Article
Polymer Science
Maria Karayianni, Dimitra Koufi, Stergios Pispas
Summary: The electrostatic complexation between double hydrophilic block copolymers (DHBCs) and a model porphyrin was utilized to develop polyion complex micelles (PICs) as photosensitive porphyrin-loaded nanoparticles. Different mixing charge ratios were examined to produce stable nanocarriers. The resulting nanoparticles were investigated for their properties, including size, charge, and response to changes in pH and temperature. The photophysical properties and structural information of the complexed porphyrin were also analyzed using UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy.
Article
Polymer Science
Noriko Nakamura, Yuki Mochida, Kazuko Toh, Shigeto Fukushima, Horacio Cabral, Yasutaka Anraku
Summary: This study focused on the influence of the mixing charge ratio between block aniomers and catiomers on the physicochemical characteristics and in vivo biological performance of the resulting PIC micelles (PIC/m). It was found that changing the mixing charge ratio altered the structural state of the core, despite the sizes of PIC/m remaining almost the same, significantly affecting their stability in the bloodstream and biodistribution after intravenous injection.
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
Chemistry, Physical
Jung-In Lee, Sungjin Cho, Tai Thai Vu, Sujin Kim, Sunmin Ryu, Janghyuk Moon, Soojin Park
Summary: An innovative strategy utilizing a hybrid polyion complex micelle is reported to enable high-performance Li metal anodes in carbonate-based electrolytes. By combining ionized LiNO3 with block copolymer micelles, unique solid electrolyte interface layers are formed to control Li morphology and enhance Li-ion conductivity, resulting in efficient cycling performance over 100 cycles even at high temperatures. This work offers new insights for enabling high-energy-density Li metal batteries with conventional carbonates.
ENERGY STORAGE MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Alexander B. Schwahn, Julia Baek, Shanhua Lin, Christopher A. Pohl, Ken Cook
Summary: Characterization and quality control of biotherapeutic proteins often require multiple orthogonal separation techniques, leading to tedious method development. This study demonstrates the use of a linear controlled pH gradient system and universal buffer solutions to improve efficiency and minimize manual intervention in method development and analysis.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
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
Polymer Science
Weixing Xiong, Xiyu Wang, Yuanyuan Liu, Caihui Luo, Xinhua Lu, Yuanli Cai
Summary: Polymerization-induced electrostatic self-assembly (PIESA) is a powerful method for synthesizing polyion complex (PIC) nanoparticles. In this study, PIESA was updated using arginine-like full-spectrum guanidinium ionic hydrogen bonds. The results showed that guanidinium interactions could lead to nanoparticles with different morphologies. The strong effect of like-charge ionic hydrogen bonds can overcome Coulombic repulsive interactions, revolutionizing the synthesis of nanostructured biomimetic functional materials.
Article
Polymer Science
Weixing Xiong, Xiyu Wang, Yuanyuan Liu, Caihui Luo, Xinhua Lu, Yuanli Cai
Summary: Polymerization-induced electrostatic self-assembly (PIESA) is a powerful method for the synthesis of polyion complex (PIC) nanoparticles. In this study, PIESA was updated using full-spectrum guanidinium ionic hydrogen bonds, enabling the precision synthesis of nanoparticles with different sizes.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Justin M. Horn, Yuncan Zhu, So Yeon Ahn, Allie C. Obermeyer
Summary: Intrinsically disordered polypeptides with negative charge were produced and used to create protein-based polyelectrolyte complexes. These complexes exhibited rich phase behavior and were sensitive to various factors, demonstrating both robust expression and stimuli-responsive properties of the intrinsically disordered peptides. These results suggest the potential of intrinsically disordered peptides as easily producible, biocompatible substitutes for synthetic polyelectrolytes.
Article
Polymer Science
Xiaolei Hu, Arman Moini Jazani, Jung Kwon Oh
Summary: This review summarizes recent advances in the design and synthesis of imine-bearing block copolymers and their nanoassemblies, focusing on their disassembly mechanism and enhanced drug release in acidic tumor environments.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Tomasz Rumanek, Michal Kolodziej, Wojciech Piatkowski, Dorota Antos
Summary: This study developed a preferential precipitation process to reduce the content of acidic variants in monoclonal antibody (mAb) downstream pools. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was found to facilitate the precipitation of acidic mAb variants. By using a multistage precipitation and recycling approach, the yield was improved, leading to potential benefits in throughput and manufacturing costs.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Chendan Li, Bas G. P. van Ravensteijn, Martien A. Cohen Stuart, Jose Rodrigo Magana, Ilja K. Voets
Summary: This study explores the influence of homopolymer architecture on the properties of polyion complex micelles, revealing a new way of controlling these properties through kinetically trapped states by modifying the structure of the micelles.
MACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Jason Richard, Anthony Phimphachanh, Alix Jamet-Fournier, Thomas Cacciaguerra, Philippe Dieudonne-George, Didier Cot, Mathias Destarac, Patrick Lacroix-Desmazes, Martin In, Nathalie Marcotte, Corine Gerardin
Summary: A versatile approach has been developed to prepare small mesoporous silica particles with simultaneous control of the internal ordered pore structure and the external particle surface. Mixed polyion complex (PIC) micelles are used as silica structure-directing agents, allowing for the modulation of pore structure. By replacing a fraction of the poly(ethylene oxide) based-block with a polyacrylamide block, the particle size can be reduced and the particle surface can be stabilized.
MICROPOROUS AND MESOPOROUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Meghanath B. Shete, Tulshidas S. Patil, Ashwini S. Deshpande, Gaurav Saraogi, Nupur Vasdev, Mrudul Deshpande, Kuldeep Rajpoot, Rakesh Kumar Tekade
Summary: Nanomedicine plays a crucial role in targeting therapeutics to specific sites, with various types of nanomedicines being widely recognized and utilized for disease treatment and diagnosis. However, the advancement of nanotheranostics still requires collaborative efforts from a range of professionals to bring them into the market successfully.
JOURNAL OF DRUG DELIVERY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kaiwen Yu, Xiyu Wang, Caihui Luo, Ying Cao, Jie Cai, Xinhua Lu, Yuanli Cai
Summary: A template strategy is proposed for the precise synthesis of complex coacervates-in-dodecyl atmosphere ultrathin lamellae with exceptional shape-preservation and charge-tolerance properties.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Mariusz Skwarczynski, Sahra Bashiri, Ye Yuan, Zyta M. Ziora, Osama Nabil, Keita Masuda, Mattaka Khongkow, Natchanon Rimsueb, Horacio Cabral, Uracha Ruktanonchai, Mark A. T. Blaskovich, Istvan Toth
Summary: The development of effective treatments against infectious diseases requires overcoming bacteria's rapid adaptation to antibiotics. Appropriately designed activity enhancers can increase the effectiveness of current antibiotics, reduce antibiotic resistance, improve drug delivery and penetration, and decrease side effects.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Takuya Miyazaki, Shaoyi Chen, Stelios Florinas, Kazunori Igarashi, Yu Matsumoto, Tatsuya Yamasoba, Ze-Qi Xu, Herren Wu, Changshou Gao, Kazunori Kataoka, R. James Christie, Horacio Cabral
Summary: This study presents a Hoechst-based reporter system that can monitor the release and engagement of drugs from nanoparticle delivery systems. The system allows the visualization of drug distribution and binding to subcellular targets, providing insights into the effects of drug-linker and nanoparticle properties on target-bound drug distribution. The findings from this study were applied to develop highly potent, targeted anticancer nanoparticles with optimized drug-linker design, resulting in effective tumor growth inhibition without severe toxicity.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ana Figueiras, Catia Domingues, Ivana Jarak, Ana Isabel Santos, Ana Parra, Alberto Pais, Carmen Alvarez-Lorenzo, Angel Concheiro, Alexander Kabanov, Horacio Cabral, Francisco Veiga
Summary: Nanomedicine, specifically the study of polymeric micelles (PMs), has emerged as a significant area of medicine in the last decade. PMs are colloidal dispersions of amphiphilic compounds that assemble into a core-shell structure, with a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic shell. They improve the solubility and stability of drugs and can be absorbed and transported to the therapeutic target. PMs have high load capacity and are synthesized using a reproducible and cost-effective method. pH and temperature are commonly studied stimuli for enhanced drug release.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Wenqian Yang, Pengwen Chen, Eger Boonstra, Taehun Hong, Horacio Cabral
Summary: Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a promising therapeutic modality, but its fragility and limited intracellular access pose challenges. This study developed pH-responsive cross-linked micelles for stable mRNA delivery and complete release in endosomal pH. The cross-linked micelles increased mRNA delivery efficiency and promoted protein expression.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Pengwen Chen, Wenqian Yang, Taehun Hong, Takuya Miyazaki, Anjaneyulu Dirisala, Kazunori Kataoka, Horacio Cabral
Summary: Intracellular protein delivery is an effective approach for developing innovative therapeutics. Nanocarriers have the potential to deliver proteins inside cells by promoting cellular uptake and overcoming degradation. Controlling the ability of nanocarriers to escape from the endo/lysosomal compartments can enhance delivery precision.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuto Honda, Sayaka Onodera, Hiroyasu Takemoto, Noor Faizah Che Harun, Takahiro Nomoto, Makoto Matsui, Keishiro Tomoda, Yudi Sun, Yutaka Miura, Nobuhiro Nishiyama
Summary: This study aims to develop a technology to control the activity of small interfering RNA (siRNA) in a thermo-responsive manner, even at temperatures close to body temperature. By conjugating siRNA with a thermally responsive copolymer, the activity of siRNA can be enhanced based on temperature changes. This technique offers a promising approach to selectively induce therapeutic effects of siRNA in vivo.
PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Toxicology
S. Tanabe, S. Quader, R. Ono, H. Cabral, K. Aoyagi, A. Hirose, H. Yokozaki, H. Sasaki
TOXICOLOGY LETTERS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tony Hu, C. Jeffrey Brinker, Warren C. W. Chan, Chunying Chen, Xiaodong Chen, Dean Ho, Kazunori Kataoka, Nicholas A. Kotov, Luis M. Liz-Marzan, Andre E. Nel, Wolfgang J. Parak, Molly Stevens
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Haochen Guo, Wen Xu, Takahiro Nomoto, Kaito Kanamori, Yan Ming Voon, Yuto Honda, Naoki Yamada, Hiroyasu Takemoto, Makoto Matsui, Nobuhiro Nishiyama
Summary: Cancer cells overexpress LAT1 to take up neutral amino acids, and targeting LAT1 with drug delivery systems has promising potential for cancer diagnosis and therapy. This study developed polymers with Met or Cys structures to test their affinity with LAT1. The Met-modified polymers exhibited higher cellular uptake efficiency in an LAT1-selective manner and showed tumor-selective accumulation in vivo, suggesting their potential for LAT1-targeting drug delivery systems.
Article
Oncology
Takahiro Nomoto, Kana Komoto, Tomoya Nagano, Takuya Ishii, Haochen Guo, Yuto Honda, Shun-ichiro Ogura, Masahiro Ishizuka, Nobuhiro Nishiyama
Summary: This study suggests that the use of a polymeric iron chelator can enhance the effectiveness of 5-ALA-induced photodynamic therapy by modulating the intratumoral iron levels. The polymeric iron chelator effectively deactivates intracellular labile iron and increases the accumulation of PpIX, improving the cytotoxicity upon photoirradiation.
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Warren C. W. Chan, Natalie Artzi, Chunying Chen, Xiaodong Chen, Dean Ho, Tony Hu, Kazunori Kataoka, Luis M. Liz-Marzan, Rahmi Oklu, Wolfgang J. Parak
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Hsi-Kai Tsou, Cheng-Hsin Wu, Long Yi Chan, Kazunori Kataoka, Nanae Itokazu, Minoru Tsuzuki, Hsuan Hu, Guan-Yu Zhuo, Keiji Itaka, Chin-Yu Lin
Summary: Large-area craniofacial defects pose a challenge for orthopaedists. In order to develop a safe and effective tissue engineering strategy, cytokines and chemokines can be utilized to attract endogenous stem cells for bone regeneration. The combination of BMP2 and TGF-beta3 mRNA nanomedicine promotes bone formation and provides an alternative cell-free tissue engineering method for craniofacial defect healing.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shan Gao, Yutaka Miura, Akira Sumiyoshi, Satoshi Ohno, Keisuke Ogata, Takahiro Nomoto, Makoto Matsui, Yuto Honda, Minoru Suzuki, Megumi Iiyama, Kensuke Osada, Ichio Aoki, Nobuhiro Nishiyama
Summary: Nano-sized contrast agents (NCAs) have the potential to enhance tumor contrast during magnetic resonance imaging. This study introduces a novel molecular mechanism to enhance the relaxation of NCAs, resulting in sharp tumor imaging. The self-folding molecular design allows for minimal loading of gadolinium complexes and selective accumulation in tumor tissues, providing effective anti-tumor results through gadolinium neutron capture therapy.
Meeting Abstract
Oncology
Myrofora Panagi, Fotios Mpekris, Pengwen Chen, Chrysovalantis Voutouri, Yasuhiro Nakagawa, John D. Martin, Tetsuro Hiroi, Hiroko Hashimoto, Genichiro Ishii, Motohiro Kojima, Kazunori Kataoka, Horacio Cabral, Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos
Meeting Abstract
Oncology
Hiroaki Kinoh, Sabina Quader, Horacio Cabral, Kazunori Kataoka
