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Since 2020, the world is facing the first global pandemic of 21st century. Among all the solutions proposed to treat this new strain of coronavirus, named SARS-CoV-2, the vaccine seems a promising way but the delays are too long to be implemented quickly. In the emergency, a dual therapy has shown its effectiveness but has also provoked a set of debates around the dangerousness of a particular molecule, hydroxychloroquine. In particular, the doses to be delivered, according to the studies, were well beyond the acceptable doses to support the treatment without side effects. We propose here to use all the advantages of nanovectorization to address this question of concentration. Using quantum and classical simulations we will show in particular that drug transport on boron nitrogen oxide nanosheets increases the effectiveness of the action of these drugs. This will definitely allow to decrease the drug quantity needing to face the disease., Graphical abstract On the impact of nanovectorization of drug toward target.Image 1, Highlights • Strong interaction of boron nitride oxide with Sars-Cov-2 domains. • High BNO vectorization power with Hydroxychloquine or Azythromicin against Sars-Cov-2. • Nanomedicine using BNO can limit the medical drug doses. • Low limiting interaction of vectorized drug with viral protein.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an alternative treatment to surgery in oncology using photosensitizer (PS), light and oxygen. Meta-tetra(hydroxylphenyl)chlorin (mTHPC) is one of the most used PS in clinics due to its high absorption in the deep red and high 1O2 quantum yield. In order to improve the mTHPC tumor selectivity different attempts of nanovectorisation were conducted. Non-PEGylated liposomal mTHPC (Foslip®) increase biodistribution and pharmacokinetic properties. However, the rapid liposome destruction during circulation and rapid mTHPC release are obvious shortcomings. Alternatively, mTHPC vectorization could be realized by extracellular vesicles (EVs). Derived from the cell, EVs possess a natural stability in bloodstream and ability to transport and deliver cargo molecules into cancer cells. This formulation is interesting for PDT due to the ability to encapsulate porphyrins. The aim of the present study was to determine the interest of EVs as mTHPC nanocarriers in various preclinical models compared to Foslip®. In contrast to Foslip®, membrane integrity of mTHPC-EVs was conserved in 20% of plasma. In vitro, mTHPC-EVs showed cellular internalization by an active endocytosis mechanism. In a 3D model of spheroids, mTHPC-EVs have improved cellular uptake, better diffusion inside spheroid and increased PDT efficacy. In vivo, mTHPC-EVs appeared to be more potent in terms of PDT efficacy, with a tumor growth delay significantly higher. In conclusion, integration of mTHPC in EVs improves PDT efficacy in various preclinical models. The tracking of mTHPC-EVs using a radioactive tracer in xenografted rodents as well as the study of vascularization targeting will be studied in the next step of this work.; La thérapie photodynamique (PDT) est un traitement alternatif à la chirurgie en oncologie utilisant un photosensibilisateur (PS), la lumière visible et l’oxygène moléculaire. La méta-tétra(hydroxyphényl)chlorine (mTHPC) est l’un des PS de deuxième génération les plus utilisés en clinique en raison de son absorption dans le rouge lointain et d’un rendement quantique en 1O2 élevé. De par sa nature hydrophobe, la mTHPC est partiellement agrégée dans la circulation sanguine diminuant sa biodistribution. Dans le but d’améliorer la sélectivité tumorale de la mTHPC, différentes stratégies de vectorisation ont été développées. La formulation liposomale de mTHPC non PEGylée (Foslip®) améliore la biodistribution ainsi que les propriétés pharmacocinétiques de la mTHPC. Cependant, une rapide destruction des liposomes en circulation ainsi qu’une rapide libération de la mTHPC sont des inconvénients majeurs. Une alternative possible est l’utilisation de vésicules extracellulaires (VE). Dérivées des cellules, les VE possèdent une stabilité naturelle dans la circulation sanguine et une capacité à transporter et délivrer leur contenu de manière spécifique aux cellules cancéreuses. Cette vectorisation est intéressante en PDT en raison d’une importante capacité d’encapsulation des porphyrines. Le but de cette étude était d’évaluer l’intérêt des VE en tant que nanovecteur de la mTHPC dans divers modèles précliniques comparé au Foslip®. Contrairement au Foslip®, l’intégrité membranaire des VE est conservée en présence de 20% de plasma. In vitro, les mTHPC-VE ont montré une internalisation cellulaire par un mécanisme actif d’endocytose. Dans un modèle cellulaire en 3D de sphéroïdes multicellulaires, les mTHPC-VE ont permis d’accroitre l’accumulation cellulaire, la diffusion au sein de ce modèle ainsi que l’efficacité PDT. In vivo, les mTHPC-VE apparaissent plus efficace au niveau PDT avec un retard de croissance tumorale significativement augmenté. En conclusion, l’intégration de la mTHPC au sein des VE améliore l’efficacité PDT dans les différents modèles d’étude. Le suivi des mTHPC-VE à l’aide d’un traceur radioactif chez la souris ainsi que l’étude du ciblage de la vascularisation tumorale seront étudiés dans la suite du travail.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an alternative treatment to surgery in oncology using photosensitizer (PS), light and oxygen. Meta-tetra(hydroxylphenyl)chlorin (mTHPC) is one of the most used PS in clinics due to its high absorption in the deep red and high 1O2 quantum yield. In order to improve the mTHPC tumor selectivity different attempts of nanovectorisation were conducted. Non-PEGylated liposomal mTHPC (Foslip®) increase biodistribution and pharmacokinetic properties. However, the rapid liposome destruction during circulation and rapid mTHPC release are obvious shortcomings. Alternatively, mTHPC vectorization could be realized by extracellular vesicles (EVs). Derived from the cell, EVs possess a natural stability in bloodstream and ability to transport and deliver cargo molecules into cancer cells. This formulation is interesting for PDT due to the ability to encapsulate porphyrins. The aim of the present study was to determine the interest of EVs as mTHPC nanocarriers in various preclinical models compared to Foslip®. In contrast to Foslip®, membrane integrity of mTHPC-EVs was conserved in 20% of plasma. In vitro, mTHPC-EVs showed cellular internalization by an active endocytosis mechanism. In a 3D model of spheroids, mTHPC-EVs have improved cellular uptake, better diffusion inside spheroid and increased PDT efficacy. In vivo, mTHPC-EVs appeared to be more potent in terms of PDT efficacy, with a tumor growth delay significantly higher. In conclusion, integration of mTHPC in EVs improves PDT efficacy in various preclinical models. The tracking of mTHPC-EVs using a radioactive tracer in xenografted rodents as well as the study of vascularization targeting will be studied in the next step of this work., La thérapie photodynamique (PDT) est un traitement alternatif à la chirurgie en oncologie utilisant un photosensibilisateur (PS), la lumière visible et l’oxygène moléculaire. La méta-tétra(hydroxyphényl)chlorine (mTHPC) est l’un des PS de deuxième génération les plus utilisés en clinique en raison de son absorption dans le rouge lointain et d’un rendement quantique en 1O2 élevé. De par sa nature hydrophobe, la mTHPC est partiellement agrégée dans la circulation sanguine diminuant sa biodistribution. Dans le but d’améliorer la sélectivité tumorale de la mTHPC, différentes stratégies de vectorisation ont été développées. La formulation liposomale de mTHPC non PEGylée (Foslip®) améliore la biodistribution ainsi que les propriétés pharmacocinétiques de la mTHPC. Cependant, une rapide destruction des liposomes en circulation ainsi qu’une rapide libération de la mTHPC sont des inconvénients majeurs. Une alternative possible est l’utilisation de vésicules extracellulaires (VE). Dérivées des cellules, les VE possèdent une stabilité naturelle dans la circulation sanguine et une capacité à transporter et délivrer leur contenu de manière spécifique aux cellules cancéreuses. Cette vectorisation est intéressante en PDT en raison d’une importante capacité d’encapsulation des porphyrines. Le but de cette étude était d’évaluer l’intérêt des VE en tant que nanovecteur de la mTHPC dans divers modèles précliniques comparé au Foslip®. Contrairement au Foslip®, l’intégrité membranaire des VE est conservée en présence de 20% de plasma. In vitro, les mTHPC-VE ont montré une internalisation cellulaire par un mécanisme actif d’endocytose. Dans un modèle cellulaire en 3D de sphéroïdes multicellulaires, les mTHPC-VE ont permis d’accroitre l’accumulation cellulaire, la diffusion au sein de ce modèle ainsi que l’efficacité PDT. In vivo, les mTHPC-VE apparaissent plus efficace au niveau PDT avec un retard de croissance tumorale significativement augmenté. En conclusion, l’intégration de la mTHPC au sein des VE améliore l’efficacité PDT dans les différents modèles d’étude. Le suivi des mTHPC-VE à l’aide d’un traceur radioactif chez la souris ainsi que l’étude du ciblage de la vascularisation tumorale seront étudiés dans la suite du travail.

International audience; Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) represent a class of nanomaterials with important potential for biomedical and biotechnological applications. CNT based vectorization is an emerging approach to the transport of nucleic acid through cell membrane but limited by detachment of DNA and degradation process. To increase DNA internalization, it was proved that cationic functionalized CNT was essential. In such a way, protamine efficiently used in several transfection processes is a cationic protein which was never associated to CNT.We propose here a novel nanovector based on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) functionalized by protamine. Our results based on qPCR methods clearly indicate that protamine-SWCNT/DNA hybrids were much more successful than ammonium-SWCNT/DNA hybrids to cross cell membrane and penetrate into cells. We also studied the cellular internalization mechanism of our complexes and showed that endocytosis was strongly involved. Finally, we proposed molecular dynamic simulations to understand the formation of the protamine-SWCNT/DNA complex and to extract the interaction responsible for its deliverance upon cell membrane. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Widely used in cancer treatment, chemotherapy still faces hindering challenges, ranging from severe induced toxicity to drug resistance acquisition. As means to overcome these setbacks, newly synthetized compounds have recently come into play with the basis of improved pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties. With this mind-set, this project aimed towards the antiproliferative potential characterization of a group of metallic compounds. Additionally the incorporation of the compounds within a nanoformulation and within new combination strategies with commercial chemotherapeutic drugs was also envisaged. Cell viability assays presented copper (II) compound (K4) as the most promising, presenting an IC50 of 6.10 μM and 19.09 μM for HCT116 and A549 cell line respectively. Exposure in fibroblasts revealed a 9.18 μM IC50. Hoechst staining assays further revealed the compound’s predisposition to induce chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation in HCT116 upon exposure to K4 which was later demonstrated by flow cytometry and annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide double staining analysis (under 50 % cell death induction). The compound further revealed the ability to interact with major macromolecules such as DNA (Kb = 2.17x105 M-1), inducing structural brakes and retardation, and further affecting cell cycle progression revealing delay in S-phase. Moreover BSA interactions were also visible however not conclusive. Proteome profiling revealed overexpression of proteins involved in metabolic activity and underexpression of proteins involved in apoptosis thus corroborating Hoechst and apoptosis flow cytometry data. K4 nanoformulation suffered from several hindrances and was ill succeeded in part due to K4’s poor solubility in aqueous buffers. Other approaches were considered in this regard. Combined chemotherapy assays revealed high cytotoxicity for afatinib and lapatinib strategies. Lapatinib and K4 proteome profiling further revealed high apoptosis rates, high metabolic activity and activation of redundant proteins as part of compensatory mechanisms.

Creatine transporter deficiency is a rare brain disease associated with the loss of function of the SLC6A8 (creatine transporter) leading to an absence of creatine at the cerebral level and to a dramatic neurodevelopmental retardation in the children. To date, no effective therapy is available.A potential therapeutic option would be the design of a pharmaceutical formulation of lipophilic prodrugs of creatine that will cross the cell membranes passively and target the neurons in order to restore the creatine content inside these cells.One of the main purposes of this dissertation is to propose an original chemistry synthesis process of creatine esters with long aliphatic chain. These compounds show interesting pharmacological properties of structure-activity relationship between the length of the aliphatic chain (i.e. lipophilicity) and the ability for the drug to enter cerebral endothelial, astroglial and neuronal cells. According to our experimental observations, the dodecyl ester creatine seems to be the best drug candidate. Moreover, the dodecyl ester is acted on by cellular esterases inside patients’ fibroblasts with a functional deficit of the SLC6A8 and increases the intracellular creatine content.The pharmaceutical formulation developed in this study consists by incorporation of dodecyl ester inside a nanovector (Lipid NanoCapsules). Two main advantages can be gained by nanovectorization: firstly, the dodecyl ester is protected from the degradation by plasmatic esterases before reaching the brain. Secondly, the nanovectorization strategy is highly valuable to brain targeting bypassing the blood-brain barrier, which remains until now a major impediment in the drug design for the Central Nervous System. Our experimental observations highlight this two-step therapeutic strategy for the treatment of deficiency of the creatine transporter.This work was financially supported by the International PhD Program of the Life Sciences division of the CEA and the Fondation Jérôme Lejeune., Le déficit en transporteur de la créatine est une maladie rare neurologique dans laquelle la perte de fonctionnalité du transporteur de la créatine (SLC6A8) conduit à une absence de créatine au niveau cérébral et à des retards de développement majeurs chez les enfants. A l’heure actuelle, aucune thérapie efficace n’est disponible.Une approche thérapeutique potentielle est le développement de molécules prodrogues de la créatine plus lipophiles qui franchiront les membranes cellulaires de façon passive et la recherche d’une formulation galénique susceptible d’emmener la prodrogue vers les cellules cibles d’intérêt, les neurones. Ainsi, dans cette thèse, nous proposons une nouvelle voie de synthèse originale d’esters de la créatine à longue chaîne aliphatique. Ces composés présentent des propriétés pharmacologiques intéressantes : nous montrons qu’il existe une relation de structure-activité entre la taille de la chaîne aliphatique (et donc la lipophilie) et la capacité de la molécule à être internalisée dans les cellules endothéliales cérébrales, astrocytaires et neuronales, constituant l’unité neurovasculaire. Il ressort de nos observations expérimentales que l’ester dodécylique de créatine est le meilleur candidat médicament. De plus, après avoir été internalisé dans les fibroblastes des patients présentant un déficit fonctionnel du transporteur de la créatine, l’ester dodécylique subit une conversion par les estérases cellulaires, libérant ainsi la créatine dans le compartiment intracellulaire.La formulation galénique permettant de protéger ces esters de créatine jusqu’au cerveau repose, elle, sur la nanovectorisation, par encapsulation de l’ester dodécylique de créatine dans des NanoCapsules Lipidiques. L’avantage de cette formulation est de permettre également un ciblage actif vers la Barrière Hémato-Encéphalique, obstacle majeur dans le développement de thérapies ciblant le Système Nerveux Central. Nos observations expérimentales mettent en exergue cette double stratégie thérapeutique pour le traitement du déficit en transporteur de la créatine.Ce travail a été soutenu financièrement par la Fondation Lejeune.

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Genética Molecular e Biomedicina The main objective of the work presented in this thesis was to develop a gene silencing system by taking advantage of the nanovectorization capability and optical properties of gold nanoparticles. The idea is based on the construction of a DNA structure containing a therapeutic oligonucleotide with the ability to form Hoogsteen hydrogen bonds with double-stranded DNA, producing a DNA triple helix, besides silencing the gene of interest. Hoogsteen bonds, more unstable than the conventional Watson-Crick bonds, permit the achievement of lower melting temperatures. This attribute, coupled with the ability to generate heat by laser irradiation of the gold nanoparticles used, will allow the release of the therapeutic oligonucleotide and subsequent gene silencing without significant increase in the medium’s temperature. Thus, the thesis comprises three major sections: structure design and formation, vectorization, and gene expression silencing; the tasks involved in each of these sections were conducted in parallel. The design of the obtained structure took into account the desired melting temperature, stability at physiological conditions of the sequence-forming nucleotides, the number of Hoogsteen bonds and ionic conditions. To evaluate the formation of this structure, spectroscopic techniques were mainly used: FRET analysis and ultraviolet melting curves. Both approaches allowed the identification of interactions in the presence of therapeutic oligonucleotide compared with its absence, which may indicate structure formation. In addition, melting curves allowed the determination of the temperature of release of this oligonucleotide – 40ºC. The double-stranded DNA functionalization to gold nanoparticles has been achieved, but there was no difference in electrophoretic migration when the three oligonucleotides were present. However, the therapeutic oligonucleotide was able to efficiently inhibit gene expression in in vitro transcription and translation assays with efficiency up to 95% and 60% respectively.