Controlling degradation of acid-hydrolyzable pluronic hydrogels by physical entrapment of poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) microspheres

Chemically crosslinked biodegradable hydrogels based on di-acrylated Pluronic F-127 tri-block copolymer were prepared by a photopolymerization method. Poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres were physically entrapped within the Pluronic hydrogel in order to modulate the local pH environment by acidic degradation by-products of PLGA microspheres. The PLGA microspheres were slowly degraded to create an acidic microenvironment, which facilitated the cleavage of an acid-labile ester-linkage in the biodegradable Pluronic hydrogel network. The presence of PLGA microspheres accelerated the degradation of the Pluronic hydrogel and enhanced the protein release rate when protein was loaded in the hydrogel.SEM image of photo-crosslinked Pluronic hydrogel entrapping PLGA microspheres.     

Polydopamine‐Decorated Sticky,Water‐Friendly,Biodegradable Polycaprolactone Cell Carriers

A bioinspired adhesive material, polydopamine (pDA), was employed as an interfacial glue to stably immobilize human neural stem cells (hNSCs) on the external surface of biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) microspheres, thereby serving as versatile key systems that can be used for cell carriers. The pDA decoration on the PCL microspheres has been resulted in robust hNSC immobilization as well as proliferation on their curved surfaces. The pDA coating has transformed the hydrophobic PCL systems toward water‐friendly and sticky characteristics, thereby resulting in full dispersion in aqueous solution and stable adherence onto a wet biological surface. Adeno‐associated virus, a safe gene vector capable of effectively regulating cell behaviors, can be decorated on the PCL surfaces and delivered efficiently to hNSCs adhered to the microsphere exteriors. These distinctive multiple benefits of the sticky pDA microspheres can provide core technologies that can boost the therapeutic effects of cell therapy approaches.

     

基于超大孔聚合物微球的混合色谱模式层析介质的制备

以甲基丙烯酸缩水甘油酯与乙二醇二甲基丙烯酸酯共聚的超大孔聚合物微球为基质,采用聚乙烯亚胺和丁基缩水甘油醚先后衍生微球的表面,制备成兼具阴离子交换与疏水相互作用的混合色谱模式层析介质。考察离子交换基团、疏水配基密度对蛋白载量、回收率的影响,结果表明,在离子交换容量0.2~0.5 mol/mL范围内,随着介质离子交换容量的增大,蛋白载量及回收率均呈增加趋势,蛋白载量最高值达40 mg/mL,回收率大于90%。当疏水配基的密度大于0.03 mol/mL时,介质开始表现疏水相互作用。此超大孔混合模式色谱介质在大于2000 cm/h 的流速下依然能保持低于2 MPa 的柱背压,同时在高流速下(2880 cm/h)纯化人血清中的抗体应用中表现良好的分辨率。此介质在高通量分离纯化应用方面具有巨大潜力。     

One-pot synthesis and characterization of crosslinked polyphosphazene dopamine microspheres for controlled drug delivery applications

Inorganic–organic hybrid and highly cross-linked poly(cyclotriphosphazene-co-dopamine) microspheres (PCTD) were successfully synthesized by a one-step precipitation polymerization technique. In the polymerization reaction, dopamine (a neurotransmitter), hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (HCCP, N₃P₃Cl₆) and triethylamine (TEA) were used as a monomer, a crosslinker molecule and an acid acceptor, respectively. The characterization of PCTD microspheres was performed by SEM-EDX, FTIR, XRD, TGA and DLS. The particle size of microspheres were determined as 1.042?µm. The usability of synthesized novel polyphosphazene microspheres for controlled drug release was investigated using acriflavine as a model drug. Acriflavine has antimicrobial and anticancer properties. As drug release medium pH:7.4 (PBS) and pH: 5.0 buffer solutions were used. They were the pH of blood and the approximate pH of the environment in which the cancerous cells are located, respectively. PCTD microspheres have 19.5?mgg^?1 drug storage capacity and 29% (pH: 5.0) and 47% (pH: 7.4) of the acriflavine was released from PCTD microspheres at 37?°C during 7?days.     

Phosphate-functionalized magnetic microspheres for immobilization of Zr ions for selective enrichment of the phosphopeptides

In this work, we developed phosphate functionalized magnetic Fe₃O₄@C microspheres to immobilize Zr⁴⁺ ions for selective extraction and concentration of phosphopeptides for mass spectrometry analysis. Firstly, we synthesized Fe₃O₄@C magnetic microspheres as our previous work reported. Then, the microspheres were functionalized with phosphate groups through a simple hydrolysis reaction using 3-(trihydroxysilyl)propyl methylphosphate. And the Zr⁴⁺ ions were immobilized on phosphate-functionalized magnetic microspheres by using phosphate chelator. Finally, we successfully employed Zr⁴⁺-phosphate functionalized magnetic microspheres to selectively isolate the phosphopeptides from tryptic digests of standard protein and real samples including rat brain. All the experimental results demonstrate the enrichment efficiency and selectivity of the method we reported here.     

Synthesis and application of a dual functional P/N/S‐containing microsphere with enhanced flame retardancy and mechanical strength on EP resin

A phosphazene derivative flame retardant with a highly cross‐linked microsphere structure, named poly(cyclotriphosphazene‐c‐sulfonyldiphenol) (PCPS) microspheres, were synthesized by 1‐pot reaction and then applied on flame retarded epoxy (EP) resin. The microstructure and chemical composition of PCPS microspheres were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and element mapping. The thermal stability of PCPS microspheres and PCPS/EP composites was explored through thermogravimetric analysis. Thermogravimetric data showed that the PCPS microspheres have excellent thermal stability, and the char yield is about 43% at the end of 800°C. The incorporation of PCPS microspheres significantly increased the char yield of PCPS/EP composites. The flammability was investigated by limited oxygen index tests and cone calorimeter. The limited oxygen index value of PCPS/EP composite was increased to 29.8 from 26.6 when 3 wt% of PCPS microspheres was added. Compared with neat EP, the flame retardancy was greatly improved. The peak heat release rate and smoke production rate of PCPS/EP composites were reduced by 45.0% and 43.6%, respectively. The mechanical properties including tensile strength and modulus were both improved due to the enhancement of PCPS microspheres. The PCPS microspheres act as a dual function for improving both the flame resistance and mechanical strength of PCPS/EP system.     

微流控法制备的多孔微球对Cr(Ⅵ)的吸附性能

利用玻璃毛细管搭建单级微流控装置制备单分散水包油（O/W）乳液,以乳液为模板,紫外光照射乳液引发自由基聚合,成功制备了单分散甲基丙烯酸甲酯/甲基丙烯酸二甲基氨基乙酯（MMA/DMAEMA）多孔微球。微球粒径偏差系数（CV）值小于5%,单分散性良好。研究了MMA/DMAEMA多孔微球对Cr(Ⅵ)的吸附性能、再生吸附性能、吸附机理。结果表明：pH对微球吸附Cr(Ⅵ)的量有较大影响,当pH=3时,微球对Cr(Ⅵ)吸附率达到52.9%;循环4次后微球吸附率基本不降低,循环性能好;微球吸附符合准二级动力学模型,属于化学吸附;微球等温吸附符合Langmuir模型,属于单分子层吸附。     

A novel poly(deep eutectic solvent)-based magnetic silica composite for solid-phase extraction of trypsin

Novel poly(deep eutectic solvent) grafted silica-coated magnetic microspheres (Fe₃O₄@SiO₂-MPS@PDES) were prepared by polymerization of choline chloride-itaconic acid (ChCl-IA) and γ-MPS-modified magnetic silica composites, and were characterized by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Then the synthetic Fe₃O₄@SiO₂-MPS@PDES microspheres were applied for the magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) of trypsin for the first time. After extraction, the concentration of trypsin in the supernatant was determined by a UV–vis spectrophotometer. Single factor experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of the extraction process, including the concentration of trypsin, the ionic strength, the pH value, the extraction time and the temperature. Experimental results showed the extraction capacity could reach up to 287.5 mg/g under optimized conditions. In comparison with Fe₃O₄@SiO₂-MPS, Fe₃O₄@SiO₂-MPS@PDES displayed higher extraction capacity and selectivity for trypsin. According to the regeneration studies, Fe₃O₄@SiO₂-MPS@PDES microspheres can be recycled six times without significant loss of its extraction capacity, and retained a high extraction capacity of 233 mg/g after eight cycles. Besides, the activity studies also demonstrated that the activity of the extracted trypsin was well retained. Furthermore, the analysis of real sample revealed that the prepared magnetic microspheres can be used to purify trypsin in crude bovine pancreas extract. These results highlight the potential of the proposed Fe₃O₄@SiO₂-MPS@PDES-MSPE method in separation of biomolecules.     

Preparation and properties of textile materials modified with triclosan‐loaded polylactide microparticles

A convenient and simple method for preparation of commercial nonwovens with antimicrobial properties was elaborated. The process consists in preparation of poly(l ‐lactide) microspheres (from poly(l ‐lactide) with M _n  = 10,560 and M _w /M _n  = 1.39) containing triclosan (5‐chloro‐2‐(2,4‐dichlorophenoxy) phenol) and loading them onto the nonwovens. The microspheres were prepared by spray drying (D _n  = 3.91 μm, D _w /D _n  = 2.43) and oil‐in‐water emulsification‐solvent evaporation method (D _n  = 5.84 μm, D _w /D _n  = 1.25). Content of triclosan in microspheres ranged from 4.65 to 4.95 wt%. The antibacterial nonwovens were prepared by padding of the fibers with the microspheres using the microsphere suspension. The resulting antibacterial nonwovens were examined using inhibition zone measurement method. Inhibition zones from 4 to 9 mm indicated that the modified nonwovens had antibacterial properties against Gram (+)—Staphylococcus aureus and Gram (?)—Klebsiella pneumoniae . Nonwovens were conditioned up to 12 months at relative humidity <5%, 50%, and 100% in desiccators and up to 6 months air‐conditioning system at relative humidity = 65%. Antimicrobial activity of the modified nonwovens was examined as a function of time and air humidity. Time of conditioning has strong influence on antibacterial activity, whereas the impact of the air humidity was negligible. All nonwovens had antibacterial properties even after 12 months of conditioning. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Magnetic hydrophilic methacrylate-based polymer microspheres for genomic DNA isolation

Carboxyl groups containing magnetic and non-magnetic microspheres were used in solid-phase reversible immobilization (SPRI) of genomic DNA. Magnetic non-porous poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate)--P(HEMA-co-EDMA), poly(glycidyl methacrylate)--PGMA and P(HEMA-co-GMA) microspheres with hydrophilic properties were prepared by dispersion copolymerization of the respective monomers in the presence of colloidal iron oxides. DNA from chicken erythrocytes and DNA isolated from bacterial cells of Bifidobacterium longum was used for testing of adsorption/desorption properties of magnetic microspheres. The occurrence of false negative results in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) caused by the presence of extracellular inhibitors in DNA samples has been solved using SPRI. The P(HEMA-co-EDMA) and P(HEMA-co-GMA) microspheres were used for isolation of DNA from different dairy products followed by PCR identification of Bifidobacterium strains.