Nanoparticles and cytokine response

Abstract

Synthetic nanoparticles (NPs) are non-viral equivalents of viral gene delivery systems that are actively explored to deliver a spectrum of nucleic acids for diverse range of therapies. The success of the nanoparticulate delivery systems, in the form of efficacy and safety, depends on various factors related to the physicochemical features of the NPs, as well as their ability to remain “stealth” in the host environment. The initial cytokine response upon exposure to nucleic acid bearing NPs is a critical component of the host response and, unless desired, should be minimized to prevent the unintended consequences of NP administration. In this review article, we will summarize the most recent literature on cytokine responses to nanoparticulate delivery systems and identify the main factors affecting this response. The NP features responsible for eliciting the cytokine response are articulated along with other factors related to the mode of therapeutic administration. For diseases arising from altered cytokine pathophysiology, attempts to silence the individual components of cytokine response are summarized in the context of different diseases, and the roles of NP features on this respect are presented. We finish with the authors’ perspective on the possibility of engineering NP systems with controlled cytokine responses. This review is intended to sensitize the reader with important issues related to cytokine elicitation of non-viral NPs and the means of controlling them to design improved interventions in the clinical setting.

Navigating the challenges and exploring the perspectives associated with emerging novel biomaterials

“…Thus, it provides a novel approach for controlling the cytokine levels during the introduction of nanoparticles in vivo by modulating the factors providing the response, thereby reducing the probability of syndromes associated with perturbed cytokine levels. 153 The level of modifications that can be introduced in each of the existing biomaterials is colossal. This can be appreciated in a study involving the natural polymer cellulose, where the highly tunable nature of cellulose was exploited through physical and chemical modifications, which resulted in an enhancement in its biomedical applications.…”