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Ooi YJ, Wen Y, Zhu J, Song X, Li J. Codelivery of Doxorubicin and p53 Gene by β-Cyclodextrin-Based Supramolecular Nanoparticles Formed via Host-Guest Complexation and Electrostatic Interaction. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:2980-2989. [PMID: 38587905 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
We developed a supramolecular system for codelivery of doxorubicin (Dox) and p53 gene based on a β-CD-containing star-shaped cationic polymer. First, a star-shaped cationic polymer consisting of a β-CD core and 3 arms of oligoethylenimine (OEI), named CD-OEI, was used to form a supramolecular inclusion complex with hydrophobic Dox. The CD-OEI/Dox complex was subsequently used to condense plasmid DNA via electrostatic interactions to form CD-OEI/Dox/DNA polyplex nanoparticles with positive surface charges that enhanced the cellular uptake of both Dox and DNA. This supramolecular drug and gene codelivery system showed high gene transfection efficiency and effective protein expression in cancer cells. The codelivery of Dox and DNA encoding the p53 gene resulted in reduced cell viability and enhanced antitumor effects at low Dox concentrations. With its enhanced cellular uptake and anticancer efficacy, the system holds promise as a delivery carrier for potential combination cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Jie Ooi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 15 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119276, Singapore
| | - Yuting Wen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 15 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119276, Singapore
| | - Jingling Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 15 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119276, Singapore
- NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI), National University of Singapore, 5A Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117411, Singapore
| | - Xia Song
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 15 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119276, Singapore
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 15 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119276, Singapore
- NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI), National University of Singapore, 5A Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117411, Singapore
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Haino T, Nitta N. Supramolecular Synthesis of Star Polymers. Chempluschem 2024; 89:e202400014. [PMID: 38407573 DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202400014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Supramolecular polymers, in which monomers are assembled via intermolecular interactions, have been extensively studied. The fusion of supramolecular polymers with conventional polymers has attracted the attention of many researchers. In this review article, the recent progress in the construction of supramolecular star polymers, including regular star polymers and miktoarm star polymers, is discussed. The initial sections briefly provide an overview of the conventional classification and synthesis methods for star polymers. Coordination-driven self-assembly was investigated for the supramolecular synthesis of star polymers. Star polymers with multiple polymer chains radiating from metal-organic polyhedra (MOPs) have also been described. Particular focus has been placed on the synthesis of star polymers featuring supramolecular cores formed through hydrogen-bonding-directed self-assembly. After describing the synthesis of star polymers based on host-guest complexes, the construction of miktoarm star polymers based on the molecular recognition of coordination capsules is detailed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeharu Haino
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8526, Japan
- International Institute for Sustainability with Knotted Chiral Meta Matter (WPI-SKCM2), Hiroshima University, 2-313 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, 739-8527, Japan
| | - Natsumi Nitta
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, 5640 South Elise Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States
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3
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Halder S, Paul M, Dyagala S, Aggrawal R, Aswal VK, Biswas S, Saha SK. Role of Gemini Surfactants with Variable Spacers and SiO 2 Nanoparticles in ct-DNA Compaction and Applications toward In Vitro/ In Vivo Gene Delivery. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2023. [PMID: 37277159 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c00256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Compaction of calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) by two cationic gemini surfactants, 12-4-12 and 12-8-12, in the absence and presence of negatively charged SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) (∼100 nm) has been explored using various techniques. 12-8-12 having a longer hydrophobic spacer induces a greater extent of ct-DNA compaction than 12-4-12, which becomes more efficient with SiO2 NPs. While 50% ct-DNA compaction in the presence of SiO2 NPs occurs at ∼77 nM of 12-8-12 and ∼130 nM of 12-4-12, but a conventional counterpart surfactant, DTAB, does it at its concentration as high as ∼7 μM. Time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy measurements show changes in the rotational dynamics of a fluorescent probe, DAPI, and helix segments in the condensed DNA. Fluorescence lifetime data and ethidium bromide exclusion assays reveal the binding sites of surfactants to ct-DNA. 12-8-12 with SiO2 NPs has shown the highest cell viability (≥90%) and least cell death in the human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cell lines in contrast to the cell viability of ≤80% for DTAB. These results show that 12-8-12 with SiO2 NPs has the highest time and dose-dependent cytotoxicity compared to 12-8-12 and 12-4-12 in the murine breast cancer 4T1 cell line. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry are performed for in vitro cellular uptake of YOYO-1-labeled ct-DNA with surfactants and SiO2 NPs using 4T1 cells after 3 and 6 h incubations. The in vivo tumor accumulation studies are carried out using a real-time in vivo imaging system after intravenous injection of the samples into 4T1 tumor-bearing mice. 12-8-12 with SiO2 has delivered the highest amount of ct-DNA in cells and tumors in a time-dependent manner. Thus, the application of a gemini surfactant with a hydrophobic spacer and SiO2 NPs in compacting and delivering ct-DNA to the tumor is proven, warranting its further exploration in nucleic acid therapy for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayantan Halder
- Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad, Telangana 500078, India
| | - Milan Paul
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad, Telangana 500078, India
| | - Shalini Dyagala
- Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad, Telangana 500078, India
| | - Rishika Aggrawal
- Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad, Telangana 500078, India
| | - Vinod K Aswal
- Solid State Physics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Trombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400085, India
| | - Swati Biswas
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad, Telangana 500078, India
| | - Subit K Saha
- Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad, Telangana 500078, India
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Hussain MS, Faisal KS, Clulow AJ, Albrecht H, Krasowska M, Blencowe A. Influence of Lyophilization and Cryoprotection on the Stability and Morphology of Drug-Loaded Poly(ethylene glycol- b-ε-caprolactone) Micelles. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15081974. [PMID: 37112121 PMCID: PMC10146133 DOI: 10.3390/polym15081974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Polymeric micelles are promising carriers for the delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs, providing enhanced drug solubility, blood circulation times, and bioavailability. Nevertheless, the storage and long-term stability of micelles in solution present challenges requiring the lyophilization and storage of formulations in the solid state, with reconstitution immediately prior to application. Therefore, it is important to understand the effects of lyophilization/reconstitution on micelles, particularly their drug-loaded counterparts. Herein, we investigated the use of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) as a cryoprotectant for the lyophilization/reconstitution of a library of poly(ethylene glycol-b-ε-caprolactone) (PEG-b-PCL) copolymer micelles and their drug-loaded counterparts, as well as the effect of the physiochemical properties of different drugs (phloretin and gossypol). The critical aggregation concentration (CAC) of the copolymers decreased with increasing weight fraction of the PCL block (fPCL), plateauing at ~1 mg/L when the fPCL was >0.45. The blank (empty) and drug-loaded micelles were lyophilized/reconstituted in the absence and presence of β-CD (9% w/w) and analyzed via dynamic light scattering (DLS) and synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to assess for changes in aggregate size (hydrodynamic diameter, Dh) and morphology, respectively. Regardless of the PEG-b-PCL copolymer or the use of β-CD, the blank micelles displayed poor redispersibility (<10% relative to the initial concentration), while the fraction that redispersed displayed similar Dh to the as-prepared micelles, increasing in Dh as the fPCL of the PEG-b-PCL copolymer increased. While most blank micelles displayed discrete morphologies, the addition of β-CD or lyophilization/reconstitution generally resulted in the formation of poorly defined aggregates. Similar results were also obtained for drug-loaded micelles, with the exception of several that retained their primary morphology following lyophilization/reconstitution, although no obvious trends were noted between the microstructure of the copolymers or the physicochemical properties of the drugs and their successful redispersion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Saddam Hussain
- Applied Chemistry and Translational Biomaterials (ACTB) Group, Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation (CPI), UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Khandokar Sadique Faisal
- Applied Chemistry and Translational Biomaterials (ACTB) Group, Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation (CPI), UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Andrew J Clulow
- Australian Synchrotron, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), 800 Blackburn Road, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC 3168, Australia
- Drug Delivery, Disposition & Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Hugo Albrecht
- Drug Discovery and Development Group, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Marta Krasowska
- Future Industries Institute, UniSA STEM, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, Adelaide, SA 5095, Australia
| | - Anton Blencowe
- Applied Chemistry and Translational Biomaterials (ACTB) Group, Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation (CPI), UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
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Zhu C, Zhang Z, Wen Y, Song X, Zhu J, Yao Y, Li J. Cationic micelles as nanocarriers for enhancing intra-cartilage drug penetration and retention. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:1670-1683. [PMID: 36621526 DOI: 10.1039/d2tb02050e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
There is a tremendous unmet medical need for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment around the world, and pharmacological management is the most common option but presents a limited and short efficacy. Insufficient drug delivery to articular cartilage is the key cause. It is widely accepted that the complex structure of articular cartilage and the rapid clearance of joint liquids largely hinder drug penetration and retention in the cartilage. To address these obstacles, we designed and prepared a positively charged micellar system that can effectively deliver a model drug to the deep zone of the cartilage and prolong the drug retention time. In this work, a triblock copolymer composed of cationic poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), denoted as PDMAEMA-PCL-PDMAEMA, was synthesized. A triblock copolymer composed of brush poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate] (pPEGMA) and PCL, denoted as pPEGMA-PCL-pPEGMA, was prepared for comparison. The two types of triblock copolymers were self-assembled in an aqueous environment to form cationic and neutral micelles, respectively. A hydrophobic fluorescent dye as a model drug was loaded into micelle cores, and the dye-loaded micelles were evaluated for intra-cartilage penetration and retention using porcine knee cartilage explants. The PDMAEMA-PCL-PDMAEMA cationic micelles were found to significantly enhance the intra-cartilage penetration and retention capability due to the electrostatic interaction between the micelles and the negatively charged cartilage extracellular matrix. The confocal microscopy study showed that the cationic micelles could penetrate the full-thickness porcine cartilage explants (around 1.5 mm) within 24 hours. Up to 87% of the cationic micelles were taken up by porcine cartilage explants, and 71% of the absorbed micelles were retained in the tissue for at least 4 days. Although the pPEGMA-PCL-pPEGMA neutral micelles were able to penetrate the full-thickness cartilage, this type of micelle showed lower uptake (44%) and retention (44%) rates. This observation implied that the surface charge of micelles could play an important role in efficient intra-cartilage drug delivery. This study verified the feasibility and effectiveness of the PDMAEMA-PCL-PDMAEM cationic micelles in intra-cartilage drug delivery, showing that cationic micelles could be promising carriers for OA treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxian Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 15 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119276, Singapore.
| | - Zhongxing Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 15 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119276, Singapore.
| | - Yuting Wen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 15 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119276, Singapore. .,National University of Singapore (Chongqing) Research Institute, 2 Huizhu Road, Yubei District, Chongqing 401120, China
| | - Xia Song
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 15 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119276, Singapore.
| | - Jingling Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 15 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119276, Singapore. .,NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI), National University of Singapore, 5A Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117411, Singapore
| | - Yifei Yao
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China.
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 15 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119276, Singapore. .,National University of Singapore (Chongqing) Research Institute, 2 Huizhu Road, Yubei District, Chongqing 401120, China.,NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI), National University of Singapore, 5A Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117411, Singapore
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6
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Rodrigues PR, Wang X, Li Z, Lyu J, Wang W, Vieira RP. A new nano hyperbranched β-pinene polymer: Controlled synthesis and nonviral gene delivery. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2023; 222:113032. [PMID: 36463608 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2022.113032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Recently, an extensive research effort has been directed toward the improvement of nonviral transfection vectors, such as polymeric materials. The macromolecular structure of polymers has a substantial effect on their transfection efficacy. In this context, the modern advances in polymer production techniques, such as the deactivation-enhanced radical atom transfer polymerization (DE-ATRP), have been fundamental for the synthesis of controlled architecture nanomaterials. In this study, hyperbranched poly(β-pinene)-PDMAEMA-PEGDMA nanometric copolymers were synthesised at high conversion via DE-ATRP using different concentrations of β-pinene for gene delivery applications. The structural characterization and the biological performance of the materials were investigated. The copolymers' molar mass (10,434-16,438 mol l-1), dispersity, and conversion (90-95%) varied significantly with β-pinene proportion on the polymerizations. The polymer-gene complexes generated (280-110 nm) presented excellent solution stability due to the β-pinene segment on the copolymers. Gene delivery and transfection were highly dependent on the copolymer composition. The copolymers containing the highest β-pinene proportions exhibited the best results with high transfection effectivity. In conclusion, the incorporation of β-pinene in DMAEMA-PEGMA copolymer formulations is a renewable option to improve the materials' branching ratio, polyplex stability, and gene delivery performance without causing cytotoxic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Plínio R Rodrigues
- Department of Bioprocesses and Materials Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Campinas, Albert Einstein St. N. 500, 13083-852 Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil; Charles Institute of Dermatology, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8 Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Xianqing Wang
- Charles Institute of Dermatology, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8 Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Zishan Li
- Charles Institute of Dermatology, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8 Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Jing Lyu
- Charles Institute of Dermatology, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8 Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Wenxin Wang
- Charles Institute of Dermatology, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8 Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Roniérik P Vieira
- Department of Bioprocesses and Materials Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Campinas, Albert Einstein St. N. 500, 13083-852 Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Soh WWM, Teoh RYP, Zhu J, Xun Y, Wee CY, Ding J, Thian ES, Li J. Facile Construction of a Two-in-One Injectable Micelleplex-Loaded Thermogel System for the Prolonged Delivery of Plasmid DNA. Biomacromolecules 2022; 23:3477-3492. [PMID: 35878156 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c00648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Nanoparticle-hydrogel systems have recently emerged as a class of interesting hybrid materials with immense potential for several biomedical applications. Remarkably, the incorporation of nanoparticles into a hydrogel may yield synergistic benefits lacking in a singular system. However, most synthetic strategies require laborious steps to achieve the system, severely restricting the process of translational research. Herein, a facile strategy to access a two-in-one system comprising two distinct polyurethane (PU)-based micellar systems is demonstrated and applied as a novel sustained gene delivery platform, where the two PUs are synthesized similarly but with slightly different compositions. One PU forms cationic micelles that complex with plasmid DNA (pDNA), which are loaded into a thermogel formed by another PU micellar system for the prolonged release of pDNA micelleplexes. Specifically, a thermogelling multiblock PU copolymer (denoted as EPH) was synthesized via the step-growth polymerization of poly(ethylene glycol), poly(propylene glycol), and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate). By further introducing a cationic extender, 3-(dimethylamino)-1,2-propanediol, into the reaction feed, a series of cationic PUs (denoted as EPHD) with varying compositions were obtained. The EPHDs formed positively charged micelles in aqueous solutions, efficiently condensed pDNA into nano-sized micelleplexes (<200 nm) at optimized w/w ratios, and mediated transient green fluorescence protein expression in HEK293T cells at 48 h post-transfection. On the other hand, aqueous EPH solution (4 wt %) was injectable at 4 °C and rapidly gelled upon heating to 37 °C to form a stable hydrogel depot. EPHD/pDNA micelleplexes were easily loaded into EPH by mixing the solutions at 4 °C, before heating to 37 °C, leading to the resultant hydrogel system. The in vitro release study revealed that while free pDNA loaded in the thermogel was completely released in 2 weeks, the release of EPHD/pDNA micelleplexes was prolonged to at least 28 days, suggesting substantial micelleplex-hydrogel interactions. Intact, bioactive, and noncytotoxic EPHD/pDNA micelleplexes in the release media were proved by gel retardation, in vitro gene transfection, and CCK-8 cytotoxicity assay results, respectively. Collectively, this work presents a simple approach to achieving and optimizing a novel two-in-one nanoparticle-hydrogel system for the prolonged delivery of pDNA and may be promising for long-term gene delivery applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilson Wee Mia Soh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 15 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119276, Singapore
| | - Rachel Yun Pei Teoh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 15 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119276, Singapore
| | - Jingling Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 15 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119276, Singapore.,NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI), National University of Singapore, 5A Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117411, Singapore
| | - Yanran Xun
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117576, Singapore
| | - Chien Yi Wee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117576, Singapore
| | - Jun Ding
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117576, Singapore
| | - Eng San Thian
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117576, Singapore
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 15 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119276, Singapore.,NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI), National University of Singapore, 5A Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117411, Singapore
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Smart Hydrogel Formed by Alginate-g-Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and Chitosan through Polyelectrolyte Complexation and Its Controlled Release Properties. Gels 2022; 8:gels8070441. [PMID: 35877526 PMCID: PMC9315676 DOI: 10.3390/gels8070441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Smart hydrogels that can respond to external stimuli such as temperature and pH have attracted tremendous interest for biological and biomedical applications. In this work, we synthesized two alginate-graft-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (Alg-g-PNIPAAm) copolymers and aimed to prepare smart hydrogels through formation of polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) between the negatively charged Alg-g-PNIPAAm copolymers and the positively charged chitosan (Cts) in aqueous solutions. The hydrogels were expected to be able to respond to both temperature and pH changes due to the nature of Alg-g-PNIPAAm and chitosan. The hydrogel formation was determined by a test tube inverting method and confirmed by the rheological measurements. The rheological measurements showed that the PEC hydrogels formed at room temperature could be further enhanced by increasing temperature over the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNIPAAm, because PNIPAAm would change from hydrophilic to hydrophobic upon increasing temperature over its LCST, and the hydrophobic interaction between the PNIPAAm segments may act as additional physical crosslinking. The controlled release properties of the hydrogels were studied by using the organic dye rhodamine B (RB) as a model drug at different pH. The PEC hydrogels could sustain the RB release more efficiently at neutral pH. Both low pH and high pH weakened the PEC hydrogels, and resulted in less sustained release profiles. The release kinetics data were found to fit well to the Krosmyer–Peppas power law model. The analysis of the release kinetic parameters obtained by the modelling indicates that the release of RB from the PEC hydrogels followed mechanisms combining diffusion and dissolution of the hydrogels, but the release was mainly governed by diffusion with less dissolution at pH 7.4 when the PEC hydrogels were stronger and stabler than those at pH 5.0 and 10.0. Therefore, the PEC hydrogels are a kind of smart hydrogels holding great potential for drug delivery applications.
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9
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Liu X, Yin H, Song X, Zhang Z, Li J. Lignin-Based Nonviral Gene Carriers Functionalized by Poly[2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl Methacrylate]: Effect of Grafting Degree and Cationic Chain Length on Transfection Efficiency. Biomolecules 2022; 12:102. [PMID: 35053250 PMCID: PMC8773503 DOI: 10.3390/biom12010102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Lignin is a natural renewable biomass resource with great potential for applications, while its development into high value-added molecules or materials is rare. The development of biomass lignin as potential nonviral gene delivery carriers was initiated by our group through the "grafting-from" approach. Firstly, the lignin was modified into macroinitiator using 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide. Then cationic polymer chains of poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA) were grown from the lignin backbone using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) to yield lignin-PDMAEMA graft copolymers (LPs) with branched structure. To gain a deep understanding of the relationship between the nonviral gene transfection efficiency of such copolymers and their structural and compositional factors, herein eight lignin-based macroinitiators with different modification degrees (MDs, from 3.0 to 100%) were synthesized. Initiated by them, a series of 20 LPs were synthesized with varied structural factors such as grafting degree (GD, which is equal to MD, determining the cationic chain number per lignin macromolecule), cationic chain length (represented by number of repeating DMAEMA units per grafted arm or degree of polymerization, DP) as well as the content of N element (N%) which is due to the grafted PDMAEMA chains and proportional to molecular weight of the LPs. The in vitro gene transfection capability of these graft copolymers was evaluated by luciferase assay in HeLa, COS7 and MDA-MB-231cell lines. Generally, the copolymers LP-12 (N% = 7.28, MD = 36.7%, DP = 13.6) and LP-14 (N% = 6.05, MD = 44.4%, DP = 5.5) showed good gene transfection capabilities in the cell lines tested. Overall, the performance of LP-12 was the best among all the LPs in the three cell lines at the N/P ratios from 10 to 30, which was usually several times higher than PEI standard. However, in MDA-MB-231 at N/P ratio of 30, LP-14 showed the best gene transfection performance among all the LPs. Its gene transfection efficiency was ca. 11 times higher than PEI standard at this N/P ratio. This work demonstrated that, although the content of N element (N%) which is due to the grafted PDMAEMA chains primarily determines the gene transfection efficiency of the LPs, it is not the only factor in explaining the performance of such copolymers with the branched structure. Structural factors of these copolymers such as grafting degree and cationic chain length could have a profound effect on the copolymer performance on gene transfection efficiency. Through carefully adjusting these factors, the gene transfection efficiency of the LPs could be modulated and optimized for different cell lines, which could make this new type of biomass-based biomaterial an attractive choice for various gene delivery applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohong Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119276, Singapore; (X.L.); (H.Y.); (X.S.)
- National University of Singapore (Chongqing) Research Institute, Chongqing 401120, China
| | - Hui Yin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119276, Singapore; (X.L.); (H.Y.); (X.S.)
| | - Xia Song
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119276, Singapore; (X.L.); (H.Y.); (X.S.)
| | - Zhongxing Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119276, Singapore; (X.L.); (H.Y.); (X.S.)
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119276, Singapore; (X.L.); (H.Y.); (X.S.)
- National University of Singapore (Chongqing) Research Institute, Chongqing 401120, China
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10
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Wen Y, Mensah NN, Song X, Zhu J, Tan WS, Chen X, Li J. A hydrogel with supramolecular surface functionalization for cancer cell capture and multicellular spheroid growth and release. Chem Commun (Camb) 2021; 58:681-684. [PMID: 34919108 DOI: 10.1039/d1cc05846k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A hydrogel scaffold with a non-fouling but specific cancer cell-adhesive surface was fabricated through surface modification using β-cyclodextrin-based host-guest chemistry. Interestingly, the hydrogel surface not only selectively captured specific cancer cells, but also grew the cells into multicellular spheroids. The spheroids could be released without damaging the cell viability through replacing the host moieties on the scaffold, and the released spheroids showed no changes in size or morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Wen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 15 Kent Ridge Crescent, 119276, Singapore.
| | - Nana Nyarko Mensah
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 15 Kent Ridge Crescent, 119276, Singapore. .,Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 2 Fusionopolis Way, 138634, Singapore
| | - Xia Song
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 15 Kent Ridge Crescent, 119276, Singapore.
| | - Jingling Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 15 Kent Ridge Crescent, 119276, Singapore.
| | - Wui Siew Tan
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 2 Fusionopolis Way, 138634, Singapore
| | - Xinwei Chen
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 2 Fusionopolis Way, 138634, Singapore
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 15 Kent Ridge Crescent, 119276, Singapore.
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Li H, Peng E, Zhao F, Li J, Xue J. Supramolecular Surface Functionalization of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles with α-Cyclodextrin-Based Cationic Star Polymer for Magnetically-Enhanced Gene Delivery. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:1884. [PMID: 34834299 PMCID: PMC8624969 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13111884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Supramolecular polymers formed through host-guest complexation have inspired many interesting developments of functional materials for biological and biomedical applications. Here, we report a novel design of a non-viral gene delivery system composed of a cationic star polymer forming supramolecular complexes with the surface oleyl groups of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), for magnetically enhanced delivery of DNA into mammalian cells. The cationic star polymer was synthesized by grafting multiple oligoethylenimine (OEI) chains onto an α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) core. The SPIONs were synthesized from iron(III) acetylacetonate and stabilized by hydrophobic oleic acid and oleylamine in hexane, which were characterized in terms of their size, structure, morphology, and magnetic properties. The synthesized magnetic particles were found to be superparamagnetic, making them a suitable ferrofluid for biological applications. In order to change the hydrophobic surface of the SPIONs to a hydrophilic surface with functionalities for plasmid DNA (pDNA) binding and gene delivery, a non-traditional but simple supramolecular surface modification process was used. The α-CD-OEI cationic star polymer was dissolved in water and then mixed with the SPIONs stabilized in hexane. The SPIONs were "pulled" into the water phase through the formation of supramolecular host-guest inclusion complexes between the α-CD unit and the oleyl surface of the SPIONs, while the surface of the SPIONs was changed to OEI cationic polymers. The α-CD-OEI-SPION complex could effectively bind and condense pDNA to form α-CD-OEI-SPION/pDNA polyplex nanoparticles at the size of ca. 200 nm suitable for delivery of genes into cells through endocytosis. The cytotoxicity of the α-CD-OEI-SPION complex was also found to be lower than high-molecular-weight polyethylenimine, which was widely studied previously as a standard non-viral gene vector. When gene transfection was carried out in the presence of an external magnetic field, the α-CD-OEI-SPION/pDNA polyplex nanoparticles greatly increased the gene transfection efficiency by nearly tenfold. Therefore, the study has demonstrated a facile two-in-one method to make the SPIONs water-soluble as well as functionalized for enhanced magnetofection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanyi Li
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 7 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117574, Singapore; (H.L.); (E.P.)
- Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, 9 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119085, Singapore
| | - Erwin Peng
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 7 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117574, Singapore; (H.L.); (E.P.)
| | - Feng Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 15 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119276, Singapore;
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 15 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119276, Singapore;
| | - Junmin Xue
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 7 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117574, Singapore; (H.L.); (E.P.)
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