Fast Cyclization of a Proline‐Derived Self‐Immolative Spacer Improves the Efficacy of Carbamate Prodrugs

Self‐immolative (SI) spacers are sophisticated chemical constructs designed for molecular delivery or material degradation. We describe herein a (S)‐2‐(aminomethyl)pyrrolidine SI spacer that is able to release different types of anticancer drugs (possessing either a phenolic or secondary and tertiary hydroxyl groups) through a fast cyclization mechanism involving carbamate cleavage. The high efficiency of drug release obtained with this spacer was found to be beneficial for the in vitro cytotoxic activity of protease‐sensitive prodrugs, compared with a commonly used spacer of the same class. These findings expand the repertoire of degradation machineries and are instrumental for the future development of highly efficient delivery platforms.     

Phosphate-Based Self-Immolative Linkers for Tuneable Double Cargo Release

Phosphorus-based self-immolative (SI) linkers offer a wide range of applications, such as smart materials and drug-delivery systems. Phosphorus SI linkers are ideal candidates for double-cargo delivery platforms because they have a higher valency than carbon. A series of substituted phosphate linkers was designed for releasing two phenolic cargos through SI followed by chemical hydrolysis. Suitable modifications of the lactate spacer increased the cargo release rate significantly, from 1 day to 2 hours or 5 minutes, as shown for linkers containing p-fluoro phenol. In turn, double cargo linkers bearing p-methyl phenol released their cargo more slowly (4 days, 4 hours, and 15 minutes) than their p-fluoro analogues. The α-hydroxyisobutyrate linker released both cargos in 25 minutes. Our study expands the current portfolio of SI constructs by providing a double cargo delivery option, which is crucial to develop universal SI platforms.     

In situ forming PLGA implant for 90 days controlled release of leuprolide acetate for treatment of prostate cancer

In prostate cancer, hormone therapy via leuprolide acetate drug (LUP) is used to lower the level of testosterone down to castration level to effectively control the development of prostate cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effective parameters in degradation and controlled release of an injectable in situ formed polymeric implant, loaded with leuprolide acetate, in order to achieve an optimum formulation for sustained drug release for 90 days with minimum burst release. The main problem associating with such implants is their high burst release. Designing an injectable implant with sustained and minimum burst release has thus become an attractive challenge in drug delivery field. Effects of type of poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) 75:25 copolymers (RG752, RG756) and addition of nano‐hydroxyapatite (HA) particles on degradation rates of the implants and release profiles were examined in vitro and in vivo in a rabbit animal model. Results showed that implants containing polymers with higher molecular weights had significantly lower weight loss and molecular weight reduction. Adding nanoparticles of hydroxyapatite into poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) implants caused further reduction in degradation rates, leading to a more sustained drug release in vivo, with reduced burst release. Different conventional kinetic models were applied to drug release and degradation data. The degradation data fit well to the first‐order degradation model. Higuchi model was the best kinetic release model fitted to the experimental in vitro release data. This study led to an optimum formulation (RG756:RG752 3:1 + 5% HA) with sustained leuprolide release and testosterone suppression over a 90‐day period with significant decrease of burst release phase (50%, p < 0.001) compared with the conventional Eligard formulation. The histopathology test showed that the formulated implant had no effects of toxicity or tissue necrosis in organs of the animal model. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Polymeric Lids for Microcontainers for Oral Protein Delivery

Oral delivery of proteins and peptides is one of the main challenges in pharmaceutical drug development. Microdevices have the possibility to protect the therapeutics until release is desired, avoiding losses by degradation. One type of microdevice is polymeric microcontainers. In this study, lysozyme is chosen as model protein and loaded into microcontainers with the permeation enhancer sodium decanoate (C10). The loaded microcontainers are sealed and functionalized by applying polymeric lids onto the cavity of the devices. The first lid is poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic) acid (PLGA) and on top of this either polyethylene glycol (PEG) or chitosan is applied (PLGA+PEG or PLGA+chitosan, respectively). The functionalization is evaluated in vitro for morphology, drug release, and mucoadhesive properties. These are coupled with in vitro and ex vivo studies using Caco‐2 cells, Caco‐2/HT29‐MTX‐E12 co‐cultures, and porcine intestinal tissue. PLGA+chitosan shows slower release compared to PLGA+PEG or only PLGA in buffer and the transport of lysozyme across cell cultures is not enhanced compared to the bulk powder. Microcontainers coated with chitosan or PEG demonstrate a three times stronger adhesion during ex vivo mucoadhesion studies compared to samples without coatings. Altogether, functionalized microcontainers with mucoadhesive properties and tunable release for oral protein delivery are developed and characterized.     

Synthesis of Near‐Infrared Responsive Gold Nanorod/PNIPAAm Core/Shell Nanohybrids via Surface Initiated ATRP for Smart Drug Delivery

Nanosized near infrared (NIR) responsive nanohybrids are synthesized by surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI‐ATRP) of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) on gold nanorods (Au NRs). Transmission electron microscopy images demonstrate that the nanohybrids have a clear core/shell structure. Temperature‐variable ¹H NMR spectroscopy, quasi‐elastic light scattering (QELS), UV‐vis spectroscopy, and laser irradiation prove that the nanohybrids are both temperature and NIR responsive. Norvancomycin (NVan) loading and release experiments show that the drug release rate can be modulated by NIR irradiation. Such an intelligent drug‐delivery system might find applications in non‐invasive controlled drug release in future.

     

Comparative isoconversional thermal analysis of Artemisia vulgaris hydrogel and its acetates; a potential matrix for sustained drug delivery

Abstract

Artemisia vulgaris hydrogel (AVH) was acetylated (AAVH) and characterized by FTIR, CP/MAS ¹³C-NMR spectroscopic techniques and thermogravimetric analysis. Flynn–Waal–Ozawa model was used to investigate thermal degradation kinetics. Energy of activation (Ea) values of first and major thermal degradation steps were found to be 128.14 and 116.85 kJmol^?1 for AVH and AAVH, respectively. Thermodynamic triplet, order of degradation reaction, integral procedural decomposition temperature (IPDT) and comprehensive index of intrinsic thermal stability (ITS) were also taken into account. In vitro caffeine release from AVH-based matrix tablets indicates potential of AVH for the development of oral delivery systems for sustained drug release.     

Molecularly imprinted cryogel as a pH-responsive delivery system for doxorubicin

In this study, implantable and degradable molecularly imprinted cryogel was prepared for pH-responsive delivery of doxorubicin. Cryogel discs were synthesized using amino acid-based functional monomer with HEMA and gelatin. The molecularly imprinted discs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, degradation and swelling tests. In vitro delivery experiments were carried out in order to examine the effects of medium pH and drug content. The degree of degradation of composite cryogels was found to be 83.45±1.86% after 56 days. The release profiles of DOX from molecularly imprinted cryogel discs exhibit a biphasic delivery. It was observed that an initial burst release step from 0 to 12 h was followed by a slower and sustained release. Release rate of DOX from cryogel discs increased in more acidic conditions. Kinetic studies showed that a combination of diffusion and erosion control is mainly responsible from the general release behaviors of molecularly imprinted cryogel discs.     

Biodegradable polycaprolactone–polyanhydrides blends

Biodegradable polymers based on a blend of polycaprolactone (PCL) and aliphatic polyanhydrides with various monomer lengths were prepared to obtain desired polymer blends for use as drug carriers. The physicochemical, mechanical, and drug‐release properties of these blends were investigated by various techniques to evaluate the uniformity degree of the polymer blends to establish their potential applications in drug delivery. The results demonstrated that the heat of fusion (ΔH) of the polyanhydride or the blend is increased in relation to the length of the aliphatic chain. However, the blends had different properties than pure polyanhydride, and the crystallization degree of the blends, as expressed by the ΔH, decreased in relation to the ΔH of the pure polyanhydride. Drug‐release studies from blends of PCL and aliphatic polyanhydrides demonstrated first‐order kinetics of the release rate. Polymer degradation was independent at the polyanhydride monomer length. On the basis of theoretical calculation of the interaction factor, a blend of PCL and poly(dodecanedeoic anhydride) was chosen for further elucidation of its thermal, mechanical, and degradation properties. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3781–3787, 2003     

Phototriggered release of photolabile drugs via two-photon absorption-induced cleavage of polymer-bound dicoumarin

7-(tert-Butyldimethylsiloxy)-7′-(methacryloxy)dicoumarin (TBS-Cum-D -MA) is introduced as a versatile polymerizable and photocleavable linker system for drug attachment to acrylic polymers. Following the copolymerization of the TBS-Cum-D -MA with monomeric methylmethacrylate, a model drug chlorambucil was attached in a simple reaction. Phototriggered drug release via single- and two-photon absorption induced cycloreversion of the cyclobutane of the dicoumarin part was investigated. The bound drug chlorambucil is sensitive to UV light being required for single-photon induced cleavage of the dicoumarin linker and decomposes upon UV exposure. However, under the conditions of two-photon absorption induced drug release, no photodegradation of chlorambucil was observed. As the only effective two-photon absorber in the molecule is the cyclobutane structure, even high energies of visible light do not cause any degradation of the drug. This suggests that two-photon-triggered drug release may be successfully accomplished even with UV light sensitive drugs. The concept introduced here may be a powerful strategy in polymer design for photocontrolled drug delivery devices. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2443–2452, 2007     

Assessing the degradation profile of functional aliphatic polyesters with precise control of the degradation products

The pre-polymer poly(but-2-ene-1,4-diyl malonate) (PBM) and a series of PBM-based materials are shown to be degradable under physiological conditions in vitro and they are therefore presented as potential materials for biomedical applications. Four different PBM-based materials are synthesized: a PBM homopolymer, crosslinked PBM with and without spacer, and a triblock copolymer of PBM and PLLA with the PBM as an amorphous middle block. The polymers are subjected to hydrolytic degradation in phosphate-buffered saline at pH = 7.4 and 37 °C. The results show that all the PBM-based materials degrade without a rapid release of acidic degradation products or any substantial lowering of the pH that might jeopardize their biocompatibility.     

Biodegradable polyphosphazenes for drug delivery

Polyphosphazene derivatives having amino acid ester side groups were prepared by reaction of poly(dichlorophosphazene) with ethyl esters of amino acids. The in vitro degradation studies demonstrated that the rate of degradation depends on the nature of the amino acids. Introducing small amounts of hydrolytically sensitive groups such as depsipeptide ester or hydrolysis-catalysing moieties, such as histidine ethyl ester co-substituents, resulted in an increase of the degradation. The rate of hydrolytic degradation of the polyphosphazene material could be controlled by the content of the hydrolytically sensitive side groups or by blending hydrolysis-sensitive polymers with more stable derivatives. The results obtained from the in vivo implantation of biodegradable polyphosphazenes in mice indicate that the materials are very well tolerated by the animal body. Biodegradable polyphosphazenes have been used as matrix for the design of drug delivery systems. The rate of the in vitro release of mitomycin C from biodegradable polyphosphazenes can be controlled by changing the chemical composition of the polymer or by blending polymers of different chemical compositions.     

Preparation and properties of redox responsive modified hyaluronic acid hydrogels for drug release

A series of oxidized hyaluronic acid (oxi‐HA)/3,3′‐dithiobis (propionohydrazide) (DTP) redox responsive hydrogels by Schiff base reaction under physiological conditions were designed and prepared. The influence of the concentration of oxi‐HA and DTP on rheological properties, equilibrium swelling ratio, and degradation rate were investigated. All oxi‐HA/DTP hydrogels exhibited good rheological properties, high equilibrium swelling ratio, low degradation rate, and sustainable drug release properties, and the comprehensive performance of oxi‐HA5/DTP6 hydrogel was better than that of others. The redox responsiveness was evaluated by means of degradation and in vitro bovine serum albumin release behavior investigation with the stimulus of different concentration of dithiothreitol as reducing agent. The intelligent hydrogels could be potentially applied in the fields of drug delivery system, tissue engineering, or cell scaffold materials. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Polynonanolactone synthesized from vegetable oil: Evaluation of physical properties,biodegradation, and drug release behavior

A systematic investigation of the synthesis, physical properties, biodegradation, and drug release behavior of an aliphatic polynonanolactone from vegetable oil was performed. The chemical structure of the lactone monomers and polylactones were confirmed by NMR spectrometry and molecular weights were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The thermal behavior of the polymers was assessed by modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The polynonanolactones are crystalline with melting enthalpies (ΔH_m) ranging from 90 to 135 J/g. The crystalline nature of the polylactides was further evaluated by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and peaks corresponding to planes (110), (200), and (210) were detected. The hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation properties of the polynonanolactones were studied and the degradation rate is comparable to that of widely used polycaprolactone. The enzyme proteinase K was used for the degradation of polynonanolactones. The extent of degradation was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Drug incorporation and release traits due to hydrolytic degradation of the polymer film was carried out with 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) as a model drug. This new class of polynonanolactones obtained from vegetable oil was demonstrated to be a potentially competent candidate to replace petroleum‐based polycaprolactone especially for drug delivery applications where slow release of drugs is a requisite. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 6373–6387, 2009     

Chondroitin/polypyrrole nanocomposite hydrogels for the accurate release of 5-fluorouracil by electrical stimulation

The development of electro-stimulated drug release devices is an innovative approach to attain the drug delivery in accurate doses at target sites in a programmed manner. In this work, novel electroactive nanocomposite hydrogels were prepared by encapsulating green-synthesized polypyrrole (PPy) colloids within chondroitin sulfate (CS) networks during the self-crosslinking of CS via N-ethyl-N′-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide chemistry. The structural and morphological properties of CS/PPy hydrogels were studied by Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and swelling kinetic measurements. The chemotherapeutic agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was loaded into CS/PPy samples by hydrogel swelling method, or alternatively, by pre-incubating the drug in polymer mixture before crosslinking. Different electrical stimulations can be used to switch ON and accurately tune the 5-FU delivery from GG/PPy hydrogels. A single pulse potential of 5 V switched on the drug delivery up to 90% from nanocomposite hydrogel, in contrast to the low 5-FU amount released in a passive form (< 20%). PPy electroactive behavior played a determining role as the main driving force in 5-FU release activation. Cytotoxicity of hydrogels with and without 5-FU was examined in normal and cancer cells. Considering the high cytotoxicity of 5-FU, the ON/OFF 5-FU release patterns evidenced the potential of CS/PPy hydrogels for electrically controlled drug delivery in implantable or transdermal drug release devices.     

Biodegradation of polymeric drug carriers: Kinetic modeling

Analytical models - based on kinetic and mechanistic considerations- have been developed, for describing the enzymic degradation of polymers. The models were applied to delineate the degradation patterns expected when endo- or exo- acting enzymes are used, and when the kinetic constant K_M varies with the size (i) of the macromolecular substrate. Utilization of these models, in conjunction with experimentally available data, provides the possibility to define the mechanism of enzymic action, and to determine the kinetic constants of the process. Thus, for example, for the degradation of poly-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-L-glutamine (PHEG) by papain, the correlation between K_M and i was established. The above models can also be used to provide data that cannot be obtained experimentally (e.g. exact chain length distribution of degradation products), and to determine, with minimum effort, the experimental set up required for obtaining a desired array of products. They are, therefore, most useful tools for the design of enzyme–actuated drug delivery devices.     

Intramolecular formation of excimers in model compounds for polyesters obtained from 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid and cyclohexanediols

The fluorescence in dilute solution has been measured as a function of solvent viscosity for four bichromophoric models for polyesters with naphthalene in the rigid aromatic unit and diols derived from cyclohexane as the flexible spacer. The spacers are 1,2-cis-cyclohexanediol, 1,2-trans-cyclohexanediol, a 1:2 mixture of 1,3-cis- and 1,3-trans-cyclohexanediols, and a 1:2 mixture of 1,4-cis- and 1,4-trans-cyclohexanediols. The shape of the emission spectra for the molecules in this series is less sensitive to the viscosity of the medium than was the case for an analogous series in which a methylene or oxyethylene spacer replaces the cyclohexanediol spacer. The dependence of the excimer emission on the type of spacer is different also in the series in which the rigid units contain naphthalene or benzene. When the rigid units contain naphthalene, excimer formation is maximal if the spacer contains 1,2-trans-cyclohexanediol, but this spacer produces a molecule with a very small tendency for excimer formation in its polymers with terephthalate. A conformational analysis correctly concludes that the spacer most conducive to excimer formation should be 1,2-trans-cyclohexanediol, but it does not identify the correct order of the remaining three bichromophoric model compounds. The problem may reside in the method for taking into account the finite width of the torsional well associated with each rotational isomer. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Highly fluorinated monomers precursors of side-chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes

Two series of monomers, 4-[4-(allyloxy)benzoyloxy]phenyl-3-(perfluoro-n-alkyl)ethyl propanoates and 2-(perfluoro-n-alkyl)ethyl-4-[4-(undec-10-en-1-oyloxy)-benzoyloxy] benzoates have been synthesised. These compounds contain a fluorinated chain obtained from 2-(perfluoro-n-alkyl)ethanol or from 2-(perfluoro-n-alkyl)ethyliodide, and an aliphatic chain containing a double bond attached to a mesogenic moiety. Their hydrosilylation with polymethylhydrogenosiloxane gives the corresponding polysiloxanes with a spacer with three or ten methylene units. These new fluorinated compounds are characterized by a combination of techniques consisting of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal optical polarized microscopy. All the monomers exhibited smectogenic properties of type A but for the monomers with a long spacer between the unsaturated function and the mesogenic core (compounds B), the mesophase range decreases dramatically. All of the corresponding polysiloxanes exhibited a liquid crystalline behaviour over a wide temperature range. The influence of the fluorinated chain lengthening leads for the monomers and the polymers to an increasing of the transition temperatures. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4487–4496, 1999     

Synthesis of HPMA Copolymers Containing Doxorubicin Bound via a Hydrazone Linkage. Effect of Spacer on Drug Release and in vitro Cytotoxicity

The aim of this study was the synthesis, physico‐chemical characterization and preliminary evaluation of biological activity of novel polymer drugs based on conjugates of anti‐cancer drug doxorubicin (Dox) with water‐soluble polymer drug carriers based on N‐(2‐hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymers. In the conjugates, Dox is attached to the polymer via a pH‐sensitive linkage susceptible to hydrolysis at pH ≈ 5–6, thus enabling intracellular Dox release. Seven Dox‐containing polymer conjugates differing in the length and structure of the single‐amino‐acid or oligopeptide spacer were synthesized (Gly, β‐Ala, 6‐aminohexanoyl, 4‐aminobenzoyl, GlyGly, GlyLeuGly, Gly‐DL ‐PheLeuGly) and the relationship between the spacer structure and the rate of in vitro Dox release was studied at various pH. The rate of Dox release at pH 5 (close to lysosomal pH) ranged from 70 to 96% of total Dox/48 h, depending on the spacer structure and being the highest for the conjugate containing the 6‐aminohexanoyl spacer. The rate of Dox release from most conjugates incubated at pH 7.4 (blood pH) was more than 10 times slower, ca. 4–10% of total Dox/48 h. Molecular weight of the polymer (25 000–115 000 g/mol) did not significantly influence the rate. The presence of lysosomal enzyme cathepsin B in incubation media increased the rate of Dox release from the conjugates with oligopeptide GlyLeuGly and Gly‐DL ‐PheLeuGly spacers by 15–30%, whereas the release from conjugates with other spacers remained unchanged. Cytotoxicity of all hydrazone conjugates for mouse EL‐4 T cell lymphoma cells was much higher and close to that of free Dox (IC₅₀ ≈ 0.1–0.34 μg Dox/mL), in contrast to cytotoxicity of similar classic conjugates bearing Dox attached via an amide bond (IC₅₀ ≈ 19 μg Dox/mL).     

Simple Radical Polymerization of Poly(Alginate‐Graft‐N‐Isopropylacrylamide) Injectable Thermoresponsive Hydrogel with the Potential for Localized and Sustained Delivery of Stem Cells and Bioactive Molecules

In this study, thermoresponsive copolymers that are fully injectable, biocompatible, and biodegradable and are synthesized via graft copolymerization of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) onto alginate using a free‐radical reaction are presented. This new synthesis method does not involve multisteps or associated toxicity issues, and has the potential to reduce scale‐up difficulties. Chemical and physical analyses verify the resultant graft copolymer structure. The lower critical solution temperature, which is a characteristic of sol–gel transition, is observed at 32 °C. The degradation properties indicate suitable degradation kinetics for drug delivery and bone tissue engineering applications. The synthesized P(Alg‐g‐NIPAAm) hydrogel is noncytotoxic with both human osteosarcoma (MG63) cells and porcine bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (pBMSCs). pBMSCs encapsulated in the P(Alg‐g‐NIPAAm) hydrogel remain viable, show uniform distribution within the injected hydrogel, and undergo osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation under appropriate culture conditions. Furthermore, for the first time, this work will explore the influence of alginate viscosity on the viscoelastic properties of the resulting copolymer hydrogels, which influences the rate of medical device formation and subsequent drug release. Together the results of this study indicate that the newly synthesized P(Alg‐g‐NIPAAm) hydrogel has potential to serve as a versatile and improved injectable platform for drug delivery and bone tissue engineering applications.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of disulfide-linked HPMA copolymer-mesochlorin e6 conjugates

Novel polymeric delivery systems for the photosensitizer mesochlorin e6 (Mce6) were synthesized to overcome problems of systemic toxicity. A disulfide bond was included to allow for quick release of Mce6 from the N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymer backbone once internalized in tumor tissue. The synthesized conjugates demonstrated a time-dependent reductive cleavage with an accompanying increase in the quantum yield of singlet oxygen generation on exposure to DTT. Quicker release kinetics and a higher cytotoxicity in SKOV-3 human ovarian carcinoma cells were obtained as compared to polymer conjugate with a proteolytically cleavable GFLG spacer. These novel conjugates hold promise as clinically relevant drug delivery systems for photodynamic therapy of cancer.