A tetrahedral framework nucleic acids-based gene therapeutic nanococktail alleviates cartilage damage and protects against osteoarthritis progression

Abstract

Gene therapy based on therapeutic microRNAs (miRNAs) shows great potential in Osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. However, individual miRNAs application is limited by the single target, the instability, and the low efficiency of cell internalization. Here, we identified two potential candidate miRNAs, miR-140-5p and miR-455-3p, exhibited combined enhancing effects against OA progression. Furthermore, a nanococktail therapeutic platform, T-(140 + 455) was constructed by employing tetrahedral framework nucleic acids (tFNAs) to codeliver miR-140-5p/miR-455-3p and achieve enhanced gene therapy for OA. Compared with the delivery of individual miRNAs, T-(140 + 455) can effectively reverse the cell phenotype and metabolism of OA chondrocytes. Moreover, the nanococktail T-(140 + 455) reprogrammed macrophage polarization by modulating the crosstalk between chondrocytes and macrophages, combatting the damage caused by inflammation. The OA rat model treated with nanococktail T-(140 + 455) exhibited favorable performance in halting cartilage damage and regulating extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolic homeostasis. Thus, tFNA-based nanococktails enhance the delivery and efficacy of miRNAs, offering a promising strategy for OA gene therapy.