Cystic fibrosis (CF), a lethal hereditary disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene coding for an epithelial chloride channel, is characterized by an imbalanced homeostasis of ion and water transports in secretory epithelia. As the disease is single-gene based, transcript therapy using therapeutic mRNA is a promising concept of treatment in order to correct many aspects of the fatal pathology on a cellular level. Hence, we developed chitosan nanocapsules surface-loaded with wtCFTR-mRNA to restore CFTR function. Furthermore, we loaded the nanocapsules with capsaicin, aiming to enhance the overall efficiency of transcript therapy by reducing sodium hyperabsorption by the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). Dynamic light scattering with non-invasive back scattering (DLS-NIBS) revealed nanocapsules with an average hydrodynamic diameter of ~200 nm and a Zeta potential of ~+60 mV. The results of DLS-NIBS measurements were confirmed by asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) with multidetection, while transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images confirmed the spherical morphology and size range. After stability measurements showed that the nanocapsules were highly stable in cell culture transfection medium, and cytotoxicity was ruled out, transfection experiments were performed with the CF cell line CFBE41o-. Finally, transepithelial measurements with a new state-of-the-art Ussing chamber confirmed successfully restored CFTR function in transfected cells. This study demonstrates that CS nanocapsules as a natural and non-toxic delivery system for mRNA to target cells could effectively replace risky vectors for gene delivery. The nanocapsules are not only suitable as a transcript therapy for treatment of CF, but open aspiring possibilities for safe gene delivery in general.

Nanoscale drug delivery systems exhibit a broad range of applications and promising treatment possibilities for various medical conditions. Nanomedicine is of great interest, particularly for rare diseases still lacking a curative treatment such as cystic fibrosis (CF). CF is defined by a lack of Cl− secretion through the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and an increased Na+ absorption mediated by the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). The imbalanced ion and water transport leads to pathological changes in many organs, particularly in the lung. We developed a non-viral delivery system based on the natural aminopolysaccharide chitosan (CS) for the transport of antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) against ENaC to specifically address Na+ hyperabsorption. CS–ASO electrostatic self-assembled nanocomplexes were formed at varying positive/negative (P/N) charge ratios and characterized for their physicochemical properties. Most promising nanocomplexes (P/N 90) displayed an average size of ~150 nm and a zeta potential of ~+30 mV. Successful uptake of the nanocomplexes by the human airway epithelial cell line NCI-H441 was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy. Functional Ussing chamber measurements of transfected NCI-H441 cells showed significantly decreased Na+ currents, indicating successful downregulation of ENaC. The results obtained confirm the promising characteristics of CS as a non-viral and non-toxic delivery system and demonstrate the encouraging possibility to target ENaC with ASOs to treat abnormal ion transport in CF.