Synthesis and thermal responsive properties of P(LA-b-EO-b-PO-b-EO-b-LA) block copolymers with short hydrophobic poly(lactic acid) (PLA) segments

Polylactic acid based biodegradable hybrid block copolymeric nanoparticle mediated co-delivery of salinomycin and doxorubicin for cancer therapy

Existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) are primarily responsible for chemoresistance, cancer reoccurrence and treatment failure in cancer patients. Eliminating CSCs along with bulk tumor is a necessity to achieve complete cancer inhibition. Salinomycin (SAL) has potential to specifically target and kill CSCs through blocking their multiple pathways simultaneously. SAL has also been reported to improve anti-cancer efficacy of numerous chemo-based drugs when used in combination therapy. However, clinical use of SAL is restricted due to its high off targeted toxicity. Herein, we have developed a PLA based hybrid block copolymer for concomitant delivery of SAL and doxorubicin (DOX) with an aim to reduce their adverse side effects and enhance the therapeutic efficacy of the treatment. Designed PLA based nanoplatform showed high encapsulation and sustained release profile for both the drugs. Cytotoxicity evaluation on cancer cell lines confirmed the synergistic effect of SAL:DOX co-loaded NPs. Additionally, prepared SAL NPs were also found to be highly effective against chemo-resistant cancer cells and CSCs derived from cancer patient. Most importantly, encapsulation of SAL in PLA NPs improved its pharmacokinetics and biodistribution profile. Consequently, undesired toxicity with SAL NPs was significantly reduced which in-turn increased the dose tolerability in mice as compared to free SAL. Treatment of EAC tumor bearing mice with SAL:DOX co-loaded NPs resulted in excellent tumor regression and complete inhibition of cancer reoccurrence. These results conclude that concomitant delivery of SAL and DOX using PLA based block copolymeric nano-carrier have a strong potential for cancer therapy.

Transferrin/folate dual-targeting Pluronic F127/poly(lactic acid) polymersomes for effective anticancer drug delivery

A novel dual-targeting Pluronic/poly(lactic acid) polymersome containing transferrin and folic acid ligands (Tf/FA-F127-PLA) has been designed to study its application in the targeted drug delivery system. Both biotin and folic acid conjugated Biotin/FA-F127-PLA polymersomes (Ps) were prepared as the precursor. The dual-targeting behaviors of Tf/FA-F127-PLA over C6 glioma cells were then fulfilled through connecting the precursor with biotinylated transferrin by using a three-step biotin-avidin technique. Paclitaxel (PTX) was loaded successfully into Biotin/FA-F127-PLA and showed a burst release followed by a slow-release process in vitro. It was also obtained that Tf/FA-F127-PLA had higher cytotoxicity and cellular uptake amount than non-targeted and single-targeted Ps did. These results could be because more PTX-loaded Tf/FA-F127-PLA Ps entered C6 cells through both FA-folate receptor (FR) and Tf-transferrin receptor (TfR) specific affinity and thus possessed the better anti-tumor ability. It was further proved that the uptake of Ps by C6 cells was through the endocytosis related to clathrin, caveolae, lysosome, etc. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the uptake of dual-targeting Tf/FA-F127-PLA Ps by C6 cells was related to the endocytosis mediated by both FR and TfR. These findings indicated that dual-targeting Tf/FA-F127-PLA Ps could be a potential carrier in targeted drug delivery systems.

Hypoxia and temperature dual-stimuli-responsive random copolymers: facile synthesis, self-assembly and controlled release of drug

The micelles self-assembled from P(NIPAM-co-AA-co-NIA) copolymers presented hypoxia and temperature dual-stimuli-responsive properties and a controlled release of drug was achieved using them.

Poloxamer-based in situ gelling thermoresponsive systems for ocular drug delivery applications

In situ gels have recently received interest as ocular drug delivery vehicles because they combine the merits of easy instillation and sustained drug release. In this review, we focus on the use of poloxamers as in situ gelling systems in ocular drug delivery because of their thermoresponsive gelling behaviour, biocompatibility, and ease of sterilisation. Furthermore, the sol-gel transition temperature, mucoadhesive properties, and drug release profiles of poloxamer-based in situ gels can be finely tuned, enabling them to be used as vehicles for the delivery of small and large drug molecules to treat diseases of the anterior and posterior segments of the eye. Poloxamer-based ocular products have already found their way to the pharmaceutical market, but remain a potential arena for further investigation and commercial exploitation.

Encapsulation of Antioxidant Gallate Derivatives in Biocompatible Poly(ε-caprolactone)-b-Pluronic-b-Poly(ε-caprolactone) Micelles

Formulation of antioxidant agents is still a challenge that limits their application in the biomedical field. Pentablock copolymers obtained through modification of two common PEO-PPO-PEO copolymers (Pluronic F127 and F68) with poly(ε-carprolactone) (PCL) were evaluated regarding their capability to form nanocarriers suitable for gallic acid, methyl gallate, and ethyl gallate. Applying a dialysis method, PCL/F127/PCL and PCL/F68/PCL self-assembled into spherical micelles in 0.9% NaCl aqueous solution but notably differed in critical micellar concentration (CMC), micelle core hydrophobicity, and micelle size, as evidenced by pyrene fluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. Cytotoxicity studies showed that the copolymers were safe at concentrations well above the CMC. Transfer of gallic acid and derivatives from aqueous medium to the micelle phase was characterized in terms of distribution constant and free energy of transference, which were shown to be strongly dependent on the hydrophobicity of the gallate derivatives and the length of PCL in the pentablock copolymer. Antioxidant activity of gallates was challenged against DPPH previously loaded in PCL/F127/PCL and PCL/F68/PCL micelles. The more the hydrophobicity of the gallate derivative, the greater the capability to enter in the micelle and to consume free radicals. In vitro release studies of gallic acid, methyl gallate, and ethyl gallate from the pentablock copolymer micelles also evidenced the influence of the hydrophobicity of both the gallate derivative and the micelle core on release rate, recording a variety of release patterns. Overall, PCL/F127/PCL and PCL/F68/PCL appear as suitable nanocarriers of potent antioxidant agents in a wide range of polarities, which may be useful for diverse therapeutic applications.

Preparation and characterization of stereocomplex aggregates based on PLA–P188–PLA

Novel dumbbell-shaped amphiphilic copolymers based on P188 and PLA were synthesized by click chemistry and ring opening polymerization. The self-assembly behavior of the stereocomplexes and the DOX release profile from the aggregates were studied.

In situ gel-forming AP-57 peptide delivery system for cutaneous wound healing

In situ gel-forming system as local drug delivery system in dermal traumas has generated a great interest. Accumulating evidence shows that antimicrobial peptides play pivotal roles in the process of wound healing. Here in this study, to explore the potential application of antimicrobial peptide in wound healing, biodegradable poly(L-lactic acid)-Pluronic L35-poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA-L35-PLLA) was developed at first. Then based on this polymer, an injectable in situ gel-forming system composed of human antimicrobial peptides 57 (AP-57) loaded nanoparticles and thermosensitive hydrogel was prepared and applied for cutaneous wound healing. AP-57 peptides were enclosed with biocompatible nanoparticles (AP-57-NPs) with high drug loading and encapsulation efficiency. AP-57-NPs were further encapsulated in a thermosensitive hydrogel (AP-57-NPs-H) to facilitate its application in cutaneous wound repair. As a result, AP-57-NPs-H released AP-57 in an extended period and exhibited quite low cytotoxicity and high anti-oxidant activity in vitro. Moreover, AP-57-NPs-H was free-flowing liquid at room temperature, and can form non-flowing gel without any crosslink agent upon applied on the wounds. In vivo wound healing assay using full-thickness dermal defect model of SD rats indicated that AP-57-NPs-H could significantly promote wound healing. At day 14 after operation, AP-57-NPs-H treated group showed nearly complete wound closure of 96.78 ± 3.12%, whereas NS, NPs-H and AP-57-NPs group recovered by about 68.78 ± 4.93%, 81.96 ± 3.26% and 87.80 ± 4.62%, respectively. Histopathological examination suggested that AP-57-NPs-H could promote cutaneous wound healing through enhancing granulation tissue formation, increasing collagen deposition and promoting angiogenesis in the wound tissue. Therefore, AP-57-NPs-H might have potential application in wound healing.

PLA-poloxamer/poloxamine copolymers for ligament tissue engineering: sound macromolecular design for degradable scaffolds and MSC differentiation

The treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) failures remains a current clinical challenge. The present study aims at providing suitable degradable scaffolds for ligament tissue engineering. First, we focus on the design and the evaluation of poly(lactide)/poloxamer or poly(lactide)/poloxamine multiblock copolymers selected and developed to have suitable degradation and mechanical properties to match ACL repair. In the second part, it is shown that the copolymers can be processed in the form of microfibers and scaffolds consisting of a combination of twisted/braided fibers to further modulate the mechanical properties and prepare scaffold prototypes suitable for ligament application. Finally, after assessment of their cytocompatibility, the polymer scaffolds are associated with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSC differentiation toward a ligament fibroblast phenotype is promoted by a dual stimulation including an inductive culture medium and cyclic mechanical loads. RT-qPCR analyses confirm the potential of our scaffolds and MSCs for ACL regeneration with upregulation of some differentiation markers including Scleraxis, Tenascin-C and Tenomodulin.

Bioactive factor delivery strategies from engineered polymer hydrogels for therapeutic medicine

Polymer hydrogels have been widely explored as therapeutic delivery matrices because of their ability to present sustained, localized and controlled release of bioactive factors. Bioactive factor delivery from injectable biopolymer hydrogels provides a versatile approach to treat a wide variety of diseases, to direct cell function and to enhance tissue regeneration. The innovative development and modification of both natural-(e.g., alginate (ALG), chitosan, hyaluronic acid (HA), gelatin, heparin (HEP), etc.) and synthetic-(e.g., polyesters, polyethyleneimine (PEI), etc.) based polymers has resulted in a variety of approaches to design drug delivery hydrogel systems from which loaded therapeutics are released. This review presents the state-of-the-art in a wide range of hydrogels that are formed though self-assembly of polymers and peptides, chemical crosslinking, ionic crosslinking and biomolecule recognition. Hydrogel design for bioactive factor delivery is the focus of the first section. The second section then thoroughly discusses release strategies of payloads from hydrogels for therapeutic medicine, such as physical incorporation, covalent tethering, affinity interactions, on demand release and/or use of hybrid polymer scaffolds, with an emphasis on the last 5 years.

Biodegradable hyperbranched amphiphilic polyurethane multiblock copolymers consisting of poly(propylene glycol), poly(ethylene glycol), and polycaprolactone as in situ thermogels

This paper reports the synthesis and characterization of new hyperbranched amphiphilic polyurethane multiblock copolymers consisting of poly(propylene glycol) (PPG), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), and polycaprolactone (PCL) segments as in situ thermogels. The hyperbranched poly(PPG/PEG/PCL urethane)s, termed as HBPEC copolymers, were synthesized from PPG-diol, PEG-diol, and PCL-triol by using 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI) as a coupling agent. The compositions and structures of HBPEC copolymers were determined by GPC and 1H NMR spectroscopy. We carried out comparative studies of the new hyperbranched copolymers with their linear counterparts, the linear poly(PPG/PEG/PCL urethane) (LPEC) copolymer and Pluronic F127 PEG-PPG-PEG block copolymer, in terms of their self-assembly and aggregation behaviors and thermoresponsive properties. HBPEC copolymers were found to show thermoresponsive micelle formation and aggregation behaviors. Particularly, the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the copolymers was significantly affected by the copolymer architecture. HBPEC copolymers showed much lower LCST than LPEC, the linear counterpart. Our studies revealed that the effect of hyperbranch architecture was more prominent in the gelation of the copolymers. The aqueous solutions of HBPEC copolymers exhibited thermogelling behaviors at critical gelation concentrations (CGCs) ranging from 4.3 to 7.4 wt %. These values are much lower than those reported on other PCL-contained linear thermogelling copolymers and Pluronic F127 copolymer. In addition, the CGC of HBPEC copolymers is much lower than the control LPEC copolymer. More interestingly, at high temperatures, while LPEC and other linear thermogelling copolymers formed turbid sol, HBPEC formed a dehydrated gel. Our data suggest that these phenomena are caused by the hyperbranched structure of HBPEC copolymers, which could increase the interaction of copolymer branches and enhance the chain association through synergetic hydrogen bonding effect. The thermogelling behavior of HBPEC block copolymers was further evidenced by the 1H NMR molecular dynamic study and rheological study, which further support the above hypothesis. The hydrolytic degradation study showed that the HBPEC copolymer hydrogels are biodegradable under physiological conditions. Together with the good cell biocompatibility demonstrated by the cytotoxicity study, the new thermogelling copolymers reported in this paper could potentially be used as in situ-forming hydrogels for biomedical applications.

Biodegradable thermogels

All living creatures respond to external stimuli. Similarly, some polymers undergo conformational changes in response to changes in temperature, pH, magnetic field, electrical field, or the wavelength of light. In one type of stimuli-responsive polymer, thermogel polymers, the polymer aqueous solution undergoes sol-to-gel transition as the temperature increases. Drugs or cells can be mixed into the polymer aqueous solution when it is in its lower viscosity solution state. After injection of the solution into a target site, heating prompts the formation of a hydrogel depot in situ, which can then act as a drug releasing system or a cell growing matrix. In this Account, we describe key materials developed in our laboratory for the construction of biodegradable thermogels. We particularly emphasize recently developed polypeptide-based materials where the secondary structure and nanoassembly play an important role in the determining the material properties. This Account will provide insights for controlling parameters, such as the sol-gel transition temperature, gel modulus, critical gel concentration, and degradability of the polymer, when designing a new thermogel system for a specific biomedical application. By varying the stereochemistry of amino acids in polypeptides, the molecular weight of hydrophobic/hydrophilic blocks, the composition of the polypeptides, the hydrophobic end-capping of the polypeptides, and the microsequences of a block copolymer, we have controlled the thermosensitivity and nanoassembly patterns of the polymers. We have investigated a series of thermogel biodegradable polymers. Polymers such as poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid), polycaprolactone, poly(trimethylene carbonate), polycyanoacrylate, sebacic ester, polypeptide were used as hydrophobic blocks, and poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) were used as hydrophilic blocks. To prepare a polymer sensitive to pH and temperature, carboxylic acid or amine groups were introduced along the polymer backbone. The sol-gel transition mechanism involves changes in the secondary structures of the hydrophobic polypeptide and in the conformation of the hydrophilic block. The polypeptide copolymers were stable in the phosphate buffered saline, but the presence of proteolytic enzymes such as elastase, cathepsin B, cathepsin C, and matrix metallopreoteinase accelerated their degradation. We also describe several biomedical applications of biogradable thermogel polymers. One subcutaneous injection of the insulin formulation of thermogel polypeptide copolymers in diabetic rats provided hypoglycemic efficacy for more than 16 days. The thermogels also provided a compatible microenvironment for chondrocytes, and these cells produced biomarkers for articular cartilage such as sulfated glucoaminoglycan (sGAG) and type II collagen. The thermogels were also used as a fixing agent for in situ cell imaging, and cellular activities such as endocytosis were observed by live cell microscopy.

Time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry for the surface characterization of solid-state pharmaceuticals

Time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) is a highly surface sensitive analytical method for surface chemical identification and surface chemical distribution analysis (mapping). Here we have explored the application of ToF-SIMS for the characterization of solid-state pharmaceuticals and highlight specific case studies concerning the distribution and stability of pharmaceutical actives within solid matrices (pellets and polymeric carriers) and the face-specific properties of pharmaceutical crystals.

Biodegradable hydrophobic-hydrophilic hybrid hydrogels: swelling behavior and controlled drug release

The objective of this work was to investigate a new family of hydrophobic-hydrophilic biodegradable hybrid hydrogels as drug carriers. A series of hydrophobic-hydrophilic biodegradable hybrid hydrogels was formulated via photo means from hydrophobic three-arm poly (epsilon-caprolactone) maleic acid (PGCL-Ma) and hydrophilic dextran maleic acid (Dex-Ma) precursors over a wide range of the two precursors' feed ratio (PGCL-Ma/Dex-Ma at 100:0, 70:30, 50:50, 30:70 and 0:100). A low-molecular-weight and hydrophilic drug, the alpha-7 agonist cocaine methiodide, was used as the model drug for the release study from the hybrid hydrogels in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solution at 37 degrees C. The swelling data of these hybrid hydrogels depended on the hydrophobic to hydrophilic precursors' feed ratio, and there were several-fold differences in swelling ratios between a pure hydrophilic Dex-Ma and a pure hydrophobic PGCL-Ma hydrogels. The presence of the hydrophobic PGCL-Ma component significantly reduced the initial burst swelling of the hybrid hydrogels. Depending on the two precursors' feed ratios, the swelling data during the early period obeyed either Fickian diffusion (for 50:50 PGCL-Ma/Dex-Ma hydrogel), non-Fickian or anomalous transport (for 70:30 and 100:0 PGCL-Ma/Dex-Ma), or relaxation-controlled (for 30:70 and 0:100 PGCL-Ma/Dex-Ma). A wide range of cocaine methiodide release profiles was achieved by controlling hydrophobic to hydrophilic precursors' feed ratios. Initial drug burst release was significantly reduced as the concentration of the hydrophobic PGCL-Ma component increased in the hybrid hydrogels. The bulk of cocaine methiodide released during the 160-h period was via diffusion-controlled mechanism, while degradation-controlled mechanism dominated thereafter.

In situ gelling stimuli-sensitive block copolymer hydrogels for drug delivery

Stimuli-sensitive block copolymer hydrogels, which are reversible polymer networks formed by physical interactions and exhibit a sol-gel phase-transition in response to external stimuli, have great potential in biomedical and pharmaceutical applications, especially in site-specific controlled drug-delivery systems. The drug may be mixed with a polymer solution in vitro and the drug-loaded hydrogel can form in situ after the in vivo administration, such as injection; therefore, stimuli-sensitive block copolymer hydrogels have many advantages, such as simple drug formulation and administration procedures, no organic solvent, site-specificity, a sustained drug release behavior, less systemic toxicity and ability to deliver both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. Among the stimuli in the biomedical applications, temperature and pH are the most popular physical and chemical stimuli, respectively. The temperature- and/or pH-sensitive block copolymer hydrogels for biomedical applications have been extensively developed in the past decade. This review focuses on recent development of the preparation and application for drug delivery of the block copolymer hydrogels that respond to temperature, pH or both stimuli, including poly(N-substituted acrylamide)-based block copolymers, poloxamers and their derivatives, poly(ethylene glycol)-polyester block copolymers, polyelectrolyte-based block copolymers and the polyelectrolyte-modified thermo-sensitive block copolymers. In addition, the hydrogels based on other stimuli-sensitive block copolymers are discussed.

Synthesis and supramolecular organization of amphiphilic diblock copolymers combining poly(N,N-dimethylamino-2-ethyl methacrylate) and poly(epsilon-caprolactone)

Well-defined poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL)/poly(N,N-dimethylamino-2-ethyl methacrylate (PDMAEMA) diblock copolymers were synthesized, and their self-assembly was investigated as micelles both in aqueous solutions and in thin solid deposits. The synthetic approach combines controlled ring opening polymerization (ROP) of epsilon-caprolactone (CL) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of N,N-dimethylamino-2-ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA). Diblock copolymers were prepared by ROP of CL initiated by (Al(OiPr)3), followed by quantitative reaction of the PCL hydroxy end-groups with bromoisobutyryl bromide. The alpha-isopropyloxy omega-2-bromoisobutyrate poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL-Br) obtained was used as a macroinitiator for the ATRP of DMAEMA. The molecular characterization of those diblock copolymers was performed by 1H NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis. The self-assembly of the copolymers into micellar aggregates in aqueous media was followed with dynamic light scattering (DLS), as a function of concentration and the pH. In parallel, the morphology of the solid deposits of those micelles was examined with atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Thermoresponsive reversible behavior of multistimuli pluronic-based pentablock copolymer at the air-water interface

Surface behavior of the pH- and thermoresponsive amphiphilic ABCBA pentablock copolymer has been studied with respect to the environmental conditions. We demonstrate that the pentablock copolymer poly((diethylaminoethyl methacrylate)-b-(ethylene oxide)-b-(propylene oxide)-b-(ethylene oxide)-b-(diethylaminoethyl methacrylate)) possesses reversible temperature changes at the air-water interface in a narrow pH range of the water subphase. Significant diversity in the surface morphology of pentablock copolymer monolayers at different pH and temperatures observed were related to the corresponding reorganization of central and terminal blocks. Remarkable reversible variations of the surface pressure observed for the Langmuir monolayers at pH 7.4 in the course of heating and cooling between 27 and 50 degrees C is associated with conformational transformations of terminal blocks crossing the phase line in the vicinity of the lower critical solution temperature point. The observed thermoresponsive surface behavior can be exploited for modeling of the corresponding behavior of pentablock copolymers adsorbed onto various biointerfaces for intracellular delivery for deeper understanding of stimuli-responsive transformations relevant to controlled drug and biomolecules release and retention.