Morphological and thermal behavior of porous biopolymeric nanoparticles

Development of PLGA nanoparticles for sustained release of a connexin43 mimetic peptide to target glioblastoma cells

Effective therapeutic delivery of peptide and protein drugs is challenged by short in vivo half-lives due to rapid degradation. Sustained release formulations of αCT1, a 25 amino acid peptide drug, would afford lower dosing frequency in indications that require long term treatment, such as chronic wounds and cancers. In this study, rhodamine B (RhB) was used as a model drug to develop and optimize a double emulsion-solvent evaporation method of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticle synthesis. Encapsulation of αCT1 in these nanoparticles (NPs) resulted in a sustained in vitro release profile over three weeks, characterized by an initial burst release of approximately 50% of total encapsulated drug over the first three days followed by sustained release over the remaining two and a half weeks. NP uptake by glioblastoma stem cells was through endocytosis and RhB and αCT1 were observed in cells after at least 4 days.

Nanoparticle Characterization: What to Measure?

What to measure? is a key question in nanoscience, and it is not straightforward to address as different physicochemical properties define a nanoparticle sample. Most prominent among these properties are size, shape, surface charge, and porosity. Today researchers have an unprecedented variety of measurement techniques at their disposal to assign precise numerical values to those parameters. However, methods based on different physical principles probe different aspects, not only of the particles themselves, but also of their preparation history and their environment at the time of measurement. Understanding these connections can be of great value for interpreting characterization results and ultimately controlling the nanoparticle structure-function relationship. Here, the current techniques that enable the precise measurement of these fundamental nanoparticle properties are presented and their practical advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Some recommendations of how the physicochemical parameters of nanoparticles should be investigated and how to fully characterize these properties in different environments according to the intended nanoparticle use are proposed. The intention is to improve comparability of nanoparticle properties and performance to ensure the successful transfer of scientific knowledge to industrial real-world applications.

NMR cryoporometry characterisation studies of the relation between drug release profile and pore structural evolution of polymeric nanoparticles

PLGA/PLA polymeric nanoparticles could potentially enhance the effectiveness of convective delivery of drugs, such as carboplatin, to the brain, by enabling a more sustained dosage over a longer time than otherwise possible. However, the link between the controlled release nanoparticle synthesis route, and the subsequent drug release profile obtained, is not well-understood, which hinders design of synthesis routes and availability of suitable nanoparticles. In particular, despite pore structure evolution often forming a key aspect of past theories of the physical mechanism by which a particular drug release profile is obtained, these theories have not been independently tested and validated against pore structural information. Such validation is required for intelligent synthesis design, and NMR cryoporometry can supply the requisite information. Unlike conventional pore characterisation techniques, NMR cryoporometry permits the investigation of porous particles in the wet state. NMR cryoporometry has thus enabled the detailed study of the evolving, nanoscale structure of nanoparticles during drug release, and thus related pore structure to drug release profile in a way not done previously for nanoparticles. Nanoparticles with different types of carboplatin drug release profiles were compared, including burst release, and various forms of delayed release. ESEM and TEM images of these nanoparticles also provided supporting data showing the rapid initial evolution of some nanoparticles. Different stages, within a complex, varying drug release profile, were found to be associated with particular types of changes in the nanostructure which could be distinguished by NMR. For a core-coat nanoparticle formulation, the development of smaller nanopores, following an extended induction period with no structural change, was associated with the onset of substantial drug release. This information could be used to independently validate the rationale for a particular synthesis method. Hence, the specific reasons for the effectiveness of the synthesis route, for obtaining core-coat nanoparticles with delayed release, have been elucidated.

PVA bio-nanocomposites: a new take-off using cellulose nanocrystals and PLGA nanoparticles

The formation of a new generation of hybrid bio-nanocomposites is reported: these are intended at modulating the mechanical, thermal and biocompatibility properties of the poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) by the combination of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with bovine serum albumin fluorescein isothiocynate conjugate (FITC-BSA). CNC were synthesized from microcrystalline cellulose by hydrolysis, while PLGA nanoparticles were produced by a double emulsion with subsequent solvent evaporation. Firstly, binary bio-nanocomposites with different CNC amounts were developed in order to select the right content of CNC. Next, ternary PVA/CNC/NPs bio-nanocomposites were developed. The addition of CNC increased the elongation properties without compromising the other mechanical responses. Thermal analysis underlined the nucleation effect of the synergic presence of cellulose and nanoparticles. Remarkably, bio-nanocomposite films are suitable to vehiculate biopolymeric nanoparticles to adult bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells successfully, thus representing a new tool for drug delivery strategies.

Protein encapsulation in biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles: morphology, fluorescence behaviour and stem cell uptake

The synthesis and characterization of new biodegradable polymeric NPs loaded with bovine serum albumin marked with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC-BSA) is reported. The protein is encapsulated in poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) NPs by the double emulsion method with subsequent solvent evaporation. The NPs display a spherical shape with a narrow size distribution and no aggregation is observed after drying. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements appear to be a sensitive method to investigate the protein environment on the nanometer-scale. Finally, FITC-BSA-loaded NPs are rapidly internalized in stem cells. Interestingly, 25% cells were slightly positive after 28 days.