Recent progress of polymeric nanogels for gene delivery

With its nearly unrestricted possibilities, gene therapy attracts more and more significance in modern-day research. The only issue still seeming to hold back its clinical success is the actual effective delivery of genetic material. Nucleic acids are in general challenging to administer to their intracellular targets because of their unfavorable pharmaceutical characteristics. Polymeric nanogels present a promising delivery platform for oligonucleotide-based therapies, as the growing number of reports deliberated in this review represents. Within the scope of this article, recent progress in the use of nanogels as gene delivery vectors is summarized and different examples of modified, stimuli-responsive, targeted, and codelivering nanogels are discussed in detail. Furthermore, major aspects of successful gene delivery are addressed and critically debated in regard to nanogels, giving insights into what progress has been made and which key issues still need to be further approached.     

Recent progress in conductive polymeric materials for biomedical applications

Advanced polymeric materials undoubtedly constitute one of the most promising classes of new materials due to their intriguing electronic, optical, and redox properties. The incredible progress in this area has been driven by the development of novel synthetic procedures owing to the emergence of nanotechnology and by the large array of applications. In particular, hybridization of polymeric materials with nanomaterials has allowed the production of promising functional materials with tailored properties and functionalities for targeted biomedical applications. Consequently, sufficient researchers have carried out imperative studies on these advanced polymeric materials over the last decade. Beyond scientific and fundamental interest, such advanced materials are conspicuous from technological perspectives as well. In this review, we accentuate the proliferation of advanced polymeric materials in diverse biomedical applications.     

Aqueous sec analysis of cationic polymers as gene carriers

Cationic polymers have been receiving much attention as non-viral gene vectors.The aqueous mobile phase was optimized in combination with Shodex OHpak SB columns for size-exclusion chromatography(SEC)analysis of disulfide-containing poly(ethylene imine)(PEI)derivatives used in gene delivery.Addition of acetonitrile in mobile phase was shown to be able to suppress the hydrophobic interactions between polymer analytes and the stationary phase.The absolute molecular weights and distributions of the cationic polymers were determined directly from online SEC-MALS(multi-angle light scattering)/RI(refractive index detector).The results demonstrate that a good SEC separation of disulfide-containing PEI derivatives used in gene delivery with little band broadening was achieved.     

Design of polymeric carriers for cancer-specific gene targeting: utilization of abnormal protein kinase Calpha activation in cancer cells

We succeeded in cancer cell specific gene expression by using a polyplex responsive to protein kinase Calpha, which is activated in various types of cancer cells.     

Monte Carlo simulation of polymeric materials: Recent progress

Monte Carlo simulations are presented, dealing with phase diagrams of block copolymer melts and polymer blends, including the unmixing kinetics of the latter systems. The theoretical background is briefly reviewed: Ginzburg-type criteria reveal that in mixtures of long flexible polymers a “crossover” occurs from mean-field behavior (as described by Flory-Huggins theory) to nonclassical Ising-type behavior, and spinodal curves can be unusually sharp. This crossover is demonstrated by large scale simulations of the bond fluctuation model, and it is also shown that for symmetric mixtures the critical temperature scales with chain length as T_c α N. The prefactor in this relation is distinctly smaller than predicted by Flory-Huggins, but the Curro-Schweizer integral equation theory prediction T_c α √N is clearly ruled out. Tests of the Cahn theory on the initial stages of spinodal decomposition of polymer blends will also be reported. To conclude, the mesophase formation in block copolymers is discussed, and it is shown that the simulations agree very well with experiment. The pronounced chain stretching that already occurs in the disordered phase is compelling evidence against the validity of simple random phase approximation concepts for these systems. This shows how Monte Carlo simulations can assist in better understanding large classes of polymeric materials.     

Recent progress in the development,characterization and application of polymeric pseudophases for electrokinetic chromatography

This review article details the development, characterization and application of polymeric materials as pseudostationary phases for electrokinetic chromatography over the past two years. Recent developments in cationic polymers and anionic siloxane, acrylamide and polymerized surfactants (micelle polymers) are reviewed. Also reviewed is recent progress in the development and characterization of chiral polymeric phases for chiral separations by electrokinetic chromatography, and application of a polymeric pseudophase with electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection.     

Recent progress in the shape deformation of polymeric hydrogels from memory to actuation

Shape deformation hydrogels, which are one of the most promising and essential classes of stimuli-responsive polymers, could provide large-scale and reversible deformation under external stimuli. Due to their wet and soft properties, shape deformation hydrogels are anticipated to be a candidate for the exploration of biomimetic materials, and have shown various potential applications in many fields. Here, an overview of the mechanisms of shape deformation hydrogels and methods for their preparation is presented. Some innovative and efficient strategies to fabricate programmable deformation hydrogels are then introduced. Moreover, successful explorations of their potential applications, including information encryption, soft robots and bionomic systems, are discussed. Finally, remaining great challenges including the achievement of multiple stable deformation states and the combination of shape deformation and sensing are highlighted.

Shape deformation hydrogels, which are one of the most promising and essential classes of stimuli-responsive polymers, could provide large-scale and reversible deformation under external stimuli.     

Recent advancements in 2D nanomaterials for cancer therapy

Since mechanical exfoliation of graphene in 2004, unprecedented scientific and technological advances have been achieved in the development of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials. These 2D nanomaterials exhibit various unique mechanical, physical and chemical properties on account of their ultrathin thickness, which are highly desirable for many applications such as catalysis, optoelectronics, energy storage/conversion, as well as disease diagnosis and therapeutics. In this review, we summarized recent progress on the design and fabrication of functional 2D nanomaterials capable of being applied for the cancer treatment including drug delivery, photodynamic therapy, and photothermal therapy. Their anticancer mechanisms were discussed in detail, and the related safety concerns were analyzed based on current research developments. This review is expected to provide an insight in the field of 2D nanostructured materials for anticancer applications.     

Improved synthesis of DC-Chol,a cationic lipid for gene therapy

An improved synthesis of DC-Chol, a cationic lipid employed for the preparation of liposomes to be used in gene therapy, is described. The synthetic strategy is designed in two steps only and affords good yields. To cite this article: A. Bianco et al., C. R. Chimie 6 (2003).     

Recent progress of vaccines administration via microneedles for cancer immunotherapy

Therapeutic cancer vaccines have undergone a resurgence in the past decade. Because of the high level of immune cell accumulation and abundant capillary lymphatic system in the dermis, percutaneous vaccination is considered to be an ideal treatment route. For convenient administration, the recent development of microneedles(MNs) provides a safe, painless, and low-cost transdermal delivery strategy, which could bypass the first-pass metabolism of vaccines for enhanced stability and bioavailabilit...     

Copolymers: efficient carriers for intelligent nanoparticulate drug targeting and gene therapy

Copolymers are among the most promising substances used in the preparation of drug/gene delivery systems. Different categories of copolymers, including block copolymers, graft copolymers, star copolymers and crosslinked copolymers, are of interest in drug delivery. A variety of nanostructures, including polymeric micelles, polymersomes and hydrogels, have been prepared from copolymers and tested successfully for their drug delivery potential. The most recent area of interest in this field is smart nanostructures, which benefit from the stimuli-responsive properties of copolymeric moieties to achieve novel targeted drug delivery systems. Different copolymer applications in drug/gene delivery using nanotechnology-based approaches with particular emphasis on smart nanoparticles are reviewed.     

Recent developments in living cationic polymerization

Scope and limitation of the vinyl ether polymerization initiated by NR₄ClO₄(KClO₄;LiClO₄)/CH₃CHI-OR was discussed. Besides isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE), N-vinylcarbazole (NVC) and 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether (CEVE) were initiated by NR₄ClO₄/CH₃CHI-OR. These polymerizations exhibited the characteristics of a living polymerization. However, in order to observe narrow molar mass distribution NVC was initiated with CH₃CHI-OR, without salts. Block copolymers were synthesized by the method of sequential monomer addition (NVC, IBVE, CEVE). The PCEVE segment was modified by nucleophilic substitution, which allowed the synthesis of amphiphilic block copolymers.     

Recent developments in polymeric superoleophobic surfaces

The construction and application of superoleophobic surfaces have aroused worldwide interest during the past few years. These surfaces are of great significance not only for fundamental research but also for various practical applications in self‐cleaning, oil‐repellent coatings, and antibioadhesion. The unique properties of polymers have made them one of the most important materials for constructing superoleophobic materials. This article reviews recent developments in the design, fabrication, and application of polymeric superoleophobic surfaces. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012     

Preorganized cationic pillararene as efficient carriers for intracellularly delivering native proteins

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Therapeutic poly(amino acid)s as drug carriers for cancer therapy

As one of the top global health problems, the effective treatment of cancer is one of the most urgent clinical challenges. Currently, the main treatments for cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and gene therapy etc. Chemotherapy is one of the most commonly used treatments, however it has limitations such as highly toxic side effects and low drug utilization rate that limit its application. Gene therapy, as an emerging cancer treatment, has limitations such as drug instability, off-target effects and low internalization efficiency. Poly(amino acid)s carriers with good biocompatibility, degradability and multifunctionality as drug carriers have received much attention, as they can reduce the toxic side effects of chemotherapy, improve drug utilization, and enhance the internalization efficiency and utilization of gene drugs. However, little attention has been paid to the nature of the carriers themselves. This paper reviews the immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, internalization-promoting and apoptosis-promoting functions of poly(amino acid)s drug carriers in tumor therapy to provide a theoretical basis for different carrier-drug-adapted synergistic therapies.     

Calixarenes: recent progress in supramolecular chemistry for application in cancer therapy

Journal of Inclusion Phenomena and Macrocyclic Chemistry - Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and the limited success of currently used anticancer drugs is a driving force for...     

Recent developments in polymeric charge transfer complexes

The recent literature on polymeric charge transfer complexes is reviewed with emphasis on the author's own work. After a definition of the area and a survey of investigations on the spatial arrangement of donor and acceptor sites in the solid state, a variety of applications of these complexes is presented. Electrically conductive polymers are excluded. These applications are: compatibilization of polymer blends, liquid crystalline supramolecular organization, new developments in photo-conductivity, electroluminescence, nonlinear optical properties, photorefractivity and reversible optical storage.     

化学键组装稀土/无机/有机聚合物杂化光功能材料的最新研究进展

本文针对近五年来光功能稀土/无机/有机聚合物杂化材料的最新进展进行了评述,其重点着眼于高分子化合物作为构筑基元的发光稀土杂化材料体系的化学键组装.内容主要涉及稀土有机高分子杂化材料、配位键构筑的稀土/无机/有机高分子杂化材料、共价键构筑的稀土/无机/有机高分子杂化材料、自由基聚合构筑的稀土/无机/有机高分子杂化材料几个重要方面.主要结合我们自己的近期研究工作,通过系统总结来展现该领域的研究现状并提出未来展望.     

Polymeric carriers of drugs for site-specific therapy

Three types of water-soluble polymeric drug carrier systems facilitating targeted drug delivery and controlled drug release were synthesized. All systems consist of an inert soluble synthetic polymer, drug and homing device (targeting moiety). In the first “classical” system, both drug and targeting moiety are bound to a nondegradable polymer by means of biodegradable oligopeptide side chains statistically distributed along the polymer chain. The second, “star-like” system contains a targeting moiety (antibody) in the centre and a hydrophilic polymer, bearing drug molecules, in the shell of the system. The third, “biodegradable” carrier system is based on block copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol) containing biodegradable oligopeptide sequences both in the main polymer chain and in the spacers between main chain and drug molecules. Strategy and details of the synthesis of all three systems are given.     

刺激响应型生物医用聚合物纳米粒子研究进展

近十几年来, 纳米科学的发展极大地推动了纳米材料在生物医用领域的应用. 聚合物纳米粒子由于其独特的性能在药物传递、医学成像等医用领域备受关注. 其中, 刺激响应型聚合物纳米粒子是一类可以在外界信号刺激下(包括pH、温度、磁场、光等)发生结构、形状、性能改变的纳米粒子. 利用这种刺激响应性可调节纳米粒子的某种宏观行为, 故而刺激响应型聚合物纳米粒子也被称为智能纳米粒子. 因为其特有的“智能性”, 刺激响应型聚合物纳米粒子的研究已成为当前生物材料领域的研究热点. 本文综述了几类重要的生物医用刺激响应型聚合物纳米粒子, 侧重介绍双重及多重刺激响应型聚合物纳米粒子的制备及其生物医学应用.