Synthesis structure and stability of amino functionalized PEGylated silica nanoparticles

Enhanced Photoacoustic Response by Synergistic Ag-Melanin Interplay at the Core of Ternary Biocompatible Hybrid Silica-Based Nanoparticles

Photoacoustics (PA) is gaining increasing credit among biomolecular imaging methodologies by virtue of its poor invasiveness, deep penetration, high spatial resolution, and excellent endogenous contrast, without the use of any ionizing radiation. Recently, we disclosed the excellent PA response of a self-structured biocompatible nanoprobe, consisting of ternary hybrid nanoparticles with a silver core and a melanin component embedded into a silica matrix. Although preliminary evidence suggested a crucial role of the Ag sonophore and the melanin-containing nanoenvironment, whether and in what manner the PA response is controlled and affected by the self-structured hybrid nanosystems remained unclear. Because of their potential as multifunctional platforms for biomedical applications, a detailed investigation of the metal-polymer-matrix interplay underlying the PA response was undertaken to understand the physical and chemical factors determining the enhanced response and to optimize the architecture, composition, and performance of the nanoparticles for efficient imaging applications. Herein, we provide the evidence for a strong synergistic interaction between eumelanin and Ag which suggests an important role in the in situ-generated metal-organic interface. In particular, we show that a strict ratio between melanin and silver precursors and an accurate choice of metal nanoparticle dimension and the kind of metal are essential for achieving strong enhancements of the PA response. Systematic variation of the metal/melanin component is thus shown to offer the means of tuning the stability and intensity of the photoacoustic response for various biomedical and theranostic applications.

Engineering natural based nanocomposite inks via interface interaction for extrusion 3D printing

Nanocomposites and low-viscous materials lack translation in additive manufacturing technologies due to deficiency in rheological requirements and heterogeneity of their preparation. This work proposes the chemical crosslinking between composing phases as a universal approach for mitigating such issues. The model system is composed of amine-functionalized bioactive glass nanoparticles (BGNP) and light-responsive methacrylated bovine serum albumin (BSAMA) which further allows post-print photocrosslinking. The interfacial interaction was conducted by 1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide crosslinking agent and N-Hydroxysuccinimide between BGNP-grafted amines and BSAMA's carboxylic groups. Different chemical crosslinking amounts and percentages of BGNP in the nanocomposites were tested. The improved interface interactions increased the elastic and viscous modulus of all formulations. More pronounced increases were found with the highest crosslinking agent amounts (4 % w/v) and BGNP concentrations (10 % w/w). This formulation also displayed the highest Young's modulus of the double-crosslinked construct. All composite formulations could effectively immobilize the BGNP and turn an extremely low viscous material into an appropriate inks for 3d printing technologies, attesting for the systems' tunability. Thus, we describe a versatile methodology which can successfully render tunable and light-responsive nanocomposite inks with homogeneously distributed bioactive fillers. This system can further reproducibly recapitulate phases of other natures, broadening applicability.

Overcoming the Blood-Brain Barrier for Gene Therapy via Systemic Administration of GSH-Responsive Silica Nanocapsules

CRISPR genome editing can potentially treat the root causes of many genetic diseases, including central nervous system (CNS) disorders. However, the promise of brain-targeted therapeutic genome editing relies on the efficient delivery of biologics bypassing the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which represents a major challenge in the development of CRISPR therapeutics. We created and screened a library of glutathione (GSH)-responsive silica nanocapsules (SNCs) for brain targeted delivery of biologics via systemic administration. In vivo studies demonstrate that systemically delivered SNCs conjugated with glucose and rabies virus glycoprotein peptide under glycemic control can efficiently bypass the intact BBB, enabling brain-wide delivery of various biologics including CRISPR genome editors targeting different genes in both Ai14 reporter mice and wild-type mice. In particular, up to 28% neuron editing via systemic delivery of Cre mRNA in Ai14 mice, up to 6.1% amyloid precursor protein (App) gene editing (resulting in 19.1% reduction in the expression level of intact APP), and up to 3.9% tyrosine hydroxylase (Th) gene editing (resulting in 30.3% reduction in the expression level of TH) in wild-type mice are observed. This versatile SNC nanoplatform may offer a novel strategy for the treatment of CNS disorders including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease.

Preparation and cellular uptake behaviors of uniform fiber-like micelles with length controllability and high colloidal stability in aqueous media

Fragmentation/disassembly of fiber-like micelles generated by living crystalline-driven self-assembly (CDSA) is usually encountered in aqueous media, which hinders the applications of micelles. Herein, we report the generation of uniform fiber-like micelles consisting of a π-conjugated oligo(p-phenylenevinylene) core and a cross-linking silica shell with grafted poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains by the combination of living CDSA, silica chemistry and surface grafting-onto strategy. Owing to the presence of crosslinking silica shell and the outmost PEG chains, the resulting micelles exhibit excellent dispersity and colloidal stability in PBS buffer, BSA aqueous solution and upon heating at 80 °C for 2 h without micellar fragmentation/disassembly. The micelles also show negligible cytotoxicity toward both HeLa cervical cancer and HEK239T human embryonic kidney cell lines. Interestingly, micelles with L n of 156 nm show the "stealth" property with no significant uptake by HeLa cells, whereas some certain amounts of micelles with L n of 535 nm can penetrate into HeLa cells, showing length-dependent cellular uptake behaviors. These results provide a route to prepare uniform, colloidally stable fiber-like nanostructures with tunable length and functions derived for biomedical applications.

Silica hairy nanoparticles: a promising material for self-assembling processes

"Hairy" nanoparticles (HNPs), i.e. inorganic NPs functionalized with polymer chains, are promising building blocks for the synthesis of advanced nanocomposite (NC) materials having several technological applications. Recent evidence shows that HNPs self-organize in a variety of anisotropic structures, resulting in an improvement of the functional properties of the materials, in which are embedded. In this paper, we propose a three-step colloidal synthesis of spherical SiO₂-HNPs, with controlled particle morphology and surface chemistry. In detail, the SiO₂ core, synthesized by a modified Stöber method, was first functionalized with a short-chain amino-silane, which acts as an anchor, and then covered by maleated polybutadiene (PB), a rubbery polymer having low glass transition temperature, rarely considered until now. An extensive investigation by a multi-technique analysis demonstrates that the synthesis of SiO₂-HNPs is simple, scalable, and potentially applicable to different kind of NPs and polymers. Morphological analysis shows the overall distribution of SiO₂-HNPs with a certain degree of spatial organization, suggesting that the polymer coating induces a modification of NP-NP interactions. The role of the surface PB brushes in influencing the special arrangement of SiO₂-HNPs was observed also in cis-1,4-polybutadiene (cis-PB), since the resulting NC exhibited the particle packing in "string-like" superstructures. This confirms the tendency of SiO₂-HNPs to self-assemble and create alternative structures in polymer NCs, which may impart them peculiar functional properties.

PMMA bone cement containing long releasing silica-based chlorhexidine nanocarriers

Prosthetic joint infections (PJI) are still an extremely concerning eventuality after joint replacement surgery; growing antibiotic resistance is also limiting the prophylactic and treatment options. Chlorhexidine (a widely used topical non-antibiotic antimicrobial compound) coatings on silica nanoparticles capable of prolonged drug release have been successfully developed and characterised. Such nanocarriers were incorporated into commercial formulation PMMA bone cement (Cemex), without adversely affecting the mechanical performance. Moreover, the bone cement containing the developed nanocarriers showed superior antimicrobial activity against different bacterial species encountered in PJI, including clinical isolates already resistant to gentamicin. Cytocompatibility tests also showed non inferior performance of the bone cements containing chlorhexidine releasing silica nanocarriers to the equivalent commercial formulation.

Facile synthesis of ultrasmall polydopamine-polyethylene glycol nanoparticles for cellular delivery

Very small polydopamine (PDA) polyethylene glycol (PEG) crosslinked copolymer (PDA-PEG) nanoparticles have been prepared following a convenient one-step procedure in aqueous solution. Particle sizes and colloidal stabilities have been optimized by varying PEG in view of chain length and end group functionalities. In particular, amine-terminated PEG3000 [PEG₃₀₀₀(NH₂)₂] reacted with polydopamine intermediates so that very small, crosslinked PDA-PEG nanoparticles with sizes of less than 50 nm were formed. These nanoparticles remained stable in buffer solution and no sedimentation occurred. Chemical functionalization was straight-forward as demonstrated by the attachment of fluorescent dyes. The PDA-PEG nanoparticles revealed efficient cellular uptake via endocytosis and high cytocompatibility, thus rendering them attractive candidates for cell imaging or for drug delivery applications.

Role of poly-beta-amino-esters hydrolysis and electrostatic attraction in gentamicin release from layer-by-layer coatings

Layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition is a versatile technique that has been employed in numerous industrial applications i.e. biomaterials, drug delivery and electronics to confer peculiar properties to the system. When LbL is employed for drug delivery, the active molecule is sandwiched between layers of polyelectrolytes and the release is controlled by the diffusion of the drug through the layers and the possible hydrolysis of the coating (delamination). Poly-beta-amino-esters (PBAEs) are a class of hydrolysable polyelectrolytes that have been widely used in DNA delivery and for LbL on medical devices. Their use allowed the controlled release of antibiotics and other bioactive compounds from the surface of medical devices without cytotoxic effects. The general accepted consensus is that drug released from LbL coating assembled using PBAEs is the results of the polymer hydrolysis; however, no attention has been paid to the role of the electrostatic attraction between PBAE and the other polyelectrolyte utilised in the LbL assembly. In this work, we prepared LbL coatings on the surface of silica nanoparticles entrapping gentamicin as model drug and demonstrated that the drug release from PBAEs containing LbL coatings is predominantly controlled by the electrostatic attraction between opposite charged electrolytes. The positive charge of PBAE decreased from pH = 5 to pH = 7.4 while alginate negative charges remained unchanged in this pH range while PBAE hydrolysis kinetics was faster, as determined with Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), in acidic conditions. When PBAE were employed in the LbL construct higher levels of drug were released at pH = 7.4 than at pH = 5; additionally, replacing PBAE with chitosan (the charge of chitosan is not influenced in this pH range) resulted in comparable gentamicin release kinetics at pH = 5.

Structure and characterisation of hydroxyethylcellulose–silica nanoparticles

Functionalising nanoparticles with polymers has gained much interest in recent years, as it aids colloidal stability and manipulation of surface properties. Here, polymer-coated thiolated silica nanoparticles were synthesised by self-condensation of 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane in the presence of hydroxyethylcellulose. These nanoparticles were characterised by dynamic light scattering, small angle neutron scattering, Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis, Raman spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, Ellman's assay, transmission electron microscopy and cryo-transmission electron microscopy. It was found that increasing the amount of hydroxyethylcellulose in the reaction mixture increased the nanoparticle size and reduced the number of thiol groups on their surface. Additionally, by utilising small angle neutron scattering and dynamic light scattering, it was demonstrated that higher concentrations of polymer in the reaction mixture (0.5–2% w/v) resulted in the formation of aggregates, whereby several silica nanoparticles are bridged together with macromolecules of hydroxyethylcellulose. A correlation was identified between the aggregate size and number of particles per aggregate based on size discrepancies observed between DLS and SANS measurements. This information makes it possible to control the size of aggregates during a simple one-pot synthesis; a prospect highly desirable in the design of potential drug delivery systems.

Polymer-coated thiolated silica nanoparticles were synthesised by self-condensation of 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane in the presence of hydroxyethylcellulose.

Probing the Eumelanin-Silica Interface in Chemically Engineered Bulk Hybrid Nanoparticles for Targeted Subcellular Antioxidant Protection

We disclose herein the first example of stable monodispersed hybrid nanoparticles (termed MelaSil-NPs) made up of eumelanin biopolymer intimately integrated into a silica nanoscaffold matrix and endowed with high antioxidant and cytoprotective effects associated with a specific subcellular localization. MelaSil-NPs have been fabricated by an optimized sol-gel methodology involving ammonia-induced oxidative polymerization of a covalent conjugate of the eumelanin building block 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA) with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilanes (APTS). They displayed a round-shaped (ca. 50-80 nm) morphology, exhibited the typical electron paramagnetic resonance signal of eumelanin biopolymers, and proved effective in promoting decomposition of hydrogen peroxide under physiologically relevant conditions. When administered to human ovarian cancer cells (A2780) or cervical cancer cells (HeLa), MelaSil-NPs were rapidly internalized and colocalized with lysosomes and exerted efficient protecting effects against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress and cytotoxicity.

Synthesis and evaluation of a novel monomeric amine as sodium montmorillonite swelling inhibitor

A novel monomeric amine sodium montmorillonite swelling inhibitor: N1, N2-ditetradecy- N1, N1, N2, N2-tetrakis (2-hydroxyethyl) ethane-1,2-diaminium bromide was obtained from diethanolamine, 1-bromotetradecane, and 1, 2-dibromoethane. N1, N2-ditetradecy- N1, N1, N2, N2-tetrakis (2-hydroxyethyl) ethane-1,2-diaminium bromide was characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared, 1H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, linear swelling tests, particle size distribution tests, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric. Linear swelling tests showed that the swelling height of sodium montmorillonite in 1.0 wt% N1, N2-ditetradecy- N1, N1, N2, N2-tetrakis (2-hydroxyethyl) ethane-1,2-diaminium bromide solution was only 2.0 mm after 16 h (fresh water was 5.0 mm). Particle size distribution tests exhibited that the median diameter and mean particle size of sodium montmorillonite in 1.0 wt% N1, N2-ditetradecy- N1, N1, N2, N2-tetrakis (2-hydroxyethyl) ethane-1,2-diaminium bromide solution obviously increased to 16.1 and 85.4 µm, respectively (fresh water was 8.1 and 21.8 µm). In thermogravimetric tests, in comparison with pure sodium montmorillonite, the decrease of water content in sodium montmorillonite/ N1, N2-ditetradecy- N1, N1, N2, N2-tetrakis (2-hydroxyethyl) ethane-1,2-diaminium bromide indicated N1, N2-ditetradecy- N1, N1, N2, N2-tetrakis (2-hydroxyethyl) ethane-1,2-diaminium bromide expelled the water molecules out of the interlayer, which was beneficial to wellbore stability. Fourier transform infrared spectra of certain concentration N1, N2-ditetradecy- N1, N1, N2, N2-tetrakis (2-hydroxyethyl) ethane-1,2-diaminium bromide/sodium montmorillonite indicated the successful physical adsorption and interaction between N1, N2-ditetradecy- N1, N1, N2, N2-tetrakis (2-hydroxyethyl) ethane-1,2-diaminium bromide with sodium montmorillonite. In addition, the results of X-ray diffraction tests showed the obtained 1.0 wt% N1, N2-ditetradecy- N1, N1, N2, N2-tetrakis (2-hydroxyethyl) ethane-1,2-diaminium bromide solution could remarkably reduce the interlayer distance of wet sodium montmorillonite (from 1.94 to 1.37 nm).

Multilayered silica-biopolymer nanocapsules with a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic tunable shell thickness

Stable, biocompatible, multifunctional and multicompartment nanocarriers are much needed in the field of nanomedicine. Here, we report a simple, novel strategy to design an engineered nanocarrier system featuring an oil-core/hybrid polymer/silica-shell. Silica shells with a tunable thickness were grown in situ, directly around a highly mono-disperse and stable oil-in-water emulsion system, stabilized by a double bio-functional polyelectrolyte heparin/chitosan layer. Such silica showed a complete degradation in a physiological medium (SBF) in a time frame of three days. Moreover, the outer silica shell was coated with polyethyleneglycol (PEG) in order to confer antifouling properties to the final nanocapsule. The outer silica layer combined its properties (it is an optimal bio-interface for bio-conjugations and for the embedding of hydrophilic drugs in the porous structure) with the capability to stabilize the oil core for the confinement of high payloads of lipophilic tracers (e.g., CdSe quantum dots, Nile Red) and drugs. In addition, polymer layers--besides conferring stability to the emulsion while building the silica shell--can be independently exploited if suitably functionalized, as demonstrated by conjugating chitosan with fluorescein isothiocyanate. Such numerous features in a single nanocarrier system make it very intriguing as a multifunctional platform for smart diagnosis and therapy.

Bifunctional hairy silica nanoparticles as high-performance additives for lubricant

Bifunctional hairy silica nanoparticles (BHSNs), which are silica nanoparticles covered with alkyl and amino organic chains, were prepared as high-performance additives for lubricants. Compared with hairy silica nanoparticles covered by a single type of organic chain, binary hairy silica nanoparticles exhibit the advantages of both types of organic chains, which exhibit excellent compatibility with lubricants and adsorbability to metal surfaces. Nanoparticles with different ratios of amino and alkyl ligands were investigated. In comparison to an untreated lubricant, BHSNs reduce the friction coefficient and wear scar diameter by 40% and 60%, respectively. The wear mechanism of BHSNs was investigated, and the protective and filling effect of the nanoparticles improved because of collaboration of amino and alkyl ligands.

Fluorescent (rhodamine), folate decorated and doxorubicin charged, PEGylated nanoparticles synthesis

PEGylated silica nanoparticles, giving very stable aqueous sols, were successfully functionalised with rhodamine, one of the more stable fluorophore; they were also decorated with the targeting agent folic acid (FA) and charged with the well known drug doxorubicin. Rhodamine functionalization required a modification of the synthesis route of the nanoparticles (NP). Functionalization with FA required activation with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride. Folate decorated NP were easily charged with doxorubicin. The experimental results proved the successfulness of the functionalization. The bond to the NP does not reduce the therapeutic efficacy of the drug. The calculated encapsulation efficiency (32 %) was only a little lower than the value (47 %) reported for the very popular PEGylated PLGA NP.

Hydrogen-bonding-driven self-assembly of PEGylated organosilica nanoparticles with poly(acrylic acid) in aqueous solutions and in layer-by-layer deposition at solid surfaces

PEGylated organosilica nanoparticles have been synthesized through self-condensation of (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane in dimethyl sulfoxide into thiolated nanoparticles with their subsequent reaction with methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) maleimide. The PEGylated nanoparticles showed excellent colloidal stability over a wide range of pH in contrast to the parent thiolated nanoparticles, which have a tendency to aggregate irreversibly under acidic conditions (pH < 3.0). Due to the presence of a poly(ethylene glycol)-based corona, the PEGylated nanoparticles are capable of forming hydrogen-bonded interpolymer complexes with poly(acrylic acid) in aqueous solutions under acidic conditions, resulting in larger aggregates. The use of hydrogen-bonding interactions allows more efficient attachment of the nanoparticles to surfaces. The alternating deposition of PEGylated nanoparticles and poly(acrylic acid) on silicon wafer surfaces in a layer-by-layer fashion leads to multilayered coatings. The self-assembly of PEGylated nanoparticles with poly(acrylic acid) in aqueous solutions and at solid surfaces was compared to the behavior of linear poly(ethylene glycol). The nanoparticle system creates thicker layers than the poly(ethylene glycol), and a thicker layer is obtained on a poly(acrylic acid) surface than on a silica surface, because of the effects of hydrogen bonding. Some implications of these hydrogen-bonding-driven interactions between PEGylated nanoparticles and poly(acrylic acid) for pharmaceutical formulations are discussed.