Lipid-like trifunctional block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide: effective and cytocompatible modulators of intracellular drug delivery

Structure-biocompatibility and transfection activity relationships of cationic polyaspartamides with (dialkylamino)alkyl and alkyl or hydroxyalkyl side groups

A series of 14 cationic derivatives of poly(aspartic acid) i.e. cationic polyaspartamides with different (dialkylamino)alkyl and alkyl or hydroxyalkyl side groups was synthesized by nucleophilic addition on polysuccinimide. The resulting polyaspartamides have moderate amphiphilic properties. Relationships between the structure and ratio of side groups and in vitro properties of polyaspartamides, including their cytotoxic and membrane-damaging activity towards human cell lines, primary skin fibroblasts and erythrocytes, were established and discussed. Cationic polyaspartamides vary in their DNA-binding, condensing and nuclease-protecting characteristics depending on the concentration ratio of (dialkylamino)alkyl and alkyl or hydroxyalkyl side groups. Effective cell transfection was achieved upon polyaspartamide-mediated plasmid DNA delivery in serum-free medium in the presence of chloroquine. Effect of serum proteins adsorption onto polyaspartamide based polyplexes, and the role of concentration of polyplexes in culture medium in their colloidal stability and transfection process were demonstrated. Synthesized polyaspartamides are biocompatible and long-acting gene carriers, which are applied to cells after dilution and without washing, thus providing transfection level comparable to that of commercial transfection reagent.

Poly (l-γ-glutamylglutamine) Polymer Enhances Doxorubicin Accumulation in Multidrug Resistant Breast Cancer Cells

Background: Drug resistance is one of the bottlenecks of cancer chemotherapy in the clinic. Polymeric nanomedicine is one of the most promising strategies for overcoming poor chemotherapy responses due to the multidrug resistance (MDR). Methods: In this study, a new polymer-based drug delivery system, poly (l-γ-glutamylglutamine)-doxorubicin (PGG-Dox) conjugate, was studied in both drug-induced resistant human breast cancer MDA-MB-231/MDR cells and their parent human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. The effect of PGG on facilitating the growth inhibition of Dox against multidrug resistant cells were investigated by evaluating the cytotoxicity of PGG-Dox conjugate, PGG/Dox unconjugated complex and free Dox on both cells. The underlying mechanisms in resistant cells were further studied via the intracellular traffic studies. Results: Both conjugated and unconjugated PGG significantly increased Dox uptake, prolonged Dox retention and reduced Dox efflux in the MDA-MB-231/MDR cells. The PGG-Dox conjugate is taken up by tumor cells mainly by pinocytosis pathway, in which PGG-Dox conjugate-containing vesicles are formed and enter the cells. Conclusions: This study indicated that both polymer-drug conjugate and unconjugated complex are promising strategies of overcoming resistance of anti-tumor drugs.

Non-invasive topical drug delivery to spinal cord with carboxyl-modified trifunctional copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide

In this study the effect of oxidative modification on micellar and drug delivery properties of copolymers of ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO) was investigated. Carboxylated trifunctional copolymers were synthesized in the reaction with chromium(VI) oxide. We found that carboxylation significantly improved the uniformity and stability of polymeric micelles by inhibiting the microphase transition. The cytotoxicity of copolymers was studied in relation to their aggregative state on two cell types (cancer line vs. primary fibroblasts). The accumulation of rhodamine 123 in neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells was dramatically increased in the presence of the oxidized block copolymer with the number of PO and EO units of 83.5 and 24.2, respectively. The copolymer was also tested as an enhancer for topical drug delivery to the spinal cord when applied subdurally. The oxidized copolymer facilitated the penetration of rhodamine 123 across spinal cord tissues and increased its intraspinal accumulation. These results show the potential of using oxidized EO/PO based polymers for non-invasive delivery of protective drugs after spinal cord injury.