1. Academic Validation
  2. Dual Targeting of m7G tRNA Modification and Histone Acetylation using Carrier-Free Nano-Epidrugs to Evoke Osteosarcoma Chemosensitization

Dual Targeting of m7G tRNA Modification and Histone Acetylation using Carrier-Free Nano-Epidrugs to Evoke Osteosarcoma Chemosensitization

  • Adv Mater. 2025 Oct 10:e05951. doi: 10.1002/adma.202505951.
Lin Qi 1 2 3 4 Wenchao Zhang 1 2 Changrong Shi 3 4 Chengyao Feng 1 2 Zhongyue Liu 1 2 Zhihong Li 1 2 5 Fang Fang 3 4 Xiaoyuan Chen 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Orthopedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.
  • 2 Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Models and Individualized Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.
  • 3 Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119074, Singapore.
  • 4 Nanomedicine Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117597, Singapore.
  • 5 National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.
  • 6 Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117575, Singapore.
  • 7 Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117575, Singapore.
  • 8 Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117544, Singapore.
  • 9 Clinical Imaging Research Centre, Centre for Translational Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599, Singapore.
  • 10 Theranostics Center of Excellence (TCE), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 138667, Singapore.
  • 11 Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, 138673, Singapore.
Abstract

Osteosarcoma has witnessed stagnant clinical outcomes over the past four decades, owing to the inevitable reduction in chemosensitivity during treatment. Although Epigenetics offers promising strategies to augment chemosensitivity, its role in osteosarcoma remains elusive. Here, by analyzing clinical cohorts, it is found that the aberrant overexpression of methyltransferase 1 (METTL1), a key N7-methylguanosine (m7G) modulator, and histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1), associated with poor chemotherapeutic response in osteosarcoma. To target these epigenetic vulnerabilities, innovative carrier-free nano-epidrugs (siMBD-R NPs) are developed, incorporating first-line doxorubicin (DOX) with siRNA against METTL1 (siMETTL1), FDA-approved HDAC Inhibitor belinostat (BEL), and DSPE-PEG2000-cRGD. With ultrahigh active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) loading content (≈92.7 wt.%), tumor-specific targeting capability, and unique pH-responsive release characteristics, the siMBD-R NPs indicate remarkable tumor accumulation (15.2-fold enhancement) compared to free siMETTL1. Importantly, through dual-epigenetic regulation, the nano-epidrugs markedly amplify DOX-triggered DNA damage. Specifically, siMETTL1 selectively disrupts m7G-modified tRNA-mediated translation of DNA repair proteins, and BEL-induced HDAC inhibition remodels chromatin into a more accessible state, promoting DNA damage accumulation. In vivo studies demonstrate that siMBD-R NPs can significantly potentiate chemosensitivity, achieving an 81.5% relative increase in tumor inhibition, and can activate an immune response. This work highlights the potential benefits of leveraging dual-targeted epigenetic intervention to evoke osteosarcoma chemosensitization.

Keywords

N7‐methylguanosine; carrier‐free nanodrugs; chemotherapy; doxorubicin; epigenetic regulation; histone deacetylation; osteosarcoma.

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