Synthesis, Characterization, and Properties Evaluation of Methylcoumarin End-Functionalized Poly(methyl methacrylate) for Photoinduced Drug Release

Sequentially Controlled Recognition of Different Proteins Using Programmable Protein Imprinted Nanospheres

Although protein imprinted materials with multiple templates are developed to selectively separate different proteins, it is difficult to achieve the programmed adsorption and separation of different proteins using one material, because the available protein imprinted materials are constructed through irreversible crosslinking and their structures are unprogrammable and non-reconstructive. Herein, a novel nanosphere (MS@PTL-g-PNIPAM) is designed, which not only is temperature and pH responsive but also can dynamically reversibly crosslink/de-crosslink under ultraviolet light of different wavelengths. With the help of the dynamically reversible photo-crosslinking, the nanospheres can be repeatedly programmed into protein imprinted nanospheres toward different target proteins. Moreover, the prepared imprinted nanospheres can easily achieve the controlled rebinding and release of target proteins, benefiting from the introduced temperature- and pH-responsive moieties. As a consequence, this study realizes the specific separation of different target proteins from protein mixture and the real bovine blood sequentially by programming one material. It is resource saving, time saving, recyclable, and it will provide convenience for protein imprinted materials to use in the blood purification, drug delivery, and virus detection.

Light-Responsive Polyion Complex Micelles with Switchable Surface Charge for Efficient Protein Delivery

In this letter, light-responsive protein-encapsulated polyion complex (PIC) micelles were prepared by self-assembly of cationic block copolymer poly(N,N-dimethyl-N-(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl)-N-((2-nitrobenzyl)oxy)-2-oxoethanaminium bromide)-block-poly(carboxybetaine methacrylate) (PDMNBMA-b-PCBMA) and negatively charged bovine serum albumin (BSA). The PIC micelles were well characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). From the zeta potential measurement, the increase of the zeta potential of PIC micelles from ∼10 to ∼20 mV was observed when the solution pH decreased from 7.4 to 6.5, which could enhance the intracellular protein delivery efficiency. Moreover, the positively charged PDMNBMA blocks can be transformed to zwitterionic carboxybetaine units under UV irradiation, which could result in the disassembly of the PIC micelles. The release of BSA can therefore be drastically accelerated in the presence of UV irradiation. Meanwhile, the circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy confirmed that the secondary structure of BSA was unaffected during the UV irradiation process.

Polymer-bound 4-methylcoumarin/1-heptanoyl-5-fluorouracil photodimers: NMR elucidation of dimer structure

Heterodimers based on the polymer-bound chromophore 4-methylcoumarin and the prodrug 1-heptanoyl-5-fluorouracil, synthesized by photochemical [2 + 2]-cycloaddition are promising photoresponsive drug depots. Drug release experiments are one possibility to deliver proof of a successful reversible drug immobilization, whereas NMR spectroscopy is a potent tool for further structural characterization of these polymer-bound heterodimers. In case of the random copolymer poly(methyl methacrylate-co-7-(2'-methacryloyloxyethoxy)-4-methylcoumarin) three dimers have been identified of which the syn head-to-tail was the predominant one. In contrast, only the syn head-to-head dimer was formed in reasonable yield when the 4-methylcoumarin monofunctionalized pMMA was used as the base polymer. 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques combined with some theoretical calculations helped in successfully closing one major gap concerning polymer bound 4-methylcoumarin/1-heptanoyl-5-fluorouracil heterodimers that are of potential use in photoresponsive drug delivery devices.

2-Oxo-4-trifluoromethyl-2H-chromen-7-yl 2-bromo-2-methylpropanoate

In the title compound, C₁₄H₁₀BrF₃O₄, the coumarin ring system is almost plannar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.025 Å) and a short C—H⋯F contact occurs. The propano­ate fragment is orientated almost perpendicular to the ring [dihedral angle = 71.80 (12)°]. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, generating [100] chains.

2-Bromo-2-methyl-N-(4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-chromen-7-yl)propanamide

In the title compound C(14)H(14)BrNO(3), the coumarin ring system is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.008 Å) and an intra-molecular C-H⋯O inter-action generates an S(6) ring. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, with the C=O unit of the coumarin ring system acting as the acceptor group, generating [010] C(8) chains. The chain connectivity is reinforced by two C-H⋯O inter-actions.

Smart nanofibers with a photoresponsive surface for controlled release

A novel photocontrolled "ON-OFF" release system for the alpha-cyclodextrin-5-fluorouracial (alpha-CD-5FU) prodrug, based on host-guest interaction on the photoresponsive and cross-linked nanofiber surface, was demonstrated. The nanofibers with a stimuli-responsive surface were electrospun from the block copolymer prepared via controlled radical polymerization, followed by surface modification via "Click Chemistry", and loading of the prodrug via host-guest interaction.

Radiation- and photo-induced activation of 5-fluorouracil prodrugs as a strategy for the selective treatment of solid tumors

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is used widely as an anticancer drug to treat solid cancers, such as colon, breast, rectal, and pancreatic cancers, although its clinical application is limited because 5-FU has gastrointestinal and hematological toxicity. Many groups are searching for prodrugs with functions that are tumor selective in their delivery and can be activated to improve the clinical utility of 5-FU as an important cancer chemotherapeutic agent. UV and ionizing radiation can cause chemical reactions in a localized area of the body, and these have been applied in the development of site-specific drug activation and sensitization. In this review, we describe recent progress in the development of novel 5-FU prodrugs that are activated site specifically by UV light and ionizing radiation in the tumor microenvironment. We also discuss the chemical mechanisms underlying this activation.