Serum Protein-Resistant Behavior of Multisite-Bound Poly(ethylene glycol) Chains on Iron Oxide Surfaces

Effects of brake wear nanoparticles on the protection and repair functions of the airway epithelium

Long term exposure to particulate air pollution is known to increase respiratory morbidity and mortality. In urban areas with dense traffic most of these particles are generated by vehicles, via engine exhaust or wear processes. Non-exhaust particles come from wear processes such as those concerning brakes and their toxicity is little studied. To improve our understanding of the lung toxicity mechanisms of the nanometric fraction of brake wear nanoparticles (BWNPs), we studied whether these particles affect the barrier properties of the respiratory epithelium considering particle translocation, mucus production and repair efficiency. The Calu-3 cell line grown in two-compartment chambers was used to mimic the bronchial epithelial barrier. BWNPs detected by single-particle ICP-MS were shown to cross the epithelial tissue in small amounts without affecting the barrier integrity properties, because the permeability to Lucifer yellow was not increased and there was no cytotoxicity as assessed by the release of lactate-dehydrogenase. The interaction of BWNPs with the barrier did not induce a pro-inflammatory response, but increased the expression and production of MU5AC, a mucin, by a mechanism involving the epidermal growth factor receptor pathway. During a wound healing assay, BWNP-loaded cells exhibited the same ability to migrate, but those at the edge of the wound showed higher 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation, suggesting a higher proliferation rate. Altogether these results showed that BW. NPs do not exert overt cytotoxicity and inflammation but can translocate through the epithelial barrier in small amounts and increase mucus production, a key feature of acute inflammatory and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. Their loading in epithelial cells may impair the repair process through increased proliferation.

Synthesis of Stable Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles Coated with Phosphonic Acid-Based Functional Polymers

Functional polymers, such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), terminated with a single phosphonic acid, hereafter PEG_ik-Ph are often applied to coat metal oxide surfaces during post-synthesis steps but are not sufficient to stabilize sub-10 nm particles in protein-rich biofluids. The instability is attributed to the weak binding affinity of post-grafted phosphonic acid groups, resulting in a gradual detachment of the polymers from the surface. Here, we assess these polymers as coating agents using an alternative route, namely, the one-step wet-chemical synthesis, where PEG_ik-Ph is introduced with cerium precursors during the synthesis. Characterization of the coated cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNPs) indicates a core-shell structure, where the cores are 3 nm cerium oxide and the shell consists of functionalized PEG polymers in a brush configuration. Results show that CNPs coated with PEG_1k-Ph and PEG_2k-Ph are of potential interest for applications as nanomedicines due to their high Ce(III) content and increased colloidal stability in cell culture media. We further demonstrate that the CNPs in the presence of hydrogen peroxide show an additional absorbance band in the UV-vis spectrum, which is attributed to Ce-O₂^2- peroxo-complexes and could be used in the evaluation of their catalytic activity for scavenging reactive oxygen species.

Versatile Coating Platform for Metal Oxide Nanoparticles: Applications to Materials and Biological Science

In this feature article, we provide an overview of our research on statistical copolymers as a coating material for metal oxide nanoparticles and surfaces. These copolymers contain functional groups enabling noncovalent binding to oxide surfaces and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) polymers for colloidal stability and stealthiness. The functional groups are organic derivatives of phosphorous acid compounds R-H₂PO₃, also known as phosphonic acids that have been screened for their strong affinity to metals and for their multidentate binding ability. Herein we develop a polymer-based coating platform that shares features with the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) and layer-by-layer (L-b-L) deposition techniques. The milestones of this endeavor are the synthesis of PEG-based copolymers containing multiple phosphonic acid groups, the implementation of simple protocols combining versatility with high particle production yields, and the experimental evidence of the colloidal stability of the coated particles. As a demonstration, coating studies are conducted on cerium (CeO₂), iron (γ-Fe₂O₃), aluminum (Al₂O₃), and titanium (TiO₂) oxides of different sizes and morphologies. We finally discuss applications in the domain of nanomaterials and nanomedicine. We evaluate the beneficial effects of coatings on redispersible nanopowders, contrast agents for in vitro/vivo assays, and stimuli-responsive particles.

Double hydrophilic copolymers - synthetic approaches, architectural variety, and current application fields

Solubility and functionality of polymeric materials are essential properties determining their role in any application. In that regard, double hydrophilic copolymers (DHC) are typically constructed from two chemically dissimilar but water-soluble building blocks. During the past decades, these materials have been intensely developed and utilised as, e.g., matrices for the design of multifunctional hybrid materials, in drug carriers and gene delivery, as nanoreactors, or as sensors. This is predominantly due to almost unlimited possibilities to precisely tune DHC composition and topology, their solution behavior, e.g., stimuli-response, and potential interactions with small molecules, ions and (nanoparticle) surfaces. In this contribution we want to highlight that this class of polymers has experienced tremendous progress regarding synthesis, architectural variety, and the possibility to combine response to different stimuli within one material. Especially the implementation of DHCs as versatile building blocks in hybrid materials expanded the range of water-based applications during the last two decades, which now includes also photocatalysis, sensing, and 3D inkjet printing of hydrogels, definitely going beyond already well-established utilisation in biomedicine or as templates.

Antioxidant Activity and Toxicity Study of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles Stabilized with Innovative Functional Copolymers

Oxidative stress, which is one of the main harmful mechanisms of pathologies including ischemic stroke, contributes to both neurons and endothelial cell damages, leading to vascular lesions. Although many antioxidants are tested in preclinical studies, no treatment is currently available for stroke patients. Since cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNPs) exhibit remarkable antioxidant capacities, the objective is to develop an innovative coating to enhance CNPs biocompatibility without disrupting their antioxidant capacities or enhance their toxicity. This study reports the synthesis and characterization of functional polymers and their impact on the enzyme-like catalytic activity of CNPs. To study the toxicity and the antioxidant properties of CNPs for stroke and particularly endothelial damages, in vitro studies are conducted on a cerebral endothelial cell line (bEnd.3). Despite their internalization in bEnd.3 cells, coated CNPs are devoid of cytotoxicity. Microscopy studies report an intracellular localization of CNPs, more precisely in endosomes. All CNPs reduces glutamate-induced intracellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in endothelial cells but one CNP significantly reduces both the production of mitochondrial superoxide anion and DNA oxidation. In vivo studies report a lack of toxicity in mice. This study therefore describes and identifies biocompatible CNPs with interesting antioxidant properties for ischemic stroke and related pathologies.

Biosensing platform on ferrite magnetic nanoparticles: Synthesis, functionalization, mechanism and applications

Ferrite magnetic nanoparticles (FMNPs) are gaining popularity to design biosensors for high-performance clinical diagnosis. The fusion of information shows that FMNPs based biosensors require well-tuned FMNPs as detection probes to produce large and specific biological signals with minimal non-specific binding. Nevertheless, there is a noticeable lacuna of information to solve the issues related to suitable synthesis route, particle size reduction, functionalization, sensitivity towards targeted intercellular biological tiny particles, and lower signal-to-noise ratio. Therefore it allows exploring unique characteristics of FMNPs to design a suitable sensing device for intracellular measurements and diseases detection. This review focuses on the extensively used synthesis routes, their advantages and limitations, crystalline structure, functionalization, along with recent applications of FMNPs in biosensors, taking into consideration their analytical figures of merit and range of linearity. This work also addresses the current progress, key factors for sensitivity, selectivity and productivity improvement along with the challenges, future trends and perspectives of FMNPs based biosensors.

Synthesis of fluorinated phosphorus-containing copolymers and their immobilization and properties on stainless steel

A series of fluorinated-phosphonic acid methacrylates were synthesized by free radical polymerization using heptadecafluorodecyl methacrylate (HDFDMA) and (dimethoxyphosphoryl) methyl methacrylate (DMPMM) monomers for potential application as anti-corrosion coatings. The dimethyl protecting groups were then hydrolyzed, giving phosphonic acid groups that are able to stably bind onto metal oxide surfaces. The copolymers were then immobilized as a monolayer film to the surface of 316L stainless steel by treatment of dilute solutions in trifluoroacetic acid for 30 minutes followed by rinsing. The surfaces were analyzed using various techniques and contact angles as high as 128° were recorded for some copolymer functionalized surfaces. Results also demonstrated that the polymer films proved stable to hydrolysis over several weeks of immersion in water.

A series of fluorinated-phosphonic acid methacrylates were synthesized by free radical polymerization using heptadecafluorodecyl methacrylate (HDFDMA) and (dimethoxyphosphoryl) methyl methacrylate (DMPMM) monomers for potential application as anti-corrosion coatings.

Interaction of fibrinogen-magnetic nanoparticle bioconjugates with integrin reconstituted into artificial membranes

Magnetic nanoparticles have a broad spectrum of biomedical applications including cell separation, diagnostics and therapy. One key issue is little explored: how do the engineered nanoparticles interact with blood components after injection? The formation of bioconjugates in the bloodstream and subsequent reactions are potentially toxic due to the ability to induce an immune response. The understanding of the underlying processes is of major relevance to design not only efficient, but also safe nanoparticles for e.g. targeted drug delivery applications. In this study, we report on maghemite nanoparticles functionalized with citrate-, dextran- and polyethylene glycol coatings and their interaction with the clotting protein fibrinogen. Further, we investigate using biophysical tools (e.g. dynamic light scattering, circular dichroism spectroscopy and quartz crystal microbalance) the interaction of the magnetic nanoparticles-fibrinogen bioconjugates with artificial cell membranes as a model system for blood platelets. We found that fibrinogen corona formation provides colloidal stability to maghemite nanoparticles. In addition, bioconjugates of fibrinogen with dextran- and citrate-coated NPs interact with integrin-containing lipid bilayer, especially upon treatment with divalent ions, whereas PEG-coating reveals minor interaction. Our study at the interface of protein-conjugated nanoparticles and artificial cell membranes is essential for engineering safe nanoparticles for drug delivery applications.

Protein corona: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of nanomedicine

Nanomedicine is an interdisciplinary field of research, comprising science, engineering, and medicine. Many are the clinical applications of nanomedicine, such as molecular imaging, medical diagnostics, targeted therapy, and image-guided surgery. Despite major advances during the past 20 years, many efforts must be done to understand the complex behavior of nanoparticles (NPs) under physiological conditions, the kinetic and thermodynamic principles, involved in the rational design of NP. Once administrated in physiological environment, NPs interact with biomolecules and they are surrounded by protein corona (PC) or biocorona. PC can trigger an immune response, affecting NPs toxicity and targeting capacity. This review aims to provide a detailed description of biocorona and of parameters that are able to control PC formation and composition. Indeed, the review provides an overview about the role of PC in the modulation of both cytotoxicity and immune response as well as in the control of targeting capacity.

Polymer-Coated Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles as Oxidoreductase-like Catalysts

Cerium oxide nanoparticles have been shown to mimic oxidoreductase enzymes by catalyzing the decomposition of organic substrates and reactive oxygen species. This mimicry can be found in superoxide radicals and hydrogen peroxides, which are harmful molecules produced in oxidative stress-associated diseases. Despite the fact that nanoparticle functionalization is mandatory in the context of nanomedicine, the influence of polymer coatings on their enzyme-like catalytic activity is poorly understood. In this work, six polymer-coated cerium oxide nanoparticles are prepared by the association of 7.8 nm cerium oxide cores with two poly(sodium acrylate) and four poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-grafted copolymers with different terminal or anchoring end groups, such as phosphonic acids. The superoxide dismutase-, catalase-, peroxidase-, and oxidase-like catalytic activities of the coated nanoparticles were systematically studied. It is shown that the polymer coatings do not affect the superoxide dismutase-like, impair the catalase-like and oxidase-like, and surprisingly improves peroxidase-like catalytic activities of cerium oxide nanoparticles. It is also demonstrated that the particles coated with the PEG-grafted copolymers perform better than the poly(acrylic acid)-coated ones as oxidoreductase-like enzymes, a result that confirms the benefit of having phosphonic acids as anchoring groups at the particle surface.

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for imaging, targeting and treatment of primary and metastatic tumors of the brain

Magnetic nanoparticles in general, and iron oxide nanoparticles in particular, have been studied extensively during the past 20 years for numerous biomedical applications. The main applications of these nanoparticles are in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic targeting, gene and drug delivery, magnetic hyperthermia for tumor treatment, and manipulation of the immune system by macrophage polarization for cancer treatment. Recently, considerable attention has been paid to magnetic particle imaging (MPI) because of its better sensitivity compared to MRI. In recent years, MRI and MPI have been combined as a dual or multimodal imaging method to enhance the signal in the brain for the early detection and treatment of brain pathologies. Because magnetic and iron oxide nanoparticles are so diverse and can be used in multiple applications such as imaging or therapy, they have attractive features for brain delivery. However, the greatest limitations for the use of MRI/MPI for imaging and treatment are in brain delivery, with one of these limitations being the brain-blood barrier (BBB). This review addresses the current status, chemical compositions, advantages and disadvantages, toxicity and most importantly the future directions for the delivery of iron oxide based substances across the blood-brain barrier for targeting, imaging and therapy of primary and metastatic tumors of the brain.

PEGylated surfaces for the study of DNA-protein interactions by atomic force microscopy

DNA-protein interactions are vital to cellular function, with key roles in the regulation of gene expression and genome maintenance. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) offers the ability to visualize DNA-protein interactions at nanometre resolution in near-physiological buffers, but it requires that the DNA be adhered to the surface of a solid substrate. This presents a problem when working in biologically relevant protein concentrations, where proteins may be present in large excess in solution; much of the biophysically relevant information can therefore be occluded by non-specific protein binding to the underlying substrate. Here we explore the use of PLLx-b-PEGy block copolymers to achieve selective adsorption of DNA on a mica surface for AFM studies. Through varying both the number of lysine and ethylene glycol residues in the block copolymers, we show selective adsorption of DNA on mica that is functionalized with a PLL10-b-PEG113/PLL1000-2000 mixture as viewed by AFM imaging in a solution containing high concentrations of streptavidin. We show - through the use of biotinylated DNA and streptavidin - that this selective adsorption extends to DNA-protein complexes and that DNA-bound streptavidin can be unambiguously distinguished in spite of an excess of unbound streptavidin in solution. Finally, we apply this to the nuclear enzyme PARP1, resolving the binding of individual PARP1 molecules to DNA by in-liquid AFM.

Single molecule protein patterning using hole mask colloidal lithography

The ability to manipulate single protein molecules on a surface is useful for interfacing biology with many types of devices in optics, catalysis, bioengineering, and biosensing. Control of distance, orientation, and activity at the single molecule level will allow for the production of on-chip devices with increased biological activity. Cost effective methodologies for single molecule protein patterning with tunable pattern density and scalable coverage area remain a challenge. Herein, Hole Mask Colloidal Lithography is presented as a bench-top colloidal lithography technique that enables a glass coverslip to be patterned with functional streptavidin protein onto patches from 15-200 nm in diameter with variable pitch. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to characterize the size of the patterned features on the glass surface. Additionally, single-molecule fluorescence microscopy was used to demonstrate the tunable pattern density, measure binding controls, and confirm patterned single molecules of functional streptavidin.

A health concern regarding the protein corona, aggregation and disaggregation

Nanoparticle (NP)-protein complexes exhibit the "correct identity" of NP in biological media. Therefore, protein-NP interactions should be closely explored to understand and modulate the nature of NPs in medical implementations. This review focuses mainly on the physicochemical parameters such as dimension, surface chemistry, morphology of NPs, and influence of pH on the formation of protein corona and conformational changes of adsorbed proteins by different kinds of techniques. Also, the impact of protein corona on the colloidal stability of NPs is discussed. Uncontrolled protein attachment on NPs may bring unwanted impacts such as protein denaturation and aggregation. In contrast, controlled protein adsorption by optimal concentration, size, pH, and surface modification of NPs may result in potential implementation of NPs as therapeutic agents especially for disaggregation of amyloid fibrils. Also, the effect of NPs-protein corona on reducing the cytotoxicity and clinical implications such as drug delivery, cancer therapy, imaging and diagnosis will be discussed. Validated correlative physicochemical parameters for NP-protein corona formation frequently derived from protein corona fingerprints of NPs which are more valid than the parameters obtained only on the base of NP features. This review may provide useful information regarding the potency as well as the adverse effects of NPs to predict their behavior in vivo.

Nanoparticle-Lipid Interaction: Job Scattering Plots to Differentiate Vesicle Aggregation from Supported Lipid Bilayer Formation

The impact of nanomaterials on lung fluids, or on the plasma membrane of living cells, has prompted researchers to examine the interactions between nanoparticles and lipid vesicles. Recent studies have shown that nanoparticle-lipid interaction leads to a broad range of structures including supported lipid bilayers (SLB), particles adsorbed at the surface or internalized inside vesicles, and mixed aggregates. Currently, there is a need to have simple protocols that can readily evaluate the structures made from particles and vesicles. Here we apply the method of continuous variation for measuring Job scattering plots and provide analytical expressions for the scattering intensity in various scenarios. The result that emerges from the comparison between experiments and modeling is that electrostatics play a key role in the association, but it is not sufficient to induce the formation of supported lipid bilayers.

PEGylation of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles with Self-Organizing Polyacrylate-PEG Brushes for Contrast Enhancement in MRI Diagnosis

For biomedical applications, superparamagnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have to be coated with a stealth layer that provides colloidal stability in biological media, long enough persistence and circulation times for reaching the expected medical aims, and anchor sites for further attachment of bioactive agents. One of such stealth molecules designed and synthesized by us, poly(polyethylene glycol methacrylate-co-acrylic acid) referred to as P(PEGMA-AA), was demonstrated to make MNPs reasonably resistant to cell internalization, and be an excellent candidate for magnetic hyperthermia treatments in addition to possessing the necessary colloidal stability under physiological conditions (Illés et al. J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 2018, 451, 710⁻720). In the present work, we elaborated on the molecular background of the formation of the P(PEGMA-AA)-coated MNPs, and of their remarkable colloidal stability and salt tolerance by using potentiometric acid⁻base titration, adsorption isotherm determination, infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR ATR), dynamic light scattering, and electrokinetic potential determination methods. The P(PEGMA-AA)@MNPs have excellent blood compatibility as demonstrated in blood sedimentation, smears, and white blood cell viability experiments. In addition, blood serum proteins formed a protein corona, protecting the particles against aggregation (found in dynamic light scattering and electrokinetic potential measurements). Our novel particles also proved to be promising candidates for MRI diagnosis, exhibiting one of the highest values of r2 relaxivity (451 mM-1s-1) found in literature.

The Daoud and Cotton blob model and the interaction of star-shaped polymers

Since it was first proposed in 1982, the Daoud and Cotton (DC) model for star-shaped polymers was intensively used also for self-assembled copolymers and small colloids grafted with long polymers. We try to clarify the position of the DC model and focus on the star partition function which plays a central role in self-assembly and gives access to the star-star interaction. While the predicted star-star interaction agrees with scattering data by Likos et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 4450 (1998)), an extensive simulation by Hsu et al. (Macromolecules, 37, 4658 (2004)) does not recover the prediction for the partition function. We try to reconcile this seemingly conflicting results. We discuss star-star interactions, star free energy in θ -solvents, mixing of A/B branches in copolymer stars, within or beyond the Daoud and Cotton blob model.