Stability Enhancing N-Terminal PEGylation of Oxytocin Exploiting Different Polymer Architectures and Conjugation Approaches

Oxytocin, a cyclic nine amino acid neurohypophyseal hormone therapeutic, is effectively used in the control of postpartum hemorrhaging (PPH) and is on the WHO List of Essential Medicines. However, oxytocin has limited shelf life stability in aqueous solutions, particularly at temperatures in excess of 25 °C and injectable aqueous oxytocin formulations require refrigeration (<8 °C). This is particularly problematic in the hot climates often found in many developing countries where daytime temperatures can exceed 40 °C and where reliable cold-chain storage is not always achievable. The purpose of this study was to develop N-terminal amine targeted PEGylation strategies utilizing both linear PEG and polyPEG "comb" polymers as an effective method for stabilizing solution formulations of this peptide for prolonged storage in the absence of efficient cold-chain storage. The conjugation chemistries investigated herein include irreversible amine targeted conjugation methods utilizing NHS ester and aldehyde reductive amination chemistry. Additionally, one reversible conjugation method using a Schiff base approach was explored to allow for the release of the native peptide, thus, ensuring that biological activity remains unaffected. The reversibility of this approach was investigated for the different polymer architectures, alongside a nonpolymer oxytocin analogue to monitor how pH can tune native peptide release. Elevated temperature degradation studies of the polymer conjugates were evaluated to assess the stability of the PEGylated analogues in comparison to the native peptide in aqueous formulations to mimic storage conditions in developing nations and regions where storage under appropriate conditions is challenging.

Reversible Regulation of Thermoresponsive Property of Dithiomaleimide-Containing Copolymers via Sequential Thiol Exchange Reactions

The facile and efficient functionalization of thermoresponsive polymers based on sequential, reversible thiol-exchange reactions is reported. Well-defined dithiomaleimide-containing polymers have been synthesized via Cu(0)-mediated SET-LRP and characterized by ¹H NMR and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The resulting thermosensitive copolymers were subsequently reacted with various thiols to demonstrate the applicability of the strategy, and the thiol-exchange reaction was found to be very fast and efficient. The cloud point of the prepared copolymers can be continually and reversibly tuned, and desirable functionality can be dynamically exchanged upon sequential addition of functional thiol reagents. Through the substitution by thioglucose, an ON-to-OFF switch for fluorescence of the copolymers along with the generation of a glycopolymer was achieved.

Dual Stimuli-Responsive Comb Polymers from Modular N-Acylated Poly(aminoester)-Based Macromonomers

We report the synthesis of dual-responsive N-acylated poly(aminoester) (NPAE)-based comb polymers with varying molecular composition and monomer sequence via a combination of spontaneous zwitterionic copolymerization and redox-initiated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RRAFT) polymerization. NPAE macromonomers were synthesized from different nucleophilic (M_N), for example, 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline (EtOx) or 2-ethyl-2-oxazine (EtOz), and electrophilic monomers (M_E), for example, acrylic acid (AA) or 2-carboxyethyl acrylate (CEA), to tune the hydrophilicity and sequence of the systems. The latter was found to influence the thermal properties and stability of the respective comb polymers. Turbidity investigations in aqueous solution revealed a dual-responsive behavior of the comb polymers being responsive to both temperature and pH changes due to ω-carboxylic end groups of the NPAE-based macromonomers. Additional methylene groups in the NPAE backbone rendered the corresponding systems more hydrophobic and, hence, decreased the cloud point temperatures and, at the same time, increased the pH values (at constant temperature) at which the polymer phase separates from the aqueous solution.

Heteroatom Doped-Carbon Nanospheres as Anodes in Lithium Ion Batteries

Long cycle performance is a crucial requirement in energy storage devices. New formulations and/or improvement of “conventional” materials have been investigated in order to achieve this target. Here we explore the performance of a novel type of carbon nanospheres (CNSs) with three heteroatom co-doped (nitrogen, phosphorous and sulfur) and high specific surface area as anode materials for lithium ion batteries. The CNSs were obtained from carbonization of highly-crosslinked organo (phosphazene) nanospheres (OPZs) of 300 nm diameter. The OPZs were synthesized via a single and facile step of polycondensation reaction between hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (HCCP) and 4,4′-sulphonyldiphenol (BPS). The X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed a high heteroatom-doping content in the structure of CNSs while the textural evaluation from the N₂ sorption isotherms revealed the presence of micro- and mesopores and a high specific surface area of 875 m²/g. The CNSs anode showed remarkable stability and coulombic efficiency in a long charge–discharge cycling up to 1000 cycles at 1C rate, delivering about 130 mA·h·g⁻¹. This study represents a step toward smart engineering of inexpensive materials with practical applications for energy devices.

Polymerisation of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid sodium salt (NaAMPS) and acryloyl phosphatidylcholine (APC) via aqueous Cu(0)-mediated radical polymerisation

The scope of aqueous Cu(0)-mediated living radical polymerisation has been expanded with the preparation of poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid)sodium salt (P(NaAMPS)) and poly(acryloyl phosphatidycholine) (PAPC).

Cu(0)-mediated living radical polymerization: recent highlights and applications; a perspective

Cu(0)-mediated living radical polymerization or single electron transfer living radical polymerization (Cu(0)-mediated LRP or SET-LRP) is a versatile polymerization technique that has attracted considerable interest during the past few years for the facile preparation of advanced materials.

Functionalisation of MWCNTs with poly(lauryl acrylate) polymerised by Cu(0)-mediated and RAFT methods

We report the thermal and thermo-mechanical stability of poly(lauryl acrylate) P[LA] synthesised using RAFT and Cu(0)-mediated polymerisation methods and their interactions with multi-walled carbon nanotubes.

Facile production of nanoaggregates with tuneable morphologies from thermoresponsive P(DEGMA-co-HPMA)

RAFT-mediated emulsion polymerization of styrene and subsequent morphological transition produces nanoaggregates with tuneable morphologies.

Facile one-pot/one-step synthesis of heterotelechelic N-acylated poly(aminoester) macromonomers for carboxylic acid decorated comb polymers

Optimal monomer ratios in the spontaneous zwitterionic copolymerisation yield defined telechelic macromonomers with near quantitative ω-carboxylic acid end groups.

Facile access to thermoresponsive filomicelles with tuneable cores

Thermoresponsive nanoworms with tuneable cores prepared via aqueous RAFT-mediated emulsion polymerizations and temperature-induced morphological transformation (TIMT) technique.

Discrete copper(ii)-formate complexes as catalytic precursors for photo-induced reversible deactivation polymerization

Traditional copper-mediated reversible deactivation polymerization techniques (RDRP) employ various components mixedin situ(e.g.ligand, metal salt, additional deactivation speciesetc.) in order to achieve good control over the molecular weight distributions.

Synthesis of well-defined catechol polymers for surface functionalization of magnetic nanoparticles

Well-defined fluorescent functional polymers with terminal catechol groups were synthesized by SET-LRP under aqueous conditions for “grafting to” modification of iron oxide nanoparticles.