Amphiphilic block copolymers as bile acid sorbents: 1. Synthesis of polystyrene-b-poly(N,N,N-trimethylammoniumethylene acrylamide chloride)

Physiology and Physical Chemistry of Bile Acids

Bile acids (BAs) are facial amphiphiles synthesized in the body of all vertebrates. They undergo the enterohepatic circulation: they are produced in the liver, stored in the gallbladder, released in the intestine, taken into the bloodstream and lastly re-absorbed in the liver. During this pathway, BAs are modified in their molecular structure by the action of enzymes and bacteria. Such transformations allow them to acquire the chemical-physical properties needed for fulling several activities including metabolic regulation, antimicrobial functions and solubilization of lipids in digestion. The versatility of BAs in the physiological functions has inspired their use in many bio-applications, making them important tools for active molecule delivery, metabolic disease treatments and emulsification processes in food and drug industries. Moreover, moving over the borders of the biological field, BAs have been largely investigated as building blocks for the construction of supramolecular aggregates having peculiar structural, mechanical, chemical and optical properties. The review starts with a biological analysis of the BAs functions before progressively switching to a general overview of BAs in pharmacology and medicine applications. Lastly the focus moves to the BAs use in material science.

Block copolymers as bile salt sequestrants: intriguing structures formed in a mixture of an oppositely charged amphiphilic block copolymer and bile salt

To study the formation and characterize the structure of mixed complexes of oppositely charged block copolymers and surfactants are of great significance for practical applications, e.g., in drug carrier formulations that are based on electrostatically assisted assembly. In this context, biocompatible block copolymers and biosurfactants (like bile salts) are particularly interesting. In this work, we report on the co-assembly in dilute aqueous solution between a cationic poly(N-isopropyl acryl amide) (PNIPAM) diblock copolymer and the oppositely charged bile salt surfactant sodium deoxycholate at ambient temperature. The cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) experiments revealed the co-existence of two types of co-assembled complexes of radically different morphology and inner structure. They are formed mainly as a result of the electrostatic attraction between the positively charged copolymer blocks and bile salt anions and highlight the potential of using linear amphiphilic block copolymers as bile salt sequestrants in the treatment of bile acid malabsorption and hypercholesterolemia. The first complex of globular morphology has a coacervate core of deoxycholate anions and charged copolymer blocks surrounded by a PNIPAM corona. The second complex has an intriguing tape-like supramolecular morphology of several micrometer in length that is striped in the direction of the long axis. A model is presented in which the stretched cationic blocks of several block copolymers interact electrostatically with the bile salt molecules that are associated to form a zipper-like structure. The tape is covered on both sides by the PNIPAM chains that stabilize the overall complex in solution. In addition to cryo-TEM, the mixed system was investigated in a range of molar charge fractions at a constant copolymer concentration by static light scattering, small angle X-ray scattering, and electrophoretic mobility measurements.

Polymeric bile acid sequestrants: Review of design, in vitro binding activities, and hypocholesterolemic effects

Polymeric bile acid sequestrants (BAS) have recently attracted much attention as lipid-lowering agents. These non-absorbable materials specifically bind bile acids (BAs) in the intestine, preventing bile acid (BA) reabsorption into the blood through enterohepatic circulation. Therefore, it is important to understand the structure-property relationships between the polymer sequestrant and its ability to bind specific BAs molecules. In this review, we describe pleiotropic effects of bile acids, and we focus on BAS with various molecular architectures that result in different mechanisms of BA sequestration. Here, we present 1) amphiphilic polymers based on poly(meth)acrylates, poly(meth)acrylamides, polyalkylamines and polyallylamines containing quaternary ammonium groups, 2) cyclodextrins, and 3) BAS prepared via molecular imprinting methods. The synthetic approaches leading to individual BAS preparation, as well as results of their in vitro BA binding activities and in vivo lipid-lowering activities, are discussed.

Synthesis of tailor-made bile acid sequestrants by supplemental activator and reducing agent atom transfer radical polymerization

This work reports the synthesis of tailor-made polymeric bile acid sequestrants (BAS) by supplemental activator and reducing agent atom transfer radical polymerization (SARA ATRP) using ecofriendly conditions.

Interaction between bile salt sodium glycodeoxycholate and PEO–PPO–PEO triblock copolymers in aqueous solution

Bile salts can associate to PEO–PPO–PEO block copolymer micelles and disintegrate them depending on the relative block length and molecular weight of the copolymers and bile salt/copolymer molar ratio.

Effects of Bile Salt Sodium Glycodeoxycholate on the Self-Assembly of PEO-PPO-PEO Triblock Copolymer P123 in Aqueous Solution

A comprehensive experimental study on the interaction between the PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymer P123 (EO20PO68EO20) and the anionic bile salt sodium glycodeoxycholate (NaGDC) in water has been performed. The work was aimed at investigating the suitability of using P123 as bile salt sequestrant beside the fundamental aspects of PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymer-bile salt interactions. Various experimental techniques including dynamic and static light scattering, small-angle X-ray scattering, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were employed in combination with electrophoretic mobility measurements. The system was investigated at a constant P123 concentration of 1.74 mM and with varying bile salt concentrations up to approximately 250 mM NaGDC (or a molar ratio n(NaGDC)/n(P123) = 144). In the mixed P123-NaGDC solutions, the endothermic process related to the self-assembly of P123 was observed to gradually decrease in enthalpy and shift to higher temperatures upon progressive addition of NaGDC. To explain this effect, the formation of NaGDC micelles carrying partly dehydrated P123 unimers was proposed and translated into a stoichiometric model, which was able to fit the experimental DSC data. In the mixtures at low molar ratios, NaGDC monomers associated with the P123 micelle forming a charged "P123 micelle-NaGDC" complex with a dehydrated PPO core. These complexes disintegrated upon increasing NaGDC concentration to form small "NaGDC-P123" complexes visualized as bile salt micelles including one or a few P123 copolymer chains.

Functional polymers as therapeutic agents: concept to market place

Biologically active synthetic polymers have received considerable scientific interest and attention in recent years for their potential as promising novel therapeutic agents to treat human diseases. Although a significant amount of research has been carried out involving polymer-linked drugs as targeted and sustained release drug delivery systems and prodrugs, examples on bioactive polymers that exhibit intrinsic therapeutic properties are relatively less. Several appealing characteristics of synthetic polymers including high molecular weight, molecular architecture, and controlled polydispersity can all be utilized to discover a new generation of therapies. For example, high molecular weight bioactive polymers can be restricted to gastrointestinal tract, where they can selectively recognize, bind, and remove target disease causing substances from the body. The appealing features of GI tract restriction and stability in biological environment render these polymeric drugs to be devoid of systemic toxicity that are generally associated with small molecule systemic drugs. The present article highlights recent developments in the rational design and synthesis of appropriate functional polymers that have resulted in a number of promising polymer based therapies and biomaterials, including some marketed products.

Biologically active polymeric sequestrants: Design, synthesis, and therapeutic applications

In recent years, functional polymers exhibiting inherently biological activities have been receiving increasing attention as polymer-based human therapeutic agents. These polymeric drugs exhibit unique pharmaceutical properties that are fundamentally different from their traditional small-molecule counterparts. However, unlike polymeric drug delivery systems, examples of polymers possessing intrinsically therapeutic properties are relatively scarce. By virtue of their high-molecular-weight characteristics, these polymeric drugs can be confined to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, where they can selectively recognize, bind, and remove target disease-causing substances from the body. Being confined to the GI tract and non-biodegradable, these polymeric drugs are free from toxic effects that are associated with traditional systemic drugs. This report highlights recent developments in the rational design and synthesis of appropriate functional polymers that have resulted in a number of promising polymer-based therapeutic agents, including some marketed products.

Amphiphilic block copolymers as bile acid sorbents: 2. Polystyrene-b-poly(N,N,N-trimethylammoniumethylene acrylamide chloride): self-assembly and application to serum cholesterol reduction

This paper presents morphological studies and preliminary bile salt binding properties of the new amphiphilic diblock copolymer polystyrene-b-poly(N,N,N-trimethylammoniumethylene acrylamide chloride) (PS-b-PTMEACl)(1) (see Figure 1), a derivative of PS-b-poly(tert-butylacrylate) (PS-b-PtBuA). In an aqueous environment, PS-b-PTMEACl forms simple spheres (approximately 20 nm diameter), large compound micelles (>100 nm diameter), and larger, more complex architectures as presented and discussed below. The colloidal stability with respect to sodium chloride and as a function of particle concentration is also considered. Finally, PS-b-PTMEACl aggregates were prepared and tested as an alternative to the commercially available bile salt sequestrant resins that target coronary heart disease due to elevated cholesterol levels. Electron micrographs were employed to visualize the colloid-based polyelectrolyteminus signbiosurfactant interaction and chromatographic separation analytical methods were used to quantify the sequestration. The results indicate that although at this preliminary stage they require laborious preparation, self-assembled aggregates may present an interesting alternative to the clinically used bile salt sequestrants.