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Muñoz-Sánchez S, Barrios-Gumiel A, de la Mata FJ, García-Gallego S. Fine-Tuning the Amphiphilic Properties of Carbosilane Dendritic Networks towards High-Swelling Thermogels. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:495. [PMID: 38675156 PMCID: PMC11054174 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16040495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Dendritic hydrogels based on carbosilane crosslinkers are promising drug delivery systems, as their amphiphilic nature improves the compatibility with poorly water-soluble drugs. In this work, we explored the impact of the complementary polymer on the amphiphilic properties of the dendritic network. Different polymers were selected as precursors, from the highly lipophilic propylene glycol (PPG) to the hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG), including amphiphilic Pluronics L31, L35 and L61. The dithiol polymers reacted with carbosilane crosslinkers through UV-initiated thiol-ene coupling (TEC), and the resultant materials were classified as non-swelling networks (for PPG, PLUL31 and PLUL61) and high-swelling hydrogels (for PEG and PLUL35). The hydrogels exhibited thermo-responsive properties, shrinking at higher temperatures, and exhibited an intriguing drug release pattern due to internal nanostructuring. Furthermore, we fine-tuned the dendritic crosslinker, including hydroxyl and azide pendant groups in the focal point, generating functional networks that can be modified through degradable (ester) and non-degradable (triazol) bonds. Overall, this work highlighted the crucial role of the amphiphilic balance in the design of dendritic hydrogels with thermo-responsive behavior and confirmed their potential as functional networks for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Muñoz-Sánchez
- University of Alcala, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, and Research Institute in Chemistry “Andrés M. Del Río” (IQAR), 28805 Madrid, Spain; (S.M.-S.); (A.B.-G.); (F.J.d.l.M.)
| | - Andrea Barrios-Gumiel
- University of Alcala, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, and Research Institute in Chemistry “Andrés M. Del Río” (IQAR), 28805 Madrid, Spain; (S.M.-S.); (A.B.-G.); (F.J.d.l.M.)
| | - Francisco Javier de la Mata
- University of Alcala, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, and Research Institute in Chemistry “Andrés M. Del Río” (IQAR), 28805 Madrid, Spain; (S.M.-S.); (A.B.-G.); (F.J.d.l.M.)
- Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institute Ramón y Cajal for Health Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra García-Gallego
- University of Alcala, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, and Research Institute in Chemistry “Andrés M. Del Río” (IQAR), 28805 Madrid, Spain; (S.M.-S.); (A.B.-G.); (F.J.d.l.M.)
- Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institute Ramón y Cajal for Health Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
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2
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Vidal L, Lopez-Garzon M, Venegas V, Vila I, Domínguez D, Rodas G, Marotta M. A Novel Tendon Injury Model, Induced by Collagenase Administration Combined with a Thermo-Responsive Hydrogel in Rats, Reproduces the Pathogenesis of Human Degenerative Tendinopathy. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1868. [PMID: 38339145 PMCID: PMC10855568 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Patellar tendinopathy is a common clinical problem, but its underlying pathophysiology remains poorly understood, primarily due to the absence of a representative experimental model. The most widely used method to generate such a model is collagenase injection, although this method possesses limitations. We developed an optimized rat model of patellar tendinopathy via the ultrasound-guided injection of collagenase mixed with a thermo-responsive Pluronic hydrogel into the patellar tendon of sixty male Wistar rats. All analyses were carried out at 3, 7, 14, 30, and 60 days post-injury. We confirmed that our rat model reproduced the pathophysiology observed in human patients through analyses of ultrasonography, histology, immunofluorescence, and biomechanical parameters. Tendons that were injured by the injection of the collagenase-Pluronic mixture exhibited a significant increase in the cross-sectional area (p < 0.01), a high degree of tissue disorganization and hypercellularity, significantly strong neovascularization (p < 0.01), important changes in the levels of types I and III collagen expression, and the organization and presence of intra-tendinous calcifications. Decreases in the maximum rupture force and stiffness were also observed. These results demonstrate that our model replicates the key features observed in human patellar tendinopathy. Collagenase is evenly distributed, as the Pluronic hydrogel prevents its leakage and thus, damage to surrounding tissues. Therefore, this model is valuable for testing new treatments for patellar tendinopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Vidal
- Leitat Technological Center, Carrer de la Innovació 2, 08225 Terrassa, Spain
- Bioengineering, Cell Therapy and Surgery in Congenital Malformations Laboratory, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Lopez-Garzon
- Leitat Technological Center, Carrer de la Innovació 2, 08225 Terrassa, Spain
- Bioengineering, Cell Therapy and Surgery in Congenital Malformations Laboratory, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vanesa Venegas
- Leitat Technological Center, Carrer de la Innovació 2, 08225 Terrassa, Spain
- Bioengineering, Cell Therapy and Surgery in Congenital Malformations Laboratory, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ingrid Vila
- Leitat Technological Center, Carrer de la Innovació 2, 08225 Terrassa, Spain
- Bioengineering, Cell Therapy and Surgery in Congenital Malformations Laboratory, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Domínguez
- Medical Department of Futbol Club Barcelona (FIFA Medical Center of Excellence) and Barça Innovation, 08970 Sant Joan Despí, Spain
| | - Gil Rodas
- Leitat Technological Center, Carrer de la Innovació 2, 08225 Terrassa, Spain
- Medical Department of Futbol Club Barcelona (FIFA Medical Center of Excellence) and Barça Innovation, 08970 Sant Joan Despí, Spain
- Sports Medicine Unit, Hospital Clínic and Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mario Marotta
- Leitat Technological Center, Carrer de la Innovació 2, 08225 Terrassa, Spain
- Bioengineering, Cell Therapy and Surgery in Congenital Malformations Laboratory, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
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3
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Carvalho-Silva JM, Gaspar CS, Dos Reis AC, Teixeira ABV. Denture stomatitis: Treatment with antimicrobial drugs or antifungal gels? A systematic review of clinical trials. J Prosthet Dent 2024:S0022-3913(23)00829-6. [PMID: 38195253 DOI: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2023.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM Gel formulations containing antimicrobials are a potential alternative for the development of new medicines for the treatment of denture stomatitis (DS). However, whether they are more effective than antifungal drugs is unclear. PURPOSE The purpose of this systematic review was to identify whether gels formulated with antimicrobial substances are more effective and biocompatible for the treatment of DS than antifungal drugs. MATERIAL AND METHODS This systematic review was structured according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42022379510). Searches were performed in the PubMed, Lilacs, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar databases in November 2022. Randomized and nonrandomized clinical trials comparing the efficacy of experimental gels and conventional antifungals in the treatment of DS were included. RESULTS Gels formulated with Zataria multiflora essential oil and clove and cinnamon extracts showed higher antimicrobial efficacy compared with miconazole and clotrimazole. Formulations containing Uncaria tomentosa, Punica granatum, and propolis extract showed similar efficacy to nystatin and miconazole. Two formulations containing P. granatum were less effective than nystatin and miconazole. Gels of Z. multiflora and miconazole induced adverse effects including burning, itching, nausea, and vomiting. The included studies did not evaluate the biocompatibility of the gels. CONCLUSIONS Gels formulated with natural antimicrobials such as Z. multiflora, U. tomentosa, P. granatum, propolis, and clove and cinnamon showed higher or similar antimicrobial efficacy to conventional antifungals in the treatment of DS. The biocompatibility of experimental gels based on natural agents should be evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Marcos Carvalho-Silva
- Undergraduate student, Department of Dental Materials and Prosthesis, Ribeirão Preto Dental School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Carol Silva Gaspar
- Graduate student, Department of Dental Materials and Prosthesis, Ribeirão Preto Dental School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Andréa Cândido Dos Reis
- Associate Professor, Department of Dental Materials and Prosthesis, Ribeirão Preto Dental School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
| | - Ana Beatriz Vilela Teixeira
- Postdoctoral student, Department of Dental Materials and Prosthesis, Ribeirão Preto Dental School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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4
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White JM, Crabtree AA, Bates FS, Calabrese MA. Effect of chain architecture on the structure, dynamics, and rheology of thermoresponsive poloxamer hydrogels and associated blends. Macromolecules 2023; 56:6834-6847. [PMID: 38774522 PMCID: PMC11104561 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.3c01107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2024]
Abstract
Poloxamers, ABA triblock polymers composed of a poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) midblock (B) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) endblocks (A), are widely studied for biomedical applications. Aqueous poloxamer 407 (P407; also referred to as F127) undergoes a solution-to-gel transition with increasing temperature, driven by the formation and ordering of micelles onto periodic lattices; however, the gel temperature and resulting modulus has limited tunability. Here, reverse P407 (RP407), a BAB polymer of the same composition and molar mass but the inverted architecture, is synthesized via anionic polymerization. The micellization and gelation temperatures of RP407 are higher than that of P407 and the PPO endblocks allow for intermicelle bridging; however, both single-component solutions favor body-centered cubic (BCC) packings. Further, aqueous RP407 displays a "soft gel" region with interesting rheological behavior, including viscoelastic aging and thermal hysteresis. Combining P407 and RP407 yields solutions with intermediate transition temperatures and alters the size and micelle packing. While the single-component solutions produce BCC packings, the blends form close-packed structures and larger micelles of higher aggregation numbers. Blends of P407 with an analogous AB diblock (E111P32) display similar behavior, whereas RP407/diblock blends form intermediate-sized BCC-packed micelles. These differences in packing and aggregation alter the local environments within the gels, which could have implications for applications such as drug delivery and protein stabilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna M White
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, 421 Washington Ave. SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455
| | - Adelyn A Crabtree
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, 421 Washington Ave. SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455
| | - Frank S Bates
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, 421 Washington Ave. SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455
| | - Michelle A Calabrese
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, 421 Washington Ave. SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455
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5
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Kargaki ME, Arfara F, Iatrou H, Tsitsilianis C. pH-Sensitive Poly(acrylic acid)-g-poly(L-lysine) Charge-Driven Self-Assembling Hydrogels with 3D-Printability and Self-Healing Properties. Gels 2023; 9:512. [PMID: 37504391 PMCID: PMC10379232 DOI: 10.3390/gels9070512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
We report the rheological behavior of aqueous solutions of a graft copolymer polyampholyte, constituted of polyacrylic acid (PAA) backbone grafted by Poly(L-lysine) (PAA-b-PLL). The graft copolymer self-assembles in aqueous media, forming a three-dimensional (3D) network through polyelectrolyte complexation of the oppositely charged PAA and PLL segments. Rheological investigations showed that the hydrogel exhibits interesting properties, namely, relatively low critical gel concentration, elastic response with slow dynamics, remarkable extended critical strain to flow, shear responsiveness, injectability, 3D printability and self-healing. Due to the weak nature of the involved polyelectrolyte segments, the hydrogel properties display pH-dependency, and they are affected by the presence of salt. Especially upon varying pH, the PLL secondary structure changes from random coil to α-helix, affecting the crosslinking structural mode and, in turn, the overall network structure as reflected in the rheological properties. Thanks to the biocompatibility of the copolymer constituents and the biodegradability of PLL, the designed gelator seems to exhibit potential for bioapplications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria-Eleni Kargaki
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, 26500 Patras, Greece
| | - Foteini Arfara
- Department of Chemistry, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Hermis Iatrou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
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6
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Lupu A, Gradinaru LM, Gradinaru VR, Bercea M. Diversity of Bioinspired Hydrogels: From Structure to Applications. Gels 2023; 9:gels9050376. [PMID: 37232968 DOI: 10.3390/gels9050376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydrogels are three-dimensional networks with a variety of structures and functions that have a remarkable ability to absorb huge amounts of water or biological fluids. They can incorporate active compounds and release them in a controlled manner. Hydrogels can also be designed to be sensitive to external stimuli: temperature, pH, ionic strength, electrical or magnetic stimuli, specific molecules, etc. Alternative methods for the development of various hydrogels have been outlined in the literature over time. Some hydrogels are toxic and therefore are avoided when obtaining biomaterials, pharmaceuticals, or therapeutic products. Nature is a permanent source of inspiration for new structures and new functionalities of more and more competitive materials. Natural compounds present a series of physico-chemical and biological characteristics suitable for biomaterials, such as biocompatibility, antimicrobial properties, biodegradability, and nontoxicity. Thus, they can generate microenvironments comparable to the intracellular or extracellular matrices in the human body. This paper discusses the main advantages of the presence of biomolecules (polysaccharides, proteins, and polypeptides) in hydrogels. Structural aspects induced by natural compounds and their specific properties are emphasized. The most suitable applications will be highlighted, including drug delivery, self-healing materials for regenerative medicine, cell culture, wound dressings, 3D bioprinting, foods, etc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Lupu
- "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41-A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania
| | - Luiza Madalina Gradinaru
- "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41-A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania
| | - Vasile Robert Gradinaru
- Faculty of Chemistry, "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University, 11 Carol I Bd., 700506 Iasi, Romania
| | - Maria Bercea
- "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41-A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania
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7
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Hahn L, Zorn T, Kehrein J, Kielholz T, Ziegler AL, Forster S, Sochor B, Lisitsyna ES, Durandin NA, Laaksonen T, Aseyev V, Sotriffer C, Saalwächter K, Windbergs M, Pöppler AC, Luxenhofer R. Unraveling an Alternative Mechanism in Polymer Self-Assemblies: An Order-Order Transition with Unusual Molecular Interactions between Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Polymer Blocks. ACS NANO 2023; 17:6932-6942. [PMID: 36972400 PMCID: PMC10100562 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c00722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Polymer self-assembly leading to cooling-induced hydrogel formation is relatively rare for synthetic polymers and typically relies on H-bonding between repeat units. Here, we describe a non-H-bonding mechanism for a cooling-induced reversible order-order (sphere-to-worm) transition and related thermogelation of solutions of polymer self-assemblies. A multitude of complementary analytical tools allowed us to reveal that a significant fraction of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic repeat units of the underlying block copolymer is in close proximity in the gel state. This unusual interaction between hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks reduces the mobility of the hydrophilic block significantly by condensing the hydrophilic block onto the hydrophobic micelle core, thereby affecting the micelle packing parameter. This triggers the order-order transition from well-defined spherical micelles to long worm-like micelles, which ultimately results in the inverse thermogelation. Molecular dynamics modeling indicates that this unexpected condensation of the hydrophilic corona onto the hydrophobic core is due to particular interactions between amide groups in the hydrophilic repeat units and phenyl rings in the hydrophobic ones. Consequently, changes in the structure of the hydrophilic blocks affecting the strength of the interaction could be used to control macromolecular self-assembly, thus allowing for the tuning of gel characteristics such as strength, persistence, and gelation kinetics. We believe that this mechanism might be a relevant interaction pattern for other polymeric materials as well as their interaction in and with biological environments. For example, controlling the gel characteristics could be considered important for applications in drug delivery or biofabrication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Hahn
- Institute
for Functional Materials and Biofabrication, Department of Chemistry
and Pharmacy, Julius-Maximilians-University
Würzburg, Röntgenring 11, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
- Institute
of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Theresa Zorn
- Center
for Nanosystems Chemistry & Institute of Organic Chemistry, Department
of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Julius-Maximilians-University
Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Josef Kehrein
- Institute
of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Kielholz
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical Technology and Buchmann Institute for Molecular
Life Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Anna-Lena Ziegler
- Institute
for Functional Materials and Biofabrication, Department of Chemistry
and Pharmacy, Julius-Maximilians-University
Würzburg, Röntgenring 11, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Forster
- Institute
for Functional Materials and Biofabrication, Department of Chemistry
and Pharmacy, Julius-Maximilians-University
Würzburg, Röntgenring 11, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Benedikt Sochor
- Chair for
X-Ray Microscopy, Julius-Maximilians-University
Würzburg, Josef-Martin-Weg
63, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ekaterina S. Lisitsyna
- Faculty
of Engineering and Natural Science, Tampere
University, Korkeakoulunkatu 8, 33720 Tampere, Finland
| | - Nikita A. Durandin
- Faculty
of Engineering and Natural Science, Tampere
University, Korkeakoulunkatu 8, 33720 Tampere, Finland
| | - Timo Laaksonen
- Faculty
of Engineering and Natural Science, Tampere
University, Korkeakoulunkatu 8, 33720 Tampere, Finland
- Division
of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 5 E, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Vladimir Aseyev
- Soft
Matter Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Helsinki Institute of Sustainability
Science, Faculty of Science, University
of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Christoph Sotriffer
- Institute
of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Kay Saalwächter
- Institute
of Physics-NMR, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Betty-Heimann-Str. 7, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Maike Windbergs
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical Technology and Buchmann Institute for Molecular
Life Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ann-Christin Pöppler
- Center
for Nanosystems Chemistry & Institute of Organic Chemistry, Department
of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Julius-Maximilians-University
Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Robert Luxenhofer
- Institute
for Functional Materials and Biofabrication, Department of Chemistry
and Pharmacy, Julius-Maximilians-University
Würzburg, Röntgenring 11, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
- Soft
Matter Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Helsinki Institute of Sustainability
Science, Faculty of Science, University
of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
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Wei Y, Cui S, Yu L, Ding J. Degradation-Influenced/Induced Self-Assembly of Copolymers with the Combinatory Effects of Changed Molecular Weight and Dispersity. Macromolecules 2023. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c02309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
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9
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Thermo-Responsive Injectable Hydrogels Formed by Self-Assembly of Alginate-Based Heterograft Copolymers. Gels 2023; 9:gels9030236. [PMID: 36975684 PMCID: PMC10048633 DOI: 10.3390/gels9030236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Polysaccharide-based graft copolymers bearing thermo-responsive grafting chains, exhibiting LCST, have been designed to afford thermo-responsive injectable hydrogels. The good performance of the hydrogel requires control of the critical gelation temperature, Tgel. In the present article, we wish to show an alternative method to tune Tgel using an alginate-based thermo-responsive gelator bearing two kinds of grafting chains (heterograft copolymer topology) of P(NIPAM86-co-NtBAM14) random copolymers and pure PNIPAM, differing in their lower critical solution temperature (LCST) about 10 °C. Interestingly, the Tgel of the heterograft copolymer is controlled from the overall hydrophobic content, NtBAM, of both grafts, implying the formation of blended side chains in the crosslinked nanodomains of the formed network. Rheological investigation of the hydrogel showed excellent responsiveness to temperature and shear. Thus, a combination of shear-thinning and thermo-thickening effects provides the hydrogel with injectability and self-healing properties, making it a good candidate for biomedical applications.
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10
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Fernandes AS, de Souza Ferreira SB, Bruschi ML. Design as strategy for evaluation of the mechanical properties of binary mixtures composed of poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride) and Pluronic F127 for biomedical applications. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2023; 138:105608. [PMID: 36516545 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2022.105608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The synergism between thermoresponsive and bioadhesive polymers can lead to the optimization of materials with enhanced mechanical and bioadhesive properties. Quality by Design can assure the understanding and control of formulation variables. In this approach, Design of Experiment has been widely utilized as an important strategy. Poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride) (PVMMA) is a bioadhesive polymer and Pluronic F127 (PF127) shows thermoresponsiveness. The association of these two polymers has been poorly investigated. The aim of this work was to study the mechanical, bioadhesive and rheological properties of polymer mixtures composed of PVMMA and PF127, in order to select the best conditions and formulations for biomedical applications. Textural properties (hardness, compressibility, adhesiveness, cohesiveness and elasticity), softness index, bioadhesion and rheological characteristics (flow and viscoelasticity) showed that 17.5-20% (w/w) PF127-polymer mixtures displayed improved values of the parameters. However, the rheological interaction parameter showed low synergism, due to the polymers' characteristics and system organization. The formulations displayed gelation temperatures suitable for administration, with improved bioadhesive properties mainly at 34 °C and suggests the formulations can be used for biomedical applications. DoE constituted an important tool to investigate these systems showing the main effects that significantly influence the binary mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariane Stephanie Fernandes
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Research and Development of Drug Delivery Systems, Department of Pharmacy, State University of Maringa, 87020-900, Maringa, Parana, Brazil
| | - Sabrina Barbosa de Souza Ferreira
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Research and Development of Drug Delivery Systems, Department of Pharmacy, State University of Maringa, 87020-900, Maringa, Parana, Brazil
| | - Marcos Luciano Bruschi
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Research and Development of Drug Delivery Systems, Department of Pharmacy, State University of Maringa, 87020-900, Maringa, Parana, Brazil.
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11
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Hands-Portman I, Bakker SE. Customising the plunge-freezing workflow for challenging conditions. Faraday Discuss 2022; 240:44-54. [PMID: 35913403 PMCID: PMC9641998 DOI: 10.1039/d2fd00060a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Grid freezing is a critical step for successful cryo-transmission electron microscopy, and optimising freezing conditions is a considerable bottleneck in many projects. To improve reproducibility in grid preparation, temperature- and humidity-controlled chambers were built into the second generation of plunge-freezers, including the ThermoFisherScientific Vitrobot and Leica GP. Since then, for most published structures, the proteins were plunge-frozen from a cold, humid environment. This provides two benefits: many proteins are more stable at 4 °C than room temperature, and both the low temperature and the humidity help control evaporation of the tiny drop of liquid. However, for optimal stability, certain samples may have different requirements. Here, we describe various (reversible) adaptations made to a Leica GP2 system to accommodate several samples with special handling requirements: a protein that is sensitive to both light and oxygen, a sample that needs to be kept at 37 °C throughout the plunge-freezing process, and a method to freeze a polymer that gels at 37 °C in its gelled state. While some of these methods are specific to these specimens, we hope sharing the ideas behind them will help people who are dealing with tricky protein samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Hands-Portman
- Advanced Bioimaging Research Technology Platform, University of WarwickGibbet Hill RoadCoventryCV4 7ALUK
| | - Saskia E. Bakker
- Advanced Bioimaging Research Technology Platform, University of WarwickGibbet Hill RoadCoventryCV4 7ALUK
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12
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Xu G, Zhang J, Qi M, Zhang X, Li W, Zhang A. Thermoresponsive dendritic oligoethylene glycols. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:11848-11855. [PMID: 35510425 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp01286c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Monodispersed molecules of low molar masses showing thermoresponsiveness are appealing both for mechanism investigation of the thermally-modulated dehydration and aggregation on molecular levels and for designing functional intelligent materials. In the present report, thermoresponsive properties of a homologous series of monodispersed dendritic macromolecules carrying three-, four- or six-fold dendritic oligoethylene glycol (OEG) segments were investigated. These dendritic macromolecules carry either methoxyl or ethoxyl terminals, and have different cores (alcohol, methyl ester or methacryloyl) to exhibit different overall hydrophilicity. They show characteristic thermoresponsive properties with sharp phase transitions when suitable structural units are combined. Three structural factors determine their phase transition temperatures, including the cores, branching density and peripheral terminals. Thermally-induced collapse and aggregation are monitored with temperature-varied NMR spectroscopy at the microscale level and optical microscopy at the macroscale level. At elevated temperature, these dendritic macromolecules undergo fast exchange between the dehydrated and the hydrated states. These dendritic macromolecules afford structure-dependent confinement to guest dyes through their multi-valent interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Xu
- International Joint Laboratory of Biomimetic & Smart Polymers, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, Nanchen Street 333, Shanghai 200444, China.
| | - Jiaxing Zhang
- International Joint Laboratory of Biomimetic & Smart Polymers, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, Nanchen Street 333, Shanghai 200444, China.
| | - Mengyuan Qi
- International Joint Laboratory of Biomimetic & Smart Polymers, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, Nanchen Street 333, Shanghai 200444, China.
| | - Xiacong Zhang
- International Joint Laboratory of Biomimetic & Smart Polymers, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, Nanchen Street 333, Shanghai 200444, China.
| | - Wen Li
- International Joint Laboratory of Biomimetic & Smart Polymers, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, Nanchen Street 333, Shanghai 200444, China.
| | - Afang Zhang
- International Joint Laboratory of Biomimetic & Smart Polymers, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, Nanchen Street 333, Shanghai 200444, China.
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13
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Lin Q, Ow V, Boo YJ, Teo VTA, Wong JHM, Tan RPT, Xue K, Lim JYC, Loh XJ. Branched PCL-Based Thermogelling Copolymers: Controlling Polymer Architecture to Tune Drug Release Profiles. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:864372. [PMID: 35433644 PMCID: PMC9006874 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.864372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Temperature-responsive hydrogels, or thermogels, are a unique class of biomaterials that show facile and spontaneous transition from solution to gel when warmed. Their high biocompatibility, and ease of formulation with both small molecule drugs and biologics have made these materials prime candidates as injectable gel depots for sustained local drug delivery. At present, controlling the kinetics and profile of drug release from thermogels is achieved mainly by varying the ratio of hydrophobic: hydrophilic composition and the polymer molecular weight. Herein, we introduce polymer branching as a hitherto-overlooked polymer design parameter that exhibits profound influences on the rate and profile of drug release. Through a family of amphiphilic thermogelling polymers with systematic variations in degree of branching, we demonstrate that more highly-branched polymers are able to pack less efficiently with each other during thermogel formation, with implications on their physical properties and stability towards gel erosion. This in turn resulted in faster rates of release for both encapsulated small molecule hydrophobic drug and protein. Our results demonstrate the possibility of exploiting polymer branching as a hitherto-overlooked design parameter for tailoring the kinetics and profile of drug release in injectable thermogel depots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianyu Lin
- NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore, Singapore
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Valerie Ow
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yi Jian Boo
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Vincent T. A. Teo
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Joey H. M. Wong
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Rebekah P. T. Tan
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kun Xue
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jason Y. C. Lim
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore, Singapore
- *Correspondence: Jason Y. C. Lim, ; Xian Jun Loh,
| | - Xian Jun Loh
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore, Singapore
- *Correspondence: Jason Y. C. Lim, ; Xian Jun Loh,
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Constantinou AP, Nele V, Doutch JJ, S. Correia J, Moiseev RV, Cihova M, Gaboriau DCA, Krell J, Khutoryanskiy VV, Stevens MM, Georgiou TK. Investigation of the Thermogelation of a Promising Biocompatible ABC Triblock Terpolymer and Its Comparison with Pluronic F127. Macromolecules 2022; 55:1783-1799. [PMID: 35431333 PMCID: PMC9007541 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c02123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
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Thermoresponsive polymers with the
appropriate structure form physical
networks upon changes in temperature, and they find utility in formulation
science, tissue engineering, and drug delivery. Here, we report a
cost-effective biocompatible alternative, namely OEGMA30015-b-BuMA26-b-DEGMA13, which forms gels at low concentrations (as low as 2% w/w);
OEGMA300, BuMA, and DEGMA stand for oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl
ether methacrylate (MM = 300 g mol–1), n-butyl methacrylate, and di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate,
respectively. This polymer is investigated in depth and is compared
to its commercially available counterpart, Poloxamer P407 (Pluronic
F127). To elucidate the differences in their macroscale gelling behavior,
we investigate their nanoscale self-assembly by means of small-angle
neutron scattering and simultaneously recording their rheological
properties. Two different gelation mechanisms are revealed. The triblock
copolymer inherently forms elongated micelles, whose length increases
by temperature to form worm-like micelles, thus promoting gelation.
In contrast, Pluronic F127’s micellization is temperature-driven,
and its gelation is attributed to the close packing of the micelles.
The gel structure is analyzed through cryogenic scanning and transmission
electron microscopy. Ex vivo gelation study upon intracameral injections
demonstrates excellent potential for its application to improve drug
residence in the eye.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Valeria Nele
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - James J. Doutch
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, STFC, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot OX11 ODE, UK
| | - Joana S. Correia
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Roman V. Moiseev
- Reading School of Pharmacy, University of Reading, Whiteknights, P.O. Box 224, Reading RG66AD, UK
| | - Martina Cihova
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - David C. A. Gaboriau
- Facility for Imaging by Light Microscopy, NHLI, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Jonathan Krell
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Vitaliy V. Khutoryanskiy
- Reading School of Pharmacy, University of Reading, Whiteknights, P.O. Box 224, Reading RG66AD, UK
| | - Molly M. Stevens
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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15
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Dey S, Roy A, Manna K, Pal S. The UCST phase transition of a dextran based copolymer in aqueous media with tunable thermoresponsive behavior. Polym Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d2py00626j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A hydrogen bonded UCST polymer has been developed by grafting of methacrylamide and acrylic acid on dextran via free radical polymerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaon Dey
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad-826004, India
| | - Arpita Roy
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad-826004, India
| | - Kalipada Manna
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad-826004, India
| | - Sagar Pal
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad-826004, India
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Shmool TA, Constantinou A, Jirkas A, Zhao C, Georgiou TK, Hallett J. Next Generation Strategy for Tuning the Thermoresponsive Properties of Micellar and Hydrogel Drug Delivery Vehicles Using Ionic Liquids. Polym Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d2py00053a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Amongst the greatest challenges in developing injectable controlled thermoresponsive micellar and hydrogel drug delivery vehicles include tuning the cloud point (CP) and reducing the gelation temperature (Tgel), below 37 °C,...
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17
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Li Q, Wang L, Chen F, Constantinou AP, Georgiou TK. Thermoresponsive oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate based copolymers: composition and comonomer effect. Polym Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d1py01688a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Thermoresponsive polymers based on oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) methyl ether methacrylate monomers from unimers to micelles to precipitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Li
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, Royal School of Mines, Exhibition Road, SW7 2AZ, London, UK
| | - Lezhi Wang
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, Royal School of Mines, Exhibition Road, SW7 2AZ, London, UK
| | - Feihong Chen
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, Royal School of Mines, Exhibition Road, SW7 2AZ, London, UK
| | - Anna P. Constantinou
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, Royal School of Mines, Exhibition Road, SW7 2AZ, London, UK
| | - Theoni K. Georgiou
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, Royal School of Mines, Exhibition Road, SW7 2AZ, London, UK
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18
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Constantinou AP, Provatakis N, Li Q, Georgiou TK. Homopolymer and ABC Triblock Copolymer Mixtures for Thermoresponsive Gel Formulations. Gels 2021; 7:116. [PMID: 34449601 PMCID: PMC8395906 DOI: 10.3390/gels7030116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Our group has recently invented a novel series of thermoresponsive ABC triblock terpolymers based on oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate with average Mn 300 g mol-1 (OEGMA300, A unit), n-butyl methacrylate (BuMA, B unit) and di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (DEGMA, C unit) with excellent thermogelling properties. In this study, we investigate how the addition of OEGMA300x homopolymers of varying molar mass (MM) affects the gelation characteristics of the best performing ABC triblock terpolymer. Interestingly, the gelation is not disrupted by the addition of the homopolymers, with the gelation temperature (Tgel) remaining stable at around 30 °C, depending on the MM and content in OEGMA300x homopolymer. Moreover, stronger gels are formed when higher MM OEGMA300x homopolymers are added, presumably due to the homopolymer chains acting as bridges between the micelles formed by the triblock terpolymer, thus, favouring gelation. In summary, novel formulations based on mixtures of triblock copolymer and homopolymers are presented, which can provide a cost-effective alternative for use in biomedical applications, compared to the use of the triblock copolymer only.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna P. Constantinou
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK; (A.P.C.); (Q.L.)
| | - Nikitas Provatakis
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK;
| | - Qian Li
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK; (A.P.C.); (Q.L.)
| | - Theoni K. Georgiou
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK; (A.P.C.); (Q.L.)
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