γ‐Butyrolactone Copolymerization with the Well‐Documented Polymer Drug Carrier Poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) to Fine‐Tune Its Biorelevant Properties

Polymeric drug carriers exhibit excellent properties that advance drug delivery systems. In particular, carriers based on poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) are very useful in pharmacokinetics. In addition to their proven biocompatibility, there are several requirements for the efficacy of the polymeric drug carriers after internalization, e.g., nanoparticle behavior, cellular uptake, the rate of degradation, and cellular localization. The introduction of γ‐butyrolactone units into the hydrophobic block enables the tuning of the abovementioned properties over a wide range. In this study, a relatively high content of γ‐butyrolactone units with a reasonable yield of ≈60% is achieved by anionic ring‐opening copolymerization using 1,5,7‐triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec‐5‐ene as a very efficient catalyst in the nonpolar environment of toluene with an incorporated γ‐butyrolactone content of ≈30%. The content of γ‐butyrolactone units can be easily modulated according to the feed ratio of the monomers. This method enables control over the rate of degradation so that when the content of γ‐butyrolactone increases, the rate of degradation increases. These findings broaden the application possibilities of polyester‐polyether‐based nanoparticles for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery systems.     

Application of bromoacetate‐substituted β‐CD‐bonded silica particles as chiral stationary phase for HPLC

Bromoacetate‐substituted [3‐(2‐O‐β‐cyclodextrin)‐2‐hydroxypropoxy]propylsilyl‐appended silica particles (BACD‐HPS), an important and useful synthetic intermediate for preparation of novel types of macrocycles‐capped β‐CD‐bonded silica particles including crown ether/cyclam/calix[4]arene‐capped β‐CD‐bonded silica particles, have been prepared and used as chiral stationary phase for HPLC. This synthetic stationary phase is characterized by means of elemental analysis. For the first time, the chromatographic behavior of BACD‐HPS was systematically evaluated with several disubstituted benzenes and some chiral drug compounds under both normal and RP conditions in HPLC. The results show that BACD‐HPS has excellent selectivity for the separation of aromatic positional isomers and chiral isomers of some drug compounds when used as stationary phase in HPLC.     

Tumour‐Targeted Drug Delivery with Mannose‐Functionalized Nanoparticles Self‐Assembled from Amphiphilic β‐Cyclodextrins

Multivalent mannose‐functionalized nanoparticles self‐assembled from amphiphilic β‐cyclodextrins (β‐CDs) facilitate the targeted delivery of anticancer drugs to specific cancer cells. Doxorubicin (DOX)‐loaded nanoparticles equipped with multivalent mannose target units were efficiently taken up via receptor‐mediated endocytosis by MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cells that overexpress the mannose receptor. Upon entering the cell, the intracellular pH causes the release of DOX, which triggers apoptosis. Targeting by multivalent mannose significantly improved the capability of DOX‐loaded nanoparticles to inhibit the growth of MDA‐MB‐231 cancer cells with minimal side effects in vivo. This targeted and controlled drug delivery system holds promise as a nanotherapeutic for cancer treatment.     

The Synthesis and Characterizations of Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles via β‐Cyclodextrin,Poly(oxyethylene)5 Nonyl Phenol Ether and Cyclohexane Medium

In this work, the calcium phosphate nanoparticles have been produced by new reverse micro emulsion method containing β‐cyclodextrin, poly(oxyethylene)₅ nonyl phenol ether and cyclohexane. Scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, fourier transform infrared spectroscope and X‐ray diffraction were used to characterize the particles. The sizes of the nanoparticles were identified between 70‐80 nm. In conclusion, these results suggested that the developed reverse micro emulsion system based nanoparticles seem to be a promising formulation for calcium phosphate nanoparticles synthesis and it has immense potential in delivery of drugs and vaccines.     

Spectroscopic properties of poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene) thin films possessing varied fractions of β‐phase chain segments: enhanced photoluminescence efficiency via conformation structuring

Poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene) (PFO) is a widely studied blue‐emitting conjugated polymer, the optoelectronic properties of which are strongly affected by the presence of a well‐defined chain‐extended “β‐phase” conformational isomer. In this study, optical and Raman spectroscopy are used to systematically investigate the properties of PFO thin films featuring a varied fraction of β‐phase chain segments. Results show that the photoluminescence quantum efficiency (PLQE) of PFO films is highly sensitive to both the β‐phase fraction and the method by which it was induced. Notably, a PLQE of ～69% is measured for PFO films possessing a ～6% β‐phase fraction induced by immersion in solvent/nonsolvent mixtures; this value is substantially higher than the average PLQE of ～55% recorded for other β‐phase films. Furthermore, a linear relationship is observed between the intensity ratios of selected Raman peaks and the β‐phase fraction determined by commonly used absorption calibrations, suggesting that Raman spectroscopy can be used as an alternative means to quantify the β‐phase fraction. As a specific example, spatial Raman mapping is used to image a mm‐scale β‐phase stripe patterned in a glassy PFO film, with the extracted β‐phase fraction showing excellent agreement with the results of optical spectroscopy. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 1995–2006     

pH‐ and β‐cyclodextrin‐responsive micelles based on polyaspartamide derivatives as drug carrier

A novel kind of graft polymer poly(aspartic acid)‐ethanediamine‐g‐adamantane/methyloxy polyethylene glycol (Pasp‐EDA‐g‐Ad/mPEG) was designed and synthesized for drug delivery in this study. The chemical structure of the prepared polymer was confirmed by proton NMR. The obtained polymer can self‐assemble into micelles which were stable under a physiological environment and displayed pH‐ and β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD)‐responsive behaviors because of the acid‐labile benzoic imine linkage and hydrophobic adamantine groups in the side chains of the polymer. The doxorubicin (Dox)‐loaded micelles showed a slow release under physiological conditions and a rapid release after exposure to weakly acidic or β‐CD environment. The in vitro cytotoxicity results suggested that the polymer was good at biocompatibility and could remain Dox biologically active. Hence, the Pasp‐EDA‐g‐Ad/mPEG micelles may be applied as promising controlled drug delivery system for hydrophobic antitumor drugs. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1387–1395     

“Supramolecular” Amphiphiles Created by Wrapping Poly(styrene) with the Helix‐Forming β‐1,3‐Glucan Polysaccharide

We have demonstrated that giant polymer micelles with a uniform diameter (ca. 200 nm) can be fabricated by “supramolecular wrapping” of poly(styrene) (PS) with the β‐1,3‐glucan polysaccharide, with the β‐1,3‐glucan fastening the PS chains together in a noncovalent fashion to facilitate the formation of a supramolecular polymer network on the O/W emulsion surface. Various spectroscopic and microscopic investigations have revealed that the inner cores of the micelles are comprised of a hydrophobic PS network, whereas the surfaces consist of a hydrophilic β‐1,3‐glucan layer. Accordingly, functional guest molecules can easily be encapsulated inside the cavity through hydrophobic interactions. The encapsulated molecules can simply be released from the micelle cores by peeling off the β‐1,3‐glucan shell in a supramolecular manner. As functional groups can be introduced into the glucose side‐chain unit in a straightforward manner by chemical modification, the micellar surface can acquire further functions useful for molecular recognition. These results show that the micelles obtained could have applications as novel soft nanoparticles, which would be indispensable not only for nanotechnologies, but also for biotechnologies aimed at gene or drug delivery systems.     

Flexible Tuning of Unsaturated β‐Substituents on Zn Porphyrins: A Synthetic,Spectroscopic and Computational Study

A series of zinc porphyrins substituted at adjacent β‐positions with a CN group and para‐substituted ethenyl/ethynyl‐phenyl group have been studied using electronic absorption spectroscopy, resonance Raman spectroscopy and DFT calculations. The oxidative nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen was utilized for the introduction of a cyano substituent on the porphyrin ring. This modification has a remarkable electronic effect on the ring. The resulting porphyrin cyanoaldehyde was further modified in Wittig condensations to give series of arylalkene‐ and arylalkyne‐substituted derivatives. This substitution pattern caused significant redshifting and broadening of the B band, tuning from 433–446 nm. Additionally the Q/B band intensity ratios show much higher values than observed for the parent porphyrin ZnTPP (0.20 vs. 0.03). Careful analysis of the electronic transitions using DFT and resonance Raman spectroscopy reveal that the substituent does not significantly perturb the electronic structure of the porphyrin core, which is still well described by Gouterman’s four‐orbital model. However, the substituents do play a role in elongating the conjugation length and this results in the observed spectral changes.     

Preparation and characterization of polyvinyl alcohol/β‐cyclodextrin/GO‐Ag nanocomposite with improved antibacterial and strength properties

In this work, new hydrogel films based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) were prepared with the aim of studying their ability as an antibacterial and drug carrier system. Gallic acid (GA) was used as an antibacterial drug which was encapsulated into the β‐CD cavity, and finally, β‐CD inclusion complex (GA/βCD‐IC) was prepared. On the other hand, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized on the graphene oxide (GO) surface (GO‐Ag), and the obtained GO‐Ag was used to enhance the antibacterial properties and mechanical strength of their films. FT‐IR and DSC analysis approved the formation of cross‐linking with glutaraldehyde between the PVA and β‐CD. Hydrogel films were characterized using XRD and SEM. The disc diffusion method showed the antibacterial activity for the films containing GO‐Ag and GA. Due to the good strength, elasticity, WVP, and swelling ability, PVA/GA/βCD‐IC/GO‐Ag can be proposed as a potential antibacterial drug delivery system.     

The preparation of 3‐substituted 1,2‐benzisothiazole‐1,1‐dioxides from the condensation‐cyclization of dilithiated β‐ketoesters with methyl 2‐(aminosulfonyl)benzoate or 1,2‐benzisothiazol‐3(2H)‐one‐1,1‐dioxide

Several β‐ketoesters were dilithiated with an excess of lithium diisopropylamide, followed by condensation with methyl 2‐(aminosulfonyl)benzoate to give intermediates that were not isolated but cyclized to 3‐substituted 1,2‐benzisothiazole‐1,1‐dioxides. In most instances involving the ester‐sulfonamide, a single β‐ketoester tautomer is usually formed after recrystallization from ethanol. The same dilithiated β‐ketoesters generally condense less well with 1,2‐benzisothiazol‐3(2H)‐one‐1,1‐dioxide (saccharin) under the same conditions to afford the same products usually in the same or lower yields. The use of N,N,N',N'‐tetramethylethylenediamine during these syntheses has sometimes resulted in improved yields of products.     

羟丙基-β-环糊精磁性复合微粒的合成及作为阿霉素载体的体外释药研究

羟丙基-β-环糊精因具有内部疏水和外部亲水锥形圆筒空腔结构和良好的生物相容性在磁性药物载体方面有潜在应用价值。本研究将羟丙基-β-环糊精修饰在超顺磁性纳米四氧化三铁粒子表面制备磁性复合微粒,用红外光谱,透射电镜,振动磁强计,电感耦合等离子发射等方法对该复合微粒进行了表征,并将其用于抗肿瘤药物阿霉素的体外载药与释药实验研究。结果表明该复合微粒的粒径大小在10-20nm,饱和磁化强度59.9 emu/g,铁含量55.4%。对阿霉素的载药量为87.8 μg/mg。体外释药结果显示载药复合粒子在PBS中1天,4天,10天的累积释药量分别为35.5%, 49.3%, 76.5%,表明该载体具有一定的药物缓释功能。由此可知,羟丙基-β-环糊精磁性复合微粒可作为磁性靶向给药系统的有效载体。     

Synthesis of β‐Cyclodextrin Containing Copolymer via “Click” Chemistry and Its Self‐Assembly in the Presence of Guest Compounds

We report the synthesis of a hydrophilic copolymer with one polyethylene glycol (PEG) block and one β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) containing block by a “click” reaction between azido‐substituted β‐CD and propargyl flanking copolymer. ¹H NMR study suggested a highly efficient conjugation of β‐CD units by this approach. The obtained copolymer was used as a host macromolecule to construct assemblies in the presence of hydrophobic guests. For assemblies containing a hydrophobic polymer, their size can be simply adjusted by simply changing the content of hydrophobic component. By serving as a guest molecule, hydrophobic drugs can also be loaded accompanying the formation of nanoparticles, and the drug payload is releasable. Therefore, the copolymer synthesized herein can be employed as a carrier for drug delivery.     

β‐cyclodextrin‐capped palladium nanoparticle‐catalyzed ligand‐free Suzuki and Heck couplings in low‐melting β‐cyclodextrin/NMU mixtures

Low‐melting β‐cyclodextrin/N‐methylurea (NMU) mixture, an efficient catalytic system for ligand‐free Suzuki and Heck couplings in the presence of fresh native β‐CD‐capped Pd⁰ nanoparticles, has been successfully reported. This natural and convenient system can be performed in air and could afford the corresponding cross‐coupled products in good to excellent isolated yields after a simple workup under every low Pd loading (0.05 mol%). Remarkably, the catalytic system can be recycled and reused without loss of catalytic activity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Enzyme‐Responsive Polymeric Vesicles for Bacterial‐Strain‐Selective Delivery of Antimicrobial Agents

Antimicrobial resistance poses serious public health concerns and antibiotic misuse/abuse further complicates the situation; thus, it remains a considerable challenge to optimize/improve the usage of currently available drugs. We report a general strategy to construct a bacterial strain‐selective delivery system for antibiotics based on responsive polymeric vesicles. In response to enzymes including penicillin G amidase (PGA) and β‐lactamase (Bla), which are closely associated with drug‐resistant bacterial strains, antibiotic‐loaded polymeric vesicles undergo self‐immolative structural rearrangement and morphological transitions, leading to sustained release of antibiotics. Enhanced stability, reduced side effects, and bacterial strain‐selective drug release were achieved. Considering that Bla is the main cause of bacterial resistance to β‐lactam antibiotic drugs, as a further validation, we demonstrate methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA)‐triggered release of antibiotics from Bla‐degradable polymeric vesicles, in vitro inhibition of MRSA growth, and enhanced wound healing in an in vivo murine model.     

Ethyl 1,4‐dihydro‐4‐oxo‐3‐quinolinecarboxylates by a tandem addition‐elimination‐SNAr reaction

The ethyl 1,4‐dihydro‐4‐oxo‐3‐quinolinecarboxylate ring structure, important in several drug compounds, has been prepared in two steps from ethyl 2‐(2‐fluorobenzoyl)acetate. Treatment of this β‐ketoester with N,N‐dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal gives a 97% yield of the 2‐dimethylaminomethylene derivative. Reaction of this β‐enaminone with primary amines in N,N‐dimethylformamide at 140°C for 48 h then affords the 1,4‐dihydro‐4‐oxo‐3‐quinolinecarboxylate esters in 60–74% yields by a tandem addition‐elimination‐S_NAr reaction. The synthesis of the starting material as well as procedural details and a mechanistic scenario are presented. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).     

Synthesis of Imatinib‐loaded chitosan‐modified magnetic nanoparticles as an anti‐cancer agent for pH responsive targeted drug delivery

Targeted drug delivery is a promising approach to overcome the limitations of classical chemotherapy. In this respect, Imatinib‐loaded chitosan‐modified magnetic nanoparticles were prepared as a pH sensitive system for targeted delivery of drug to tumor sites by applying a magnetic field. The proposed magnetic nanoparticles were prepared through modification of magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with chitosan and Imatinib. The structural, morphological and physicochemical properties of the synthesized nanoparticles were determined by different analytical techniques including energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR‐TEM), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). UV/visible spectrophotometry was used to measure the Imatinib contents. Thermal stability of the prepared particles was investigated and their efficiency of drug loading and release profile were evaluated. The results demonstrated that Fe₃O₄@CS acts as a pH responsive nanocarrier in releasing the loaded Imatinib molecules. Furthermore, the Fe₃O₄@CS/Imatinib nanoparticles displayed cytotoxic effect against MCF‐7 breast cancer cells. Results of this study can provide new insights in the development of pH responsive targeted drug delivery systems to overcome the side effects of conventional chemotherapy.     

Dendron‐like poly(ε‐benzyloxycarbonyl‐L‐lysine)/linear PEO block copolymers: Synthesis,physical characterization,self‐assembly,and drug‐release behavior

Dendron‐like poly(ε‐benzyloxycarbonyl‐L ‐lysine)/linear poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers (i.e., Dm‐PZLys‐b‐PEO, m = 0 and 3; Dm are the propargyl focal point poly(amido amine) dendrons having 2^m primary amine groups) were for the first time synthesized by combining ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of ε‐benzyloxycarbonyl‐L ‐lysine N‐carboxyanhydride (Z‐Lys‐NCA) and click chemistry, where Dm‐PZLys homopolypeptides were click conjugated with azide‐terminated PEO. Their molecular structures and physical properties were characterized in detail by FTIR, ¹H NMR, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy, and wide angle X‐ray diffraction. Both homopolypeptides and copolymers presented a liquid crystalline phase transition for PZLys block, and the transition was irreversible. Moreover, the degree of crystallinity of PEO block within linear copolymers decreased from 96.2% to 20.4% with increasing PZLys composition, whereas that within dendritic copolymers decreased to zero. The secondary conformation of PZLys progressively changed from β‐sheet to α‐helix with increasing the chain length. These copolymers self‐assembled into spherical nanoparticles in aqueous solution, and the anticancer drug doxorubicin‐loaded nanoparticles gave a similar morphology compared with their blank counterparts. The drug‐loaded nanoparticles showed a triphasic drug‐release profile at aqueous pH 7.4 or 5.5 and 37 °C and sustained a longer drug‐release period for about 2 months. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Induced Folding of Protein‐Sized Foldameric β‐Sandwich Models with Core β‐Amino Acid Residues

The mimicry of protein‐sized β‐sheet structures with unnatural peptidic sequences (foldamers) is a considerable challenge. In this work, the de novo designed betabellin‐14 β‐sheet has been used as a template, and α→β residue mutations were carried out in the hydrophobic core (positions 12 and 19). β‐Residues with diverse structural properties were utilized: Homologous β³‐amino acids, (1R,2S)‐2‐aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid (ACPC), (1R,2S)‐2‐aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid (ACHC), (1R,2S)‐2‐aminocyclohex‐3‐enecarboxylic acid (ACEC), and (1S,2S,3R,5S)‐2‐amino‐6,6‐dimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]heptane‐3‐carboxylic acid (ABHC). Six α/β‐peptidic chains were constructed in both monomeric and disulfide‐linked dimeric forms. Structural studies based on circular dichroism spectroscopy, the analysis of NMR chemical shifts, and molecular dynamics simulations revealed that dimerization induced β‐sheet formation in the 64‐residue foldameric systems. Core replacement with (1R,2S)‐ACHC was found to be unique among the β‐amino acid building blocks studied because it was simultaneously able to maintain the interstrand hydrogen‐bonding network and to fit sterically into the hydrophobic interior of the β‐sandwich. The novel β‐sandwich model containing 25 % unnatural building blocks afforded protein‐like thermal denaturation behavior.     

Synthesis and characterization of nonaqueous dispersion particles with photolabile α‐heptadecylphenacyl ester stabilizer chains

We describe a new method for the synthesis of core–shell photolabile nanoparticles. The synthesis begins with the batch emulsion copolymerization of n‐butyl methacrylate (BMA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate to form small (20‐nm‐diameter) crosslinked particles with a narrow size distribution. These seeds are then used for a second‐stage emulsion copolymerizations in which BMA and various polar monomers, including methacrylic acid, are added under monomer‐starved conditions. After characterization of the particles, they are transferred to an N,N‐dimethylformamide solution. The cesium salt of the carboxylic acid groups is reacted with 2‐bromo‐1‐phenyl‐octadecan‐1‐one to convert various fractions of the ? COOH groups to the corresponding 2‐benzoylheptadecyl ester groups. These aliphatic ester groups render the surface sufficiently hydrophobic that the particles can be dispersed in common aliphatic hydrocarbons solvents to yield colloidal dispersions, sterically stabilized by the dangling aliphatic chains. Ester groups with a phenyl ketone attached to the β‐carbon are photolabile. Irradiation of the particles with UV light detaches the sterically stabilizing chains from the particle and transforms the surface groups back to COOH groups. This leads to flocculation of the particles. The emphasis in this article is on the optimization of the particle synthesis and the characterization of the particles obtained. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2642–2657, 2001     

Heptyl α‐D‐Mannosides Grafted on a β‐Cyclodextrin Core To Interfere with Escherichia coli Adhesion: An In Vivo Multivalent Effect

n‐Heptyl α‐D ‐mannoside (HM) has previously been identified as a nanomolar FimH antagonist able to prevent Escherichia coli adhesion. We have designed mono‐ and heptavalent glycoconjugates in which HM is tethered to β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) through short and long spacers. One‐pot click or co‐clicking procedures were developed to directly obtain the glycoconjugates from unprotected HM and β‐CD precursors. These FimH antagonists were examined biophysically and in vivo. Reverse titrations by isothermal calorimetry led to trapping of the short‐tethered heptavalent β‐CD in a complex with three FimH lectins. Combined dynamic light scattering and small‐angle X‐ray solution scattering data allowed the construction of a model of the FimH trimer. The heptavalent β‐CDs were shown to capture and aggregate living bacteria in solution and are therefore also able to aggregate FimH when attached to different bacteria pili. The first in vivo evaluation of multivalent FimH inhibitors has been performed. The heptavalent β‐CDs proved to be much more effective anti‐adhesive agents than monovalent references with doses of around 2 μg instilled in the mouse bladder leading to a significantly decreased E. coli load. Intravenously injected radiolabeled glycoconjugates can rapidly reach the mouse bladder and >2 μg concentrations can easily be retained over 24 h to prevent fluxing bacteria from rebinding.