Amphiphilic Comb-Like Polymers Based on Poly(oxyethylene)s as Drug-Delivery Carriers

Nano-composite hydrogels of Cu-Apa micelles for anti-vasculogenic mimicry

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) describes the phenomenon whereby fluid-conducting vessels are formed by highly invasive tumour cells, which supply blood to tumours during their early growth stages. Single antiangiogenic agents have limited inhibitory effects on VM, therefore, a multi-pathway anti-VM strategy is required. In this study, Apatinib (Apa) was coordinated with Cu²⁺ to form a Cu-Apa copper complex. The latter was loaded into oligo-hyaluronic acid (HA) polymeric micelles (HA-Chol) and subsequently embedded in Astragalus polysaccharide-based in situ hydrogels (APsGels) to generate Cu-Apa/HA-Chol@APsGels. In this system, Cu-Apa exerts the combined effects of Cu²⁺ and Apa to inhibit VM; HA-Chol micelles achieve targeted drug delivery and enhance endocytosis efficiency; APsGels realise sustained release of the drugs to ensure an anti-VM effect. This system demonstrated improved VM inhibition with low cytotoxicity and high biocompatibility, wound healing, and transwell invasion in three-dimensional cell cultured VM. Moreover, this system significantly inhibited VM formation and melanoma growth in a mouse tumour transplantation model. This study provides an effective strategy for inhibiting VM.

Magnetic conducting polymer/mesoporous SiO2 yolk/shell nanomaterials: multifunctional nanocarriers for controlled release of doxorubicin

Fe₃O₄/polyaniline@mesoporous SiO₂ yolk@shell nanostructures as multifunctional nanocarriers for controlled release of doxorubicin have been demonstrated.

Amphiphilic hyperbranched polymers with a biodegradable hyperbranched poly(ε-caprolactone) core prepared from homologous AB2 macromonomer

Amphiphilic hyperbranched polymers with biodegradable hyperbranched poly(ε-caprolactone) core were prepared from homologous AB₂ macromonomer.

Study on Self-Assembled Well-Defined PEG Graft Copolymers as Efficient Drug-Loaded Nanoparticles for Anti-Inflammatory Therapy

The core-shell micelles in aqueous solutions were prepared at low CAC values (<0.1 mg · mL(-1) ) from amphiphilic graft copolymers consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate) backbone (120-165 units) with loosely grafted (17-40%) hydroxyl-capped PEG (9 vs 6 units in side chain) for drug loading. Hydrophobic indomethacin (IMC) was loaded into the micelles with content of 22-88%. Hydrodynamic diameters of particles were ranged in 110-200 nm. In vitro release experiments at various pH indicated faster releasing of IMC at pH 7.4 than that at pH 5.0. The studies on micellization, drug loading and release profiles verified the cumulative influence of hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance, degree of grafting, length of PEG side chains giving advantages in macromolecular design of nanocarriers in drug delivery.

Redispersible drug nanoparticles prepared without dispersant by electro-spray drying

The redispersibility of drug nanoparticles is critical in the formulation development of oral solid dosage forms from drug nanosuspensions. To address this issue, various drying techniques such as, spray drying, fluidized bed drying, etc. have been developed based on freeze drying. In this work, redispersible dried powders were successfully prepared from drug nanosuspensions without the use of dispersant by applying an electrical potential to the nozzle during the spray drying process. The applied voltage, not the concentration of the nanosuspension, was critical in determining the redispersibility. Despite the high electric field, the particle morphology and crystallinity were not dependent on the applied voltage, which suggests that the drug crystals were not damaged. This novel technique could broaden the applicability of spray drying technology and allow for novel formulations of drug nanoparticles.