Study the lipidoid nanoparticle mediated genome editing protein delivery using 3D intestinal tissue model

Lipid nanoparticles are promising carriers for oral drug delivery. For bioactive cargos with intracellular targets, e.g. gene-editing proteins, it is essential for the cargo and carrier to remain complexed after crossing the epithelial layer of intestine in order for the delivery system to transport the cargos inside targeted cells. However, limited studies have been conducted to verify the integrity of cargo/carrier nanocomplexes and their capability in facilitating cargo delivery intracellularly after the nanocomplex crossing the epithelial barrier. Herein, we used a traditional 2D transwell system and a recently developed 3D tissue engineered intestine model and demonstrated the synthetic lipid nanoparticle (carrier) and protein (cargo) nanocomplexes are able to cross the epithelial layer and deliver the protein cargo inside the underneath cells. We found that the EC16-63 LNP efficiently encapsulated the GFP-Cre recombinase, penetrated the intestinal monolayer cells in both the 2D cell culture and 3D tissue models through temporarily interrupting the tight junctions between epithelial layer. After transporting across the intestinal epithelia, the EC16-63 and GFP-Cre recombinase nanocomplexes can enter the underneath cells to induce gene recombination. These results suggest that the in vitro 3D intestinal tissue model is useful for identifying effective lipid nanoparticles for potential oral drug delivery.