Bioresponsive Hyaluronic Acid‐Capped Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Targeted Drug Delivery

In this paper, we present a facile strategy to synthesize hyaluronic acid (HA) conjugated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSP) for targeted enzyme responsive drug delivery, in which the anchored HA polysaccharides not only act as capping agents but also as targeting ligands without the need of additional modification. The nanoconjugates possess many attractive features including chemical simplicity, high colloidal stability, good biocompatibility, cell‐targeting ability, and precise cargo release, making them promising agents for biomedical applications. As a proof‐of‐concept demonstration, the nanoconjugates are shown to release cargoes from the interior pores of MSPs upon HA degradation in response to hyaluronidase‐1 (Hyal‐1). Moreover, after receptor‐mediated endocytosis into cancer cells, the anchored HA was degraded into small fragments, facilitating the release of drugs to kill the cancer cells. Overall, we envision that this system might open the door to a new generation of carrier system for site‐selective, controlled‐release delivery of anticancer drugs.     

Chitosan‐Capped Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as pH‐Responsive Nanocarriers for Controlled Drug Release

Herein, we present a straightforward synthesis of pH‐responsive chitosan‐capped mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). These MCM‐41‐type MSNs could be used as nanocapsules to accommodate guest molecules. Subsequently, (3‐glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane was grafted onto the surface of the MSNs, which served as a bridge to link between MSNs and chitosan, which is ubiquitous in nature and commercially available. Owing to the pH‐responsive and biocompatible features of chitosan, the loading and release of an anti‐cancer drug, doxorubicin hydrochloride, were carried out in vitro, in which the composite chitosan‐capped MSNs (CS‐MSNs) showed excellent environmental response. As the pH value of the media decreased, the degree of drug release correspondingly increased. Moreover, thanks to the perfect biocompatibility of chitosan, the CS‐MSNs exhibited lower cytotoxicity than that of the naked MSNs in an MTT assay. In addition, the in vitro kill potency against MCF‐7 breast‐cancer cells was enhanced over time, as well as with increasing concentration of the drug‐loaded CS‐MSNs. These results indicate that CS‐MSNs are promising candidates for pH‐responsive drug delivery in cancer therapy.     

Enzyme‐Responsive Silica Mesoporous Supports Capped with Azopyridinium Salts for Controlled Delivery Applications

The preparation of a new capped silica mesoporous material, Rh‐Azo‐S , for on‐command delivery applications in the presence of target enzymes is described. The material consists of nanometric mesoporous MCM‐41‐like supports loaded with Rhodamine B and capped with an azopyridine derivative. The material was designed to show “zero delivery” and to display a cargo release in the presence of reductases and esterases, which are usually present in the colon, mainly due to intestinal microflora. The opening and cargo release of Rh‐Azo‐S in vitro studies were assessed and seen to occur in the presence of these enzymes, whereas no delivery was noted in the presence of pepsine. Moreover, Rh‐Azo‐S nanoparticles were used to study controlled Rhodamine B dye delivery in intracellular media. HeLa cells were employed for testing the “non”‐toxicity of nanoparticles. Moreover, delivery of the dye in these cells, through internalization and enzyme‐mediated gate opening, was confirmed by confocal microscopy. Furthermore, the nanoparticles capped with the Azo group and loaded with a cytotoxic camptothecin ( CPT ) were also prepared (solid CPT‐Azo‐S ) and used as delivery nanodevices in HeLa cells. When this solid was employed, the cell viability decreased significantly due to internalization of the nanoparticles and delivery of the cytotoxic agent.     

Enzyme‐Catalyzed Synthesis and Chemical Recycling of Polyesters

This article summarizes the enzyme‐catalyzed synthesis and chemical recycling of biodegradable aliphatic polyesters and poly(carbonate ester)s directed towards establishing green polymer chemistry. Lipase catalyzes the condensation polymerization of a hydroxy acid, diacid with diol, diacid anhydride with oxirane, and polyanhydride with diol, or the ring‐opening polymerization of lactones of small to large rings, and a cyclic diester to produce the corresponding polyesters. Also, lipase catalyzes the condensation polymerization of a dialkyl carbonate with diol, and the ring‐opening polymerization of a cyclic carbonate to produce the corresponding polycarbonates. These polyesters and polycarbonates were selectively degraded by lipase to produce repolymerizable oligomers. These chemical recycling systems using an enzyme will establish a novel methodology for sustainable polymer recycling. Finally, current trends in green polymer production using enzymes are discussed.     

A Visible‐Light‐Triggered Conformational Diastereomer Photoswitch in a Bridged Azobenzene

Ketal‐substituted bridged azobenzenes have been synthesized; these display a symmetrical boat conformation with the ketal in pseudo‐equatorial positions. These bridged Z‐azobenzenes (Z₁) readily photoisomerize to the E‐isomer as well as another Z‐conformer (Z₂) with ketal function on the pseudo‐axial position upon irradiation at 406 nm. The two diastereomeric conformers display distinct physicochemical characteristics. Spectroscopic and NMR investigations supported that interconversion of two conformers occurs via the E‐isomer, with good photochemical quantum yield (Φ =0.45±0.03, Φ =0.33±0.05, Φ =0.37±0.06 and Φ =0.36±0.04). The system shows high photostability and no thermal equilibrium between the two stable Z₁ and Z₂ conformers.     

DNA‐Hybrid‐Gated Multifunctional Mesoporous Silica Nanocarriers for Dual‐Targeted and MicroRNA‐Responsive Controlled Drug Delivery

The design of an ideal drug delivery system with targeted recognition and zero premature release, especially controlled and specific release that is triggered by an exclusive endogenous stimulus, is a great challenge. A traceable and aptamer‐targeted drug nanocarrier has now been developed; the nanocarrier was obtained by capping mesoporous silica‐coated quantum dots with a programmable DNA hybrid, and the drug release was controlled by microRNA. Once the nanocarriers had been delivered into HeLa cells by aptamer‐mediated recognition and endocytosis, the overexpressed endogenous miR‐21 served as an exclusive key to unlock the nanocarriers by competitive hybridization with the DNA hybrid, which led to a sustained lethality of the HeLa cells. If microRNA that is exclusively expressed in specific pathological cell was screened, a combination of chemotherapy and gene therapy should pave the way for a targeted and personalized treatment of human diseases.     

Enzyme‐Catalyzed Preparation of Aliphatic Polyesters Containing Thioester Linkages

Aliphatic polyesters containing thioester linkages were enzymatically prepared by both the copolymerization of lactone with mercaptoalkanoic acid and by the transesterification of polyesters with mercaptoalkanoic acids. The enzymatic copolymerization of ε‐caprolactone with 11‐mercaptoundecanoic acid (11MU) and 3‐mercaptopropionic acid (3MP) was performed under reduced pressure using an immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica (CA). The transesterification of poly(ε‐caprolactone) and poly[(R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate] was carried out with 11MU and 3MP using lipase CA under reduced pressure.

     

Control of Drug Release through the In Situ Assembly of Stimuli‐Responsive Ordered Mesoporous Silica with Magnetic Particles

A site‐selective controlled delivery system for controlled drug release is fabricated through the in situ assembly of stimuli‐responsive ordered SBA‐15 and magnetic particles. This approach is based on the formation of ordered mesoporous silica with magnetic particles formed from Fe(CO)₅ via the surfactant‐template sol‐gel method and control of transport through polymerization of N‐isopropyl acrylamide inside the pores. Hydrophobic Fe(CO)₅ acts as a swelling agent as well as being the source of the magnetic particles. The obtained system demonstrates a high pore diameter (7.1 nm) and pore volume (0.41 cm³ g^?1), which improves drug storage for relatively large molecules. Controlled drug release through the porous network is demonstrated by measuring the uptake and release of ibuprofen (IBU). The delivery system displays a high IBU storage capacity of 71.5 wt %, which is almost twice as large as the highest value based on SBA‐15 ever reported. In vitro testing of IBU loading and release exhibits a pronounced transition at around 32 °C, indicating a typical thermosensitive controlled release.     

Redox‐ and Temperature‐Controlled Drug Release from Hollow Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles

A controlled drug‐delivery system has been developed based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles that deliver anticancer drugs into cancer cells with minimized side effects. The copolymer of two oligo(ethylene glycol) macromonomers cross‐linked by the disulfide linker N,N′‐bis(acryloyl)cystamine is used to cap hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs) to form a core/shell structure. The HMSN core is applied as a drug storage unit for its high drug loading capability, whereas the polymer shell is employed as a switch owing to its redox/temperature dual responses. The release behavior in vitro of doxorubicin demonstrated that the loaded drugs could be released rapidly at higher temperature or in the presence of glutathione (GSH). Thus, the dual‐stimulus polymer shell exhibiting a volume phase transition temperature higher than 37 °C can effectively avoid drug leakage in the bloodstream owing to the swollen state of the shell. Once internalized into cells, the carriers shed the polymer shell because of cleavage of the disulfide bonds by GSH, which results in the release of the loaded drugs in cytosol. This work may prove to be a significant development in on‐demand drug release systems for cancer therapy.     

A Selective Release System Based on Dual‐Drug‐Loaded Mesoporous Silica for Nanoparticle‐Assisted Combination Therapy

A selective release system was demonstrated with a dual‐cargo loaded MSNs. When stimulated by different signals (UV or H⁺), this system could selectively release different kinds of cargoes individually. Furthermore, this system has been used to provide a combination of chemotherapy and biotherapy for cancer treatment. This controlled release system could be an important step in the development of more effective and sophisticated nanomedicine and nanodevices, due to the possibility of selective release of a complex multi‐drug.     

Coordination‐Driven Macrocyclization for Locking of Photo‐ and Thermal cis→trans Isomerization of Azobenzene

Both trans and cis isomers of azobenzene‐linked bis‐terpyridine ligand L1 were incorporated in rigid macrocycles linked by Fe^II(tpy)₂ (tpy: terpyridine) units. The complex of the longer trans‐ L1 is dinuclear [(trans‐ L1 )₂ ? Fe^II₂], whereas the complex of the shorter cis‐ L1 is mononuclear [cis‐ L1? Fe^II]. The complex cis‐ L1? Fe^II was not only thermally stable but also photochemically inactive. These results indicate a perfectly locked state of cis‐azobenzene. The stable macrocyclic structure of cis‐ L1? Fe^II causes locking of the isomerization. To the best of our knowledge, this is first example of dual locking of photo‐ and thermal isomerization of cis‐azobenzene.     

Gelatin Porous Scaffolds as Delivery Systems of Calcium Alendronate

The systemic administration of bisphosphonates (BPs) for the treatment of metabolic diseases characterized by abnormal bone loss suffers from several adverse side effects, which can be reduced by implementation of alternative modes of administration. In this work, glutaraldehyde cross‐linked gelatin scaffolds are proposed as delivery systems of calcium alendronate monohydrate (CaAL•H₂O). The 3D highly porous scaffolds display a relevant interconnected porosity (>94%), independently from CaAL•H₂O content (0, 3, and 6 wt%). At variance, pore size varies with composition. The relative increase of the number of smaller pores on increasing BP content is in agreement with the parallel significant increase of the compressive modulus and collapse strength. The scaffolds exhibit a sustained CaAL•H₂O release profile, and a significant amount of the drug is retained in the scaffolds even after 14 d. In vitro tests are carried out using cocultures of osteoblast (OB) and osteoclast (OC). The evaluation of differentiation markers is performed both on the supernatants of cell culture and by means of quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results indicate that BP containing scaffolds support osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, whereas they inhibit osteoclast viability and activity, displaying a promising beneficial role on bone repair processes.

     

Self‐Propelled Janus Mesoporous Silica Nanomotors with Sub‐100 nm Diameters for Drug Encapsulation and Delivery

The synthesis of an innovative self‐propelled Janus nanomotor with a diameter of about 75 nm that can be used as a drug carrier is described. The Janus nanomotor is based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with chromium/platinum metallic caps and propelled by decomposing hydrogen peroxide to generate oxygen as a driving force with speeds up to 20.2 μm s^?1 (about 267 body lengths per second). The diffusion coefficient (D) of nanomotors with different H₂O₂ concentrations is calculated by tracking the movement of individual particles recorded by means of a self‐assembled fluorescence microscope and is significantly larger than free Brownian motion. The traction of a single Janus MSN nanomotor is estimated to be about 13.47×10^?15 N. Finally, intracellular localization and drug release in vitro shows that the amount of Janus MSN nanomotors entering the cells is more than MSNs with same culture time and particle concentrations, meanwhile anticancer drug doxorubicin hydrochloride loaded in Janus MSNs can be slowly released by biodegradation of lipid bilayers in cells.     

Cruciform‐Silica Hybrid Materials

Silica scaffolding : By employing functionalized mesoporous SBA‐15 silica, novel fluorescent cruciform‐silica hybrid materials are generated which preserve the desirable solution properties of cruciforms in the solid state for potential use in sensory schemes.