Production of BSA-poly(ethyl cyanoacrylate) nanoparticles as a coating material that improves wetting property

Alkoxy cyanoacrylate-based nanoparticles with stealth and brain-targeting properties

Nanoparticles (NPs) with 'stealth' properties have been designed to decrease the phagocytosis of such particles by mononuclear phagocytes and to protect them from enzymatic degradation, thus improving circulation time and bioavailability after intravenous administration. Brain-targeting modifications endow NPs with the capacity to cross the blood-brain barrier, facilitating chemotherapy for brain diseases such as glioma. In this study, newly designed alkoxy cyanoacrylate (CA)-based NPs with stealth and brain-targeting properties were synthesised and evaluated. The monomers for NP core polymerisation were chemically modified to hydrophilic short alkoxy structure for stealth purposes and coated with polysorbate-80 for brain targeting. Two monomers (2-methoxyethyl CA and 2-(2-methoxyethyl)ethyl CA) were used to create NP₂ and NP₃, respectively. Both NPs were successfully loaded with anti-sense oligonucleotide (ASON) of transforming growth factor beta 2. Compared to traditional n-butyl CA-based ASON-NP₁, ASON-NP₃ was found to decrease phagocytosis by mononuclear macrophages (RAW264.7) and to increase cellular uptake by cancer cells. ASON-NP₃ showed definite brain targeting and anti-cancer effects. This work provides a potential new strategy for preparing stealth NPs core, providing a new NP vehicle for clinical drug delivery that may be targeted to the brain and circulates in the blood for an extended period of time.

Polymerization kinetics of a mixture of Lipiodol and Glubran 2 cyanoacrylate glue upon contact with a proteinaceous solution

The Glubran 2 cyanoacrylate glue is a liquid embolic agent used to block blood vessels endovascularly. Typically mixed with an iodized oil (Lipiodol) for visualization under X-ray, it polymerizes when in contact with blood and tissues owing to the presence of ions and proteins. The objective of the study is to determine the influence of plasma proteins in the polymerization reaction. A triggering solution containing bovine serum albumin (BSA) and the main blood ions is used as a model of plasma. The polymerization kinetics of Glubran 2-Lipiodol mixtures is measured upon aspiration in a capillary tube and contact with the proteinaceous solution. Having varied the glue and protein concentrations, we show that glue-Lipiodol mixtures with concentrations larger or equal to 25% polymerize when put in contact with an ionic solution containing at least 4% of BSA. The reaction is decomposed into two phases: a fast zwitterionic polymerization induced by the BSA molecules followed by a slower polymerization phase. The reaction speed and extent of the solidification region mostly depend on the glue concentration. The time for the glue solution to polymerize over a 1mm thickness varies from 5s for pure glue to about 1min for a 50% glue concentration, and 10min for a 25% glue mixture. It is the first time that the kinetics of the two polymerization reactions is quantified for Glubran 2, which will provide the information needed by interventional radiologists to optimize the planning of endovascular glue injection.