Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Radostina Kalinova, Ivaylo Dimitrov
Summary: This study aimed to construct novel functional PIC micelles with cell targeting ligands on the surface and evaluate the possibility of encapsulating hydrophobic drugs. The results showed that PIC micelles can successfully be used as carriers for hydrophobic drugs, expanding their potential applications in nanomedicine.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mona M. Agwa, Marwa M. Abu-Serie, Doaa A. Abdelmonsif, Nermine Moussa, Hassan Elsayed, Sherine N. Khattab, Sally Sabra
Summary: Vitamin D3/ETP micelles, fabricated for targeted drug delivery, demonstrated superior anticancer effect with active targeting towards tumor cells while showing no toxicity to normal cells, making them an ideal system for cancer therapy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Yihenew Simegniew Birhan, Endris Yibru Hanurry, Tefera Worku Mekonnen, Haile Fentahun Darge, Yu-Hsuan Lin, Ming-Chien Yang, Hsieh-Chih Tsai
Summary: Polymeric micelles assembled from star-shaped amphiphilic copolymers have potential as a delivery tool for cancer treatment due to their long half-life, cancer-specific internalization, and controlled release of drugs. In this study, a biotin-decorated and diselenide-linked star-shaped amphiphilic copolymer was used to form stable micelles with high drug loading content and encapsulation efficiency. The micelles showed selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells and desirable drug release in a simulated cancer environment.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Won Jung Kim, Eu Hyun Lee, Yong-Jin Kwon, Sang-Kyu Ye, Kyu Oh Kim
Summary: An amphipathic PAA-POSS@DOX drug delivery system that is sensitive to pH changes in the cancer microenvironment has been developed using a nanoparticle based on inorganic polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS). This system has high loading efficiency and can quickly release the drug to the target area, as confirmed by cell death in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer line.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Kai Xiao, Qiangqiang Liu, Nell Suby, Wenwu Xiao, Rinki Agrawal, Michael Vu, Hongyong Zhang, Yan Luo, Yuanpei Li, Kit S. Lam
Summary: A nanoparticle system targeted at luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) receptor and responsive to the tumor microenvironment has been developed for selective delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs to triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. This system shows high drug loading efficiency, receptor-mediated internalization into TNBC cells, and improved cytotoxicity compared to non-targeted counterparts. In vivo studies demonstrate enhanced tumor distribution and penetration of payloads, leading to superior therapeutic efficacy in TNBC models. These results offer new insights into precise drug delivery for TNBC treatment.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dandan Liu, Xiangmin Ding, Jian Ding, Jing Sun
Summary: This study analyzes the assemblies formed by charged polyelectrolytes via electrostatic interactions and demonstrates the superior stability of the polypeptoid/folic acid complex as compared to other polymers. By encapsulating the anticancer drug in the complex vesicles, enhanced therapeutic efficacy is achieved through receptor-mediated endocytosis. pH-responsive morphological transformations were also observed.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Athar Mahdieh, Hamidreza Motasadizadeh, Hamid Yeganeh, Bo Nystrom, Rassoul Dinarvand
Summary: Clickable and cleavable nanomicelles with stimuli-responsiveness have been developed for targeted drug delivery to tumor tissues, showing potential value in breast cancer therapy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hong Yu Yang, Jia Meng Du, Moon-Sun Jang, Xin Wang Mo, Xin Shun Sun, Doo Sung Lee, Jung Hee Lee, Yan Fu
Summary: EPNGs were successfully fabricated for CD44-targeted transport of cytochrome c through UV-triggered chemical cross-linking, showing stable and high protein encapsulation efficiency in blood circulation and rapid release in targeted tumor cells.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Junjie Li, Kazunori Kataoka
Summary: The text emphasizes the evolution of nanomedicine from biologically inert entities to smarter systems aimed at advancing in vivo functionality. It highlights the importance of focusing on nano-bio interactions and desirable functionality in tissue, cellular, and molecular levels, as well as providing definitive evidence for proof-of-mechanism.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mengmeng Long, Xuemeng Liu, Xu Huang, Min Lu, Xiaomei Wu, Lingyan Weng, Qiuping Chen, Xueting Wang, Li Zhu, Zhongping Chen
Summary: A bone-targeted and hypoxia-responsive polymeric micelle system was developed for effective treatment of bone metastatic prostate cancer, demonstrating significant inhibition of tumor growth in metastatic bone, promotion of osteoblast activity, relief of bone pain, and prolonged survival time.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Weihe Yao, Chenyu Liu, Ning Wang, Hengjun Zhou, Hailiang Chen, Weihong Qiao
Summary: Targeted multi-responsive drug delivery systems with MRI capabilities were successfully synthesized, showing high stability and biocompatibility in vivo with excellent drug targeting effects.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY FRONTIERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Min Li, Yinan Zhao, Jiao Sun, Huiying Chen, Zhanbiao Liu, Kexin Lin, Pengfei Ma, Wenjun Zhang, Yuhong Zhen, Shufen Zhang, Shubiao Zhang
Summary: Polymer-based prodrug nanocarriers with tumor-targeting and controlled-release properties are highly desirable for improving cancer treatment. Hyaluronic acid (HA), known for its excellent biocompatibility and targeting ability for CD44, has been suggested as a carrier for delivering drugs with poor solubility and high toxicity. In this study, podophyllotoxin (PPT) was conjugated to HA through ester and disulfide linkages to create a pH and reduction-responsive prodrug (HA-S-S-PPT). Micelles self-assembled from HA-S-S-PPT efficiently accumulated at the tumor site due to HA receptor-mediated endocytosis. These micelles exhibited 33.1% higher cumulative release compared to HA-NH-CO-PPT micelles, which were only sensitive to pH. HA-S-S-PPT micelles demonstrated excellent antitumor activity in vivo, with a tumor inhibition rate of 92%, significantly higher than that of HA-NH-CO-PPT micelles (65%), and minimal systemic toxicity. This controllable-targeting nanoparticle system presents a potential platform for the clinical application of PPT.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Leon Capeloa, Mina Yazdi, Heyang Zhang, Xiaobing Chen, Yu Nie, Ernst Wagner, Ulrich Lachelt, Matthias Barz
Summary: ABC-type triblock copolymers are synthesized and used as vehicles to deliver siRNA. The self-assembly behavior and cross-linking ability of the polymers are utilized to construct polyion complex (PIC) micelles with a diameter of 50-60 nm, allowing efficient delivery of functional siRNA and specific gene knockdown in cells.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jinhai Xie, Shuangyu Tian, Hanning Zhang, Congshu Feng, Yingchao Han, Honglian Dai, Lesan Yan
Summary: Designing nano-drug delivery vehicles that respond to stimuli from the tumor microenvironment is crucial in cancer therapy. Enzyme-responsive nano-drug delivery systems are particularly effective as they target tumor-specific and highly expressed enzymes, resulting in increased drug release at the target sites and reduced toxicity to normal tissues. NQO1, an important reductase associated with cancer, is overexpressed in certain cancer cells, making the design of nanocarriers with high selectivity and responsiveness to NQO1 significant for tumor diagnosis and treatment.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Meysam Soleymani, Mohammad Velashjerdi, Mahsa Asgari
Summary: This study developed a facile method to prepare hyaluronic acid-decorated mixed nanomicelles loaded with curcumin for targeted therapy of breast cancer cells with high CD44 receptor expression. The targeted nanomicelles showed enhanced cytotoxicity of curcumin against cancer cells compared to non-targeted nanomicelles. These findings suggest that curcumin-loaded HA-PD mixed nanomicelles have potential as a promising targeted drug delivery system for breast cancer therapy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Lisa-Cathrin Leitner, Rika Schneider, Thomas Steiner, Martina H. Stenzel, Ruth Freitag, Andreas Greiner
Summary: This study proposes a concept of microbial remediation for the contamination of wastewater by microplastic particles (MPs). Degradable block copolymers are synthesized to adhere to the surfaces of MPs and attract degrading microbes for accelerated biofilm formation. The properties of the block copolymers, including thermal analysis, colloidal properties, adhesion behavior on MP surfaces, and their potential for supporting microbial growth, are investigated.
MACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Sylvia Ganda, Chin Ken Wong, Joanna Biazik, Radhika Raveendran, Lin Zhang, Fan Chen, Nicholas Ariotti, Martina H. Stenzel
Summary: Understanding cellular uptake and intracellular transport is crucial for targeted drug delivery. This study investigates the uptake and transport of non-spherical particles using two-dimensional platelets made of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL). The platelets were found to be transported through an endo/lysosomal pathway and completely degraded in the lysosome. Accelerated degradation of PCL was likely due to mechanical forces in stretched endosomes.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Henry Foster, Martina H. Stenzel, Robert Chapman
Summary: Compared to conventional techniques, photoinitiated electron/energy transfer-reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (PET-RAFT) allows for better control over the polymerization of multiblock star copolymers, avoiding the generation of termination products. This technique is also tolerant to oxygen, enabling the automated synthesis of multiblock star copolymers at short block lengths, providing a useful approach for screening the effect of polymer composition on solution structure.
Article
Polymer Science
Martina H. Stenzel
Summary: Glycopolymers with pendant sugars offer potential for targeted drug delivery. However, challenges such as self-aggregation, unexpected drug interactions, and non-specific protein binding exist. Despite these challenges, glycopolymers-based nanoparticles have shown promising results in selective drug delivery.
Article
Polymer Science
Russul Mamdooh Al-Nakashli, Cheng Cao, Radhika Raveendran, Hongxu Lu, Martina H. Stenzel
Summary: Polymeric micelles with different drug loading contents were studied to investigate their cellular uptake, penetration, and effects on biological activities. The results showed that micelles with high drug loading content exhibited higher cellular uptake and toxicity.
MACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mingxia Lu, Sen Wang, Yee Yee Khine, Yanchen Hong, Jiayu Zheng, Hongxu Lu, Martina H. Stenzel
Summary: Ruthenium complexes have potential as alternative anticancer drugs, but their non-specific biodistribution and weak lethality to cancer cells limit their medical use. Drug delivery systems can integrate multiple drugs to enhance chemotherapeutic efficacy and potentially achieve a synergistic effect.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yiling Liu, Stephanie Nemec, Chantal Kopecky, Martina H. Stenzel, Kristopher A. Kilian
Summary: Nanoparticle drug formulations have advantages in cancer therapy, but the assessment of new drugs is limited by preclinical models. This study demonstrates a new approach to test nanomedicine using a microtumor array formed through hydrogel micropatterning. It allows simultaneous evaluation of drug uptake and efficacy in different cancer cell fractions with high reproducibility. The findings suggest that nanoparticle drug formulations are well suited for targeting the stem cell-like population in cancer therapy due to their relationship with drug resistance, recurrence, and metastasis.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mitchell D. Nothling, John E. Daniels, Yen Vo, Ivan Johan, Martina H. Stenzel
Summary: Piezocatalysis is capable of converting mechanical energy into chemical potential, driving redox reactions using physical force. In this study, we demonstrate that piezoelectric BaTiO3 nanoparticles in the solid state can generate reactive hydroxyl radicals (·OH) by transducing mechanical load, leading to the initiation of solid state free radical polymerization. Chemisorbed water on the surface of BaTiO3 nanoparticles plays a crucial role by being oxidized to (·OH) via mechanoredox catalysis. This force-induced radical production in dry piezoelectric materials offers a promising new approach for harnessing mechanical energy in solid state radical synthesis.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lin Zhang, Cheng Cao, Szun S. Tay, Chaohao Chen, Alexander Macmillan, Shihui Wen, Dayong Jin, Joshua McCarroll, Martina H. Stenzel
Summary: Polymer-coated inorganic nanoparticles have unique magnetic, optical, and thermal properties that make them promising drug delivery systems. However, the biological behavior of these nanoparticles is affected by various factors such as size, shape, and protein corona. This study focuses on the effect of drug loading amount on the biological activity of inorganic nanoparticles and highlights the importance of optimizing drug loading amounts in order to achieve optimal drug delivery.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ilona Wagner, Simon Spiegel, Julian Brueckel, Matthias Schwotzer, Alexander Welle, Martina H. H. Stenzel, Stefan Braese, Salma Begum, Manuel Tsotsalas
Summary: Surface engineering of MOF NPs using dynamic modification strategies enables the tailoring of PEG-grafted MOF NPs with improved colloidal stability and high dispersity, while maintaining their morphology and lattice crystallinity. The PEG-grafted MOF NPs show reduced adsorption of HSA protein compared to uncoated ones, indicating the potential for reducing nonspecific interactions and introducing targeting moieties for specific interactions. This approach expands the applications of colloidal MOF NPs in biologically relevant fields.
MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Jordan T. Lovegrove, Ben A. Humphreys, Chin Ken Wong, Liliana de Campo, Anna Wang, Christopher J. Garvey, Martina H. Stenzel
Summary: This article investigates a synthetic pathway to produce biologically compatible, crosslinked, multicompartment worms (MCWs) in aqueous solution by incorporating thermoresponsive poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAM) to direct assembly above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST). The self-assembly process and mechanism of MCWs starting from primary micelles were observed and controlled by adjusting the temperature.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Russul Al-Nakashli, Radhika Raveendran, Yee Yee Khine, Cheng Cao, Sophie McKay, Hongxu Lu, Martina H. Stenzel
Summary: This study found that drug loading has an impact on cellular uptake of nanoparticles, which has been overlooked in previous studies focusing on properties such as shape and size. With increasing drug loading content, there was greater dehydration of the polymer shell, leading to increased protein adsorption and particle aggregation. The nanoparticle with the highest drug loading content showed reduced cellular uptake and toxicity in various cell lines. It was concluded that an intermediate drug loading content allows for sufficient cellular uptake and toxic drug concentration.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Jordan Thomas Lovegrove, Radhika Raveendran, Patrick Spicer, Stephan Foerster, Christopher J. Garvey, Martina H. Stenzel
Summary: Margination refers to the movement of particles towards the endothelial wall within blood vessels. This study focused on 2D platelet particles as a potential drug delivery system and quantified their margination propensity. The results showed that 2D platelet particles exhibited increased margination compared to spherical particles, with higher margination observed at higher shear rates.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zifei Han, Zihao Li, Radhika Raveendran, Shegufta Farazi, Cheng Cao, Robert Chapman, Martina H. Stenzel
Summary: Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) selectively induces apoptosis in cancer cells, but its clinical development is hindered by its short circulation half-life. Researchers have developed core-cross-linked micelles that successfully induce apoptosis in colon cancer cells, offering a potential alternative to TRAIL.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chin Ken Wong, Rebecca Y. Lai, Martina H. Stenzel
Summary: Polymersomes, as polymeric analogues of liposomes, have unique physical and chemical properties. However, their translation into clinical or industrial applications has been limited. This study presents a continuous flow methodology for the production of near-monodisperse polymersomes at scale, allowing for downstream polymersome manipulation.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)