Drug pH-sensitive release in vitro and targeting ability of polyamidoamine dendrimer complexes for tumor cells

Recently, dendrimers have been widely used in medical applications such as drug delivery and gene transfection. In this study, a pH-sensitive diblock copolymer of poly(methacryloyl sulfadimethoxine) (PSD) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) modified by lactose (LA-PEG-b-PSD) was synthesized. The pK(a) value of the LA-PEG-b-PSD was also measured. Then, polyamidoamine (PAMAM) complexes were prepared with PAMAM (G4.0) and LA-PEG-b-PSD by electrostatic interaction. To investigate drug pH-sensitive release in vitro, doxorubicin (DOX) was loaded in PAMAM. A higher drug cumulative release from LA-PEG-b-PSD/PAMAM complexes in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) was found at pH 6.5 than at pH 7.4. The cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of PAMAM complexes were investigated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and confocal microscopy. LA-PEG-b-PSD/PAMAM/DOX complexes were able to enhance the cytotoxicity of DOX against HepG2 cells at pH 7.4. Confocal microscopy showed a higher cellular uptake of PEG-b-PSD/PAMAM complexes at pH 6.5. PAMAM complexes modified by lactose showed a higher affinity for hepatic cancer cells than those without lactose at pH 7.4. These results suggest that LA-PEG-b-PSD/PAMAM complexes exhibit selective targeting and cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells. In vivo antitumor studies showed that the LA-PEG-b-PSD/PAMAM/DOX complexes displayed higher antitumor efficacy compared with non-targeted PAMAM/DOX and DOX solution. These results indicate that this strategy should be applicable to the treatment of liver cancers.     

Potential use of cyclodextrins in soil bioremediation

Bioavailability and toxic effect of contaminants are the main limitations during soil bioremediation. Cyclodextrins may influence bioavailability of the contaminants during biodegradation and also toxicity of the pollutant on soil microbes and plants since their ability to form inclusion complei with organic compounds. The effect of cyclodextrins on bioremediation and on toxic effect of hydrocarbons was investigated by testing the activity of hydrocarbon degrading microflora and of plant growth. The effect of cyclodextrins could be demonstrated in both cases: biodegradation of hydrocarbons could be enhanced and toxic effect of hydrocarbons on plants and soil microbes could be decreased by adding cyclodextrins.     

Synthesis and functional evaluation of DNA-assembled polyamidoamine dendrimer clusters for cancer cell-specific targeting

We sought to produce dendrimers conjugated to different biofunctional moieties (fluorescein [FITC] and folic acid [FA]), and then link them together using complementary DNA oligonucleotides to produce clustered molecules that target cancer cells that overexpress the high-affinity folate receptor. Amine-terminated, generation 5 polyamidoamine (G5 PAMAM) dendrimers are first partially acetylated and then conjugated with FITC or FA, followed by the covalent attachment of complementary, 5'-phosphate-modified 34-base-long oligonucleotides. Hybridization of these oligonucleotide conjugates led to the self-assembly of the FITC- and FA-conjugated dendrimers. In vitro studies of the DNA-linked dendrimer clusters indicated specific binding to KB cells expressing the folate receptor. Confocal microscopy also showed the internalization of the dendrimer cluster. These results demonstrate the ability to design and produce supramolecular arrays of dendrimers using oligonucleotide bridges. This will also allow for further development of DNA-linked dendrimer clusters as imaging agents and therapeutics.     

Kinetic and particle size studies of emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene with using polyamidoamine dendrimer as seed

The emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene (St) were investigated with using polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer as seed, potassium persulfate as initiator and sodium dodecyl sulfate as emulsifier. The effects of 4.0GPAMAM dendrimer concentration, initiator concentration, emulsifier concentration, monomer concentration, and polymerization temperature on the monomer conversion and polymerization rate were investigated. At the same time, the influence of the generation of PAMAM dendrimer on latex particle size was studied also. The results showed that the monomer conversion and polymerization rate increased with increasing initiator concentration, emulsifier concentration, monomer concentration, and polymerization temperature. But polymerization rate increased firstly with an increase in the 4.0GPAMAM dendrimer from 0.03 g to 0.09 g and then decreased with further increase to 0.12 g. When the concentration of 4.0GPAMAM dendrimer less than 1.449 × 10^?4 mol/L, the kinetic equation can be expressed by Rp∝[4.0GPAMAM]^0.772[SDS]^0.562[KPS]^0.589[M]^0.697, and the activation energy (Ea) of emulsion polymerization is 62.56kJ/mol. In additional, the copolymer latex particle size decreased and possessed monodispersity with increasing the generation of PAMAM dendrimer. According to FT-IR spectrum analysis, PAMAM dendrimer is successfully incorporated into the poly(PAMAM-St–MMA) latex particles.     

Viologen-terminated polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer encapsulated with gold nanoparticles for nonenzymatic determination of hydrogen peroxide

The development of an accurate and low-cost monitoring technique for hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a crucial demand in environment, food industry, medicine and biology. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of viologen terminated second (G2.0) and third generation (G3.0) poly(amidoamine) PAMAM dendrimers, followed by encapsulation with gold nanoparticles to form G2.0 and G3.0 Vio-PAMAM-AuNPs. The G2.0 and G3.0 Vio-PAMAM-AuNPs were deposited over glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to form G2.0 and G3.0 Vio-PAMAM-AuNPs/GCE modified electrodes, respectively. The electrochemical behavior of G2.0 and G3.0 Vio-PAMAM-AuNPs/GCEs were investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Both the G2.0 and G3.0 Vio-PAMAM-AuNPs/GCEs showed a pair of well-defined redox peaks in 0.1 M phosphate buffer corresponding to the redox behavior of viologen V²⁺?V^?+ radical. G3.0 Vio-PAMAM-AuNPs/GCE has shown a higher current response than that of the G2.0 Vio-PAMAM-AuNPs/GCE and further the G3.0 Vio-PAMAM-AuNPs/GCE demonstrated impressive electrocatalytic activity towards reduction of H₂O₂, based on which a nonenzymatic sensor for the detection of H₂O₂ has been developed. The developed nonenzymatic sensor has displayed excellent performance towards H₂O₂ detection in the broad linear range of 0.1 mM – 6.2 mM with a low detection limit of 27 μM and high sensitivity of 202.7 μA mM^?1 cm^?2. The G3.0 Vio-PAMAM-AuNPs/GCE modified electrode with its extensive dendritic structure creating tailored sanctuary to accommodate a large number of viologen mediator and AuNPs exhibited good operational and long term stability and further the quantification of H₂O₂ in real samples has been verified by standard addition method.     

Preparation and characterization of novel physically cross-linked hydrogels composed of poly(vinyl alcohol) and amine-terminated polyamidoamine dendrimer

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers are water-soluble, biocompatible and biodegradable polymers, which have been widely applied in biomedical fields. In this paper, novel physically cross-linked hydrogels composed of PVA and amine-terminated PAMAM dendrimer G6-NH(2) were prepared by cyclic freezing/thawing treatment of aqueous solutions containing PVA and G6-NH(2). The FT-IR analysis and elemental analysis indicated that PAMAM dendrimer G6-NH(2) was successfully introduced into the formed hydrogels, possibly via hydrogen bonds among hydroxyl groups, amide groups and amino groups in PVA and PAMAM dendrimer in the process of freezing-thawing cycle. Compared with physically cross-linked PVA hydrogel, PVA/G6-NH(2) hydrogels show higher swelling ratios and faster re-swelling rate due to the higher hydrophilicity of PAMAM dendrimer G6-NH(2). Higher contents of G6-NH(2) in PVA/G6-NH(2) hydrogels resulted in higher swelling ratios and faster re-swelling rates. With increasing freezing/thawing cyclic times, the swelling ratios and re-swelling rates of PVA/G6-NH(2) hydrogels decreased, which is similar to that of physically cross-linked PVA hydrogel. Combining the special host property of polyamidoamine dendrimer, these novel physically cross-linked hydrogels are expected to have potential use in drug delivery, including improving drug-loading amounts in hydrogels and prolonging drug release time. Swelling ratios of physically cross-linked PVA/G6-NH(2)-50 hydrogels prepared by three, six, nine freezing/thawing cycles. The swelling equilibrium experiments were carried out in distilled water at 25 degrees C.     

A novel synthesis method for cyclodextrins from maltose in water-organic solvent systems

A novel enzymatic synthesis method of cyclodextrin (CD) from low-mol-wt maltose using cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) fromBacillus macerans has been developed in various water-organic solvent systems. A Β-CD was synthesized in a two-phase system consisting of water and cyclohexane. However, no CDs could be synthesized in an aqueous buffer solution. A maximal yield of Β- CD has been obtained at a cyclohexane content volume of 44%. This synthesis has been obtained only at low temperatures, i.e., 7‡C, and did not take place at 50‡C. In addition, various organic solvents have been used for the enzymatic synthesis of CD from maltose. Consequently, Β-CD could be synthesized in various water-organic solvent systems, e.g., cyclohexane, benzene, xylene, and chloroform, but no enzymatic reaction occurred using aliphaticn-hydrocarbon solvents such as hexane, dodecane, and hexadecane. Furthermore, α- and Β- CD could be synthesized in water mixture solutions using organic solvents having an alcoholic group (e.g., ethanol, propanol, butanol, and pentanol) in a wide range of the reaction temperatures, typically 7–50‡C. In this temperature range, α- and Β-CD were also formed and the maximal yield from maltose to Β-CD of approx 13% was reached in 60 h.     

A hyperbranched polyamidoamine dendrimer grafted onto magnetized graphene oxide as a sorbent for the extraction of synthetic dyes from foodstuff

Microchimica Acta - Graphene oxide nanosheets were modified with magnetite nanoparticles, and a hyperbranched polyamidoamine dendrimer was then covalently attached to their surface. The resulting...     

Electropolymerized network of polyamidoamine dendron-coated gold nanoparticles as novel nanostructured electrode surface for biosensor construction

Polyfuntionalized gold nanoparticles were prepared by using 2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid, p-aminothiophenol and cysteamine core polyamidoamine G-4 dendron as capping ligands. The nanoparticles were electropolymerized on a Au electrode surface through the formation of a bisaniline-cross-linked network. The enzyme tyrosinase was further crosslinked on this nanostructured matrix. The enzyme electrode, poised at -100 mV, was used for the amperometric quantification of cathecol. The biosensor showed a linear response from 50 nM to 10 μM cathecol, with a low detection limit of 20 nM and a sensitivity of 1.94 A M(-1) cm(2). The electrode retained 96% and 67% of its initial activity after 16 and 30 days of storage at 4 °C under dry conditions.     

Hydrophilic mesoporous carbon nanoparticles as carriers for sustained release of hydrophobic anti-cancer drugs

The uniform mesoporous carbon nanoparticles (MCNs) with size below 200 nm and good water dispersibility were successfully synthesized via a combined hydrothermal synthesis and hard templating. The prepared MCNs served as effective carriers for camptothecin which efficiently inhibited the growth of MCF-7 cancer cells after its sustained release therein.     

Layered double hydroxides as supports for intercalation and sustained release of antihypertensive drugs

Zn/Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were intercalated with the anionic antihypertensive drugs Enalpril, Lisinopril, Captopril and Ramipril by using coprecipitation or ion-exchange technique. TG-MS analyses suggested that the thermal stability of Ena⁻, Lis⁻ (arranged with monolayer, resulted from X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR) analysis was enhanced much more than Cap^- and Ram^- (arranged with bilayer). The release studies show that the release rate of all samples markedly decreased in both pH 4.25 and 7.45. However, the release time of Ena^-, Lis^- were much longer compared with Cap^-, Ram^- in both pH 4.25 and 7.45, it is possible that the intercalated guests, arranged with monolayer in the interlayer, show lesser repulsive force and strong affinity with the LDH layers. And the release data followed both the Higuchi-square-root law and the first-order equation well. Based on the analysis of batch release, intercalated structural models as well as the TG-DTA results, we conclude that for drug-LDH, stronger the affinity between intercalated anions and the layers is, better the thermal property and the stability to the acid attack of drug-LDH, and the intercalated anions are easier apt to monolayer arrangement within the interlayer, were presented.     

A pillar[5]arene-based side-chain pseudorotaxanes and polypseudorotaxanes as novel fluorescent sensors for the selective detection of halogen ions

A pseudorotaxane and its polypseudorotaxanes formed between pillar[5]arene moieties and noctylpyrazinium cations as novel fluorescent sensors for the selective detection of halogen ions were reported.A collapse of these pillar[5]arene-based pseudorotaxanes and polypseudorotaxanes occurred upon the addition of Cl,Br,and I（tetrabutylammonium salts）,respectively,leading to their fluorescence recovery.The fluorescence enhancement of the pseudorotaxane and the polypseudorotaxanes increases in the order of I     

环丙沙星与环糊精超分子体系的研究

利用荧光光谱法研究了环丙沙星与母体β-环糊精(β-CD)及其2种修饰衍生物羟丙基-β-环糊精(Hp-β-CD)、甲基-β-环糊精(Me-β-CD)形成的超分子体系,同时测定了3种超分子体系的猝灭常数和热力学参数.结果表明:环丙沙星与3种环糊精之间常温下均形成稳定的包合物;环丙沙星与3种环糊精包结过程中△G＜0和△H＜0,这说明环丙沙星与3种环糊精的包结能够自发进行而形成超分子体系,且反应为放热过程.通过对3种环糊精与环丙沙星的热力学数包结能力进行了比较,初步探讨了作用机理和影响包结能力大小的可能因素.