed before washing.
[0074] Separation of the unreacted material may be implemented by separating the supernatant,
for example, through centrifugation. For example, centrifugation may be conducted
at 6,000 to 10,000 rpm, and the centrifugation time may range from 3 to 60 minutes,
for example, 3 to 30 minutes, 3 to 30 minutes, 5 to 30 minutes, etc. within the above
range, but it is not limited thereto.
[0075] The washing may be conducted with water and/or an organic solvent. Specifically,
since different substances are dissolved in different solvents, water and the organic
solvent may be used alternately once or several times, or the washing may be conducted
with water or the organic solvent alone once or several times. The several times described
above may be 2 times or more and 10 times or less, for example, 3 times or more and
10 times or less, 4 times or more and 8 times or less, 4 times or more and 6 times
or less.
[0076] The organic solvent may include, for example: ethers such as 1,4-dioxane (particularly
cyclic ethers); halogenated hydrocarbons such as chloroform, methylene chloride, carbon
tetrachloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, dichloroethylene, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene,
dichloropropane, amyl chloride, 1,2-dibromoethane, etc.; ketones such as acetone,
methylisobutylketone, γ-butyrolactone, 1,3-dimethyl-imidazolidinone, methylethylketone,
cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone, etc.; aromatic carbon-based
materials such as benzene, toluene, xylene, tetramethylbenzene, etc.; alkyl amides
such as N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dibutylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-methylpyrrolidone,
etc.; alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, etc.; glycol ethers (cellosolve)
such as ethyleneglycol monoethyl ether, ethyleneglycol monomethyl ether, ethyleneglycol
monobutyl ether, diethyleneglycol monoethyl ether, diethyleneglycol monomethyl ether,
diethyleneglycol monobutyl ether, propyleneglycol monomethyl ether, propyleneglycol
monoethyl ether, dipropyleneglycol diethyl ether, triethyleneglycol monoethyl ether,
etc.; others such as dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N,N-diethylacetamide, dimethylformamide
(DMF), diethylformamide (DEF), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP),
N-ethylpyrrolidone (NEP), 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone, N,N-dimethylmethoxyacetamide,
dimethyl sulfoxide, pyridine, dimethyl sulfone, hexamethylphosphoamide, tetramethylurea,
N-methylcarrolactam, tetrahydrofuran, m-dioxane, P-dioxane, 1,2-dimethoxyethane and
the like. Specifically, alcohol, more specifically methanol may be used, but it is
not limited thereto.
[0077] The washing may be conducted under centrifugation, for example, at 6,000 to 10,000
rpm, and the centrifugation time may range from 3 to 60 minutes, for example, 3 to
30 minutes, 3 to 30 minutes, 5 to 30 minutes, etc. within the above range, but it
is not limited thereto.
[0078] Alternatively, the washing may be conducted by filtering out particles through a
filter without centrifugation. The filter may have pores in a size of less than or
equal to the diameter of the porous silica particles. When filtering the reaction
solution with such a filter as described above, only particles remain on the filter,
which may be washed by pouring water and/or an organic solvent on the filter.
[0079] In the washing, water and the organic solvent may be used alternately once or several
times, or the washing may be conducted with water or the organic solvent alone once
or several times. The several times described above may be 2 times or more and 10
times or less, for example, 3 times or more and 10 times or less, 4 times or more
and 8 times or less, 4 times or more and 6 times or less.
[0080] The drying may be conducted, for example, at 20 to 100 °C, but it is not limited
thereto, and may also be conducted in a vacuum state.
[0081] Thereafter, the pore of the harvested porous silica particles may be expanded, and
such pore expansion may be conducted using a pore swelling agent.
[0082] The pore swelling agent may include, for example, trimethylbenzene, triethylbenzene,
tripropylbenzene, tributylbenzene, tripentylbenzene, trihexylbenzene, toluene, benzene,
etc., and specifically, trimethylbenzene may be used, but it is not limited thereto.
[0083] Further, the pore swelling agent used herein may be, for example, N,N-dimethylhexadecylamine
(DMHA), but it is not limited thereto.
[0084] The pore expansion may be performed, for example, by mixing the porous silica particles
in the solvent with a pore swelling agent and heating the mixture to induce reaction.
[0085] The solvent may be water and/or an organic solvent, and the organic solvent may include,
for example: ethers such as 1,4-dioxane (particularly cyclic ethers); halogenated
hydrocarbons such as chloroform, methylene chloride, carbon tetrachloride, 1,2-dichloroethane,
dichloroethylene, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, dichloropropane, amyl chloride,
1,2-dibromoethane, etc.; ketones such as acetone, methylisobutylketone, cyclohexanone,
etc.; aromatic carbon-based materials such as benzene, toluene, xylene, etc.; alkyl
amides such as N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dibutylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide,
N-methylpyrrolidone, etc.; alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol and
the like. Specifically, alcohol, more specifically methanol may be used, but it is
not limited thereto.
[0086] The porous silica particles may be added in a ratio of 10 to 200 g per liter of solvent,
for example, 10 to 150 g, 10 to 100 g, 30 to 100 g, 40 to 100 g, 50 to 100 g, 50 to
80 g, 60 to 80 g, etc., within the above range, but it is not limited thereto.
[0087] The porous silica particles may be evenly dispersed in a solvent. For example, the
porous silica particles may be added to the solvent and ultrasonically dispersed.
In the case of using a mixed solvent, the porous silica particles may be dispersed
in a first solvent, followed by adding a second solvent thereto.
[0088] The pore swelling agent may be added in a ratio of 10 to 200 parts by volume ("vol.
parts") to 100 vol. parts of solvent, for example, 10 to 150 vol. parts, 10 to 100
vol. parts, 10 to 80 vol. parts, 30 to 80 vol. parts, 30 to 70 vol. parts, etc. within
the above range, but it is not limited thereto.
[0089] The reaction may be carried out at 120 to 190 °C, for example, 120 to 190 °C, 120
to 180 °C, 120 to 170 °C, 130 to 170 °C, 130 to 160 °C, 130 to 150 °C, 130 to 140
°C, etc. within the above range, but it is not limited thereto.
[0090] The reaction may be carried out for 6 to 96 hours, for example, 30 to 96 hours, 30
to 96 hours, 30 to 80 hours, 30 to 72 hours, 24 to 80 hours, 24 to 72 hours, 36 to
96 hours, 36 to 80 hours, 36 to 72 hours, 36 to 66 hours, 36 to 60 hours, 48 to 96
hours, 48 to 88 hours, 48 to 80 hours, 48 to 72 hours, 6 to 96 hours, 7 to 96 hours,
8 to 80 hours, 9 to 72 hours, 9 to 80 hours, 6 to 72 hours, 9 to 96 hours, 10 to 80
hours, 10 to 72 hours, 12 to 66 hours, 13 to 60 hours, 14 to 96 hours, 15 to 88 hours,
16 to 80 hours, 17 to 72 hours, etc. within the above range, but it is not limited
thereto.
[0091] The time and temperature may be desirably adjusted within the above-exemplified range
so that the reaction may be carried out sufficiently but not excessively. For example,
when the reaction temperature is reduced, the reaction time may be increased, and
when the reaction temperature is increased, the reaction time may be shortened. If
the reaction is not sufficiently performed, pore expansion may be insufficient. On
the other hand, if the reaction proceeds excessively, the particles may collapse due
to overexpansion of the pores.
[0092] The reaction may be carried out, for example, by gradually raising the temperature.
Specifically, the reaction may be carried out by gradually raising the temperature
at a rate of 0.5 to 15 °C/min from the room temperature to the above-defined temperature.
For example, the temperature may be raised at a rate of 1 to 15 °C/min, 3 to 15 °C/min,
3 to 12 °C/min, 3 to 10 °C/min, etc., but it is not limited thereto.
[0093] The reaction may be carried out under stirring. For example, the stirring may be
implemented at a speed of 100 rpm or more, and specifically, at a speed of 100 to
1000 rpm, but it is not limited thereto.
[0094] After the reaction, the reaction solution may be cooled slowly, for example, by gradually
decreasing the temperature. Specifically, the reaction may be carried out by gradually
decreasing the temperature at a rate of 0.5 to 20 °C/min from the above-defined temperature
to room temperature. For example, the temperature may be decreased at a rate of 1
to 20 °C/min, 3 to 20 °C/min, 3 to 12 °C/min, 3 to 10 °C/min, etc. within the above
range, but it is not limited thereto.
[0095] After cooling, the reaction product may be washed and dried to harvest porous silica
particles having expanded pores. If necessary, unreacted material may be first separated
before washing.
[0096] Separation of the unreacted material may be implemented by separating the supernatant,
for example, through centrifugation. Herein, centrifugation may be conducted, for
example, at 6,000 to 10,000 rpm, and the centrifugation time may range from 3 minutes
to 60 minutes. For example, the centrifugation may be conducted for 3 to 30 minutes,
3 to 30 minutes, 5 to 30 minutes, etc. within the above range, but it is not limited
thereto.
[0097] The washing may be conducted with water and/or an organic solvent. Specifically,
since different substances are dissolved in different solvents, water and the organic
solvent may be used alternately once or several times, or the washing may be conducted
with water or the organic solvent alone once or several times. The several times described
above may be 2 times or more and 10 times or less, for example, 3 times, 4 times,
5 times, 6 times, 7 times, 8 times, etc.
[0098] The organic solvent may include, for example: ethers such as 1,4-dioxane (particularly
cyclic ethers); halogenated hydrocarbons such as chloroform, methylene chloride, carbon
tetrachloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, dichloroethylene, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene,
dichloropropane, amyl chloride, 1,2-dibromoethane, etc.; ketones such as acetone,
methylisobutylketone, cyclohexanone, etc.; aromatic carbon-based materials such as
benzene, toluene, xylene, etc.; alkyl amides such as N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dibutylformamide,
N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, etc.; alcohols such as methanol, ethanol,
propanol, butanol and the like. Specifically, alcohol, more specifically methanol
may be used, but it is not limited thereto.
[0099] The washing may be conducted under centrifugation, for example, at 6,000 to 10,000
rpm, and the centrifugation time may range from 3 to 60 minutes, for example, 3 to
30 minutes, 3 to 30 minutes, 5 to 30 minutes, etc. within the above range, but it
is not limited thereto.
[0100] Alternatively, the washing may be conducted by filtering out particles through a
filter without centrifugation. The filter may have pores in a size of less than or
equal to the diameter of the porous silica particles. When filtering the reaction
solution with such a filter as described above, only particles remain on the filter,
which may be washed by pouring water and/or an organic solvent on the filter.
[0101] In the washing, water and the organic solvent may be used alternately once or several
times, or the washing may be conducted with water or the organic solvent alone once
or several times. The several times described above may be 2 times or more and 10
times or less, for example, 3 times or more and 10 times or less, 4 times or more
and 8 times or less, 4 times or more and 6 times or less.
[0102] The drying may be conducted, for example, at 20 to 100 °C, but it is not limited
thereto, and may also be conducted in a vacuum state.
[0103] Thereafter, the harvested particles may be subjected to calcination, which is a process
of heating the particles to remove silanol groups present on the surface of the particles
and inside of the pores so as to reduce reactivity of the particles, provide a more
compact structure, and remove organic matter filling the pores. For example, the particles
may be heated to a temperature of 400 °C or higher. The upper limit of the temperature
is not particularly limited but may be 1000 °C, 900 °C, 800 °C, 700 °C, etc. The heating
may be conducted, for example, for 3 hours or more, 4 hours or more. The upper limit
of the heating time is not particularly limited but may be 24 hours, 12 hours, 10
hours, 8 hours, 6 hours, 5 hours etc. More particularly, the heating may be conducted
at 400 to 700 °C for 3 to 8 hours or at 500 to 600 °C for 4 to 5 hours, but it is
not limited thereto.
[0104] Removing the organic matter filling the pores can prevent some problems of cytotoxicity
or foaming caused by the remaining organic matter.
[0105] Then, the harvested porous silica particles may be subjected to surface modification,
and the surface modification may be performed on the surface of the particles and/or
the inside of the pores. Both the particle surface and the inside of the pores may
be surface-modified in the same manner, or may be surface-modified differently.
[0106] The particles may be charged or have hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic properties through
surface modification.
[0107] More specifically, in order to effectively support the nucleic acid molecule that
complementarily binds to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA, surface modification
of the porous silica particles may be performed by having at least one substituent
selected from the group consisting of amino, aminoalkyl, alkylamino, heterocyclic
aromatic compound group containing a nitrogen atom, cyan and guanidine groups.
[0108] Surface modification may be performed, for example, by reacting a compound having
a hydrophilic, hydrophobic, cationic or anionic substituent to be introduced with
the particles, wherein the compound may be, for example, alkoxysilane having a C1
to C10 alkoxy group, but it is not limited thereto.
[0109] The alkoxysilane has one or more alkoxy groups, for example, 1 to 3 alkoxy groups.
Further, there may be a substituent to be introduced into a site where the alkoxy
group is not bound, or a substituent substituted with the same.
[0110] When alkoxysilane reacts with the porous silica particles, a covalent bond is formed
between a silicon atom and an oxygen atom so that the alkoxysilane may be bound to
the surface of the porous silica particles and/or the inside of the pores. Since the
alkoxysilane has a substituent to be introduced, the corresponding substituent may
be introduced into the surface of the porous silica particles and/or the inside of
the pores.
[0111] The reaction may be carried out by reacting the porous silica particles dispersed
in a solvent with alkoxysilane.
[0112] The solvent may be water and/or an organic solvent, and the organic solvent may include,
for example: ethers such as 1,4-dioxane (particularly cyclic ethers); halogenated
hydrocarbons such as chloroform, methylene chloride, carbon tetrachloride, 1,2-dichloroethane,
dichloroethylene, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, dichloropropane, amyl chloride,
1,2-dibromoethane, etc.; ketones such as acetone, methylisobutylketone, γ-butyrolactone,
1,3-dimethyl-imidazolidinone, methylethylketone, cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone,
etc.; aromatic carbon-based materials such as benzene, toluene, xylene, tetramethylbenzene,
etc.; alkyl amides such as N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dibutylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide,
N-methylpyrrolidone, etc.; alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol,
etc.; glycol ethers (cellosolve) such as ethyleneglycol monoethyl ether, ethyleneglycol
monomethyl ether, ethyleneglycol monobutyl ether, diethyleneglycol monoethyl ether,
diethyleneglycol monomethyl ether, diethyleneglycol monobutyl ether, propyleneglycol
monomethyl ether, propyleneglycol monoethyl ether, dipropyleneglycol diethyl ether,
triethyleneglycol monoethyl ether, etc.; others such as dimethylacetamide (DMAc),
N,N-diethylacetamide, dimethylformamide (DMF), diethylformamide (DEF), N,N-dimethylacetamide
(DMAc), N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), N-ethylpyrrolidone (NEP), 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone,
N,N-dimethylmethoxyacetamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, pyridine, dimethyl sulfone, hexamethylphosphoamide,
tetramethylurea, N-methylcarrolactam, tetrahydrofuran, m-dioxane, P-dioxane, 1,2-dimethoxyethane
and the like. Specifically, alcohol, more specifically methanol may be used, but it
is not limited thereto.
[0113] The positively charging may be performed by reacting the porous silica particles
with alkoxysilane having a basic group such as a nitrogen-containing group, for example,
an amino group or an aminoalkyl group. Specifically, N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylenediamine,
N1-(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)diethylenetriamine, (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane, N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]aniline,
trimethoxy[3-(methylamino)propyl]silane, 3-(2-aminoethylamino)propyldimethoxymethylsilane,
etc. may be used, but it is not limited thereto.
[0114] The negatively charging may be performed by reacting the porous silica particles
with alkoxysilane having an acidic group such as a carboxyl group, a sulfonic acid
group, a thiol group, etc. Specifically, (3-Mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane may be
used, but it is not limited thereto.
[0115] The charging to non-charge (in an uncharged state rather than positive or negative
charge) may be performed by reacting the porous silica particles with alkoxysilane
having a common functional group having no charge. It is possible to charge with no
charge by appropriately combining the positively charging and the negatively charging
to offset positive and negative charges, but it is not limited thereto.
[0116] The hydrophilic property may be obtained by reacting the porous silica particles
with alkoxysilane having a hydrophilic group, for example, hydroxyl group, carboxy
group, amino group, carbonyl group, sulfhydryl group, phosphate group, thiol group,
ammonium group, ester group, imide group, thioimide group, keto group, ether group,
indene group, sulfonyl group, polyethyleneglycol group and the like. Specifically,
N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylenediamine, N1-(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)diethylenetriamine,
(3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane, (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane, trimethoxy[3-(methylamino)propyl]silane,
3-(2-aminoethylamino)propyldimethoxymethylsilane may be used, but it is not limited
thereto.
[0117] The hydrophobic property may be obtained by reacting the porous silica particles
with alkoxysilane having a hydrophobic substituent, for example, substituted or unsubstituted
C1 to C30 alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted C3 to C30 cycloalkyl group, substituted
or unsubstituted C6 to C30 aryl group, substituted or unsubstituted C2 to C30 heteroaryl
group, halogen group, C1 to C30 ester group, halogen-containing group and the like.
Specifically, trimethoxy(octadecyl)silane, trimethoxy-n-octylsilane, trimethoxy(propyl)silane,
isobutyl(trimethoxy)silane, trimethoxy(7-octen-1-yl)silane, trimethoxy(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)silane,
trimethoxy(2-phenylethyl)silane, vinyltrimethoxysilane, cyanomethyl, 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]trithiocarbonate,
(3-bromopropyl)trimethoxysilane, etc. may be used, but it is not limited thereto.
[0118] Further, in order to increase a binding ability of the silica particles to a nucleic
acid molecule or material that complementarily binds to at least a portion of poorly
soluble (hydrophobic) TSLP mRNA through surface modification, hydrophobic substituents
may be present inside of the pores of the particle. Further, in aspects of easy use
and formulation, the surface of the particles may also be treated to have hydrophilic
substituents. In addition, there may be a substituent on the surface of the particles
in order to bind a nucleic acid molecule or material that complementarily binds to
at least a portion of another TSLP mRNA.
[0119] Further, the surface modification may be performed in combination. For example, surface
modification may be performed twice or more on the outer surface of the particles
or the inside of the pores. As a specific example, a compound including a carboxyl
group may be bound to silica particles having amino groups introduced therein through
amide bond in order to change the positively-charged particles to have different surface
properties, but it is not limited thereto.
[0120] The reaction of the porous silica particles with alkoxysilane may be carried out,
for example, under heating. The heating may be conducted at 80 to 180 °C, for example,
80 to 160 °C, 80 to 150 °C, 100 to 160 °C, 100 to 150 °C, 110 to 150 °C, etc. within
the above range, but it is not limited thereto.
[0121] The reaction of the porous silica particles with alkoxysilane may be carried out
for 4 to 20 hours, for example, 4 to 18 hours, 4 to 16 hours, 6 to 18 hours, 6 to
16 hours, 8 to 18 hours, 8 to 16 hours, 8 to 14 hours, 10 to 14 hours, etc. within
the above range, but it is not limited thereto.
[0122] The reaction temperature, time and an amount of the compound used for surface modification
may be desirably selected according to an extent of surface modification, and reaction
conditions will vary depending on hydrophilic property, hydrophobic property and a
level of charge with regard to the nucleic acid molecules or materials of the present
invention. By controlling the hydrophilic property, hydrophobic property and the level
of charge of the porous silica particles, a release rate of the nucleic acid molecules
or materials that complementarily bind to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA may
be controlled. For example, if the nucleic acid molecules or materials that complementarily
bind to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA have strong negative charge at neutral
pH, the reaction temperature may be raised, the reaction time may be extended or the
amount of the treated compound may be increased so as to make the porous silica particles
to have strong positive charge, but it is not limited thereto.
[0123] Further, the porous silica particles of the present invention may be manufactured
through, for example, preparation of small pore particles, pore expansion, surface
modification, and internal pore modification.
[0124] Preparation of small pore particles and pore expansion may be performed by the above-described
processes and, after preparation of the small pore particles and after pore expansion,
washing and drying processes may be implemented.
[0125] If necessary, unreacted materials may be separated before washing, and separation
of the unreacted materials may be conducted by separating the supernatant through
centrifugation.
[0126] Centrifugation may be conducted at 6,000 to 10,000 rpm, and the centrifugation time
may range from 3 to 60 minutes, for example, 3 to 30 minutes, 3 to 30 minutes, 5 to
30 minutes, etc. within the above range, but it is not limited thereto.
[0127] The washing after preparation of small pore particles may be conducted by a method/condition
within the above-described range, but it is not limited thereto.
[0128] The washing after pore expansion may be conducted under more moderate conditions
than the above embodiments. For example, washing may be conducted three times or less,
but it is not limited thereto.
[0129] The surface modification and internal pore modification may be performed by the above-described
processes, respectively. Herein, surface modification and then internal pore modification
may be performed in this order, and a washing process may be further conducted between
the above two processes.
[0130] When the washing is conducted in more moderated conditions after preparation of small
pore particles and pore expansion, a reaction solution such as a surfactant used for
particle production and pore expansion is filled in the pores so that the inside of
the pores is not modified during surface modification and, instead, only the surface
of the particles may be modified. Thereafter, the reaction solution inside of the
pores may be washed out and removed.
[0131] Particle washing between the surface modification and the internal pore modification
processes may be carried out using water and/or an organic solvent. Specifically,
since different substances are dissolved in different solvents, water and the organic
solvent may be used alternately once or several times, or the washing may be conducted
with water or the organic solvent alone once or several times. The several times described
above may be 2 times or more and 10 times or less, for example, 3 times or more and
10 times or less, 4 times or more and 8 times or less, 4 times or more and 6 times
or less.
[0132] The washing may be carried out under centrifugation, for example at 6,000 to 10,000
rpm, and the centrifugation time may range from 3 to 60 minutes, for example, 3 to
30 minutes, 3 to 30 minutes, 5 to 30 minutes, etc. within the above range, but it
is not limited thereto.
[0133] Alternatively, the washing may be conducted by filtering out particles through a
filter without centrifugation. The filter may have pores in a size of less than or
equal to the diameter of the porous silica particles. When filtering the reaction
solution with such a filter as described above, only particles remain on the filter,
which may be washed by pouring water and/or an organic solvent on the filter.
[0134] In the washing, water and the organic solvent may be used alternately once or several
times, or the washing may be conducted with water or the organic solvent alone once
or several times. The several times described above may be 2 times or more and 10
times or less, for example, 3 times or more and 10 times or less, 4 times or more
and 8 times or less, 4 times or more and 6 times or less.
[0135] The drying may be conducted, for example, at 20 to 100 °C, but it is not limited
thereto, and may also be conducted in a vacuum state.
[0136] The nucleic acid molecule that complementarily binds to at least a portion of the
TSLP mRNA may be supported on the surface of the porous silica particles and/or the
inside of the pores. Herein, the supporting may be performed, for example, by mixing
porous silica particles in a solvent with the nucleic acid molecule that complementarily
binds to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA.
[0137] The solvent may be water and/or an organic solvent, and the solvent may include,
for example: ethers such as 1,4-dioxane (particularly cyclic ethers); halogenated
hydrocarbons such as chloroform, methylene chloride, carbon tetrachloride, 1,2-dichloroethane,
dichloroethylene, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, dichloropropane, amyl chloride,
1,2-dibromoethane, etc.; ketones such as acetone, methylisobutylketone, cyclohexanone,
etc.; aromatic carbon-based materials such as benzene, toluene, xylene, etc.; alkyl
amides such as N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dibutylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide,
N-methylpyrrolidone, etc.; alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol and
the like. Specifically, alcohol, more specifically methanol may be used, but it is
not limited thereto.
[0138] Further, PBS (phosphate buffered saline solution), SBF (simulated body fluid), borate-buffered
saline, tris-buffered saline may be used as the solvent.
[0139] A relative ratio of the porous silica particles to the nucleic acid molecules in
the present invention is not particularly limited but may be 1:0.05 to 0.8 in weight
ratio, for example, 1:0.05 to 0.7, 1:0.05 to 0.6, 1:0.1 to 0.8, 1:0.1 to 0.6, 1:0.2
to 0.8, 1:0.2 to 0.6, etc. within the above range.
[0140] The nucleic acid molecule that complementarily binds to at least a portion of the
TSLP mRNA supported on the porous silica particles may be gradually released over
an extended time. Such sustained release may be continuous or discontinuous, or linear
or nonlinear. Further, the release may vary depending upon characteristics of the
porous silica particles and/or interaction between the porous silica particles and
the nucleic acid molecule that complementarily binds to at least a portion of the
TSLP mRNA.
[0141] The nucleic acid molecule that complementarily binds to at least a portion of the
TSLP mRNA supported on the porous silica particles are released when the porous silica
particles are biodegraded. Specifically, the porous silica particles according to
the present invention are slowly degraded to allow release of the supported nucleic
acid molecule that complementarily binds to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA in
a sustained manner. Such release may be controlled by, for example, adjusting surface
area, particle size, pore diameter, substituents on the surface of the particles and/or
the inside of the pores, surface compactness, etc. with regard to the porous silica
particles, but it is not limited thereto.
[0142] The nucleic acid molecule that complementarily binds to at least a portion of the
TSLP mRNA supported on the porous silica particles may be released while being separated
and diffused from the porous silica particles. Such release is influenced by correlations
between the porous silica particles, the nucleic acid molecule that complementarily
binds to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA, and release environment of the same.
Therefore, regulating the correlations may control the release of the nucleic acid
molecule that complementarily binds to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA. For example,
by enhancing or weakening a binding force of the porous silica particles to the nucleic
acid molecule that complementarily binds to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA through
surface modification, the release of the nucleic acid molecule that complementarily
binds to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA may be controlled.
[0143] More specifically, in the case where the supported nucleic acid molecule or material
that complementarily binds to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA are poorly soluble
(hydrophobic), the surface of the particles and/or the inside of the pores have hydrophobic
substituents so as to increase a binding force of the porous silica particles to the
nucleic acid molecule or material that complementarily binds to at least a portion
of the TSLP mRNA, whereby the nucleic acid molecule or material that complementarily
binds to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA may be released in a sustained manner.
For example, the porous silica particles may be surface-modified with alkoxysilane
having a hydrophobic substituent.
[0144] As used herein, the term "poorly soluble" means to be insoluble, practically insoluble
or only slightly soluble (in water), which is a word defined in "Pharmaceutical Science"
18th Edition (issued by U.S.P., Remington, Mack Publishing Company).
[0145] The poorly soluble material may have, for example, water solubility of less than
10 g/L, specifically, less than 5 g/L, and more specifically, less than 1 g/L at 1
atmosphere and 25 °C, but it is not limited thereto.
[0146] When the supported nucleic acid molecule or material that complementarily binds to
at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA is water-soluble (hydrophilic), the surface of
the particles and/or the inside of the pores have hydrophilic substituents so as to
increase a binding force of the porous silica particles to the nucleic acid molecule
or material that complementarily binds to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA, whereby
the nucleic acid molecule or material that complementarily binds to at least a portion
of the TSLP mRNA may be released in a sustained manner. For example, the porous silica
particles may be surface-modified with alkoxysilane having a hydrophilic substituent.
[0147] For example, the water-soluble material may have a water solubility of 10 g/L or
more at 1 atmosphere and 25 °C, but it is not limited thereto.
[0148] In the case where the supported nucleic acid molecule or material that complementarily
binds to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA is charged, the surface of the particles
and/or the inside of the pores are charged with opposite charges, so as to increase
the binding force of the porous silica particles to the nucleic acid molecule or material
that complementarily binds to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA, whereby the nucleic
acid molecule or material that complementarily binds to at least a portion of the
TSLP mRNA may be released in a sustained manner. For example, the porous silica particles
may be surface-modified with alkoxysilane having an acidic group or a basic group.
[0149] Specifically, if the nucleic acid molecule or material that complementarily binds
to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA is positively charged at neutral pH, the surface
of the particles and/or the inside of the pores may be negatively charged at neutral
pH so as to increase a binding force of the porous silica particles to the nucleic
acid molecule or material that complementarily binds to at least a portion of the
TSLP mRNA, whereby the nucleic acid molecule or material that complementarily binds
to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA may be released in a sustained manner. For
example, the porous silica particles may be surface-modified with alkoxysilane having
an acidic group such as a carboxyl group (-COOH), a sulfonic acid group (-SO
3H), etc.
[0150] Further, if the nucleic acid molecule or material that complementarily binds to at
least a portion of the TSLP mRNA is negatively charged at neutral pH, the surface
of the particles and/or the inside of the pores may be positively charged at neutral
pH, so as to increase a binding force of the porous silica particles to the nucleic
acid molecule or material that complementarily binds to at least a portion of the
TSLP mRNA, whereby the nucleic acid molecule or material that complementarily binds
to at least a portion of the TSLP mRNA may be released in a sustained manner. For
example, the porous silica particles may be surface-modified with alkoxysilane having
a basic group such as an amino group or any other nitrogen-containing group.
[0151] The nucleic acid molecule or material that complementarily binds to at least a portion
of the TSLP mRNA may be released for a period of, for example, 7 days to 1 year or
more, depending upon types of treatment to be required, release environments and types
of porous silica particles to be used.
[0152] Further, since the porous silica particles of the present invention are 100% biodegradable,
the nucleic acid molecule or material that complementarily binds to at least a portion
of the TSLP mRNA may be 100% released.
[0153] The nucleic acid molecule may be a single strand of siRNA, dsRNA, PNA or miRNA and,
in this case, the siRNA, dsRNA, PNA or miRNA may inhibit expression of TSLP gene by
RNAi (RNA interference). More specifically, the nucleic acid molecule may be complementarily
bind to TSLP mRNA at least a portion of the region, thereby inhibiting TSLP gene expression.
[0154] Specifically, the nucleic acid molecules may include at least one siRNA or dsRNA
selected from the group consisting of: siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence
of SEQ ID NO: 1 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 47; dsRNA composed
of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24 and another strand complementary thereto;
siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 and an antisense RNA
having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 48; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence of
SEQ ID NO: 25 and another strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 49; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26 and another
strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 4 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 50; dsRNA composed of
a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27 and another strand complementary thereto;
siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 and an antisense RNA
having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 51; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence of
SEQ ID NO: 28 and another strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 52; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 29 and another
strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 7 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 53; dsRNA composed of
a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 30 and another strand complementary thereto;
siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8 and an antisense RNA
having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 54; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence of
SEQ ID NO: 31 and another strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 55; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 32 and another
strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 10 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 56; dsRNA composed
of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 33 and another strand complementary thereto;
siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11 and an antisense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 57; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence
of SEQ ID NO: 34 and another strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 58; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 35 and another
strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 13 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 59; dsRNA composed
of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 36 and another strand complementary thereto;
siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14 and an antisense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 60; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence
of SEQ ID NO: 37 and another strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 61; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 38 and another
strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 16 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 62; dsRNA composed
of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 39 and another strand complementary thereto;
siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17 and an antisense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 63; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence
of SEQ ID NO: 40 and another strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 64; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 41 and another
strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 19 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 65; dsRNA composed
of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 42 and another strand complementary thereto;
siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20 and an antisense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 66; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence
of SEQ ID NO: 43 and another strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 21 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 67; dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 44 and another
strand complementary thereto; siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 22 and an antisense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 68; dsRNA composed
of a strand having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 45 and another strand complementary thereto;
siRNA composed of a sense RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23 and an antisense
RNA having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 69; and dsRNA composed of a strand having a sequence
of SEQ ID NO: 46 and another strand complementary thereto, which are listed in Table
1 below, but are not limited thereto.
[0155] Nucleic acid molecules of the present invention may be derived from animals including
human, for example, monkeys, pigs, horses, cows, sheep, dogs, cats, mice, rabbits,
and the like, and preferably derived from human.
[0156] The nucleic acid molecule of the present invention has been modified by deletion,
substitution or insertion of functional equivalents of the nucleic acid molecule to
constitute the same, for example, some nucleotide sequences of the nucleic acid molecule
according to the present invention. However, variants with the same functions as the
nucleic acid molecule of the present invention may substantially belong to the same
concept.
[0157] More specifically, when the nucleic acid molecule of the present invention forms
a sense RNA or antisense RNA of siRNA, the sense RNA and antisense RNA sequence may
further include a sequence of UU or dTdT at 3'-terminal thereof. In this case, the
siRNA or dsRNA may have advantages such as improvement of structural stability of
siRNA or dsRNA through an increase in resistance to nucleic acid hydrolase, improvement
of RNAi efficiency of siRNA or dsRNA through induction of stable RISC and the like.
[0158] Nucleic acid molecules of the present invention may be isolated or prepared using
standard molecular biology techniques such as chemical synthesis or recombinant methods,
or may be commercially available. Further, the composition of the present invention
may include not only the nucleic acid molecule itself of the present invention but
also other substances capable of increasing an expression rate of the nucleic acid
molecule of the present invention in cells, for example, compounds, natural products,
novel proteins and the like..
[0159] Meanwhile, the nucleic acid molecule of the present invention may be provided with
being included in a vector for intracellular expression.
[0160] The nucleic acid molecules of the present invention may be introduced into cells
using diverse transformation techniques, such as complexes of DNA and DEAE-dextran,
complexes of DNA and nuclear proteins, complexes of DNA and lipids. For this purpose,
the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention may be included within a carrier
that allows for efficient introduction into a cell. The carrier is preferably a vector,
and both viral and non-viral vectors may be used. Viral vectors may include, for example,
lentivirus, retrovirus, adenovirus, herpesvirus, abipoxvirus vectors, and the like,
and preferably a lentiviral vector, but it is not limited thereto. Lentiviruses are
a type of retrovirus with features that can infect undivided cells as well as divided
cells due to nucloephilicity of a pre-integrated complex (virus "shell") enabling
active introduction into nucleopore or a complete nuclear membrane.
[0161] The vector containing the nucleic acid molecule of the present invention preferably
further includes a selectable marker. The "selectable marker" is intended to facilitate
selection of cells into which the nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is
introduced. The selectable markers possibly used in the vector are not particularly
limited as long as they are genes capable of easily detecting or determining whether
to introduce the vector or not. However, representative selectable markers may include
markers to confer selectable phenotypes, such as drug resistance, nutritional requirements,
resistance to cytotoxic agents, or expression of surface proteins, for example, GFP
(green fluorescent protein), puromycin, neomycin (Neo), hygromycin (Hyg), histidinol
dehydrogenase gene (hisD) and guanine phosphosribosyltransferase (Gpt), and the like,
and GFP (green fluorescent protein) and puromycin markers are preferably used.
[0162] Further, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for preventing
or treating atopic diseases, including: a composition that inhibits TSLP gene expression
and includes porous silica particles carrying nucleic acid molecules that complementarily
bind to at least a portion of TSLP mRNA.
[0163] Details of the nucleic acid molecules, porous silica particles, inhibition of TSLP
gene expression, and the like are as described above.
[0164] The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may exhibit effects of preventing
or treating atopic diseases, wherein the above effects may be effects to be achieved
by inhibiting the expression of TSLP gene with the nucleic acid molecules of the present
invention.
[0165] Examples of atopic diseases that are diseases to be prevented or treated by the pharmaceutical
composition of the present invention may include at least one selected from the group
consisting of allergic diseases such as: bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, urticaria,
atopic dermatitis, allergic conjunctivitis, allergic dermatitis, allergic contact
dermatitis, inflammatory skin disease, pruritus or food allergy, but it is not particularly
limited thereto. That is, the disease is not particularly limited as long as it corresponds
to a disease due to overexpression of TSLP.
[0166] "Atopic dermatitis" means a condition in which the infected site of the skin is changed
by the atopic dermatitis, and which includes both a condition considered as a skin
disease and a condition substantially not regarded as a skin disease.
[0167] The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may further include a pharmaceutically
acceptable carrier, and may be formulated along with such a carrier. As used herein,
the term "pharmaceutically acceptable carrier" refers to a carrier or diluent that
does not stimulate the organism and does not inhibit biological activities and properties
of the administered compound. Pharmaceutical carriers acceptable in the composition
formulated as a liquid solution are sterile and biocompatible, and may include saline,
sterile water, Ringer's solution, buffered saline, albumin injectable solutions, dextrose
solution, maltodextrin solution, glycerol, ethanol, and a mixture of one or more of
these components. Further, if necessary, other typical additives such as antioxidants,
buffers and bacteriostatic agents may be added. Diluents, dispersants, surfactants,
binders and lubricants may also be added to formulate the pharmaceutical composition
into injectable formulations, pills, capsules, granules or tablets such as aqueous
solutions, suspensions, emulsions and the like.
[0168] The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is applicable in a form of
any formulation containing the nucleic acid molecule of the present invention as an
active ingredient, and may be prepared in oral or parenteral formulations. The pharmaceutical
formulations of the present invention may include forms suitable for oral, rectal,
nasal, topical (including the cheek and sublingual), subcutaneous, vaginal or parenteral
(intramuscular, subcutaneous) administration. Alternatively, forms suitable for administration
by inhalation or insufflations may also be included.
[0169] The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is administered in a pharmaceutically
effective amount. Effective dose levels may be determined depending on types of disease
of the patient, severity, activity of drug, sensitivity to drug, administration time,
administration route and rate of release, duration of treatment, factors including
concurrent medications, and other factors well known in the medical field. The pharmaceutical
composition of the present invention may be administered as an individual therapeutic
agent or in combination with other therapeutic agents, may be administered sequentially
or simultaneously with conventional therapeutic agents, and may be administered in
single or multiple doses. Taking all of the above factors into consideration, it is
important to administer the pharmaceutical composition in an amount that can achieve
maximum effects with a minimum amount without side effects, which may be easily determined
by those skilled in the art.
[0170] The dosage of the pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention may
vary widely depending on the weight, age, sex, health conditions or diet of a patient,
administration time, administration method, excretion rate and severity of the disease,
and the appropriate dosage depends on, for example, an amount of drug accumulated
in the patient's body and/or specific efficacy of the nucleic acid molecules of the
present invention used. Generally, the amount may be calculated on the basis of EC50,
which is generally determined to be effective in in
vivo animal models and
in vitro, for example, from 0.01 µg to 1 g per kg of body weight. Further, the pharmaceutical
composition of the present invention may be administered once or several times per
unit time during unit periods of time such as daily, weekly, monthly or yearly, or
may be continuously administered using an infusion pump for a long time. The number
of repeated administration doses is determined in consideration of a residential time
of drug in the body, a drug concentration in the body, etc. Even after treatment according
to the course of disease treatment, the composition may be further administered for
preventing recurrence, i.e., relapse of the disease.
[0171] The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may further include a compound
to maintain/increase one or more of active ingredients exhibiting the same or similar
functions in relation to treatment of fibroproliferative diseases or the solubility
and/or absorption of at least one active ingredient. Further, the composition may
also optionally include chemotherapeutic agents, anti-inflammatory agents, antiviral
agents and/or immunomodulators and the like.
[0172] Further, the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may be formulated
using any method known in the art to allow rapid, sustained or delayed release of
the active ingredient after administration to a mammal. The formulation may be produced
in a form of powders, granules, tablets, emulsions, syrups, aerosols, soft or hard
gelatin capsules, sterile injectable solutions, sterile powders.
[0173] Furthermore, the present invention provides a cosmetic composition for prevention
or improvement of atopic diseases, including; a composition that inhibits TSLP gene
expression and includes porous silica particles carrying nucleic acid molecules that
complementarily bind to at least a portion of TSLP mRNA.
[0174] Specific details regarding the nucleic acid molecule, porous silica particles, inhibition
of TSLP gene expression, atopic diseases, and the like are the same as described above.
[0175] The cosmetic composition of the present invention may exhibit effects of preventing
or improving atopic diseases, wherein the above effects may be effects to be achieved
by inhibiting the expression of TSLP gene with the nucleic acid molecules of the present
invention.
[0176] The cosmetic composition of the present invention may further include components
typically used in the cosmetic composition, and may include, for example, conventional
auxiliaries such as antioxidants, stabilizers, solubilizers, vitamins, pigments and
flavors, as well as carriers, but it is not particularly limited thereto.
[0177] Products to which the above composition can be added may include, for example, cosmetics
such as astringent toilet water, soft toilet water, nourishing toilet water, various
creams, essences, packs and foundations, cleansing agents, facial cleansers, soaps,
treatments, cosmetic solutions, etc., but it is not particularly limited thereto.
[0178] Specific formulations of the cosmetic composition according to the present invention
may include skin lition, skin softener, skin toner, astringent lotion, milk lotion,
moisture lotion, nutrition lotion, massage cream, nutrition cream, moisture cream,
hand cream, essence, nutrition essence, pack, soap, shampoo, cleansing foam, cleansing
lotion, cleansing cream, body lotion, body cleanser, emulsion, lipstick, makeup base,
foundation, press powder, loose powder, eye shadow, etc., but it is not particularly
limited thereto.
[0179] The present invention also relates to a method for treatment of atopic diseases.
[0180] The method for treatment of atopic diseases according to the present invention may
include administering porous silica particles that carry a substance for inhibiting
TSLP expression to a subject.
[0181] Substances capable of inhibiting TSLP expression may be within the above-described
range.
[0182] The porous silica particles may be within the above-exemplified range or may be prepared
by any method/condition within the above-exemplified range.
[0183] The subject may be a mammal including a human, and specifically a human.
[0184] The substance for inhibiting TSLP expression may be formulated in a method within
the above-described range in a form of the composition.
[0185] Administration methods are not limited and may include, for example, oral, rectal,
nasal, topical (including buccal and sublingual), subcutaneous, vaginal or parenteral
(including intramuscular, subcutaneous and intravenous) administration, or administration
by inhalation or insufflation.
[0186] The present invention also relates to use of porous silica particles that carry a
substance for inhibiting TSLP expression in the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition
for preventing or treating atopic diseases.
[0187] The substance for inhibiting TSLP expression may be within the above-described range.
[0188] The porous silica particles may belong to the above-exemplified range or may be prepared
according to the methods/conditions within the above-exemplified range.
[0189] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to
the following examples.
[0190] Hereinafter, siRNA used in the present invention may be abbreviated as 'siTSLP'.
Likewise, porous silica particles of the present invention may be abbreviated as 'DegradaBALL
or DDV', and DegradaBALL carrying siTSLP may be abbreviated as 'LEM-siTSLP'.
Experimental Procedure
1. Experimental materials
[0191] DegradaBALL and TAMRA-combined DegradaBALL were provided by Lemonex, Inc. (Seoul,
Korea), and cell counting kit-8 was purchased from Dojindo molecular technologies,
Inc. (Maryland, USA). TGF-β was purchased from Peprotech (New Jersey, USA), and 10%
phosphate buffered saline (PBS), Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM), fetal
bovine serum (FBS), Roswell Park Memorial Laboratory 1640 (RPMI 1640), penicillin-streptomycin
and 0.05% trypsin-EDTA were purchased from WelGene (Korea). All nucleic acid molecules
were synthesized by Lemonex (Seoul, Korea), and their sequences and nucleic acid molecule
sequences used throughout the present specification are shown in Table 1 below. All
PCR primers were purchased from Cosmogenetech (Seoul, Korea). Anti-mouse TSLP antibodies
were purchased from Abcam (Cambridge, UK) and anti-mouse collagen 1 and 3 antibodies
were purchased from Invitrogen (Carlsbad, CA, USA). Trizol cell lysis solution was
purchased from Molecular Probes Invitrogen (Carlsbad, CA, USA) and all PCR reagents
were purchased from TaKaRa Bio Inc. (Shiga, Japan). All chemicals were used as received.
[0192] SLIGRL peptide used to induce TSLP expression was synthesized by Lemonex (Seoul,
South Korea), MS analysis results of the synthesized peptide are shown in FIG. 1.
[0193] Nucleotide sequences can be searched in the US National Center for Biological Information
(http://www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov) and are listed as thymic stromal lymphopoietin in the
full official name with the official symbol of TSLP. Further, human sequences under
approval number NM_033035.4 were used to design siRNA, dsRNA, and antisense RNA sequences
for human TSLP. The siRNA was designed thorugh Dharmacon RNAi & Gene Expression service
from GE Healthcare
(http://dharmacon.gelifesciences.com/designcenter/?redirect =true) among internet sites to provide siRNA designs. In this regard, 10 (ten) sequences
from siRNA SEQ ID NOs: 1-10, wherein a GC content of the target sequence ranges from
30% to 70%, were selected among the designed DNA fragments. Further, 13 sequences
from SEQ ID NOs: 11 - 23 were designed as siRNA sequences with GC contents of 30%
to 70% by the inventor. The finally selected 23 siRNAs were produced by the order
from Bioneer
(http://www.bioneer.co.kr). In this regard, a sense sequence and an antisense sequence for the target sequence
of TSLP were designed for siRNA production, respectively. In addition, siRNA and dsRNA
were prepared by specific base pair binding of each single sequence, that is, the
sense sequence and the antisense sequence.
[0194] Specific information of the afore-mentioned sequences is concretely indicated in
the attached sequence list and Table 2 below.
[TABLE 2]
| Target sequence 1: SEQ ID NO: 126 5'-GCAGCCUAUCUCAGUACUA-3' (Position in gene sequence:
140) |
Sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 70 5'-GCAGCCUAUCUCAGUACUAUU-3' |
| Antisense strand: SEQ ID NO: 93 5'-UAGUACUGAGAUAGGCUGCUU-3' |
| dsRNA: SEQ ID NO: 24 5'-GCAGCCUAUCUCAGUACUAUUUCUA-3' |
| Target sequence 2: SEQ ID NO: 127 5'-GCCUAUCUCAGUACUAUUU-3' (Position in gene sequence:
143) |
Sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 71 5'-GCCUAUCUCAGUACUAUUUUU-3' |
| Antisense strand: SEQ ID NO: 94 5'-AAAUAGUACUGAGAUAGGCUU-3' |
| dsRNA: SEQ ID NO: 25 5'-GCCUAUCUCAGUACUAUUUCUAAA G-3' |
| Target sequence 3: SEQ ID NO: 128 5'-GCCACAUUGCCUUACUGAA-3' (Position in gene sequence:
235) |
Sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 72 5'-GCCACAUUGCCUUACUGAAUU-3' |
| Antisense strand: SEQ ID NO: 95 5'-UUCAGUAAGGCAAUGUGGCUU-3' |
| dsRNA: SEQ ID NO: 26 5'-GCCACAUUGCCUUACUGAAAUCCA G-3' |
| Target sequence 4: SEQ ID NO: 129 5'-CCACAUUGCCUUACUGAAA-3' (Position in gene sequence:
236) |
Sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 73 5'-CCACAUUGCCUUACUGAAAUU-3' |
| Antisense strand: SEQ ID NO: 96 5'-UUUCAGUAAGGCAAUGUGGUU-3' |
| dsRNA: SEQ ID NO: 27 5'-CCACAUUGCCUUACUGAAAUCCAGA-3' |
| Target sequence 5: SEQ ID NO: 130 5'-UCCAGAGCCUAACCUUCAA-3' (Position in gene sequence:
255) |
Sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 74 5'-UCCAGAGCCUAACCUUCAAUU-3' |
| Antisense strand: SEQ ID NO: 97 5'-UUGAAGGUUAGGCUCUGGAUU-3' |
| dsRNA: SEQ ID NO: 28 5'-UCCAGAGCCUAACCUUCAAUCCCCA-3' |
| Target sequence 6: SEQ ID NO: 131 5'-CCAGAGCCUAACCUUCAAU-3' (Position in gene sequence:
256) |
Sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 75 5'- CCAGAGCCUAACCUUCAAUUU-3' |
| Antisense strand: SEQ ID NO: 98 5'-AUUGAAGGUUAGGCUCUGGUU-3' |
| dsRNA: SEQ ID NO: 29 5'-CCAGAGCCUAACCUUCAAUCCCACC-3' |
| Target sequence 7: SEQ ID NO: 132 5'-GCGUCGCUCGCCAAAGAAA-3' (Position in gene sequence:
290) |
Sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 76 5'-GCGUCGCUCGCCAAAGAAAUU-3' |
| Antisense strand: SEQ ID NO: 99 5'-UUUCUUUGGCGAGCGACGCUU-3' |
| dsRNA: SEQ ID NO: 30 5'-GCGUCGCUCGCCAAAGAAAUGUUCG-3' |
| Target sequence 8: SEQ ID NO: 133 5'-CCAAAGAAAUGUUCGCCAU-3' (Position in gene sequence:
300) |
Sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 77 5'-CCAAAGAAAUGUUCGCCAUUU-3' |
| Antisense strand: SEQ ID NO: 100 5'-AUGGCGAACAUUUCUUUGGUU-3' |
| dsRNA: SEQ ID NO: 31 5'-CCAAAGAAAUGUUCGCCAUGAAAAC-3' |
| Target sequence 9: SEQ ID NO: 134 5'-GCUUCAAUCGACCUUUACU-3' (Position in gene sequence:
468) |
Sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 78 5'-GCUUCAAUCGACCUUUACUUU-3' |
| Antisense strand: SEQ ID NO: 101 5'-AGUAAAGGUCGAUUGAAGCUU-3' |
| dsRNA: SEQ ID NO: 32 5'-GCUUCAAUCGACCUUUACUGAAACA-3' |
| Target sequence 10: SEQ ID NO: 135 5'-UCAAUCGACCUUUACUGAA-3' (Position in gene sequence:
471) |
Sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 79 5'-UCAAUCGACCUUUACUGAAUU-3' |
| Antisense strand: SEQ ID NO: 102 5'-UUCAGUAAAGGUCGAUUGAUU-3' |
| dsRNA: SEQ ID NO: 33 5'-UCAAUCGACCUUUACUGAAACAACA-3' |
| Target sequence 11: SEQ ID NO: 136 5'-GCCUUACUAUAUGUUCUGUC-3' (Position in gene sequence:
32) |
Sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 80 5'-GCCUUACUAUAUGUUCUGUCUU-3' |
| Antisense strand: SEQ ID NO: 103 5'-GACAGAACAUAUAGUAAGGCUU-3' |
| dsRNA: SEQ ID NO: 34 5'-GCCUUACUAUAUGUUCUGUCAGUUU-3' |
| Target sequence 12: SEQ ID NO: 137 5'-CCUUACUAUAUGUUCUGUCAG-3' (Position in gene sequence:
33) |
Sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 81 5' -CCUUACUAUAUGUUCUGUCAGUU-3' |
| Antisense strand: SEQ ID NO: 104 5'-CUGACAGAACAUAUAGUAAGGUU-3' |
| dsRNA: SEQ ID NO: 35 5'-CCUUACUAUAUGUUCUGUCAGUUUC-3' |
| Target sequence 13: SEQ ID NO: 138 5'-CAGGAAAAUCUUCAUCUUAC-3' |
Sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 82 5'-CAGGAAAAUCUUCAUCUUACUU-3' |
| Antisense strand: SEQ ID NO: 105 |
| (Position in gene sequence: 61) |
5'-GUAAGAUGAAGAUUUUCCUGUU-3' |
| dsRNA: SEQ ID NO: 36 5'-CAGGAAAAUCUUCAUCUUACAACUU-3' |
| Target sequence 14: SEQ ID NO: 139 5'-GCUGGUGUUAACUUACGACU-3' (Position in gene sequence:
91) |
Sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 83 5'-GCUGGUGUUAACUUACGACUUU-3' |
| Antisense strand: SEQ ID NO: 106 5'-AGUCGUAAGUUAACACCAGCUU-3' |
| dsRNA: SEQ ID NO: 37 5'-GCUGGUGUUAACUUACGACUCUUCA-3' |
| Target sequence 15: SEQ ID NO: 140 5'-GGUGUUAACUUACGACUUCA-3' (Position in gene sequence:
94) |
Sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 84 5'-GGUGUUAACUUACGACUUCAUU-3' |
| Antisense strand: SEQ ID NO: 107 5'-UGAAGUCGUAAGUUAACACCUU-3' |
| dsRNA: SEQ ID NO: 38 5'-GGUGUUAACUUACGACUUCACUAAC-3' |
| Target sequence 16: SEQ ID NO: 141 5'-CACUAACUGUGACUUUGAG-3' (Position in gene sequence:
112) |
Sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 85 5'-CACUAACUGUGACUUUGAGUU-3' |
| Antisense strand: SEQ ID NO: 108 5'-CUCAAAGUCACAGUUAGUGUU-3' |
| dsRNA: SEQ ID NO: 39 5'-CACUAACUGUGACUUUGAGAAGAUU-3' |
| Target sequence 17: SEQ ID NO: 142 5'-GACCUGAUUACAUAUAUGAG-3' (Position in gene sequence:
167) |
Sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 86 5' -GACCUGAUUACAUAUAUGAGUU-3' |
| Antisense strand: SEQ ID NO: 109 5'-CUCAUAUAUGUAAUCAGGUCUU-3' |
| dsRNA: SEQ ID NO: 40 5'-GACCUGAUUACAUAUAUGAGUGGGA-3' |
| Target sequence 18: SEQ ID NO: 143 5'-CCGAGUUCAACAACACCGU-3' (Position in gene sequence:
201) |
Sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 87 5'-CCGAGUUCAACAACACCGUUU-3' |
| Antisense strand: SEQ ID NO: 110 5'-ACGGUGUUGUUGAACUCGGUU-3' |
| dsRNA: SEQ ID NO: 41 5'-CCGAGUUCAACAACACCGUCUCUUG-3' |
| Target sequence 19: SEQ ID NO: 144 5'-ACCGUCUCUUGUAGCAAUCG-3' (Position in gene sequence:
215) |
Sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 88 5'-ACCGUCUCUUGUAGCAAUCGUU-3' |
| Antisense strand: SEQ ID NO: 111 5'-CGAUUGCUACAAGAGACGGUUU-3' |
| dsRNA: SEQ ID NO: 42 5'-ACCGUCUCUUGUAGCAAUCGGCCAC-3' |
| Target sequence 20: SEQ ID NO: 145 5'-AAGGCUGCCUUAGCUAUCUG-3' (Position in gene sequence:
326) |
Sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 89 5'-AAGGCUGCCUUAGCUAUCUGUU-3' |
| Antisense strand: SEQ ID NO: 112 5'-CAGAUAGCUAAGGCAGCCUUUU-3' |
| dsRNA: SEQ ID NO: 43 5'-AAGGCUGCCUUAGCUAUCUGGUGCC-3' |
| Target sequence 21: SEQ ID NO: 146 5'-CGGAAACUCAGAUAAAUGC-3' (Position in gene sequence:
360) |
Sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 90 5'-CGGAAACUCAGAUAAAUGCUU -3' |
| Antisense strand: SEQ ID NO: 113 5'-GCAUUUAUCUGAGUUUCCGUU-3' |
| dsRNA: SEQ ID NO: 44 5'-CGGAAACUCAGAUAAAUGCUACUCA-3' |
| Target sequence 22: SEQ ID NO: 147 5'-CCAATAAATGTCTGGAACAA-3' (Position in gene sequence:
420) |
Sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 91 5'-CCAAUAAAUGUCUGGAACAAUU-3' |
| Antisense strand: SEQ ID NO: 114 5'-UUGUUCCAGACAUUUAUUGGUU-3' |
| dsRNA: SEQ ID NO: 45 5'-CCAATAAATGTCTGGAACAAGUGUC-3' |
| Target sequence 23: SEQ ID NO: 148 5'-CAAGGAUUGUGGCGUCGCU-3' (Position in gene sequence:
442) |
Sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 92 5'-CAAGGAUUGUGGCGUCGCUUU-3' |
| Antisense strand: SEQ ID NO: 115 5'-AGCGACGCCACAAUCCUUGUU-3' |
| dsRNA: SEQ ID NO: 46 5'-CAAGGAUUGUGGCGUCGCUGCUUCA-3' |
2. Porous silica particles (DDV or DegradaBALL)
2-1. Preparation of porous silica particles
(1) Preparation of porous silica particles
1) Preparation of small pore particles
[0195] 960 mL of distilled water (DW) and 810 mL of MeOH were put into a 2 L round bottom
flask. 7.88 g of CTAB was added to the flask, followed by rapid addition of 4.52 mL
of 1 M NaOH under stirring. After adding a homogeneous mixture while stirring for
10 minutes, 2.6 mL of TMOS was further added. After stirring for 6 hours to mix uniformly,
the reaction solution was aged for 24 hours.
[0196] Then, the reaction solution was centrifuged at 8000 rpm and 25 °C for 10 minutes
to remove the supernatant, centrifuged at 8000 rpm and 25 °C for 10 minutes, and washed
five times with ethanol and distilled water alternately.
[0197] Thereafter, the resultant product was dried in an oven at 70 °C to harvest 1.5 g
of powdery microporous silica particles (pore average diameter of 2 nm and particle
size of 200 nm).
2) Pore expansion
[0198] 1.5 g of microporous silica particle powder was added to 10 ml of ethanol and subjected
to ultrasonic dispersion, and 10 ml of water and 10 ml of TMB (trimethyl benzene)
were further added, followed by ultrasonic dispersion.
[0199] Thereafter, the dispersion was placed in an autoclave and reacted at 160 °C for 48
hours.
[0200] The reaction was initiated at 25 °C and performed while raising the temperature at
a rate of 10 °C/min, then slowly cooled in an autoclave at a rate of 1 to 10 °C/min.
[0201] The cooled reaction solution was centrifuged at 8000 rpm for 10 minutes at 25 °C
to remove the supernatant, and centrifuged at 8000 rpm for 10 minutes at 25 °C and
washed five times with ethanol and distilled water alternately.
[0202] Then, the product was dried in an oven at 70 °C to harvest powdery porous silica
particles (pore diameter of 10 to 15 nm, and particle size of 200 nm).
3) Calcination
[0203] The porous silica particles prepared in 2) were put in a glass vial, heated at 550
°C for 5 hours, and cooled slowly to room temperature after completing the reaction
to prepare particles.
(2) Preparation of porous silica particles
[0204] Porous silica particles were prepared by the same method as Example 2-1-(1), except
that the reaction conditions at the time of pore expansion were changed to 140 °C
and 72 hours.
(3) Preparation of porous silica particles (10 L scale)
[0205] Porous silica particles were prepared by the same method as Example 2-1-(1), except
that a 5 times larger container was used and each material was used in a 5 times capacity.
(4) Preparation of porous silica particles (particle size of 300 nm)
[0206] Porous silica particles were prepared by the same method as Example 2-1-(1), except
that 920 ml of distilled water and 850 ml of methanol were used to prepare the small
pore particles.
(5) Preparation of porous silica particles (particle size of 500 nm)
[0207] Porous silica particles were prepared by the same method as Example 2-1-(1), except
that 800 ml of distilled water, 1010 ml of methanol, and 10.6 g of CTAB were used
to prepare the small pore particles.
(6) Preparation of porous silica particles (particle size of 1000 nm)
[0208] Porous silica particles were prepared by the same method as Example 2-1-(1), except
that 620 ml of distilled water, 1380 ml of methanol, and 7.88 g of CTAB were used
to prepare the small pore particles.
(7) Preparation of porous silica particles (pore diameter of 4 nm)
[0209] Porous silica particles were prepared by the same method as Example 2-1-(1), except
that 2.5 mL of TMB was used for pore expansion.
(8) Preparation of porous silica particles (pore diameter of 7 nm)
[0210] Porous silica particles were prepared by the same method as Example 2-1-(1), except
that 4.5 mL of TMB was used for pore expansion.
(9) Preparation of porous silica particles (pore diameter of 17 nm)
[0211] Porous silica particles were prepared by the same method as Example 2-1-(1), except
that 11 mL of TMB was used for pore expansion.
(10) Preparation of porous silica particles (pore diameter of 23 nm)
[0212] Porous silica particles were prepared by the same method as Example 2-1-(1), except
that 12.5 mL of TMB was used for pore expansion.
(11) Preparation of porous silica particles (dual modification)
1) Preparation of small pore particles
[0213] Small pore particles were prepared by the same method as Example 2-1- (1) -1).
2) Pore expansion
[0214] Small pore particles were reacted with TMB, cooled and centrifuged by the same method
as Example 2-1-(1)-2) to remove the supernatant. Thereafter, the remaining solution
was centrifuged under the same conditions as Example 2-1-(1) -2), washed three times
with ethanol and distilled water alternately, and then dried under the same conditions
as Example 2-1-(1)-2), thereby harvesting powdery porous silica particles (pore diameter
10 to 15 nm, and particle size of 200 nm).
3) Surface modification
[0215] After dispersing 0.8 g to 1 g of porous silica particles having expanded pores in
50 mL of toluene, 5 mL of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane was added thereto, followed
by heating under reflux at 120 °C for 12 hours. The procedure is followed by the washing
and drying procedures described above, followed by 1 mL of triethylene glycol (PEG3,
2-[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy] acetic acid) and 100 mg of EDC (1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide)
and 200 mg of N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) were dispersed in 30 mL of PBS and allowed
to react at room temperature for 12 hours under stirring. The product was then washed
and dried.
[0216] Since the reaction solution of the previous step remained inside of the pores, the
inside of the pores was not modified.
4) Washing inside pores
[0217] 800 mg of surface-modified particle powder was dissolved in 40 ml of 2M HCl/ethanol
and refluxed under vigorous stirring for 12 hours.
[0218] Thereafter, the cooled reaction solution was centrifuged at 8000 rpm for 10 minutes
to remove the supernatant, centrifuged at 8000 rpm and 25 °C for 10 minutes, and washed
five times with ethanol and distilled water alternately.
[0219] Thereafter, the product was dried in an oven at 70 °C, thereby harvesting powdery
porous silica particles.
5) Modifying inside pores
[0220]
① A propyl group was introduced into the pore in the same manner as the method of
Example 2-2-(2)-1) described below.
② An octyl group was introduced into the pore in the same manner as the method of
Example 2-2-(2)-2) described below.
2-2. Surface modification of porous silica particles
(1) Positively charging
1) Particles with particle size of 300 nm
[0221] The porous silica particles of Example 2-1-(4) were reacted with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane
(APTES) to be positively charged.
[0222] Specifically, 100 mg of porous silica particles were dispersed in a 10 mL toluene
in a 100 mL round bottom flask with a bath sonicator. Then, 1 mL of APTES was added
and stirred at 400 rpm and 130 °C for 12 hours.
[0223] After the reaction, the product was slowly cooled to room temperature and centrifuged
at 8000 rpm for 10 minutes to remove the supernatant, further centrifuged at 8000
rpm and 25 °C for 10 minutes, and then washed five times with ethanol and distilled
water alternately.
[0224] Thereafter, the product was dried in an oven at 70 °C to harvest powdery porous silica
particles having an amino group on the surface thereof and inside of the pores.
2) Particles with particle size of 200 nm
[0225]
① The porous silica particles of Example 2-1-(1) were positively charged by reacting
the particles with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES), and were modified in the
same manner as the method of 2-2-(1)-1), except that 0.4 ml of APTES was added and
the reaction time was 3 hours.
② The porous silica particles of Example 2-1-(9) were positively charged by reacting
the particles with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES), and were modified in the
same manner as the method of 2-2-(1)-1).
③ The porous silica particles of Example 2-1-(10) were positively charged by reacting
the particles with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES), and were modified in the
same manner as the method of 2-2-(1)-1).
(2) Introduction of hydrophobic groups
1) Propyl group
[0226] The porous silica particles of Example 2-1-(1) were reacted with trimethoxy(propyl)silane
to introduce propyl groups into the surface of the particles and inside of the pores,
and were subjected to modification by the same method as Example 2-2-(1), except that
0.35 ml of trimethoxy(propyl)silane was added instead of APTES, followed by 12 hours
of reaction.
2) Octyl group
[0227] The porous silica particles of Example 2-1-(1) were reacted with trimethoxy-n-octylsilane
to introduce octyl groups on the surface of the particles and inside of the pores,
and were subjected to modification by the same method as Example 2-2-(1), except that
0.5 ml of trimethoxy-n-octylsilane was added instead of APTES, followed by 12 hours
of reaction.
(3) Negatively charging
1) Carboxyl group
[0228] The porous silica particles of Example 2-1-(1) were negatively charged by reacting
the particles with succinic anhydride.
[0229] Further, the charged particles were subjected to modification in the same manner
as the method of Example 2-2-(1)-1), except that DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) was used
instead of toluene, 80 mg of succinic anhydride was added instead of APTES to allow
reaction at room temperature for 24 hours under stirring, and DMSO was used instead
of distilled water.
2) Thiol group
[0230] The particles were subjected to modification in the same manner as the method of
Example 2-2-(1)-1), except that 1.1 mL of MPTES was used instead of APTES.
3) Sulfonic acid group
[0231] 100 mg of the porous silica nanoparticles of Example 2-2-(3)-2) were dispersed in
1 mL of 1 M aqueous sulfuric acid solution and 20 mL of 30% hydrogen peroxide solution,
and stirred at room temperature to induce oxidation, thereby oxidizing a thiol group
into a sulfonic acid group. Thereafter, the product was washed and dried in the same
manner as the method of Example 2-2-(1)-1).
3. Support of nucleic acid molecules
[0232] 10 µg of porous silica particles of Example 2-2-(1)-2)-② and 50 pmol of nucleic acid
molecules were mixed under 1 × PBS conditions, and then placed at room temperature
for 30 minutes to complete loading.
[0233] The nucleic acid molecules, that is: siRNA composed of a sense RNA having the sequence
of SEQ ID NO: 70 and an antisense RNA having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 93 (hereinafter,
siTSLP #1); siRNA composed of a sense RNA having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 83 and
an antisense RNA having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 106 (hereinafter siTSLP #14); and/or
siRNA composed of a sense RNA having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 90 and an antisense
RNA having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 113 (hereinafter siTSLP #21) were used to implement
the following experiment. However, in the following description, if there is a further
description of sequences constituting the nucleic acid molecule (e.g. sense RNA, antisense
RNA, dsRNA), it can be understood that such nucleic acid molecules having the separately
specified sequences were loaded or contained.
[0234] Hereinafter, the DDV carrying siTSLP#1 is expressed as LEM-siTSLP#1, the DDV carrying
siTSLP#14 is expressed as LEM-siTSLP#14, and the DDV carrying siTSLP#21 is expressed
as LEM-siTSLP#21.
4. Determination of cell viability
[0235] A549 and HaCaT cells were seeded in 96-well culture plates with 100 µl of growth
medium (50-70% confluency) at a density of 10,000 cells per well. Cells were treated
with an appropriate concentration of DegradaBALL (Example 2-2-(1)-2)-②) in a serum-containing
medium and incubated at 37 °C for 24 hours. After incubation, the cells were washed
twice with 1 x PBS, and then 100 µl of serum-free medium containing 10 µl of CCK-8
was added, followed by further incubation for 1 hour. The optical density of each
well in the culture plate was measured at 450 nm wavelength. Mean and standard deviation
of the deviation of triplicates were calculated and plotted.
5. Cell-based TSLP knockdown assay
5-1. Culture of human skin Keratinocyte cell-line HaCaT cells
[0236] In order to investigate whether human TSLP-specific siRNA, dsRNA and antisense RNA
oligonucleotides can inhibit the production of TSLP in skin cells, keratinocyte HaCaT
cell-line (CLC cell-line service, Germany) was used. HaCaT cell-lines were incubated
in DMEM culture (Gibco BRL, USA) containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS; Gibco BRL,
USA) and antibiotics. The culture dishes used herein were 100 mm culture dish, 6-well
plate and 24-well plate, and the incubation was conducted in a 37 °C incubator with
5% CO
2. The cultures were exchanged every two days and subcultured just before the cells
were excessively proliferated.
5-2. LEM-siTSLP treatment on HaCaT cells
[0237] LEM-siTSLP (25 pmol) dispersed in a serum-free medium was used to treat HaCaT cells
cultured in 24-well plate. After incubation in 5% CO
2 incubator at 37 °C for 6 hours, the serum-free culture was removed and washed twice
with 1 × PBS, followed by replacing the medium with a serum-containing cell medium.
After 6 hours, the serum-containing culture medium was again removed and washed with
1 x PBS. The cells were treated with SLIGRL peptide (200 µM) in the serum- containing
medium. Then, in order to confirm induction of TSLP, total RNA was extracted using
Trizol (Invitrogen, USA) after 0, 6, 12 and 24 hours of culture.
[0238] Further, in order to measure the duration of TSLP knockdown by LEM-siTSLP, PAM212
cells were treated with LNP-siTSLP (mouse) (25 pmol siTSLP) containing LNP and siTSLP
(mouse) (25 pmol), respectively, in a serum-free medium. After incubation in a 5%
CO
2 incubator at 37 °C for 6 hours, the serum-free culture was removed and washed twice
with 1 × PBS, followed by replacing the medium with a serum-containing cell medium.
After incubation for the indicated times, the cells were treated with SLIGRL (200
µM) in the serum-containing culture medium. Then, the cells were further incubated
for 12 hours for TSLP induction. Total RNA was extracted using Trizol.
6. RT-PCR
[0239] 1µg of total RNA and nuclease-free water were mixed to prepare 16 µL of mixture,
which in turn was reacted at 70 °C for 5 minutes to denature RNA. After cooling rapidly
on ice, the evaporated solution was collected through short centrifugation. Then,
4 µL of Reverse Transcription Master Premix (Elpis Biotech, contain random hexamer,
5x ready-to-use mix, cat # EBT-1511) was added, mixed well and reacted at 42 °C for
1 hour. Subsequently, after reacting for 5 minutes at 94 °C, the product was cooled
on ice and then stored at -20 °C.
[0240] Following then, 7.4 µL of nuclease-free water, 0.8 µL of each of the forward and
reverse primers (5 µM), 1 µL of the cDNA template synthesized above, and 10 µL of
Power SYBR™ Green PCR Master Mix (appliedbiosystems, 2x ready-to-use mix, cat # 4367659)
were mixed to prepare a mixed solution.
[0241] RT-PCR primer sequences used for mRNA expression analysis are shown in Table 3 below.
[TABLE 3]
| mRNA type |
Forward primer |
Reverse primer |
| hTSLP (Human TSLP) |
GAGCCGCAGGCACCCTCTCA (SEQ ID NO: 116) |
GCCCCAACTAACCCTCAGGGAGT (SEQ ID NO: 117) |
| mTSLP (Mouse TSLP) |
GCAAGCCAGCTTGTCTCCTGA (SEQ ID NO: 118) |
GGCAGTGGTCATTGAGGGCTT (SEQ ID NO: 119) |
| hGAPDH (Human GAPDH) |
TCACTGCCACCCAGAAGACTG (SEQ ID NO: 120) |
GGATGACCTTGCCCACAGC (SEQ ID NO: 121) |
| mGAPDH (Mouse GAPDH) |
 |
CTTCCCATTCTCGGCCTTG (SEQ ID NO: 123) |
[0242] After denaturation at 95 °C for 3 minutes, 2-step PCR cycles were repeated at 95
°C for 10 seconds and at 60 °C for 5 seconds (GAPDH: 30 cycles, TSLP: 36 cycles).
The final reaction product was placed on on 1% agarose gel for confirmation.
7. Biological tissue imaging at administered site of siTSLP and porous silica particles
[0243] 20 µl of LEM-siTSLP (0.7 nmol siTSLP (mouse), 150 µg DDV) (FITC-conjugated siTSLP
(mouse) and TAMRA-DegradaBALL) was injected into the mouse buccal skin. The DDV used
herein was the porous silica particles of Example 2-2-(1)-2)-②, and the siTSLP (mouse)
used herein was a combination of the sense RNA sequence (5'-CGAGCAAAUCGAGGACUGUdTdT-3'
(SEQ ID NO: 124)) and the antisense RNA sequence (5'-ACAGUCCUCGAUUUGCUCGdTdT-3' (SEQ
ID NO: 125)). After the sacrifice of the mouse, fluorescent images of the excised
mouse buccal skin were taken using a FOBI imaging device (NeoScience Co., Ltd., Seoul,
Korea). The obtained skin sample was placed in 4% PFA solution. The sample was inserted
into paraffin and cut to 10 µm thickness. After dehydration, the sample section was
stained with DAPI. The sample was observed under a BX71 microscope equipped with a
20 x objective lens (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan).
Experimental result
1. Analysis of TSLP expression inhibition by nucleic acid molecules of the present
invention
[0244] In order to determine TSLP expression inhibition rate of the nucleic acid molecules
(siRNA or dsRNA) prepared using the sequences listed in the above Table 2, the nucleic
acid molecules were transfected into HaCaT cells using Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen,
USA) and cationic liposomes, followed by determining TSLP expression inhibition efficiency.
[0245] TSLP expression inhibition rates when using the nucleic acid molecules (siRNA or
dsRNA) are shown in Table 4 below.
[TABLE 4]
| SEQ ID NO. ("/" means pair between sense strand andantisense strand) |
Expression inhibition rate (%) |
SEQ ID NO. |
Expression inhibition rate (%) |
| 70/93 |
88.18 |
82/105 |
95.88 |
| 24 |
92.91 |
36 |
67.53 |
| 71/94 |
93.57 |
83/106 |
95.72 |
| 25 |
98.77 |
37 |
87.07 |
| 72/95 |
95.29 |
84/107 |
93.79 |
| 26 |
87.14 |
38 |
79.14 |
| 73/96 |
74.17 |
85/108 |
96.22 |
| 27 |
97.32 |
39 |
94.87 |
| 74/97 |
94.59 |
86/109 |
93.17 |
| 28 |
96.18 |
40 |
74.35 |
| 75/98 |
88.74 |
87/110 |
88.90 |
| 29 |
97.07 |
41 |
83.50 |
| 76/99 |
94.36 |
88/111 |
92.48 |
| 30 |
88.11 |
42 |
42.11 |
| 77/100 |
89.57 |
89/112 |
64.82 |
| 31 |
98.42 |
43 |
27.08 |
| 78/101 |
93.28 |
90/113 |
79.64 |
| 32 |
84.57 |
44 |
93.58 |
| 79/102 |
88.91 |
91/114 |
95.19 |
| 33 |
59.03 |
45 |
68.92 |
| 80/103 |
67.23 |
92/115 |
78.94 |
| 34 |
81.29 |
46 |
74.38 |
| 81/104 |
96.73 |
- |
- |
| 35 |
93.44 |
- |
- |
2. Porous silica particles (DDV or DegradaBALL)
2-1. Identification of particle formation and pore expansion
[0246] Small pore particles and porous silica particles prepared in Experimental Examples
2-1-(1) to (3) were observed under a microscope to determine whether the small pore
particles were uniformly formed or the pores were sufficiently expanded to uniformly
form the porous silica particles (FIGS. 2 to 5).
[0247] FIG. 2 is photographs of the porous silica particles in Experimental Example 2-1-(1),
and FIG. 3 is photographs of the porous silica particles in Experimental Example 2-1-(2),
and from these drawings, it can be seen that spherical porous silica particles having
sufficiently expanded pores were formed evenly.
[0248] FIG. 4 is photographs of the small pore particles in Experimental Example 2-1-(1),
and FIG. 5 is a comparative photograph of the small pore particles in Experimental
Examples 2-1-(1) and 2-1-(3), and from these drawings, it can be seen that spherical
small pore particles were formed evenly.
2-2. Calculation of BET surface area and pore volume
[0249] The surface area and pore volume of the small pore particles in Experimental Example
2-1-(1) and the porous silica particles of Experimental Examples 2-1-(1), (7), (8)
and (10) were calculated. The surface area was calculated by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller
(BET) method, and the pore size distribution was calculated by Barrett-Joyner-Halenda
(BJH) method.
[0250] Micrographs of the particles are shown in FIG. 6, and the calculation results are
shown in Table 5 below.
[TABLE 5]
| Section |
Pore diameter (nm) |
BET surface area (m2/g) |
Pore volume (mL/g) |
| Small pore particle in Experimental Example 2-1-(1) |
2.1 |
1337 |
0.69 |
| Experimental Example 2-1-(7) |
4.3 |
630 |
0.72 |
| Experimental Example 2-1-(8) |
6.9 |
521 |
0.79 |
| Experimental Example 2-1-(1) |
10.4 |
486 |
0.82 |
| Experimental Example 2-1-(10) |
23 |
395 |
0.97 |
2-3. Identification of biodegradability
[0251] In order to identify biodegradability of the porous silica particles in Experimental
Example 2-1-(1), biodegradability at 37 °C in SBF (pH 7.4) was observed under a microscope
at 0 hours, 120 hours and 360 hours, and results thereof are shown in FIG. 7.
[0252] Referring to FIG. 7, it can be seen that the porous silica particles are biodegraded
and almost degraded after 360 hours.
2-4. Measurement of absorbance ratio
[0253] Absorbance ratio over time was measured according to Equation 1 below.
(wherein A0 is absorbance of the porous silica particles measured by putting 5 ml of suspension
containing 1 mg/ml of the porous silica particles into a cylindrical permeable membrane
having pores with a pore diameter of 50 kDa,
15 ml of the same solvent as the suspension comes into contact with an outside of
the permeable membrane, and the inside/outside of the permeable membrane are horizontally
stirred at 60 rpm and 37 °C, and
At indicates absorbance of the porous silica particles measured after lapse of "t" hours
since Ao was measured).
[0254] Specifically, 5 mg of porous silica particle powder was dissolved in 5 ml of SBF
(pH 7.4). Thereafter, 5 ml of porous silica particle solution was placed in a permeable
membrane having pores with a pore diameter of 50 kDa shown in FIG. 8. 15 ml of SBF
was added to the outer membrane, and the SBF on the outer membrane was replaced every
12 hours. Degradation of the porous silica particles was performed at 37 °C under
horizontal stirring at 60 rpm.
[0255] Then, the absorbance was measured by UV-vis spectroscopy and analyzed at λ = 640
nm.
(1) Measurement of absorbance ratio
[0256] Absorbance ratio of the porous silica particles in Experimental Example 2-1-(1) was
measured according to the above method, and results thereof are shown in FIG. 9.
[0257] Referring to FIG. 9, it can be seen that t, at which the absorbance ratio becomes
1/2, is about 58 hours to demonstrate very slow degradation.
(2) Particle size
[0258] Absorbances of the porous silica particles in Experimental Examples 2-1-(1), (5)
and (6) were measured according to Equation 1 above, and results thereof are shown
in FIG. 10 (SBF used as the suspension and the solvent).
[0259] Referring to FIG. 10, it can be seen that t is decreased as the particle size is
increased.
(3) Average pore diameter
[0260] Absorbances of the porous silica particles in Experimental Examples 2-1-(1) and (9)
and the microporous silica particles in Experimental Example 2-1-(1) as a control
were measured according to Equation 1 above, and results thereof are shown in FIG.
11 (SBF used as the suspension and the solvent).
[0261] Referring to FIG. 11, it can be seen that the porous silica particles of the inventive
example have a significantly larger t than the control.
(4) pH
[0262] Absorbance of the porous silica particles in Experimental Example 2-1-(4) for each
pH was measured. The absorbance was measured in SBF and in Tris at pH 2, 5, and 7.4,
and results thereof are shown in FIG. 12.
[0263] Referring to FIG. 12, it could be seen that, although there is a difference in t
in relation to pH, t at which all absorbance ratio becomes 1/2 was 24 or more.
(5) Charging
[0264] Absorbance of the porous silica particles in Experimental Example 2-2-(1)-1) was
measured, and results thereof are shown in FIG. 13 (Tris (pH 7.4) used as the suspension
and the solvent).
[0265] Referring to FIG. 13, it could be seen that t at which the absorbance ratio of the
positively charged particles becomes 1/2 was 24 or more.
2-5. Release of supported nucleic acid molecules
[0266] 10 µl of porous silica particles loaded with Cy5-siRNA were resuspended in SBF (pH
7.4, 37 °C) and put into a permeable membrane with a pore diameter of 20 kDa (a tube
in FIG. 14).
[0267] Thereafter, the permeation tube was immersed in 1.5 ml of SBF.
[0268] Release of siRNA was performed at 37 °C under 60 rpm horizontal stirring.
[0269] Before 24 hours, the discharged solvent was recovered at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and
24 hours lapse, and thereafter, 0.5 ml of the discharged solvent was recovered at
24 hours interval for fluorescence measurement, followed by adding equal amount of
SBF.
[0270] Fluorescence intensity of Cy5-siRNA was measured at 670 nm wavelength (λ
ex = 647 nm) to determine a degree of emission of siRNA, and results thereof are shown
in FIG. 15.
[0271] Referring to FIG. 15, it can be seen that a time of 50% siRNA release is about 48
hours.
3. In vitro LEM-siTSLP treatment results
3-1. Identification of HaCaT cell and HeLa intracellular morphology
(1) Experimental method
[0272] HaCaT cells or HeLa cells were seeded in an 8-well chamber (Lab-Tek Chamber slide
system) by 2.0 × 10
3 cells and then incubated for 24 hours. After washing the cells twice with 1 × PBS,
TAMRA fluorescence-labeled siRNA (50 ng) was loaded onto FITC fluorescence-labeled
DDV (1 µg) to prepare siRNA and DDV complex, followed by treating the cells with the
above complex in a serum-free medum for 2 hours.
[0273] The DDV used herein was the porous silica particles of Example 2-2-(1)-2) -②, and
the siRNA used herein was siRNA #1.
[0274] After 2 hours, the cells were washed twice with 1 × PBS. Subsequently, the medium
was replaced with 10% FBS containing medium, followed by nuclear staining the cells
(2, 6, 8, 12, 18, 24 hours) in the order of time using Hoechst 33342 (Invitrogen).
Then, change in morphology of the cells and intracellular distributation of siRNA
and DDV in the cells over time were observed by Delta Vision Elite High Resolution
Microscope (GE Healthcare Life Sciences) using a 60 x lens.
(2) Experimental result
[0275] After treatment of the cells using the siRNA and DDV complex, it was found at the
earily stage of about 2 hours that orange to yellow fluorescence appeared mostly in
the cells. This is expected because red fluorescence-labeled siRNA supported on green
fluorescence-labeled DDV is introduced into the cells so that green fluorescence and
red fluorescence overlap to appear orange to yellow fluorescence in the cells.
[0276] Over time, it was confirmed that orange to yellow fluorescence considerably disappeared
while predominantly exhibiting green fluorescence. This is expected because siRNA
is released from DDV, such that orange to yellow fluorescence disappeared over time,
while predominantly exhibiting green fluorescence of siRNA.
[0277] From the above results, it was determined that the DDV and siRNA complex is well
introduced into the cells, and the siRNA drug can be released into the cells in a
sustained manner.
3-2. In vitro identification of TSLP mRNA knockdown by LEM-siTSLP
[0278] In order to measure target gene knockdown efficiency of LEM-siTSLP, HaCaT (human
keratinocyte cells) was subjected to the following experiment using LEM-siTSLP #1,
LEM-siTSLP #14 and LEM-siTSLP #21 prepared by the above-described method.
[0279] Before proceeding with the TSLP mRNA knockdown identification experiment, it was
confirmed that TSLP expression is induced by treating HaCaT cells with SLLPRL (see
FIG. 18).
[0280] First, HaCaT cells were treated with the above three types of LEM-siTSLP (25 pmol)
and then incubated with 200 vM SLIGRL in order to induce TSLP expression. As a result,
LEM-siTSLP treatment on the cell-line has reduced the mRNA expression level of TSLP
and, in particular, LEM-siTSLP #1 treatment showed significant effects on inhibition
of mRNA expression of TSLP.
[0281] Meanwhile, the controls (siTSLP #1, siTSLP #14, siTSLP #21 only) were treated with
siRNA only, and did not show effects of inhibiting mRNA expression of TSLP in HaCaT
cells (see FIG. 19). These results indicate that, unlike the controls, LEM-siTSLP
may efficiently transfect siTSLP into cells and induce knockdown of the TSLP gene.
4. In vitro sustained siTSLP release of LEM-siTSLP
[0282] In the present experiment, LEM-siTSLP was confirmed to maintain TSLP knockdown effects
longer than LNP in HaCaT cells.
[0283] HaCaT cells were treated with LEM-siTSLP #1 (25 pmol) and siTSLP #1 (25 pmol) supported
on LNP, followed by SLIGRL treatment to induce TSLP expression.
[0284] As the DDV carrying siTSLP #1, the porous silica particles of Example 2-2-(1)-2)
-② were used.
[0285] Inhibition of TSLP expression in HaCaT cells was continued up to 96 hours after LEM-siTSLP
#1 treatment (TSLP expression level, 72 hours: 15%, 96 hours: 22%), but TSLP expression
inhibition efficiency of siTSLP #1 loaded on LNP was not high at both 72 and 96 hours
(TSLP expression level, 72 hours: 43%, 96 hours: 56%) (see FIG. 20). That is, it can
be seen that LEM-siTSLP inhibits target mRNA expression at a high level for a longer
period of time than siTSLP loaded on LNP in cells.
5. Delivery of LEM-siTSLP and ex-vivo analysis of change in distribution of LEM-siTSLP
[0286] C57BL/6 mouse buccal tissues were subjected to injection of fluorescent-labeled LEM-siTSLP
consisting of FITC-conjugated siTSLP loaded on TAMRA-conjugated DegradaBALL, whereas
only unsupported FITC-conjugated siTSLP was injected through a subcutaneous infusion
route. Then, durations at the injection sites of LEM-siTSLP and siTSLP, respectively,
were compared. The present experiment confirmed LEM-siTSLP delivery effect and change
in distribution of the same.
[0287] The porous silica particles of Example 2-2-(1)-2)-② were used as DDV and the siTSLP
used herein was siRNA #1.
[0288] Fluorescent image analysis of the resected mouse buccal skin and fragmented buccal
skin was performed on days 1, 2 and 4 after injection. Fluorescence of TAMRA-DegradaBALL
carrying FITC-siTSLP showed strong luminescence at the injection site on day 1. The
fluorescence is slowly decreased over time but the fluorescence at the injection site
is still strongly remained until 4 days after the injection (see FIGS. 21 and 23).
A tendency of decreasing fluorescence at the injection site over time corresponded
to a skin section sliding tendency. On the other hand, no fluorescence signal was
observed in the excised skin or fragmented skin slides from mice injected with only
unsupported FITC-siTSLP. This suggested that siTSLP is rapidly dispersed in the body
or is degraded into small pieces to induce very rapid diffusion when only siTSLP without
DDV is administered (see FIGS. 22 and 23). From the data, it could be seen that the
skin with treatment of LEM-siTSLP has maintained a significantly higher concentration
level of siTSLP than the case of treatment with siTSLP not supported on DDV, for at
least 4 days after the injection.
6. In-vivo analysis of TSLP knockdown effect by LEM-siTSLP injection
[0289] TSLP knockdown effects in mice injected with LEM-siTSLP were investigated by mouse
behavioral analysis.
[0290] After clearly removing hair of the mouse buccal tissues, PBS and DDV loaded with
siSLP (0.7 nmol siRNA, 150 ug BALL in 20 uL PBS) were intradermally injected (ID)
on the right buccal part, respectively.
[0291] The porous silica particles of Example 2-2-(1)-2)-② were used as DDV, and siTSLP
used herein was a combination of the sense RNA sequence (5'-CGAGCAAAUCGAGGACUGUdTdT-3'
(SEQ ID NO: 124)) and the antisense RNA sequence (5'-ACAGUCCUCGAUUUGCUCGdTdT-3' (SEQ
ID NO: 125).
[0292] After 48 hours of injection, TSLP induction was performed by ID injection of 100
µg (in 20 µl PBS) of SLIGRL peptide, and scratching behavior was observed for 30 minutes
immediatedly after injection in order to compare behavior conditions.
[0293] Specifically, the number of times of scratching a buccal part by a mouse was analyzed
and, in order to distinguish the scratching from the grooming behavior, only the number
of times of scratching the cheek with the 'hind foot' of the mouse was counted. Raising
then putting down the hind foot counts as one time but, when continuously scratching
for 1 second or more without putting down the hind foot, the duration was measured
and counted once per second.