Polyethylene glycol-based protein nanocapsules for functional delivery of a differentiation transcription factor

Transcription factors (TFs) can direct cell fate by binding to DNA and regulating gene transcription. Controlling the intracellular levels of specific TFs can therefore enable reprogramming of cellular function and differentiation. Direct delivery of recombinant TFs to target cells can thus have widespread therapeutic value, but has remained challenging due to structural fragility of TFs and inefficient membrane transduction. Here we describe the functional delivery of TFs using degradable polymeric nanocapsules to drive cellular differentiation. The nanocapsules were synthesized with poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG)-based monomers and intracellularly-degradable crosslinkers. Physical properties and release kinetics of the nanocapsules were optimized through tuning of monomer and crosslinker ratios to achieve enhanced delivery of cargo destined for the nuclei. The nanocapsules did not display cytotoxicity in primary cell lines up to concentrations of 5 μm. A recombinant myogenic transcription factor, MyoD, was delivered to the nuclei of myoblast cells using degradable nanocapsules to induce myogenic differentiation. MyoD was confirmed to be delivered to the nuclei of myoblasts using confocal microscopy and was demonstrated to be active in transcription through a luciferase-based reporter assay. More importantly, delivered MyoD was able to drive myoblast differentiation as evidenced by the hallmark elongated and multinuclear morphology of myotubes. The activation of downstream cascade was also confirmed through immunostaining of late myogenic markers myogenin and My-HC. The efficiency of differentiation achieved via nanocapsule delivery is significantly higher than that of native MyoD, and is comparable to that of plasmid transfection. The encapsulated MyoD can also withstand prolonged protease treatment and remain functional. The ease of preparation, biocompatibility and effective cargo delivery make the polymeric nanocapsule a useful tool to deliver a variety of recombinant TFs for therapeutic uses.