Drug Delivery and Drug Efficacy from Amorphous Poly(thioether anhydrides)

The correlation between erosion and drug (lidocaine and 6‐mercaptopurine, 6‐MP) release from amorphous poly(thioether anhydrides), which are synthesized using radical‐mediated thiol‐ene polymerization, is reported. Cytotoxicity studies of the polymer toward human fibroblast human dermal fibroblasts adult, melanoma A‐375, and breast cancer MCF‐7 cells are conducted, and drug efficacy of a cancer and autoimmune disease drug (6‐MP) when released from the poly(thioether anhydrides) is examined against two cancerous cell types (A‐375 and MCF‐7). Erosion and drug release studies reveal that lidocaine release is governed by network erosion whereas 6‐MP is released by a combination of erosion and diffusion. The cytotoxicity studies show that all three cell types demonstrate high viability, thus cytocompatibility, to poly(thioether anhydrides). Toxicity to the material is dose dependent and comparable to other polyanhydride systems. The 6‐MP cancer drug is shown to remain bioactive after encapsulation in the poly(thioether anhydride) matrix and the polymer does not appear to modify the efficacy of the drug.     

Glycosylated Cell‐Penetrating Poly(disulfide)s: Multifunctional Cellular Uptake at High Solubility

The glycosylation of cell‐penetrating poly(disulfide)s (CPDs) is introduced to increase the solubility of classical CPDs and to achieve multifunctional cellular uptake. With the recently developed sidechain engineering, CPDs decorated with α‐d ‐glucose (Glu), β‐d ‐galactose (Gal), d ‐trehalose (Tre), and triethyleneglycol (TEG) were readily accessible. Confocal laser scanning microscopy images of HeLa Kyoto cells incubated with the new CPDs at 2.5 μm revealed efficient uptake into cytosol and nucleoli of all glycosylated CPDs, whereas the original CPDs and TEGylated CPDs showed much precipitation into fluorescent aggregates at these high concentrations. Flow cytometry analysis identified Glu‐CPDs as most active, closely followed by Gal‐CPDs and Tre‐CPDs, and all clearly more active than non‐glycosylated CPDs. In the MTT assay, all glyco‐CPDs were non‐toxic at concentrations as high as 2.5 μm . Consistent with thiol‐mediated uptake, glycosylated CPDs remained dependent on thiols on the cell surface for dynamic covalent exchange, their removal with Ellman's reagent DTNB efficiently inhibited uptake. Multifunctionality was demonstrated by inhibition of Glu‐CPDs with d ‐glucose (IC₅₀ ca. 20 mm ). Insensitivity toward l ‐glucose and d ‐galactose and insensitivity of conventional CPDs toward d ‐glucose supported that glucose‐mediated uptake of the multifunctional Glu‐CPDs involves selective recognition by glucose receptors at the cell surface. Weaker but significant sensitivity of Gal‐CPDs toward d ‐galactose but not d ‐glucose was noted (IC₅₀ ca. 110 mm ). Biotinylation of Glu‐CPDs resulted in the efficient delivery of streptavidin together with a fluorescent model substrate. Protein delivery with Glu‐CPDs was more efficient than with conventional CPDs and remained sensitive to DTNB and d ‐glucose, i.e., multifunctional.     

聚(L-谷氨酸)微球的制备及其口服药物控释研究

通过正己胺引发γ-苯甲基-L-谷氨酸酯-N-内羧酸酐(BLG-NCA)开环聚合制备聚(γ-苯甲基-L-谷氨酸酯)(PBLG), 并进一步脱掉苯甲基保护得到聚(L-谷氨酸)(PLG). 以利福平为模型药物, 通过油包油(O/O)无水乳液法制备了PLG载药微球. 扫描电子显微镜检测表明该载药微球具有良好的球形形貌且粒径分布较均一, 粒径大小约为9.0 μm. 体外释放实验表明该载药微球对利福平的释放具有明显的pH敏感性, 在模拟胃液中较少释放利福平, 而在模拟肠液中较快并大量释放利福平, 符合口服药物载体释放性能的要求, 可用于口服药物的定位肠溶性载体. 此外, 噻唑蓝实验表明该微球具有良好的生物相容性.     

Poly(ethylene glycol) in Drug Delivery: Pros and Cons as Well as Potential Alternatives

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is the most used polymer and also the gold standard for stealth polymers in the emerging field of polymer‐based drug delivery. The properties that account for the overwhelming use of PEG in biomedical applications are outlined in this Review. The first approved PEGylated products have already been on the market for 20 years. A vast amount of clinical experience has since been gained with this polymer—not only benefits, but possible side effects and complications have also been found. The areas that might need consideration and more intensive and careful examination can be divided into the following categories: hypersensitivity, unexpected changes in pharmacokinetic behavior, toxic side products, and an antagonism arising from the easy degradation of the polymer under mechanical stress as a result of its ether structure and its non‐biodegradability, as well as the resulting possible accumulation in the body. These possible side effects will be discussed in this Review and alternative polymers will be evaluated.     

Preparation and Characterization of Poly(D,L-Lactide) (PLA) and Poly(D,L-Lactide)-Poly(Ethylene Glycol) (PLA-PEG) Nanocapsules Containing Antitumoral Agent Methotrexate

Summary: The aims of the present work were to prepare and characterize nanocapsules containing antitumoral agent methotrexate (MTX) from poly(D ,L -lactide) (PLA) and poly(D ,L -lactide)-poly(ethylene glycol) diblock copolymer (PLA-PEG) with the purpose of administrating this drug by topical ocular route for primary ocular lymphoma treatment. Nanocapsules were prepared by the interfacial deposition of preformed polymer. The influences of the initial amount of MTX on the encapsulation efficiency, drug recovery and drug content, as well as the physicochemical properties of the particles were evaluated. The particle mean diameters were 246 and 146 nm, and zeta potential values were −38.8 and −33.6 mV, for the MTX-loaded nanocapsules prepared from PLA and PLA-PEG, respectively. The methotrexate content in the particles increased with the increasing in the drug amount added to the formulations, but the drug recovery decreased significantly. After 4 h of in vitro release, 28 and 86% of MTX was released from PLA and PLA-PEG nanocapsules, respectively.     

Thermo and pH Dual-Responsive Micelles of N-phthaloylchitosan-g-Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and Poly(acrylic acid-co-tert-butyl acrylate) for Drug Delivery

A novel amphiphilic copolymer N-phthaloylchitosan graft poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and poly(acrylic acid-co-tert-butyl acrylate) (PHCS-g-PNIPAAm&P(AA-co-tBA)) was synthesized. The graft copolymer could form micelles in aqueous medium, and the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the copolymer was 7.5 × 10^{? 3}mg/mL. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the micelles was measured to be 30°C. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image showed that the micelles exhibited a regular spherical shape, and the mean diameter of the micelles was 94.1 ± 0.8 nm as determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The potential usefulness of the micelles as drug delivery systems was investigated using anti-inflammation drug prednisone acetate as the model. The drug loading capacity of the micelles was measured to be 22.86 wt%, and the DLS results showed that the mean diameter of the drug-loaded micelles was 133.3 ± 2.4 nm. In vitro drug release studies indicated that the micelles exhibited thermo and pH dual-responsive release profiles.     

新型结合阿霉素的聚乙二醇嵌段共聚树枝状聚赖氨酸的合成及其药物缓释行为的研究

采用液相多肽合成方法, 成功制备得到窄分子量分布、结构确定的聚乙二醇嵌段共聚四代树枝状聚赖氨酸 (MPEG-block-DPL4). 在此基础上, 进一步将其DPL4的端氨基转化为端肼基, 并通过其与抗肿瘤药物阿霉素(DOX) C＝O的反应形成C＝N键, 实现在DPL4表面的阿霉素药物分子化学结合, 最终得到新型pH敏感性的高分子药物MPEG-block-DPL4-CONHN＝DOX. 运用紫外分光光度(UV-Vis)法, 对MPEG-block-DPL4-CONHNH₂与阿霉素的负载效率进行了定量分析. 高分子药物MPEG-block-DPL4-CONHN＝DOX在生理条件(pH＝7.4)下相对稳定, 而弱酸性条件(pH＝4.5, 5.5)下, C＝N键能较快水解, 释放阿霉素药物分子. 体外细胞毒性评价结果表明(细胞株SMMC-7721和SPCA-1), 所得新型高分子药物MPEG-block-DPL4-CONHN＝DOX的细胞毒性显著地低于游离阿霉素药物分子, 因此, 可进一步研究发展成为新型pH敏感性可控缓释高分子抗肿瘤药物载体体系.     

Phenothiazine Drug Poly(vinyl chloride) Matrix Membrane Electrodes and Their Use in Pharmaceutical Analysis

The construction and performance characteristics of ion-selective membrane electrodes for phenothiazine drugs based on their ion-pair complexes with tetraphenylborate and dinonylnaphthalenesulfonate in a poly(vinyl chloride) matrix are described. The electrodes show a near-Nernstian response over various ranges depending on the nature of the phenothiazine drug. The selectivity of these electrodes to a number of amino acids, alkaloids, neurotransmitters, quaternary ammonium compounds, and other drugs or pharmaceutical excipients is reported. The standard additions method and potentiometric titrations are used to determine the phenothiazine drugs in pharmaceutical preparations with satisfactory results.     

Thermosensitive Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-g -Polyamidoamine Dendrimer Derivatives: Preparation and the Drug Release Behaviors

Summary: A series of thermally responsive dendritic core-shell polymers were prepared based upon dendritic polyamidoamine (PAMAM), modified with carboxyl end-capped linear poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm-COOH) in different ratios via an esterification process to obtain PNIPAAm-g-PAMAM. The graft ratio of PNIPAAm could be adjusted by changing the feed ratio of PAMAM-OH to PNIPAAm-COOH and was verified by ¹H NMR and gel penetration chromatography (GPC). The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNIPAAm-g-PAMAM evaluated by UV-vis spectrophotometer was about 32 °C. Indomethacin (IMC) as a model drug was loaded in the thermosensitive polymer-grafted dendrimer derivative and its release behavior was studied below and above its LCST (27 °C vs 37 °C). Results showed that the LCST of PNIPAAm-g-PAMAM was around 32 °C compared with that of the pure PNIPAAm. The release behavior of the indomethacin entrapped in the internal cavities of the PNIPAAm-g-PAMAM showed that almost 77% of the drug was cumulatively released at 27 °C after 10 hours, whereas only 20% was released at 37 °C. The release rate of IMC from the IMC/PNIPAAm-g-PAMAM complex at 37 °C is significantly slower than that at 27 °C, which indicates that the PNIPAAm chains grafted on the surface of PAMAM dendrimer could act as a channel switching on-off button through expending or contracting in response to the temperature variation and could control the drug release by varying the surrounding temperature.     

Hollow Multilayer Microcapsules for pH‐/Thermally Responsive Drug Delivery using Aliphatic Poly(urethane‐amine) as Smart Component

Hollow multilayer microcapsules made of aliphatic poly(urethane‐amine) (PUA) and sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS), templated on PSS‐doped CaCO₃ particles, are prepared for pH‐/thermally responsive drug delivery. The electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonding under weak‐acid conditions between aliphatic PUA and PSS contribute to the formation of multilayer microcapsules. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results demonstrate an obvious variation of the hollow multilayer microcapsules in response to changes in temperature and pH value. Drug‐release behaviors using DOX as a model drug demonstrate that the drug release increases on decreasing the pH value because of the interaction weakness between aliphatic PUA and PSS in acidic conditions. Moreover, the drug release is higher at 55 °C than that at 37 °C for the sake of the shrinkage of aliphatic PUA above its lower critical solution temperature (LCST).

     

Lipo‐Poly(L‐histidine) Hybrid Materials with pH‐Sensitivity,Intracellular Delivery Efficiency,and Intrinsic Targetability to Cancer Cells

Biocompatible lipo‐histidine hybrid materials conjugated with IR820 dye show pH‐sensitivity, efficient intracellular delivery of doxorubicin (Dox), and intrinsic targetability to cancer cells. These new materials form highly uniform Dox‐loaded nanosized vesicles via a self‐assembly process showing good stability under physiological conditions. The Dox‐loaded micelles are effective for suppressing MCF‐7 tumors, as demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. The combined mechanisms of the EPR effect, active internalization, endosomal‐triggered release, and drug escape from endosomes, and a long blood circulation time, clearly prove that the IR820 lipopeptide DDS is a safe theranostic agent for imaging‐guided cancer therapy.

     

Comparative Thermogravimetric Studies of Poly(ether-ketone/sulfone) Imides and Their Parent Polymers: I. Poly(ether-ketone/sulfone) ethylimide

Thermogravimetry (TG) was employed to study the thermal degradation kinetics of poly(etherketone/sulfone)ethylimide (PEK-IE and PES-IE). The corresponding decomposition activation energies and reaction orders were obtained and the comparison was made with their parent polymerspoly(ether-ketone/sulfone) with Cardo group (PEK-C and PES-C). The results show that the degradation activation energies of PEK-IE and PES-IE were lower than that of PEK-C and PES-C; and two stages of the degradation process were found for all the four polymers. For PEK-IE and PES-IE, the activation energies in the first decomposition stage are much lower than that in the second stage and the two stages can be taken as slow induction and fast degradation, whereas for PEK-C and PES-C the activation energies in the first decomposition stage are larger than that in the second stage, and the two stages can both be taken as two fast degradation stages. The decomposition mechanism of the two stages was also speculated.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Poly(fluorenevinylene) derivatives by Heck coupling: Synthesis,photophysics, and electroluminescence

Three new poly(fluorenevinylene) derivatives were synthesized, characterized, and used as emissive materials in light‐emitting diodes (LEDs). They were synthesized by Heck coupling of 9,9‐dihexyl‐2,7‐divinylfluorene with 2,7‐dibromo‐9,9‐dihexylfluorene, 2,3‐bis(4‐bromophenyl)quinoxaline, or 2,5‐bis(4‐bromophenyl)‐3,4‐diphenylthiophene to afford the polymers F , Q , and T , respectively. Polymers F and Q had medium number–average molecular weights (M_n ? 14,000) with relatively narrow polydispersity (1.3–1.6), while T was obtained as an oligomer (M_n ? 4000). All polymers were soluble in common organic solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), chloroform, dichloromethane, and toluene. They emitted blue‐greenish fluorescence light in dilute THF solution (444–491 nm), with photoluminescence (PL) quantum yields of 0.32–0.54, and in thin film (453–488 nm). LEDs with the configuration of ITO/PEDOT‐PSS/Polymer/Li:Al were fabricated and evaluated. The electroluminescence (EL) spectra of the Q and F polymers were very broad covering the blue–green–red region, whereas the spectrum of the polymer T was almost purely blue. The threshold electrical field for light emission of the devices was almost the same (?1.75 MV/cm). The external quantum efficiency of the devices of polymers Q and F was about 1.0 × 10^?3%, whereas that of polymer T was ?3.0 × 10^?5%. The fluorescence lifetime of polymers F and Q was significantly longer than that of the polymer T . © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4494–4507, 2006     

Methoxypoly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐Poly(L‐glutamic acid)‐Loaded Cisplatin and a Combination With iRGD for the Treatment of Non‐Small‐Cell Lung Cancers

CDDP is loaded into methoxypoly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly(L ‐glutamic acid) (mPEG‐b‐PLG), and a combination with iRGD is applied for NSCLC chemotherapy. The CDDP‐loaded micelles show sustained cisplatin release in PBS, dose‐ and time‐dependent inhibition to HeLa and A549 cell proliferation, and no apparent hemolysis activities. In in vivo studies using subcutaneous NSCLC xenograft models (A549), both free CDDP and CDDP‐loaded micelles show an evident anti‐tumor effect. However, the toxicity of CDDP is significantly reduced in the cases of CDDP‐loaded micelles and co‐administration with iRGD, and the survival time is prolonged by over 30%. Therefore, mPEG‐b‐PLG‐loaded cisplatin and the combination with iRGD provides a promising new therapy for NSCLC.

     

Synthesis of Degradable Poly[(Ethylene Glycol)‐co‐(Glycolic Acid)] via the Post‐Polymerization Oxyfunctionalization of Poly(Ethylene Glycol)

To enhance the limited degradability of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), a straightforward method of synthesizing poly[(ethylene glycol)‐co‐(glycolic acid)] (P(EG‐co‐GA)) via a ruthenium‐catalyzed, post‐polymerization oxyfunctionalization of various PEGs is developed. Using this method, a set of copolymers with GA compositions of up to 8 mol% are prepared with minimal reduction in molecular weight (<10%) when compared to their commercially available starting materials. The P(EG‐co‐GA) copolymers are shown to undergo hydrolysis under mild conditions.

     

左旋18—甲基炔诺酮—硅橡胶缓释体系小角激光散射法研究

以小角激光前向散射和背散射法研究了左旋１８－甲基炔诺酮－甲基乙烯基硅橡胶缓释体系的光散射时效行为，用紫外分光光度法测定释放过程，讨论药物释放过程中高分子链段运动和聚合物结构对药物释放的影响．     

Synthesis and Characterization of Curcumin-Loaded Nanoparticles of Poly(Glycerol Sebacate): A Novel Highly Stable Anticancer System

The research for alternative administration methods for anticancer drugs, towards enhanced effectiveness and selectivity, represents a major challenge for the scientific community. In the last decade, polymeric nanostructured delivery systems represented a promising alternative to conventional drug administration since they ensure secure transport to the selected target, providing active compounds protection against elimination, while minimizing drug toxicity to non-target cells. In the present research, poly(glycerol sebacate), a biocompatible polymer, was synthesized and then nanostructured to allow curcumin encapsulation, a naturally occurring polyphenolic phytochemical isolated from the powdered rhizome of Curcuma longa L. Curcumin was selected as an anticancer agent in virtue of its strong chemotherapeutic activity against different cancer types combined with good cytocompatibility within healthy cells. Despite its strong and fascinating biological activity, its possible exploitation as a novel chemotherapeutic has been hampered by its low water solubility, which results in poor absorption and low bioavailability upon oral administration. Hence, its encapsulation within nanoparticles may overcome such issues. Nanoparticles obtained through nanoprecipitation, an easy and scalable technique, were characterized in terms of size and stability over time using dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy, confirming their nanosized dimensions and spherical shape. Finally, biological investigation demonstrated an enhanced cytotoxic effect of curcumin-loaded PGS-NPs on human cervical cancer cells compared to free curcumin.     

Tuning the Surface of Nanoparticles: Impact of Poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) on Protein Adsorption in Serum and Cellular Uptake

Due to the adsorption of biomolecules, the control of the biodistribution of nanoparticles is still one of the major challenges of nanomedicine. Poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) (PEtOx) for surface modification of nanoparticles is applied and both protein adsorption and cellular uptake of PEtOxylated nanoparticles versus nanoparticles coated with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and non‐coated positively and negatively charged nanoparticles are compared. Therefore, fluorescent poly(organosiloxane) nanoparticles of 15 nm radius are synthesized, which are used as a scaffold for surface modification in a grafting onto approach. With multi‐angle dynamic light scattering, asymmetrical flow field‐flow fractionation, gel electrophoresis, and liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry, it is demonstrated that protein adsorption on PEtOxylated nanoparticles is extremely low, similar as on PEGylated nanoparticles. Moreover, quantitative microscopy reveals that PEtOxylation significantly reduces the non‐specific cellular uptake, particularly by macrophage‐like cells. Collectively, studies demonstrate that PEtOx is a very effective alternative to PEG for stealth modification of the surface of nanoparticles.