High-Molecular-Weight and Light-Colored Disulfide-Bond-Embedded Polyesters: Accelerated Hydrolysis Triggered by Redox Responsiveness

Disulfide bonds have attracted considerable attention due to their reduction responsiveness, but it is crucial and challenging to prepare disulfide-bond-based polyesters by melt polycondensation. Herein, the inherently poor thermal stability of the S-S bond in melting polycondensation was overcome. Moreover, poly(butylene succinate-co-dithiodipropionate) (PBSDi) with a light color and high molecular weights (Mn values up to 84.7 kg/mol) was obtained. These polyesters can be applied via melt processing with Td,5% > 318 °C. PBSDi10-PBSDi40 shows good crystallizability (crystallinity 56-38%) and compact lamellar thickness (2.9-3.2 nm). Compared with commercial poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), the elevated mechanical and barrier performances of PBSDi make them better packaging materials. For the degradation behavior, the disulfide monomer obviously accelerates the enzyme degradation but has a weaker effect on hydrolysis. In 0.1 mol/L or higher concentrations of H2O2 solutions, the oxidation of disulfide bonds to sulfoxide and sulfone groups can be realized. This process results in a stronger nucleophilic attack, as confirmed by the Fukui function and DFT calculations. Additionally, the greater polarity and hydrophilicity of oxidation products, proved by noncovalent interaction analysis, accelerate the hydrolysis of polyesters. Moreover, glutathione-responsive breakage, from polymers to oligomers, is confirmed by an accelerated decline in molecular weight. Our research offers fresh perspectives on the effective synthesis of the disulfide polyester and lays a solid basis for the creation of high-performance biodegradable polyesters that degrade on demand.

Enzymatic Synthesis of Polyesters and Their Bioapplications: Recent Advances and Perspectives

This article reviews the most important advances in the enzymatic synthesis of polyesters. In first place, the different processes of polyester enzymatic synthesis, i.e., polycondensation, ring opening, and chemoenzymatic polymerizations, and the key parameters affecting these reactions, such as enzyme, concentration, solvent, or temperature, are analyzed. Then, the latest articles on the preparation of polyesters either by direct synthesis or via modification are commented. Finally, the main bioapplications of enzymatically obtained polyesters, i.e., antimicrobial, drug delivery, or tissue engineering, are described. It is intended to point out the great advantages that enzymatic polymerization present to obtain polymers and the disadvantages found to develop applied materials.

Substrate Engineering in Lipase-Catalyzed Selective Polymerization of d-/l-Aspartates and Diols to Prepare Helical Chiral Polyester

The synthesis of optically pure polymers is one of the most challenging tasks in polymer chemistry. Herein, Novozym 435 (Lipase B from Candida antarctica, immobilized on Lewatit VP OC 1600)-catalyzed polycondensation between d-/l-aspartic acid (Asp) diester and diols for the preparation of helical chiral polyesters was reported. Compared with d-Asp diesters, the fast-reacting l-Asp diesters easily reacted with diols to provide a series of chiral polyesters containing N-substitutional l-Asp repeating units. Besides amino acid configuration, N-substituent side chains and the chain length of diols were also investigated and optimized. It was found that bulky acyl N-substitutional groups like N-Boc and N-Cbz were more favorable for this polymerization than small ones probably due to competitively binding of these small acyl groups into the active site of Novozym 435. The highest molecular weight can reach up to 39.5 × 10³ g/mol (M_w, Đ = 1.64). Moreover, the slow-reacting d-Asp diesters were also successfully polymerized by modifying the substrate structure to create a "nonchiral" condensation environment artificially. These enantiocomplementary chiral polyesters are thermally stable and have specific helical structures, which was confirmed by circular dichroism (CD) spectra, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and molecular calculation.

Recent advances in the synthesis of biodegradable polyesters by sustainable polymerization: lipase-catalyzed polymerization

Over the past three decades, enzymatic polymerization has dramatically developed and gradually broadened as a creative methodology in the construction of polymeric materials with tailor-made structures and properties. Compared with transition metal catalyst polymerizations, enzymatic polymerization is more attractive in the biomedicine field due to the metal-free residue, good biocompatibility, and few by-products. Meanwhile, enzymatic polymerization has far more activity towards macrolides. In this review, the synthesis of lipase-catalyzed polymer materials is systematically summarized, focusing on the synthesis of the complex and well-defined polymers. The enzymatic polyester synthesis was then discussed concerning the different reaction types, including ring-opening polymerization, polycondensation, a combination of ring-opening polymerization with polycondensation, and chemoenzymatic polymerization. Besides, exploration of novel biocatalysts and reaction media was also described, with particular emphasis on the enzymes obtained via immobilization or protein engineering strategies, green solvents, and reactors. Finally, recent developments in catalytic kinetics and mechanistic studies through the use of spectroscopy, mathematics, and computer techniques have been introduced. Besides, we addressed the remaining central issues in enzymatic polymerization and discussed current studies aimed at providing answers.

Enzymatic multifunctional biodegradable polymers for pH- and ROS-responsive anticancer drug delivery

A new family of multifunctional biodegradable block copolymers, PEG-poly(ω-pentadecalactone-co-N-methyldiethyleneamine sebacate-co-2,2'-thiodiethylene sebacate) (PEG-PMT), were synthesized via lipase-catalyzed copolymerization procedures. Amphiphilic PEG-PMT copolymers can be readily transformed into stable micellar nanoparticles through self-assembling processes in aqueous medium. The particle sizes increase dramatically after exposure of the particles to the acidic pH and high reactive oxygen species (ROS) conditions in tumor microenvironments, due to protonation of thioether groups and oxidation of amino groups in the PMT micelle cores, respectively. For example, docetaxel (DTX)-loaded PEG-PM-19 % TS micelles were triggered synergistically by acidic pH and ROS stimuli to release over 85 % of the anti-cancer drug. In particular, DTX/PEG-PMT-19 % TS and DTX/PEG-PMT-48 % TS micelles performed better than commercial Duopafei formulation in prohibiting growth of CT-26 tumors xenografed in vivo (70 % of tumor-inhibiting efficiency). Biosafety analysis revealed that DTX-loaded PEG-PMT nanoparticles possessed minimal toxicity towards normal organs, such as liver and kidney. These experimental data demonstrated that the pH- and ROS-responsive PEG-PMT micelles are promising vectors for both delivery of anti-tumor drugs and their controlled release at tumor intracellular sites.

Enzymatic synthesis of PEG–poly(amine-co-thioether esters) as highly efficient pH and ROS dual-responsive nanocarriers for anticancer drug delivery

Novel multifunctional drug nanocarriers with pH and ROS dual-responsibilities were developed using enzymatically synthesized materials.

Immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B catalyzed synthesis of biodegradable polymers for biomedical applications

Biomedical applications of biodegradable polymers synthesized via the catalysis of immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB).

Disassembly and tumor-targeting drug delivery of reduction-responsive degradable block copolymer nanoassemblies

Review on recent strategies to synthesize novel disulfide-containing reductively-degradable block copolymers and their nanoassemblies as being classified with the number, position, and location of the disulfide linkages toward effective tumor-targeting intracellular drug delivery exhibiting enhanced release of encapsulated drugs.

Cargo-Free Nanomedicine with pH Sensitivity for Codelivery of DOX Conjugated Prodrug with SN38 To Synergistically Eradicate Breast Cancer Stem Cells

As a result of their ability to transform into bulk cancer cells and their resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, cancer stem cells (CSCs) are currently considered as a major obstacle for cancer treatment. Application of multiple drugs using nanocarriers is a promising approach to simultaneously eliminate noncancer stem cells (non-CSCs) and CSCs. Herein, to employ the advantages of nanomedicine while avoiding new excipients, pH-responsive prodrug (PEG-CH═N-DOX) was employed as the surfactant to fabricate cargo-free nanomedicine for codelivery of DOX conjugated prodrug with SN38 to synergistically eradicate breast cancer stem cells (bCSCs) and non-bCSCs. Through the intermolecular interaction between DOX and SN38, PEG-CH═N-DOX and SN38 were assembled together to form a stable nanomedicine. This nanomedicine not only dramatically enhanced drug accumulation efficiency at the tumor site but also effectively eliminated bCSCs and non-bCSCs, which resulted in achieving a superior in vivo tumor inhibition activity. Additionally, the biosafety of this nanomedicine was systematically studied through immunohistochemistry, blood biochemistry assay, blood routine examination, and metabolomics. The results revealed that this nanomedicine significantly reduced the adverse effects of DOX and SN38. Therefore, this simple yet efficient nanomedicine provided a promising strategy for future clinical applications.

Chemo-Enzymatic Synthesis of Poly(4-piperidine lactone- b-ω-pentadecalactone) Block Copolymers as Biomaterials with Antibacterial Properties

With increasing troubles in bacterial contamination and antibiotic-resistance, new materials possessing both biocompatibility and antimicrobial efficacy are supposed to be developed for future biomedical application. Herein, we demonstrated a chemo-enzymatic ring opening polymerization (ROP) approach for block copolyester, that is, poly(4-benzyl formate piperidine lactone- b-ω-pentadecalactone) (PNPIL- b-PPDL), in a one-pot two-step process. Afterward, cationic poly(4-piperidine lactone- b-ω-pentadecalactone) (PPIL- b-PPDL) with pendent secondary amino groups was obtained via acidic hydrolysis of PNPIL- b-PPDL. The resulting cationic block copolyester exhibited high antibacterial activity against Gram negative E. coli and Gram positive S. aureus, while showed low toxicity toward NIH-3T3 cells. Moreover, the antibacterial property, cytotoxicity and degradation behavior could be tuned simply by variation of PPIL content. Therefore, we anticipate that such cationic block copolymers could potentially be applied as biomaterials for medicine or implants.

Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of chiral poly(ester amide)s with an alternating sequence of hydroxy acid and l/d-aspartate units

Alternating poly(hydroxyhexanoic acid-alt-l/d-β-aspartate)s with α-benzyl or α-methyl ester side groups were prepared via the enzymatic polycondensation of N-(6-hydroxyhexanoyl) l/d-aspartate diesters.

Enzymatic PEG-Poly(amine-co-disulfide ester) Nanoparticles as pH- and Redox-Responsive Drug Nanocarriers for Efficient Antitumor Treatment

We have designed and constructed novel multifunctional nanoparticle drug-delivery systems that are stable under physiological conditions and responsive to tumor-relevant pH and intracellular reduction potential. The nanoparticles were fabricated from enzymatically synthesized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-poly(ω-pentadecalactone-co-N-methyldiethyleneamine-co-3,3'-dithiodipropionate) (PEG-PPMD) and PEG-poly(ε-caprolactone-co-N-methyldiethyleneamine-co-3,3'-dithiodipropionate) (PEG-PCMD) block copolymers via self-assembly processes in aqueous solution. At acidic pH and in the presence of a reductant (e.g., d,l-dithiothreitol or glutathione), the nanosized micelle particles rapidly swell and disintegrate due to the protonation of amino groups and reductive cleavage of disulfide bonds in the micelle cores. Consistently, docetaxel (DTX)-loaded PEG-PPMD and PEG-PCMD micelles can be triggered synergistically by acidic endosomal pH and a high intracellular reduction potential to rapidly release the drug for efficient killing of cancer cells. The drug formulations based on PEG-PPMD and PEG-PCMD copolymers exhibited a substantially higher potency than free DTX in inhibiting tumor growth in mice, whereas their therapeutic effects on important organ tissues were minimal. These results demonstrate that PEG-PPMD and PEG-PCMD nanoparticles have a great potential to serve as site-specific, controlled drug-delivery vehicles for safe and efficient antitumor treatment.

Glutathione responsive polymers and their application in drug delivery systems

Materials which respond to biological cues are the subject of intense research interest due to their possible application in smart drug delivery vehicles.

Enzymatic PEGylated Poly(lactone-co-β-amino ester) Nanoparticles as Biodegradable, Biocompatible and Stable Vectors for Gene Delivery

We have developed new, efficient gene delivery systems based on PEGylated poly(lactone-co-β-amino ester) block copolymers that are biodegradable, stable and low in toxicity. The PEG-poly[PDL-co-3-(4-(methylene)piperidin-1-yl)propanoate] (PEG-PPM) diblock and PPM-PEG-PPM triblock copolymers with various compositions were synthesized in one step via lipase-catalyzed copolymerization of ω-pentadecalactone (PDL) and ethyl 3-(4-(hydroxymethyl)piperidin-1-yl)propanoate (EHMPP) with an appropriate PEG (MeO-PEG-OH or HO-PEG-OH). The amphiphilic block copolymers are capable of condensing DNA in aqueous medium via a self-assembly process to form polyplex micelle nanoparticles with desirable particle sizes (70-140 nm). These micelles possess low CMC values and are stable in the medium containing serum protein molecules (FBS). Among the PEG-PPM and PPM-PEG-PPM micelles, the PEG-PPM-15% PDL micelle particles exhibited high DNA-binding ability, the fastest cellular uptake rate and highest gene transfection efficacy. Flow cytometry analysis shows that LucDNA/PEG-PPM-15% PDL polyplex micelles can effectively escape from endosomal degradation after cellular uptake likely due to the presence of the tertiary amine groups in the copolymer chains that act as proton sponges. In vitro cytotoxicity and hemolysis assay experiments indicate that all copolymer samples are nonhemolytic and have minimal toxicity toward COS-7 cells within the polymer concentration range (≤200 μg/mL) used for the gene transfection. These results demonstrate that the PEGylated poly(lactone-co-β-amino ester) block copolymers are promising new vectors for gene delivery applications.

Facile modification and fixation of diaryl disulphide-containing dynamic covalent polyesters by iodine-catalysed insertion-like addition reactions of styrene derivatives to disulphide units

Insertion-like addition of disulphide-containing polyesters to styrene derivatives is reported, enabling facile control of various properties including dynamic covalent characteristics.

Self-assembled micelles prepared from amphiphilic copolymers bearing cell outer membrane phosphorylcholine zwitterions for a potential anti-phagocytic clearance carrier

A versatile strategy using amphiphilic copolymers to prepare micelles with cell membrane mimetic phosphorylcholine shell and PCL core showing potential anti-phagocytic clearance properties was reported.

Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of oxidation-responsive poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(β-thioether ester) amphiphilic block copolymers

Lipase-catalyzed one-step synthesis of novel oxidation-responsive poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(β-thioether ester) diblock copolymers was reported.

Dicarboxylic esters: Useful tools for the biocatalyzed synthesis of hybrid compounds and polymers

Dicarboxylic acids and their derivatives (esters and anhydrides) have been used as acylating agents in lipase-catalyzed reactions in organic solvents. The synthetic outcomes have been dimeric or hybrid derivatives of bioactive natural compounds as well as functionalized polyesters.

Optimizing ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone by using aluminum complexes bearing amide as catalysts and their application in synthesizing poly-ε-caprolactone with special initiators and other polycycloesters

A series of aluminum complexes bearing amidate ligands, including acylamide, sulfonamide, and aryl carbamate, was synthesized.