Hydrodynamic properties of carbohydrate-coated dendrimers

PEG-Lipids: Quantitative Study of Unimers and Aggregates Thereof by the Methods of Molecular Hydrodynamics

Understanding the polymorphism of lipids in solution is the key to the development of intracellular delivery systems. Here, we study the dynamics of poly(ethylene glycol)-lipid (PEG-Lipid) conjugates aiming at a better understanding of their molecular properties and aggregation behavior in solution. Those PEG-Lipids are used as components of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). LNPs are gaining increased popularity, e.g., by their utilization in modern vaccination strategies against SARS-CoV-2. Characterization of the systems is conducted by the classical methods of hydrodynamics in different solvents, such as ethanol and water, which are also commonly used for LNP formulation. We were able to elucidate the structurally associated hydrodynamic properties of isolated PEG-Lipids in ethanol, revealing the typically expected values of the hydrodynamic invariant for random coil polymers. By virtue of the same experimental setting, the PEG-Lipids' behavior in water was as well studied, which is a less good solvent than ethanol for the PEG-Lipids. Our experiments demonstrate that PEG-Lipids dissolved in water form well-defined micelles that can quantitatively be characterized in terms of their degree of aggregation of PEG-Lipid polymer unimers, their hydrodynamic size, and solvation, i.e., the quantitative determination of water contained or associated to the identified micelles. Quantitative results obtained from classical hydrodynamic analyses are fully supported by studies with standard dynamic light scattering (DLS). The obtained diffusion coefficients and hydrodynamic sizes are in excellent agreement with numerical results derived from analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) data. Cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) supports the structural insight from hydrodynamic studies, particularly, in terms of the observed spherical structure of the formed micelles. We demonstrate experimentally that the micelle systems can be considered as solvent-permeable, hydrated spheres.

Incentives of Using the Hydrodynamic Invariant and Sedimentation Parameter for the Study of Naturally- and Synthetically-Based Macromolecules in Solution

The interrelation of experimental rotational and translational hydrodynamic friction data as a basis for the study of macromolecules in solution represents a useful attempt for the verification of hydrodynamic information. Such interrelation originates from the basic development of colloid and macromolecular science and has proven to be a powerful tool for the study of naturally- and synthetically-based, i.e., artificial, macromolecules. In this tutorial review, we introduce this very basic concept with a brief historical background, the governing physical principles, and guidelines for anyone making use of it. This is because very often data to determine such an interrelation are available and it only takes a set of simple equations for it to be established. We exemplify this with data collected over recent years, focused primarily on water-based macromolecular systems and with relevance for pharmaceutical applications. We conclude with future incentives and opportunities for verifying an advanced design and tailored properties of natural/synthetic macromolecular materials in a dispersed or dissolved manner, i.e., in solution. Particular importance for the here outlined concept emanates from the situation that the classical scaling relationships of Kuhn-Mark-Houwink-Sakurada, most frequently applied in macromolecular science, are fulfilled, once the hydrodynamic invariant and/or sedimentation parameter are established. However, the hydrodynamic invariant and sedimentation parameter concept do not require a series of molar masses for their establishment and can help in the verification of a sound estimation of molar mass values of macromolecules.

Dendrimers - from organic synthesis to pharmaceutical applications: an update

Dendrimers are a relatively new class of monodisperse polymers, which have tree-like spherical structures with well-defined sizes and shapes. Their unique structure has a significant impact on their physical and chemical properties. Research on dendrimers is of significant interest to scientists from all areas and their utility in various scientific fields, including pharmaceuticals, is expanding. The present review is comprehensive and covers different aspects of dendrimers viz. (1) synthesis, (2) properties and (3) pharmaceutical applications. The emphasis is on their applications as well as the current ongoing research status for drug targeting.

Size and average density spectra of macromolecules obtained from hydrodynamic data

It is proposed to normalize the Mark-Kuhn-Houwink-Sakurada type of equation relating the hydrodynamic characteristics, such as intrinsic viscosity, velocity sedimentation coefficient and translational diffusion coefficient of linear macromolecules to their molecular masses for the values of linear density M(L) and the statistical segment length A. When the set of data covering virtually all known experimental information is normalized for M(L), it is presented as a size spectrum of linear polymer molecules. Further normalization for the A value reduces all data to two regions: namely the region exhibiting volume interactions and that showing hydrodynamic draining. For chains without intachain excluded volume effects these results may be reproduced using the Yamakawa-Fujii theory of wormlike cylinders. Data analyzed here cover a range of contour lengths of linear chains varying by three orders of magnitude, with the range of statistical segment lengths varying approximately 500 times. The plot of the dependence of [eta]M on M represents the spectrum of average specific volumes occupied by linear and branched macromolecules. Dendrimers and globular proteins for which the volume occupied by the molecule in solution is directly proportional to M have the lowest specific volume. The homologous series of macromolecules in these plots are arranged following their fractal dimensionality.

Challenges for the modern analytical ultracentrifuge analysis of polysaccharides

This article reviews some of the recent advances in analytical ultracentrifugation and how these advances have impacted--and can impact--on our understanding of the size, shape through conformation modelling, interactions and charge properties of polysaccharides in solution, particularly when used in combination with other solution techniques and also imaging techniques. Specifically we look at (1) polysaccharide polydispersity and simple shape analysis by sedimentation velocity, and in particular using new approaches such as SEDFIT analysis; (2) polysaccharide molecular-weight analysis by sedimentation equilibrium and MSTAR analysis and how this complements analysis of size exclusion chromatography coupled to multi-angle laser light scattering; (3) polysaccharide conformation analysis using traditional procedures such as the Wales-van Holde ratio, power law or 'scaling' relations, more specialised treatments for rigid cylindrical structures, semi-flexible chains and worm-like coils and complications through draining effects; (4) Analysis of polysaccharide interactions and in particular complex formation phenomena, focusing on interesting applications in the areas of mucoadhesion and sedimentation fingerprinting; and (5) the possibilities for macromolecular charge and charge screening measurement.

Design and synthesis of glycodendrimers

Multivalent neoglycoconjugates with well-defined structures have considerable potential as inhibitors of cell surface protein-carbohydrate interactions and as tools for studying such recognition processes in vitro. In this review, we outline strategies and synthetic methods for making one such class of neoglycoconjugates based on dendrimers--the so-called glycodendrimers. Glycodendrimers can be classified as: (i) carbohydrate-coated; (ii) carbohydrate-centered; and (iii) fully carbohydrate-based. Approaches to their construction have included both the modification of commercially available dendrimers and de novo dendrimer synthesis. Examples from the authors' and other laboratories are drawn upon to illustrate design considerations and the application of dendritic synthetic principles--including divergent and convergent syntheses--for making glycodendrimers. Key coupling reactions for the synthesis of glycodendrimers include: amide and thiourea formation; glycosylation; photoaddition to allyl ethers; and reductive amination. The advantages and disadvantages of using protected and unprotected saccharide building blocks and potential applications for glycodendrimers in both biotechnology and materials science are also discussed.

Ferrocene-containing carbohydrate dendrimers

Aliphatic amines, incorporating one or three (branched) acylated beta-D-glucopyranosyl residues, were coupled with the acid chloride of ferrocenecarboxylic acid and with the diacid chloride of 1,1'-ferrocenedicarboxylic acid to afford four dendrimer-type, carbohydrate-coated ferrocene derivatives in good yields (54-92%). Deprotection of the peracylated beta-D-glucopyranosyl residues was achieved quantitatively by using Zemplén conditions, affording four water-soluble ferrocene derivatives. When only one of the two cyclopentadienyl rings of the ferrocene unit is substituted, strong complexes are formed with beta-cyclodextrin in H2O, as demonstrated by liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry (LSIMS), 1H NMR spectroscopy, electrochemical measurements, and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Molecular dynamics calculations showed that the unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl ring is inserted through the cavity of the toroidal host in these complexes. The electrochemical behavior of the protected and deprotected ferrocene-containing dendrimers was investigated in acetonitrile and water, respectively. The diffusion coefficient decreases with increasing molecular weight of the compound. The potential for oxidation of the ferrocene core, the rate constant of heterogeneous electron transfer, and the rate constant for the energy-transfer reaction with the luminescent excited state of the [Ru(bpy)3]2+ complex (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) are strongly affected by the number (one or two) of substituents and by the number (one or three) of carbohydrate branches present in the substituents. These effects are assigned to shielding of the ferrocene core by the dendritic branches. Electrochemical evidence for the existence of different conformers for one of the dendrimers in aqueous solution was obtained.