journal article·2026-06-12Open access

Membrane Fusion‐Mediated Cytosolic Delivery of Threose Nucleic Acids via Homotypic Nanoparticles Overcomes Drug Resistance in Triple‐Negative Breast Cancer

Wei Zheng, Tristan Juin Han Chang, Xinchao Li, Zhongqi Zhou, Chung Tin, Kenward Vong, Pierre Karam, Pik Kwan Lo

Abstract

ABSTRACT Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains lethal due to its aggressive molecular heterogeneity and drug resistance. We report a biomimetic nanoplatform (PLL/TNA AKT2 @CM NPs) integrating biostable threose nucleic acid (TNA) with a donor‐derived cell membranes (CMs) “cloak” for subtype‐specific therapy. By complexing TNA AKT2 antisense oligonucleotides with poly‐L‐lysine (PLL) and coating them with TNBS‐subtype membranes (MDA‐MB‐468 or MDA‐MB‐231), we achieve potent homotypic affinity. PLL/TNA AKT2 @468CM NPs exhibited significant enhanced uptake in donor‐matched basal‐like 1 cells compared to heterotypic TNBC, non‐TNBC and normal epithelial cells. Mechanistically, these nanoparticles internalize via a rapid membrane‐fusion, bypassing endosomal entrapment for direct cytosolic delivery. This facilitates robust silencing of the AKT2 oncogene, achieving a ∼ 70% protein knockdown and outperforming conventional transfection reagents. In a drug‐resistant MDA‐MB‐468 xenografts, systemic administration led to superior tumor accumulation, effective AKT2 knockdown, and significant tumor regression via the p21/Caspase‐3 apoptotic axis, without systemic toxicity. This versatile “plug‐and‐play” strategy addresses tumor heterogeneity and endosomal sequestration, providing a transformative paradigm for targeted nucleic acid delivery in refractory cancers.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: RNA Interference and Gene Delivery · Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics · Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Chemistry and State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Health Kowloon Tong Hong Kong China

Department of Biomedical Engineering City University of Hong Kong Kowloon Tong Hong Kong China

Department of Chemistry The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Kowloon Hong Kong China

Department of Chemistry American University of Beirut Beirut Lebanon

City University of Hong Kong Chengdu Research Institute Chengdu China

Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotech and Health Care Shenzhen Research Institute of City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen China

Funding

Health and Medical Research Fund · City University of Hong Kong

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