Trigger-Responsive Poly(β-amino ester) Hydrogels

Recent advancements of hydrogels in immunotherapy: Breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in this population. Recent advances in Immunotherapy, or combined immunotherapy, offering a more targeted and less toxic approach, expand the survival rate of patients more than conventional treatment. Notably, hydrogels, a versatile platform provided promising avenues to combat breast cancer in preclinical studies and extended to clinical practices. With advantages such as the alternation of tumor microenvironment, immunomodulation, targeted delivery of therapeutic agents, and their sustained release at specific sites of interest, hydrogels can potentially be used for the treatment of breast cancer. This review highlights the advantages, mechanisms of action, stimuli-responsiveness properties, and recent advancements of hydrogels for treating breast cancer immunotherapy. Moreover, post-treatment and its clinical translations are discussed in this review. The integration of hydrogels in immunotherapy strategies may pave the way for more effective, personalized, and patient-friendly approaches to combat breast cancer, ultimately contributing to a brighter future for breast cancer patients.

Hybrid Poly(β-amino ester) Triblock Copolymers Utilizing a RAFT Polymerization Grafting-From Methodology

The biocompatibility, biodegradability, and responsiveness of poly(β-amino esters) (PBAEs) has led to their widespread use as biomaterials for drug and gene delivery. Nonetheless, the step-growth polymerization mechanism that yields PBAEs limits the scope for their structural optimization toward specific applications because of limited monomer choice and end-group modifications. Moreover, to date the post-synthetic functionalization of PBAEs has relied on grafting-to approaches, challenged by the need for efficient polymer-polymer coupling and potentially difficult post-conjugation purification. Here a novel grafting-from approach to grow reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymers from a PBAE scaffold is described. This is achieved through PBAE conversion into a macromolecular chain transfer agent through a multistep capping procedure, followed by RAFT polymerization with a range of monomers to produce PBAE-RAFT hybrid triblock copolymers. Following successful synthesis, the potential biological applications of these ABA triblock copolymers are illustrated through assembly into polymeric micelles and encapsulation of a model hydrophobic drug, followed by successful nanoparticle (NP) uptake in breast cancer cells. The findings demonstrate this novel synthetic methodology can expand the scope of PBAEs as biomaterials.

Poly(β-amino ester)s-based nanovehicles: Structural regulation and gene delivery

The first poly(β-amino) esters (PβAEs) were synthesized more than 40 years ago. Since 2000, PβAEs have been found to have excellent biocompatibility and the capability of ferrying gene molecules. Moreover, the synthesis process of PβAEs is simple, the monomers are readily available, and the polymer structure can be tailored to meet different gene delivery needs by adjusting the monomer type, monomer ratio, reaction time, etc. Therefore, PβAEs are a promising class of non-viral gene vector materials. This review paper presents a comprehensive overview of the synthesis and correlated properties of PβAEs and summarizes the progress of each type of PβAE for gene delivery. The review focuses in particular on the rational design of PβAE structures, thoroughly discusses the correlations between intrinsic structure and effect, and then finishes with the applications and perspectives of PβAEs.

Instructional materials that control cellular activity through synthetic Notch receptors

The field of regenerative engineering relies primarily on the dual technical platforms of cell selection/conditioning and biomaterial fabrication to support directed cell differentiation. As the field has matured, an appreciation for the influence of biomaterials on cell behaviors has resulted in engineered matrices that meet biomechanical and biochemical demands of target pathologies. Yet, despite advances in methods to produce designer matrices, regenerative engineers remain unable to reliably orchestrate behaviors of therapeutic cells in situ. Here, we present a platform named MATRIX whereby cellular responses to biomaterials can be custom defined by combining engineered materials with cells expressing cognate synthetic biology control modules. Such privileged channels of material-to-cell communication can activate synthetic Notch receptors and govern activities as diverse as transcriptome engineering, inflammation attenuation, and pluripotent stem cell differentiation, all in response to materials decorated with otherwise bioinert ligands. Further, we show that engineered cellular behaviors are confined to programmed biomaterial surfaces, highlighting the potential to use this platform to spatially organize cellular responses to bulk, soluble factors. This integrated approach of co-engineering cells and biomaterials for orthogonal interactions opens new avenues for reproducible control of cell-based therapies and tissue replacements.

Hydrogels Based Drug Delivery Synthesis, Characterization and Administration

Hydrogels represent 3D polymeric networks specially designed for various medical applications. Due to their porous structure, they are able to swollen and to entrap large amounts of therapeutic agents and other molecules. In addition, their biocompatibility and biodegradability properties, together with a controlled release profile, make hydrogels a potential drug delivery system. In vivo studies have demonstrated their effectiveness as curing platforms for various diseases and affections. In addition, the results of the clinical trials are very encouraging and promising for the use of hydrogels as future target therapy strategies.

Poly(β-Amino Esters): Synthesis, Formulations, and Their Biomedical Applications

Poly(β-amino ester) (abbreviated as PBAE or PAE) refers to a polymer synthesized from an acrylate and an amine by Michael addition and has properties inherent to tertiary amines and esters, such as pH responsiveness and biodegradability. The versatility of building blocks provides a library of polymers with miscellaneous physicochemical and mechanical properties. When used alone or together with other materials, PBAEs can be fabricated into different formulations in order to fulfill various requirements in drug delivery (for instance, gene, anticancer drugs, and antimicrobials delivery) and natural complex mimicry (nanochaperones). This progress report discusses the recent developments in design, synthesis, formulations, and applications of PBAEs in biomedical fields and provides a perspective view for the future of the PBAEs.

Versatile Hyperbranched Poly(β-hydrazide ester) Macromers as Injectable Antioxidative Hydrogels

Synthetic reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive biomaterials have emerged as a useful platform for regulating critical aspects of ROS-induced pathologies and can improve such hostile microenvironments. Here, we report a series of new hyperbranched poly(β-hydrazide ester) macromers (HB-PBHEs) with disulfide moieties synthesized via an "A2 + B4" Michael addition approach. The three-dimensional structure of HB-PBHEs with multiacrylate end groups endows the macromers with rapid gelation capabilities to form (1) injectable hydrogels via cross-linking with thiolated hyaluronic acid and (2) robust UV-cross-linked hydrogels. The disulfide-containing macromers and hydrogels exhibit H₂O₂-responsive degradation compared with the counterparts synthesized by a dihydrazide monomer without disulfide moieties. The cell viability under a high ROS environment can be well-maintained under the protection of the disulfide containing hydrogels.

Chemical Synthesis of Biomimetic Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering

Owing to the high water content, porous structure, biocompatibility and tissue-like viscoelasticity, hydrogels have become attractive and promising biomaterials for use in drug delivery, 3D cell culture and tissue engineering applications. Various chemical approaches have been developed for hydrogel synthesis using monomers or polymers carrying reactive functional groups. For in vivo tissue repair and in vitro cell culture purposes, it is desirable that the crosslinking reactions occur under mild conditions, do not interfere with biological processes and proceed at high yield with exceptional selectivity. Additionally, the cross-linking reaction should allow straightforward incorporation of bioactive motifs or signaling molecules, at the same time, providing tunability of the hydrogel microstructure, mechanical properties, and degradation rates. In this review, we discuss various chemical approaches applied to the synthesis of complex hydrogel networks, highlighting recent developments from our group. The discovery of new chemistries and novel materials fabrication methods will lead to the development of the next generation biomimetic hydrogels with complex structures and diverse functionalities. These materials will likely facilitate the construction of engineered tissue models that may bridge the gap between 2D experiments and animal studies, providing preliminary insight prior to in vivo assessments.

Polyphosphoester-Camptothecin Prodrug with Reduction-Response Prepared via Michael Addition Polymerization and Click Reaction

Polyphosphoesters (PPEs), as potential candidates for biocompatible and biodegradable polymers, play an important role in material science. Various synthetic methods have been employed in the preparation of PPEs such as polycondensation, polyaddition, ring-opening polymerization, and olefin metathesis polymerization. In this study, a series of linear PPEs has been prepared via one-step Michael addition polymerization. Subsequently, camptothecin (CPT) derivatives containing disulfide bonds and azido groups were linked onto the side chain of the PPE through Cu(I)-catalyzed azidealkyne cyclo-addition "click" chemistry to yield a reduction-responsive polymeric prodrug P(EAEP-PPA)-g-ss-CPT. The chemical structures were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, Fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer, and high performance liquid chromatograph analyses, respectively. The amphiphilic prodrug could self-assemble into micelles in aqueous solution. The average particle size and morphology of the prodrug micelles were measured by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The results of size change under different conditions indicate that the micelles possess a favorable stability in physiological conditions and can be degraded in reductive medium. Moreover, the studies of in vitro drug release behavior confirm the reduction-responsive degradation of the prodrug micelles. A methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay verifies the good biocompatibility of P(EAEP-PPA) not only for normal cells, but also for tumor cells. The results of cytotoxicity and the intracellular uptake about prodrug micelles further demonstrate that the prodrug micelles can efficiently release CPT into 4T1 or HepG2 cells to inhibit the cell proliferation. All these results show that the polyphosphoester-based prodrug can be used for triggered drug delivery system in cancer treatment.

Bisphosphonate-functionalized poly(β-amino ester) network polymers

Three novel bisphosphonate-functionalized secondary diamines are synthesized and incorporated into poly(β-amino ester)s (PBAEs) to investigate the effects of bisphosphonates on biodegradation and toxicity of PBAE polymer networks. These three novel amines, BPA1, BPA2, and BPA3, were prepared from the reactions of 1,4-butanediamine, 1,6-hexanediamine, or 4,9-dioxa-1,12-dodecanediamine with tetraethyl vinylidene bisphosphonate, respectively. The PBAE macromers were obtained from the aza-Michael addition reaction of these amines to 1,6-hexane diol diacrylate (HDDA) and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA, M_n  = 575) and photopolymerized to produce biodegradable gels. These gels with different chemistries exhibited similar degradation behavior with mass loss of 53-73% within 24 h, indicating that degradation is mostly governed by the bisphosphonate group. Based on the in vitro cytotoxicity evaluation against NIH 3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblast cells, the degradation products do not exhibit significant toxicity in most cases. It was also shown that PBAE macromers can be used as cross-linkers for the synthesis of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate hydrogels, conferring small and customizable degradation rates upon them. The materials reported have potential to be used as nontoxic degradable biomaterials. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 1412-1421, 2017.

Designing hydrogels for controlled drug delivery

Hydrogel delivery systems can leverage therapeutically beneficial outcomes of drug delivery and have found clinical use. Hydrogels can provide spatial and temporal control over the release of various therapeutic agents, including small-molecule drugs, macromolecular drugs and cells. Owing to their tunable physical properties, controllable degradability and capability to protect labile drugs from degradation, hydrogels serve as a platform in which various physiochemical interactions with the encapsulated drugs control their release. In this Review, we cover multiscale mechanisms underlying the design of hydrogel drug delivery systems, focusing on physical and chemical properties of the hydrogel network and the hydrogel-drug interactions across the network, mesh, and molecular (or atomistic) scales. We discuss how different mechanisms interact and can be integrated to exert fine control in time and space over the drug presentation. We also collect experimental release data from the literature, review clinical translation to date of these systems, and present quantitative comparisons between different systems to provide guidelines for the rational design of hydrogel delivery systems.

Low Molecular Weight PEI-Based Vectors via Acid-Labile Ortho Ester Linkage for Improved Gene Delivery

A series of novel pH-sensitive gene delivery vectors (POEI 1, 2, and 3) are synthesized through Michael addition from low molecular weight PEI (LMW PEI) via acid-labile ortho ester linkage with terminal acrylates (OEAc) by various feed molar ratios. The obtained POEI 1 and POEI 2 can efficiently condense plasmid DNA into nanoparticles with size range of 200-300 nm and zeta-potentials of about +15 mV while protecting DNA from enzymatic digestion compared with POEI 3. Significantly, ortho ester groups of POEI main-chains can make an instantaneous degradation-response to acidic endosomal pH (≈5.0), resulting in accelerated disruption of polyplexes and intracellular DNA release. MTT assay reveals that all POEIs exhibit much lower cytotoxicity in different cells than branched PEI (25 KDa). As expected, POEI 1 and POEI 2 perform improved gene transfection in vitro, suggesting that such polycations might be promising gene vectors based on overcoming toxicity-efficiency contradiction.

Stimuli-Responsive Polymers for Biological Detection and Delivery

Responsive polymers with properties designed to interact with their surrounding environment are enabling "smart" design features for custom biomaterials. Numerous applications are being innovated, ranging from diagnostics and imaging to tissue engineering and drug delivery. Herein, I feature a collection of research articles published in ACS Macro Letters that highlight an array of innovative chemical attributes such as pH-triggered hydrolytic degradation, reduction-based release, photomodulation, glucose responsiveness, thermal sensitivity, and membrane permeating peptides. The chemical, physical, mechanical, and morphological properties of polymeric structures can be custom tailored to enhance numerous features such as biological delivery, pharmaceutical potency and safety, disease diagnosis, and antigen/biomaker detection.

Esterase- and pH-responsive poly(β-amino ester)-capped mesoporous silica nanoparticles for drug delivery

Gating of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with the stimuli-responsive poly(β-amino ester) has been achieved. This hybrid nanocarrier releases doxorubicin (DOX) under acidic conditions or in the presence of porcine liver esterase. The DOX loaded poly(β-amino ester)-capped MSNs reduce cell viability when tested on MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells.

Surface-accessible detection units in self-immolative polymers enable translation of selective molecular detection events into amplified responses in macroscopic, solid-state plastics

This Communication describes a strategy for incorporating detection units onto each repeating unit of self-immolative CDr polymers. This strategy enables macroscopic plastics to respond quickly to specific applied molecular signals that react with the plastic at the solid-liquid interface between the plastic and surrounding fluid. The response is a signal-induced depolymerization reaction that is continuous and complete from the site of the reacted detection unit to the end of the polymer. Thus, this strategy retains the ability of CDr polymers to provide amplified responses via depolymerization while simultaneously enhancing the rate of response of CDr-based macroscopic plastics to specific applied signals. Depolymerizable poly(benzyl ethers) were used to demonstrate the strategy and now are capable of depolymerizing in the context of rigid, solid-state polymeric materials.

Trigger chemistries for better industrial formulations

In recent years, innovations and consumer demands have led to increasingly complex liquid formulations. These growing complexities have provided industrial players and their customers access to new markets through product differentiation, improved performance, and compatibility/stability with other products. One strategy for enabling more complex formulations is the use of active encapsulation. When encapsulation is employed, strategies are required to effect the release of the active at the desired location and time of action. One particular route that has received significant academic research effort is the employment of triggers to induce active release upon a specific stimulus, though little has translated for industrial use to date. To address emerging industrial formulation needs, in this review, we discuss areas of trigger release chemistries and their applications specifically as relevant to industrial use. We focus the discussion on the use of heat, light, shear, and pH triggers as applied in several model polymeric systems for inducing active release. The goal is that through this review trends will emerge for how technologies can be better developed to maximize their value through industrial adaptation.

Hydrolyzable polyureas bearing hindered urea bonds

Hydrolyzable polymers are widely used materials that have found numerous applications in biomedical, agricultural, plastic, and packaging industrials. They usually contain ester and other hydrolyzable bonds, such as anhydride, acetal, ketal, or imine, in their backbone structures. Here, we report the first design of hydrolyzable polyureas bearing dynamic hindered urea bonds (HUBs) that can reversibly dissociate to bulky amines and isocyanates, the latter of which can be further hydrolyzed by water, driving the equilibrium to facilitate the degradation of polyureas. Polyureas bearing 1-tert-butyl-1-ethylurea bonds that show high dynamicity (high bond dissociation rate), in the form of either linear polymers or cross-linked gels, can be completely degraded by water under mild conditions. Given the simplicity and low cost for the production of polyureas by simply mixing multifunctional bulky amines and isocyanates, the versatility of the structures, and the tunability of the degradation profiles of HUB-bearing polyureas, these materials are potentially of very broad applications.