Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Vladimir Subr, Robert Pola, Shanghui Gao, Rayhanul Islam, Takuma Hirata, Daiki Miyake, Kousuke Koshino, Jian-Rong Zhou, Kazumi Yokomizo, Jun Fang, Tomas Etrych
Summary: Biodegradable nanomedicines tailored for tumor-associated stimuli-sensitive drug release and polymer system degradation have advanced potential for anticancer polymer therapeutics. The diblock polymer systems designed in this study showed comparable in vitro cytotoxicity, intracellular uptake, and intratumor penetration properties to linear polymer conjugates. Moreover, the diblock nanomedicines showed remarkable in vivo anti-tumor efficacy, far superior to conventional linear polymer conjugates.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Xianshuo Zhang, Peipei Wang, Yaoyu Xu, Jun Wang, Yunfeng Shi, Wenxu Niu, Wenjing Song, Ruru Liu, Cui-Yun Yu, Hua Wei
Summary: A robust yet facile strategy for the synthesis of biodegradable hyperbranched amphiphilic copolymers is reported in this study. The block-statistical structure is identified as a better polymer architecture for controlled release applications.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuvaraj Arun, Radhakanta Ghosh, Abraham J. Domb
Summary: Biodegradable, hydrophobic, and injectable liquid polymers are able to achieve sustained, local drug release, with potential applications in regenerative medicine.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Na Song, Zhifei Zhou, Yanqiu Song, Mingming Li, Xiunan Yu, Binbin Hu, Zhilin Yu
Summary: The study demonstrates the oxidation-regulated self assembly of peptides into transformable scaffolds for cascade cancer therapy via in situ ROS generation. The scaffolds with combinatorial therapeutic effect promoted by photo-induced in situ ROS generation and morphological transition due to methionine oxidation enhance tumor accumulation and penetration of therapeutics, leading to effective tumor eradication. The findings provide a new and versatile strategy for ROS-associated disease treatment in the future.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Raquel Lopez-Rios de Castro, Robert M. Ziolek, Christian D. Lorenz
Summary: In this study, the influence of polymer topology on self-assembly and stability of nanoparticles in micelles was investigated using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. It was found that topology affects the ability of micelles to form a compact hydrophobic core and the conformational response of polymer molecules to the local environment.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ta-Hsin Tsung, Yi-Hao Chen, Da-Wen Lu
Summary: The complex nature of the ocular drug delivery barrier poses challenges to effective drug administration. One promising approach is the use of biodegradable formulations, such as hydrogels, implants, and polymeric nanocarriers. Research in these areas is rapidly growing. This review provides an overview of recent updates in biodegradable formulations for ocular drug delivery, exploring their clinical use in different ocular diseases and highlighting their potential for future trends and practical clinical applications.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Roberta A. dos Reis, Lila A. M. Mahmoud, Evdokiya H. Ivanovska, Richard Telford, Matthew A. Addicoat, Lui R. Terry, Valeska P. Ting, Sanjit Nayak
Summary: Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have great potential for extraction and delivery of agrochemicals, but their granular form can limit their application in wider agricultural context. This study explores the use of biodegradable polymer-MOF composites to overcome this limitation and achieve controlled release of the pesticide 2,4-dichloropheoxycetic acid (2,4-D). The results demonstrate high loading capacity and sustained release of 2,4-D from the MOFs over a period of 16 days, with the NH2-functionalized MOF showing a more controlled release compared to the UiO-66 MOF.
ADVANCED SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Matthias Sandmeier, Nevena Paunovic, Riccardo Conti, Leopold Hofmann, Jieping Wang, Zhi Luo, Kunal Masania, Na Wu, Nicole Kleger, Fergal Brian Coulter, Andre R. Studart, Hansjoerg Gruetzmacher, Jean-Christophe Leroux, Yinyin Bao
Summary: Solvent-free 3D printing of biodegradable elastomers using macrophotoinitiator-polymer conjugates enables high-quality printing without the need for organic solvents. This approach allows for systematic investigation of structure-property relationships and offers new perspectives for additive manufacturing of bioresorbable medical implants and functional devices.
Article
Polymer Science
A. Arzola-Rubio, C. Arzola-Alvarez, J. Camarillo-Cisneros, R. C. Anderson, O. Ruiz-Barrera, L. C. Hinojos-Gallardo, R. M. Cabral-Lares
Summary: A new amphiphilic copper compound Multiplex 1 has been designed to form nanoscale toroidal structures in water with a high affinity for DNA binding. The study showed that these compounds can successfully transfect genes into cells, suggesting potential applications in gene therapy.
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC AND ORGANOMETALLIC POLYMERS AND MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
M. Zegre, E. Poljanska, L. A. Caetano, L. Goncalves, A. Bettencourt
Summary: The treatment of bone infections involves high doses of antibiotics, either systemically or locally. Recent research has focused on developing drug delivery systems that can target the infected bone specifically, reducing the amount of drugs needed and their potential toxicity. Biodegradable polymeric platforms, such as micro- and nanoparticles, scaffolds, and hydrogels, are being studied as alternative options to the current gold standard treatment, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) cement.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yoshihiro Yamakita, Issei Takeuchi, Kimiko Makino, Hiroshi Terada, Akihiko Kikuchi, Kolio Troev
Summary: In this study, amphiphilic polyphosphoesters based on poly(oxyethylene H-phosphonate)s (POEHP) were synthesized using polycondensation reactions with varying lengths of poly(ethylene glycol) segments and aliphatic alcohols. The effects of polymer structure on micelle formation and stability were investigated, and it was found that the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance of these polymers can be controlled by changing the chain lengths of hydrophilic PEG and hydrophobic alcohols.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Hiroya Abe, Yuuya Matsui, Natsumi Kimura, Matsuhiko Nishizawa
Summary: An array of porous microneedles made of PLGA was fabricated with a porosity around 50% through a combination of molding and freeze-drying methods. The mechanical strength of the PLGA microneedles was enhanced by modification with CMC, resulting in decreased transdermal resistance, thus improving efficiency and safety of DC current-based transdermal techniques.
MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Sujan Dutta, Daniel Cohn
Summary: The aim of this study was to develop temperature and pH-responsive biodegradable 3D printed drug-releasing constructs using the Digital Light Processing (DLP) printing technique. The resulting hydrogels showed fast and reversible swelling-deswelling response and good water uptake capacity. These dual responsive 3D printed biodegradable hydrogel objects have the potential to be a novel drug carrier.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Krishanu Ghosal, Santanu Ghosh
Summary: This article discusses the pressing environmental concern of agricultural and post-consumer polymeric waste material in the era of globalization. It emphasizes the necessity of sustainable recycling of lignocellulosic biomass and synthetic plastic wastes, and discusses their potential and applications in the field of biomedical research.
MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING R-REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Willi R. Berg, Jonathan F. Berengut, Changzhuang Bai, Laura Wimberger, Lawrence K. Lee, Felix J. Rizzuto
Summary: In this study, we demonstrate a method to achieve dynamics in DNA nanostructures without DNA modification. By using protonated DNA strands and a small molecule pH regulator, we successfully assemble DNA origami into one-dimensional fibrils, which can be reversibly assembled and disassembled by visible light activation.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Libor Kostka, Lenka Kotrchova, Eva Randarova, Carolina A. Ferreira, Iva Malatova, Hye Jin Lee, Aeli P. Olson, Jonathan W. Engle, Marek Kovar, Weibo Cai, Milada Sirova, Tomas Etrych
Summary: nanomedicines are being developed as an improved therapeutic option with reduced side effects, and this study introduces tailored nanosystems for the treatment of solid tumors or hematological malignancies. The relationship between the structure of the nanosystem and its distribution in the body was evaluated through independent assessments of the polymer carrier and drug pharmacokinetics. The results showed enhanced tumor accumulation of the polymer carriers in mice with solid tumors, as well as significant accumulation of doxorubicin bound to the polymer carriers in specific tumor types.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
A. Libanska, E. Randarova, S. Skoroplyas, M. Bartos, J. Lunackova, F. Lager, G. Renault, D. Scherman, T. Etrych
Summary: This study presents biocompatible and stimuli-sensitive polymer conjugates with an anti-inflammatory drug, dexamethasone, which are designed for prolonged blood circulation, enhanced inflammatory site accumulation, site-specific drug release, and subsequent elimination via urine excretion. The polymer nanomedicines demonstrated the ability to reduce joint inflammation and arthritis-induced bone damage in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Okan Tezcan, Asmaa Said Elshafei, Karina Benderski, Elena Rama, Maike Wagner, Diana Moeckel, Robert Pola, Michal Pechar, Tomas Etrych, Saskia von Stillfried, Fabian Kiessling, Ralf Weiskirchen, Steffen Meurer, Twan Lammers
Summary: Multidrug resistance (MDR) reduces the efficacy of chemotherapy by inducing drug efflux pumps and altering the tumor microenvironment (TME) composition, limiting drug delivery. Multidrug-resistant tumors displayed a more mesenchymal phenotype, increased collagen production, enriched TME, and enhanced vascular perfusion. Drug carriers accumulated more efficiently in resistant tumors but had a limited ability to penetrate the interstitium. Microenvironmental drug resistance affected liposomal doxorubicin performance more than free doxorubicin.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Sarah Schraven, Stefanie Rosenhain, Ramona Brueck, Tim Marvin Wiechmann, Robert Pola, Tomas Etrych, Wiltrud Lederle, Twan Lammers, Felix Gremse, Fabian Kiessling
Summary: Biodistribution of nanocarriers with different dye tags was compared, showing that hydrophobic dyes were preferentially taken up by tumor cells. The uptake was actively mediated but not influenced by transporters. Additionally, labeling significantly impacted the tumor accumulation and biodistribution of nanocarriers, emphasizing the need for low-interference dyes and further exploration of dye tags for unbiased results.
NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Vladimir Sincari, Eliezer Jager, Kahynna Cavalcante Loureiro, Martina Vragovic, Eddie Hofmann, Mathias Schlenk, Marcela Filipova, Eliska Rydvalova, Petr Stepanek, Martin Hruby, Stephan Foerster, Alessandro Jager
Summary: In this study, highly size-defined and monodisperse pH-responsive giant polymer vesicles (GUPVs) were prepared using a microfluidic droplet generation method. The spatiotemporal control provided by these GUPVs was demonstrated by studying their pH-responsiveness and dye release under distinct acidic conditions. This approach has the potential to be utilized for the fabrication of pH-responsive delivery systems and cell mimicry.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Amira Najahi, Quim Tarres, Pere Mutje, Marc Delgado-Aguilar, Jean-Luc Putaux, Sami Boufi
Summary: Lignin-containing cellulose nanofibrils (LCNFs) were prepared via TEMPO-mediated oxidation and high-pressure homogenization, and the impact of carboxyl content on the properties of LCNF gel was investigated. It was found that increasing carboxyl content led to decreased lignin content, improved colloidal stability and water contact angle, as well as smaller fibril size, but slightly lower thermal stability. In addition, incorporating LCNFs into a ductile polymer matrix significantly enhanced the tensile strength.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fernando A. de Oliveira, Carin Cristina da Silva Batista, Peter Cernoch, Vladimir Sincari, Alessandro Jager, Eliezer Jager, Fernando C. Giacomelli
Summary: Self-assembled bilayer structures, such as polymersomes, have a wide range of potential applications including artificial cells, organelles, nanoreactors, and delivery systems. The membrane permeability of these structures is a crucial property, and this study reports the creation of intrinsically permeable polymersomes using block copolymers. The presence of protonated amino groups leads to swollen hydrophobic segments, resulting in permeable polymeric membranes that can be modulated by solution pH.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Fernando A. de Oliveira, Carin C. S. Batista, Lindomar J. C. Albuquerque, Peter Cernoch, Milos Steinhart, Vladimir Sincari, Alessandro Jager, Eliezer Jager, Fernando C. Giacomelli
Summary: The size and morphology of self-assemblies can be tuned for the development of delivery systems. The morphology of pH-triggered nanoplatforms based on block copolymers is influenced by the molecular weight of the copolymer and the method of self-assembly. The formation of core-shell nanoparticles or vesicular structures can be achieved by adjusting the molecular weight and using different self-assembly methods.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Camille Vandromme, Corentin Spriet, Jean-Luc Putaux, David Dauvillee, Adeline Courseaux, Christophe D'Hulst, Fabrice Wattebled
Summary: The control of starch granule initiation in plant leaves involves complex interactions between enzymes like Starch Synthase 4 and 3 (SS4 or SS3) and noncatalytic proteins such as Protein Involved in starch Initiation 1 (PII1). It was found that SS4 is the main enzyme responsible for starch granule initiation, but SS3 can partially compensate in its absence. The interaction between PII1 and SS4 is crucial for full activity of SS4, but Arabidopsis mutants lacking either SS4 or PII1 still accumulate starch granules. The combination of mutations in PII1 with SS3 or SS4 provides new insights into the synthesis of remaining starch granules.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Svetlana Lukas Petrova, Martina Vragovic, Ewa Pavlova, Zulfiya Cernochova, Alessandro Jager, Eliezer Jager, Rafal Konefal
Summary: This paper introduces a new class of amphiphilic block copolymers consisting of polylactic acid (PLA) and a hydrophilic polymer composed of oligo ethylene glycol chains (TEGMA). The LCST values for the block copolymers decreased with increasing PLA content, demonstrating that the addition of hydrophobic monomers can tune the LCST temperatures of thermo-responsive polymers. The PLA-b-PTEGMA copolymers have great potential for use in drug and gene delivery systems via temperature-triggered drug release mechanisms in biomedicine applications.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
M. Hrochova, L. Kotrchova, M. Frejkova, R. Konefal, S. Gao, J. Fang, L. Kostka, T. Etrych
Summary: Biodegradable polymer-based therapeutics have become essential drug delivery biomaterials. This study presents an adaptable polymerization platform for the synthesis of long-circulating, stimulus-sensitive and biodegradable biomaterials. The controlled polymerization allows for controlled degradation and increased antitumor efficacy.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lindomar J. C. Albuquerque, Fernando A. de Oliveira, Marcelo A. Christoffolete, Michelle Nascimento-Sales, Simone Berger, Ernst Wagner, Ulrich Lachelt, Fernando C. Giacomelli
Summary: This study evaluated the use of lipopeptides capable of binding to nucleic acids for plasmid DNA delivery, with a focus on retinal pigment epithelial cells and ocular disorders. The lipopeptides effectively condensed pDNA and demonstrated highly efficient delivery with lower cytotoxicity compared to linear polyethylenimine. However, carriers containing cysteine showed lower efficiency possibly due to excessive polyplex stabilization.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Fernando A. de Oliveira, Lindomar J. C. Albuquerque, Michelle Nascimento-Sales, Marcelo A. Christoffolete, Ismael C. Bellettini, Fernando C. Giacomelli
Summary: Polyethyleneimine (PEI) derivatives substituted by lactose, succinic acid, or alkyl domains were studied as nonviral gene delivery vectors with improved transfection efficiency and reduced cytotoxicity. The experiments focused on pDNA transfection into ARPE-19 and HepG2 cell lines. Short alkyl domains and succinylation of PEI chains enhanced the gene transfection by improving intracellular unpacking and cargo release, reducing cytotoxicity, and preventing protein adsorption to the polyplexes. However, the presence of long carbon chains led to higher cytotoxicity and lower transfection rates. Sugar-decorated polyplexes were less cytotoxic but compromised the transfection efficiency due to larger size and weak polymer-DNA binding. Double-substitution of PEI with short lytic alkyl domains synergistically increased gene transfection by enabling higher DNA and polymer uptake without cell damage. The findings suggest that fine-tuning the hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic balance, particularly through succinic acid modification, can enhance ocular and hepatic gene therapies.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Kaplan Kirakci, Robert Pola, Marina Rodrigues Tavares, Michal Pechar, Tomas Pribyl, Ivana Krizova, Jaroslav Zelenka, Tomas Ruml, Tomas Etrych, Kamil Lang
Summary: This study successfully conjugated octahedral molybdenum clusters with organic polymers, resulting in a highly stable nanosized conjugate. The conjugate demonstrated the ability to photosensitize the production of singlet oxygen without being toxic to cells. It also showed potential as a radiosensitizer upon X-ray irradiation. This research provides a promising therapeutic tool for photo/radiodynamic applications.
MATERIALS ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yiping Yin, Zhe Wang, Hua Zou
Summary: This study presents a novel method for preparing dimpled polymer-silica nanocomposite particles using interfacial swelling-based seeded polymerization. The optimized conditions allow for a relatively high percentage of dimpled particles to be achieved.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Brenden D. Hoehn, Elizabeth A. Kellstedt, Marc A. Hillmyer
Summary: Porous materials with nanometer-scale pores have important applications as nanoporous membranes. In this study, ABA triblock copolymers were used as precursors to produce nanoporous polymeric membranes (NPMs) in thin film form by degrading the end blocks. Polycyclooctene (PCOE) NPMs with tunable pore sizes were successfully prepared using solvent casting technique. Oxygen plasma etching was employed to improve the surface porosity and hydrophilicity of the membranes. This study provides a straightforward method to produce tough NPMs with high porosity and hydrophilic surface properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vladislav S. Petrovskii, Stepan I. Zholudev, Igor I. Potemkin
Summary: This article investigates the behavior of linear and ring polypeptide chains in aqueous solution and explores the properties of the complexes formed by these chains with oppositely charged surfactants. The results demonstrate that the complexes of linear supercharged unfolded polypeptides and the corresponding surfactants exhibit impressive adhesive properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Merve Cevik, Serkan Dikici
Summary: Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death globally, and vascular grafts are a promising treatment option. This study focuses on tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) using decellularized parsley stems as a potential biomaterial. The decellularized parsley stems showed suitable properties for TEVGs, providing a suitable environment for human endothelial cells to form a pseudo endothelium. This study showcases the potential of using parsley stems for TEVGs.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Gustavo A. Vasquez-Montoya, Tadej Emersic, Noe Atzin, Antonio Tavera-Vazquez, Ali Mozaffari, Rui Zhang, Orlando Guzman, Alexey Snezhko, Paul F. Nealey, Juan J. de Pablo
Summary: The optical properties of liquid crystals are typically controlled by electric fields. In this study, we investigate the effects of microfluidic flows and acoustic fields on the molecular orientation and optical response of nematic liquid crystals. We identify several previously unknown structures and explain them through calculations and simulations. These findings hold promise for the development of new systems combining sound, flow, and confinement.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xinjun Wu, Xin Guan, Shushu Chen, Jiangpeng Jia, Chongyi Chen, Jiawei Zhang, Chuanzhuang Zhao
Summary: This research presents a novel shape memory hydrogel with a remodelable permanent shape and programmable cold-induced shape recovery behavior. The hydrogel is prepared using specific treatment methods to achieve shape fixation by heating and shape recovery by cooling. Additionally, deformable devices can be obtained by assembling hydrogel blocks with different concentrations.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rebecca Hengsbach, Gerhard Fink, Ulrich Simon
Summary: This study examines the properties of DNA functionalized pNipmam microgels and pure pNipmam microgels at different concentrations of sodium chloride and in PBS solutions using temperature dependent H-1-NMR measurements. The results show that DNA modification affects the volume phase transition temperature and the addition of salt and PBS further enhances this effect.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ningyi Li, Junhong Li, Lijingting Qing, Shicheng Ma, Yao Li, Baohui Li
Summary: This paper investigates the self-assembly behavior of colloids with competing interactions under spherical confinement and finds that different ordered structures can be formed under different sized spherical confinements. Moreover, more perforated structures are formed in smaller spheres.
