1
|
Quattrini F, Berrecoso G, Crecente-Campo J, Alonso MJ. Asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation as a multifunctional technique for the characterization of polymeric nanocarriers. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2021; 11:373-395. [PMID: 33521866 PMCID: PMC7987708 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-021-00918-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The importance of polymeric nanocarriers in the field of drug delivery is ever-increasing, and the accurate characterization of their properties is paramount to understand and predict their behavior. Asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) is a fractionation technique that has gained considerable attention for its gentle separation conditions, broad working range, and versatility. AF4 can be hyphenated to a plurality of concentration and size detectors, thus permitting the analysis of the multifunctionality of nanomaterials. Despite this potential, the practical information that can be retrieved by AF4 and its possible applications are still rather unfamiliar to the pharmaceutical scientist. This review was conceived as a primer that clearly states the "do's and don'ts" about AF4 applied to the characterization of polymeric nanocarriers. Aside from size characterization, AF4 can be beneficial during formulation optimization, for drug loading and drug release determination and for the study of interactions among biomaterials. It will focus mainly on the advances made in the last 5 years, as well as indicating the problematics on the consensus, which have not been reached yet. Methodological recommendations for several case studies will be also included.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Federico Quattrini
- Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases, Singular Research Centers, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Germán Berrecoso
- Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases, Singular Research Centers, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), IDIS Research Institute, 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - José Crecente-Campo
- Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases, Singular Research Centers, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), IDIS Research Institute, 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - María José Alonso
- Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases, Singular Research Centers, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), IDIS Research Institute, 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Eselem Bungu PS, Pasch H. Bivariate molecular structure distribution of randomly branched polyethylene by orthogonal preparative fractionation. Polym Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1039/c9py00343f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Orthogonal preparative fractionations provide bivariate molecular structure distributions of randomly branched polyethylene.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul S. Eselem Bungu
- University of Stellenbosch
- Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science
- Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch
- South Africa
| | - Harald Pasch
- University of Stellenbosch
- Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science
- Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch
- South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Greyling G, Pasch H. Characterization of charged polymer self-assemblies by multidetector thermal field-flow fractionation in aqueous mobile phases. J Chromatogr A 2017; 1532:175-181. [PMID: 29223324 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2017.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Charged block copolymer self-assemblies, such as charged micelles, have attracted much attention as versatile drug delivery systems due to their readily tunable characteristics such as size and surface charge. However, current column-based analytical techniques are not suitable to fractionate and comprehensively characterize charged micelles in terms of size, molar mass, chemical composition and morphology. Multidetector thermal field-flow fractionation (ThFFF) is shown to be a unique characterization platform that can be used to characterize charged micelles in terms of size, molar mass, chemical composition and morphology in aqueous mobile phases with various ionic strengths and pH. This is demonstrated by the characterization of poly(methacrylic acid)-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) self-assemblies in high pH buffers as well as the characterization of cationic poly(2-vinyl pyridine)-b-polystyrene and poly(4-vinyl pyridine)-b-polystyrene self-assemblies in low pH buffers. Moreover, it is shown that ThFFF is capable of separating charged micelles according to the corona composition. These investigations prove convincingly that ThFFF is broadly applicable to the comprehensive characterization of amphiphilic self-assemblies even when aqueous mobile phases are used.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guilaume Greyling
- Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
| | - Harald Pasch
- Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|