Effect of the Secondary Structure of Poly(l-lysine) Segments on the Micellization in Aqueous Milieu of Poly(ethylene glycol)−Poly(l-lysine) Block Copolymer Partially Substituted with a Hydrocinnamoyl Group at the Nε-Position

Self-Assembly of Poly(Amino Acid)s Mediated by Secondary Conformations

Self-assembly of block copolymers has recently drawn great attention due to its remarkable performance and wide variety of applications in biomedicine, biomaterials, microelectronics, photoelectric materials, catalysts, etc. Poly(amino acid)s (PAAs), formed by introducing synthetic amino acids into copolymer backbones, are able to fold into different secondary conformations when compared with traditional amphiphilic copolymers. Apart from changing the chemical composition and degree of polymerization of copolymers, the self-assembly behaviors of PAAs could be controlled by their secondary conformations, which are more flexible and adjustable for fine structure tailoring. In this article, we summarize the latest findings on the variables that influence secondary conformations, in particular the regulation of order-to-order conformational changes and the approaches used to manage the self-assembly behaviors of PAAs. These strategies include controlling pH, redox reactions, coordination, light, temperature, and so on. Hopefully, we can provide valuable perspectives that will be useful for the future development and use of synthetic PAAs.

Remodeling tumor microenvironment with nanomedicines

The tumor microenvironment (TME) has been recognized as a major contributor to cancer malignancy and therapeutic resistance. Thus, strategies directed to re-engineer the TME are emerging as promising approaches for improving the efficacy of antitumor therapies by enhancing tumor perfusion and drug delivery, as well as alleviating the immunosuppressive TME. In this regard, nanomedicine has shown great potential for developing effective treatments capable of re-modeling the TME by controlling drug action in a spatiotemporal manner and allowing long-lasting modulatory effects on the TME. Herein, we review recent progress on TME re-engineering by using nanomedicine, particularly focusing on formulations controlling TME characteristics through targeted interaction with cellular components of the TME. Importantly, the TME should be re-engineering to a quiescent phenotype rather than be destroyed. Finally, immediate challenges and future perspectives of TME-re-engineering nanomedicines are discussed, anticipating further innovation in this growing field. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease.

Block Copolymer Micelles in Nanomedicine Applications

Polymeric micelles are demonstrating high potential as nanomedicines capable of controlling the distribution and function of loaded bioactive agents in the body, effectively overcoming biological barriers, and various formulations are engaged in intensive preclinical and clinical testing. This Review focuses on polymeric micelles assembled through multimolecular interactions between block copolymers and the loaded drugs, proteins, or nucleic acids as translationable nanomedicines. The aspects involved in the design of successful micellar carriers are described in detail on the basis of the type of polymer/payload interaction, as well as the interplay of micelles with the biological interface, emphasizing on the chemistry and engineering of the block copolymers. By shaping these features, polymeric micelles have been propitious for delivering a wide range of therapeutics through effective sensing of targets in the body and adjustment of their properties in response to particular stimuli, modulating the activity of the loaded drugs at the targeted sites, even at the subcellular level. Finally, the future perspectives and imminent challenges for polymeric micelles as nanomedicines are discussed, anticipating to spur further innovations.

Polymeric Micelles: Recent Advancements in the Delivery of Anticancer Drugs

Nanotechnology, in health and medicine, extensively improves the safety and efficacy of different therapeutic agents, particularly the aspects related to drug delivery and targeting. Among various nano-carriers, polymer based macromolecular approaches have resulted in improved drug delivery for the diseases like cancers, diabetes, autoimmune disorders and many more. Polymeric micelles consisting of hydrophilic exterior and hydrophobic core have established a record of anticancer drug delivery from the laboratory to commercial reality. The nanometric size, tailor made functionality, multiple choices of polymeric micelle synthesis and stability are the unique properties, which have attracted scientists and researchers around the world to work upon in this opportunistic drug carrier. The capability of polymeric micelles as nano-carriers are nowhere less significant than nanoparticles, liposomes and other nanocarriers, as per as the commercial feasibility and presence is concerned. In fact polymeric micelles are among the most extensively studied delivery platforms for the effective treatment of different cancers as well as non-cancerous disorders. The present review highlights the sequential and recent developments in the design, synthesis, characterization and evaluation of polymeric micelles to achieve the effective anticancer drug delivery. The future possibilities and clinical outcome have also been discussed, briefly.

Cyclodextrin-Responsive Micelles Based on Poly(ethylene glycol)-Polypeptide Hybrid Copolymers as Drug Carriers

Novel drug carriers based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-polypeptide copolymers, four-armed poly(ε-adamantane-l-lysine)₂-block-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(ε-adamantane-l-lysine)₂ (PLys(Ad)₂-b-PEG-b-PLys(Ad)₂), have been prepared. The copolymers were synthesized via the ring-opening polymerization of amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides. The copolymers could spontaneously form core-shell micelles in aqueous solutions. It has been found that these micelles undergo triggered disassembly in response to an additional β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). The in vitro drug release in response to β-CD has been studied, and the result shows that the release of the entrapped drug doxorubicin (DOX) from the micelles could be accelerated by the addition of β-CD. Their cytotoxicity and cell internalization behavior were also investigated in detail. These micelles are expected to have great potential in controlled drug release applications.

A pH-responsive cleavage route based on a metal-organic coordination bond

The physical or chemical event that generally causes stimuli responses is limited to the formation or destruction of secondary forces, such as hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic effects, electrostatic interactions, and simple reactions. Here, pH-responsive behavior of metal-organic coordination bonding, which is intrinsic to natural systems (e.g., transferrin recycling in cells), is becoming a strong candidate for a new stimulus-responsive route. We have designed a simple pH-responsive release system by integrating a metal ion and ligand or self-assembling these species with biodegradable host molecules to form nanoparticles with "metal-ligand" or "host-metal-ligand" architectures. The cleavage of either or both the "metal-ligand" or the "host-metal" coordination bond in response to pH variations causes significant damage to the nanoparticles and the subsequent release of ligand molecules under designated pH conditions.

Self-assembled polypeptide-block-poly(vinylpyrrolidone) as prospective drug-delivery systems

Poly(beta-benzyl-L-aspartate)-block-poly(vinylpyrrolidone) diblock copolymers (PAsp(OBzl)-b-PVP) having both hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments of various lengths were synthesized by a combination of ATRP and ROP. These amphiphilic diblock copolymers formed polymeric micelles consisting of a hydrophobic PAsp(OBzl) core and a hydrophilic PVP shell in aqueous solution. The block copolymer was characterized using (1)H NMR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis. Due to its core-shell structure, this block polymer forms unimolecular micelles in aqueous solutions. The micelle properties of PAsp(OBzl)-b-PVP diblock copolymer were extensively studied by dynamic light scattering (DLS), fluorescence spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). PAsp(OBzl)-b-PVP copolymers displayed the lowest CMC and demonstrated little cytotoxicity when exposed to SW-1990 pancreatic cancer cells. In order to assess its application in biomedical area, the anti-inflammation drug prednisone acetate was loaded as the model drug in the polymeric nanoparticles. In vitro release behavior of prednisone acetate was investigated, which showed a dramatic responsive fast/slow switching behavior according to the pH-responsive structural changes of a micelle core structure. All of theses features are quite feasible for utilizing it as a novel intelligent drug-delivery system.

Polymeric micelles from poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(amino acid) block copolymer for drug and gene delivery

Dramatic advances in biological research have revealed the mechanisms underlying many diseases at the molecular level. However, conventional techniques may be inadequate for direct application of this new knowledge to medical treatments. Nanobiotechnology, which integrates biology with the rapidly growing field of nanotechnology, has great potential to overcome many technical problems and lead to the development of effective therapies. The use of nanobiotechnology in drug delivery systems (DDS) is attractive for advanced treatment of conditions such as cancer and genetic diseases. In this review paper for a special issue on biomaterial research in Japan, we discuss the development of DDS based on polymeric micelles mainly in our group for anti-cancer drug and gene delivery, and also address our challenges associated with developing polymeric micelles as super-functionalized nanodevices with intelligent performance.

PEGylated nanoparticles for biological and pharmaceutical applications

The utility of polymeric micelles formed through the multimolecular assembly of block copolymer was comprehensively described as novel core-shell typed colloidal carriers for drug and gene targeting. Particularly, novel approaches for the formation of functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) layers as hydrophilic outer shell were focused to attain receptor-mediated drug and gene delivery through PEG-conjugated ligands with a minimal non-specific interaction with other proteins. Surface organization of block copolymer micelles with cross-linking core was also described from a standpoint of the preparation of a new functional surface-coating with a unique macromolecular architecture. The micelle-attached surface and the thin hydrogel layer made by layered micelles exhibited nonfouling properties and worked as the reservoir for hydrophobic reagents. Furthermore, the potential utility of multimolecular assembly derived from heterobifunctional PEGs and block copolymers were explored to systematically modify the properties of metal and semiconductor nanostructures by controlling their structure and their surface properties, making them extremely attractive for use in biological and biomedical applications.

Biodegradable block copolymers

Recently, block copolymers have got tremendous impetus on the ongoing research in the area of drug delivery technology, due to their capability to provide a biomaterial having a broad range of amphiphilic characteristics, as well as targeting the drugs to specific site. This article is an attempt to review applications of block copolymers in surface modification, drug targeting, nano and microparticles, hydrogels, micelles etc. The physicochemical properties of block copolymers and various synthetic routes for block copolymers are also discussed.

pH-sensitive nanoparticles of poly(amino acid) dodecanoate complexes

Nanoparticles were formed by the complexation of poly(L-arginine) (PLA), poly(L-histidine) (PLH) and poly(L-lysine) (PLL) with dodecanoic acid (C12). Dynamic light scattering, zeta potential measurements, atomic force microscopy, fluorescence, and circular dichroism spectroscopy were used for their characterization. It was found that the diameters of the poly(L-arginine) dodecanoate (PLA-C12), poly(L-histidine) dodecanoate (PLH-C12), and poly(L-lysine) dodecanoate (PLL-C12) complex nanoparticles were in the range 120-200 nm. Furthermore, the pH-sensitive dissolution and the surface charges can be adjusted by choosing PLA, PLH and PLL. The particle stability against basic pH values increases with increasing pK(a) value of the poly(amino acid) in the series PLH-C12, PLL-C12 and PLA-C12. The particles as such show a core-shell morphology. Their cores are formed by stoichiometric poly(amino acid) dodecanoate complexes while the shells stabilizing the particles are formed by cationic poly(amino acid) chains in an uncomplexed state. The particles were tested as containers for hydrophobic molecules such as pyrene, which served as a fluorescence probe for measuring the polarity within the particles, and Q(10) which functioned as a model drug. The maximum uptake of Q(10) into the nanoparticles is about 13% (w/w), thereby making the complexes attractive as simple drug carriers for controlled release purposes. Circular dichroism measurements revealed that the poly(amino acid) chains of PLA-C12 and PLL-C12 adopt predominantly an alpha-helix and that of PLH-C12 a beta-sheet.

Block copolymer micelles for drug delivery: design, characterization and biological significance

Recently, colloidal carrier systems have been receiving much attention in the field of drug targeting because of their high loading capacity for drugs as well as their unique disposition characteristics in the body. This paper highlights the utility of polymeric micelles formed through the multimolecular assembly of block copolymers as novel core-shell typed colloidal carriers for drug and gene targeting. The process of micellization in aqueous milieu is described in detail based on differences in the driving force of core segregation, including hydrophobic interaction, electrostatic interaction, metal complexation, and hydrogen bonding of constituent block copolymers. The segregated core embedded in the hydrophilic palisade is shown to function as a reservoir for genes, enzymes, and a variety of drugs with diverse characteristics. Functionalization of the outer surface of the polymeric micelle to modify its physicochemical and biological properties is reviewed from the standpoint of designing micellar carrier systems for receptor-mediated drug delivery. Further, the distribution of polymeric micelles is described to demonstrate their long-circulating characteristics and significant tumor accumulation, emphasizing their promising utility in tumor-targeting therapy. As an important perspective on carrier systems based on polymeric micelles, their feasibility as non-viral gene vectors is also summarized in this review article.

Doxorubicin-loaded poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(beta-benzyl-L-aspartate) copolymer micelles: their pharmaceutical characteristics and biological significance

Doxorubicin (DOX) was physically loaded into micelles prepared from poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(beta-benzyl-L-aspartate) block copolymer (PEG-PBLA) by an o/w emulsion method with a substantial drug loading level (15 to 20 w/w%). DOX-loaded micelles were narrowly distributed in size with diameters of approximately 50-70 nm. Dimer derivatives of DOX as well as DOX itself were revealed to be entrapped in the micelle, the former seems to improve micelle stability due to its low water solubility and possible interaction with benzyl residues of PBLA segments through pi-pi stacking. Release of DOX compounds from the micelles proceeded in two stages: an initial rapid release was followed by a stage of slow and long-lasting release of DOX. Acceleration of DOX release can be obtained by lowering the surrounding pH from 7.4 to 5.0, suggesting a pH-sensitive release of DOX from the micelles. A remarkable improvement in blood circulation of DOX was achieved by use of PEG-PBLA micelle as a carrier presumably due to the reduced reticuloendothelial system uptake of the micelles through a steric stabilization mechanism. Finally, DOX loaded in the micelle showed a considerably higher antitumor activity compared to free DOX against mouse C26 tumor by i.v. injection, indicating a promising feature for PEG-PBLA micelle as a long-circulating carrier system useful in modulated drug delivery.