Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zikuan Gu, Yueru Dong, Shuxin Xu, Lisheng Wang, Zhen Liu
Summary: This study presents a smart prodrug delivery system based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for specific accumulation and gradual release of drugs at tumor sites. In contrast to traditional prodrug designs, this system is liver-independent and relies on tumor environments for drug release.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Jing Zhang, Sunxiang Qian, Lingdong Chen, Minmin Wu, Yuqing Cai, Xiaozhou Mou, Jie Feng
Summary: Antifouling and antibacterial zwitterionic hydrogels were developed as soft contact lens for ocular bacterial infection therapy. These hydrogels exhibit high transmittance, water content, water retention rate, and antifouling properties. They can also load and control the release of drugs, demonstrating significant antibacterial effects in vitro and in vivo.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Juntao Zhou, Xianhui Cheng, Zhanchen Guo, Muhammad Mujahid Ali, Guiyuan Zhang, W. Andy Tao, Lianghai Hu, Zhen Liu
Summary: Phospholipids are key components of cell membranes with important functions in molecule transportation and cell recognition. However, methods for specific recognition of lipids are limited compared to proteins and glycans due to their structural diversity and amphipathic nature. In this study, a molecular imprinting strategy was developed for controllable imprinting of the polar head of phospholipid on the surface of cellular membranes. Phosphatidylserine, a unique lipid on the outer membrane leaflet of exosomes and a hallmark for cell apoptosis, was successfully imprinted using this method. The resulting phosphatidylserine imprinted materials exhibited high efficiency and specific targeting capability for apoptotic cell imaging and exosome isolation. These molecularly imprinted materials have great potential for selective plasma membrane recognition in targeted drug delivery and biomarker discovery.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shuxin Xu, Lisheng Wang, Zhen Liu
Summary: Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are tailor-made affinity materials with unique binding cavities, which have been engineered for cancer therapy. Using nanoMIPs as alternatives to current nanomaterials offers potential solutions to existing challenges in biological ligand-based nanomedicines.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aydin Bordbar-Khiabani, Michael Gasik
Summary: Smart hydrogels, a type of material that can respond to stimuli and adapt their responses based on external cues, have emerged as a promising research frontier in the field of biomedical engineering. With their high stability, physicochemical properties, and biocompatibility, smart hydrogels have the potential to be used in drug delivery systems. By changing their properties under external stimuli such as pH, temperature, electrical and magnetic fields, light, and biomolecules concentration, smart hydrogels can achieve controlled release of loaded drugs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Shuangjiang Yu, Hongcheng Sun, Yongguang Li, Shu Wei, Jiayun Xu, Junqiu Liu
Summary: The idea of using engineered bacteria as living therapeutic agents for treating various diseases has been proposed, with a focus on the importance of developing safe and effective treatment strategies. Hydrogels are seen as promising vehicles for delivering living bacterial therapeutics due to their adjustable properties, bioactivities, and ability to protect labile payloads. Current challenges and future prospects in the field are discussed, indicating that the significance of hydrogel-based living bacteria-mediated therapy is expected to increase with advancements in synthetic biology and biomaterials science.
MATERIALS TODAY BIO
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Carolina Amorim, Sergio R. S. Veloso, Elisabete M. S. Castanheira, Loic Hilliou, Renato B. Pereira, David M. Pereira, Jose A. Martins, Peter J. Jervis, Paula M. T. Ferreira
Summary: In this study, four symmetrical bolaamphiphiles based on dehydrodipeptides were prepared and their self-assembly properties were investigated. The results showed the bolaamphiphiles can form self-standing hydrogels and provide sustained release. These hydrogelators are non-toxic to cells and have an elastic modulus similar to native tissues.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuhan Xia, Zhiyuan Ma, Xuechen Wu, Huidan Wei, Han Zhang, Guang Li, Yuqi Qian, Mina Shahriari-Khalaji, Kai Hou, Ran Cao, Meifang Zhu
Summary: Sustainable and controllable drug transport is an efficient method for disease treatment. Chitosan hydrogel, characterized by high biocompatibility, good biodegradability, and low costs, has been widely used in biomedical fields. The abundant amino and hydroxyl groups in chitosan hydrogel allow it to interact with human tissues and enable drugs to pass through biological barriers. The multi-responsive nature of chitosan hydrogel, including pH, temperature, ions strength, and magnetic field, makes precise drug release possible. This review summarizes the synthesis methods, modification strategies, stimuli-responsive mechanisms, and recent progress of chitosan-based hydrogels in drug delivery, focusing on subcutaneous, oral, and facial administration. The challenges towards clinical application and future prospects are also discussed.
MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Anderson F. Sepulveda, Mont Kumpgdee-Vollrath, Margareth K. K. D. Franco, Fabiano Yokaichiya, Daniele R. de Araujo
Summary: This study investigates the morphology and structure of polymeric formulations based on Poloxamer and its interaction with hyaluronic acid and local anesthetics. The results show that hyaluronic acid and the anesthetics do not significantly affect the supramolecular structure but can modulate the viscosity and drug release behavior of the formulations.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Kyeong Jin Cho, Young-Eun Cho, Jihoon Kim
Summary: The lymphatic system is a crucial target in controlling cancer progression and adaptive immune response. Nano-sized materials have shown advantages in delivering drugs to lymph nodes and overcoming barriers associated with lymphatic physiology. Sustained drug delivery systems have the potential to improve the therapeutic index of immune modulating agents.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Haifeng Lu, Shuxin Xu, Zhanchen Guo, Menghuan Zhao, Zhen Liu
Summary: The study introduces a novel protein delivery strategy using sialic acid-imprinted biodegradable silica nanoparticles, showing targeted cancer therapy potential by effectively encapsulating cytotoxic protein RNase A. The nanovectors exhibited specific tumor-targeting ability and enhanced cell cytotoxicity, providing a promising platform for biomacromolecule delivery in cancer therapy.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Shouye Sun, Yutao Cui, Baoming Yuan, Minghan Dou, Gan Wang, Hang Xu, Jingwei Wang, Wen Yin, Dankai Wu, Chuangang Peng
Summary: This paper reviews the application of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based hydrogels in the treatment of bone defects. The advantages and disadvantages of PEG as a carrier are analyzed, and various modification methods of PEG hydrogels are summarized. On this basis, the application of PEG-based hydrogel drug delivery systems in promoting bone regeneration in recent years is summarized. Finally, the shortcomings and future developments of PEG-based hydrogel drug delivery systems are discussed. This review provides a theoretical basis and fabrication strategy for the application of PEG-based composite drug delivery systems in local bone defects.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Judith Recio-Ruiz, Riccardo Carloni, Srivathsan Ranganathan, Laura Munoz-Moreno, Maria Jose Carmena, Maria Francesca Ottaviani, Francisco Javier de la Mata, Sandra Garcia-Gallego
Summary: Carbosilane dendrimers are used for the first time to generate functional hydrogels with amphiphilic properties for biomedical applications. The controlled synthesis and lipophilicity of these dendrimers enable precise control of the network and compatibility with poorly soluble drugs. The study demonstrates the impact of the carbosilane dendritic nanodomains on drug encapsulation and release, and shows the effectiveness of curcumin-loaded hydrogels against advanced prostate cancer cells. The dendritic hydrogels also achieve controlled release of ibuprofen through fluoride-promoted esterification.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Nadia Toffoletto, Madalena Salema-Oom, Soledad Anguiano Igea, Carmen Alvarez-Lorenzo, Benilde Saramago, Ana Paula Serro
Summary: Pseudophakic cystoid macular edema (PCME), caused by chronic inflammation, is the most common cause of visual impairment in the medium-term after cataract surgery. Prophylactic treatment commonly involves the topical administration of combined steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Drug-eluting intraocular lenses (IOLs) have shown to be an efficient way to deliver drugs, with increased drug absorption and improved release kinetics, which could maintain therapeutic drug concentrations in the aqueous humor for about 2 and 8 weeks.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zahra Shariatinia, Mahdieh Ziba
Summary: Chitosan was functionalized and utilized as smart pH-responsive drug delivery systems for the anticancer drug cyclophosphamide. Different synthesized materials showed varied drug release rates under different pH conditions, with CS-AC-U-CP being identified as the most desirable DDS.
SURFACES AND INTERFACES
(2022)