Controllable drug release from nano-layered hollow carrier by non-human enzyme

Bioorthogonal Glycoengineering-Mediated Multifunctional Liquid Metal Nanoprobes for Highly Efficient Photoacoustic Imaging-Guided Photothermal/Chemotherapy of Tumor

The development of a multifunctional cancer diagnosis and treatment platform offers excellent prospects for the effective eradication of malignant solid tumors. Herein, a doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX)-loaded tannic acid (TA)-coated liquid metal (LM) multifunctional nanoprobe was synthesized and applied as a highly efficient platform for the photoacoustic (PA) imaging-guided photothermal/chemotherapy of tumor. The multifunctional nanoprobes exhibited strong near-infrared absorption, a remarkable photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE) of 55%, and high DOX loading capacity. Combined with the large intrinsic thermal expansion coefficient of LM, highly efficient PA imaging and effective drug release were realized. The LM-based multifunctional nanoprobes were specifically adsorbed into the cancer cells and tumor tissues via glycoengineering biorthogonal chemistry. The in vitro and in vivo photothermal/chemo-anticancer activity confirmed their promising potential in cancer treatment. The subcutaneous breast tumor-bearing mice completely recovered in 5 days under light illumination with clear PA imaging presentation, which showed better antitumor outcomes than single-mode chemotherapy or photothermal therapy (PTT), while keeping side effects at a minimum. Such an LM-based PA imaging-guided photothermal/chemotherapy strategy provided a valuable platform for resistant cancer precise treatment and intelligent biomedicine.

Fabrication and examination of polyorganophosphazene/polycaprolactone-based scaffold with degradation, in vitro and in vivo behaviors suitable for tissue engineering applications

The present study aimed to synthesis a proper scaffold consisting of hydroxylated polyphosphazene and polycaprolactone (PCL), focusing on its potential use in tissue engineering applications. The first grafting of PCL to poly(propylene glycol)phosphazene (PPGP) was performed via ROP of ε-caprolactone, whereas PPGP act as a multisite macroinitiator. The prepared poly(propylene glycol phosphazene)-graft-polycaprolactone (PPGP-g-PCL) were evaluated by essential tests, including NMR, FTIR, FESEM-EDS, TGA, DSC and contact angle measurement. The quantum calculations were performed to investigate molecular geometry and its energy, and HOMO and LUMO of PPGP-g-PCL in Materials Studio2017. MD simulations were applied to describe the interaction of the polymer on phospholipid membrane (POPC128b) in Material Studio2017. The C2C12 and L929 cells were used to probe the cell-surface interactions on synthetic polymers surfaces. Cells adhesion and proliferation onto scaffolds were evaluated using FESEM and MTT assay. In vitro analysis indicated enhanced cell adhesion, high proliferation rate, and excellent viability on scaffolds for both cell types. The polymer was further tested via intraperitoneal implantation in mice that showed no evidence of adverse inflammation and necrosis at the site of the scaffold implantation; in return, osteogenesis, new-formed bone and in vivo degradation of the scaffold were observed. Herein, in vitro and in vivo assessments confirm PPGP-g-PCL, as an appropriate scaffold for tissue engineering applications.

Role of lignin-based nanoparticles in anticancer drug delivery and bioimaging: An up-to-date review

Lignin, an aromatic biopolymer, is the second most abundant naturally occurring one after cellulose that has drawn a great deal of interest over the years for its potential uses owing to the presence of high content of phenolic compounds, ecofriendly feature and cost-efficiency in comparison to the synthetic polymers. Nevertheless, with the intention of advancing its development, several efforts have been performed in the direction of utilizing lignin on the nanoscale due to its inimitable properties. The notable absorption capacity, fluorescence emission, biodegradability and non-toxicity of lignin nanoparticles permit its appropriateness as a vehicle for drugs and as a bioimaging material. Moreover, lignin nanoparticles have shown plausible therapeutic effects, such as anticancer, antimicrobial, and antioxidant. The current review sheds light on the recent development in the formulation and anticancer applications of lignin nanoparticles as a drug carrier and as a diagnostic tool. The surface properties of the nanomaterial affect the end product characteristics, hence, factors namely; lignin source, isolation technique, purification and quantitation methods, are discussed in this review. This study represents original work that has not been published elsewhere and that has not been submitted simultaneously for publication elsewhere. The manuscript has been read, revised, and approved by the authors.

Dancing in local space: rolling hoop orbital amplification combined with local cascade nanozyme catalytic system to achieve ultra-sensitive detection of exosomal miRNA

The exosomal miRNA (exo-miRNA) derived from tumor cells contains rich biological information that can effectively aid in the early diagnosis of disease. However, the extremely low abundance imposes stringent requirements for accurate detection techniques. In this study, a novel, protease-free DNA amplification strategy, known as “Rolling Hoop Orbital Amplification” (RHOA), was initially developed based on the design concept of local reaction and inspired by the childhood game of rolling iron ring. Benefiting from the local space constructed by the DNA orbital, the circular DNA enzyme rolls directionally and interacts efficiently with the amplification element, making it nearly 3-fold more productive than conventional free-diffusion amplification. Similarly, the localized cascade nanozyme catalytic system formed by bridging DNA probes also exhibits outperformed than free ones. Therefore, a localized energized high-performance electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor was constructed by bridging cascading nanozymes on the electrode surface through DNA probes generated by RHOA, with an impressive limit of detection (LOD) of 1.5 aM for the detection of exosomal miRNA15a-5p and a stable linearity over a wide concentration range from 10^− 2 to 10⁸ fM. Thus, this work is a focused attempt at the localized reaction, which is expected to provide a reliable method for accurately detecting of exo-miRNAs.

Coating Bioactive Microcapsules with Tannic Acid Enhances the Phenotype of the Encapsulated Pluripotent Stem Cells

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) may be differentiated into any adult cell type and therefore hold incredible promise for cell therapeutics and disease modeling. There is increasing interest in three-dimensional (3D) hPSC culture because of improved differentiation outcomes and potential for scale up. Our team has recently described bioactive heparin (Hep)-containing core-shell microcapsules that promote rapid aggregation of stem cells into spheroids and may also be loaded with growth factors for the local and sustained delivery to the encapsulated cells. In this study, we explored the possibility of further modulating bioactivity of microcapsules through the use of an ultrathin coating composed of tannic acid (TA). Deposition of the TA film onto model substrates functionalized with Hep and poly(ethylene glycol) was characterized by ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy. Furthermore, the presence of the TA coating was observed to increase the amount of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) incorporation by up to twofold and to extend its release from 5 to 7 days. Most significantly, TA-microcapsules loaded with bFGF induced higher levels of pluripotency expression compared to uncoated microcapsules containing bFGF. Engineered microcapsules described here represent a new stem cell culture approach that enables 3D cultivation and relies on local delivery of inductive cues.

Investigation of the Structural Mechanism and Film Growth on Cytoprotective Type I Collagen-Based Nanocoating of Individual Cellular Surfaces

Cell surface coating using the layer-by-layer assembly (LbL) method has many advantages for biomedical applications. Because the cell surface is a dynamic and highly complex structure, it is hypothesized that LbL multilayer films on cells have characteristics different from those observed in traditional film characterization results. Here, to demonstrate the mechanism of LbL-film formation on cells, LbL films are prepared on HeLa cells using collagen (Col) and hyaluronic acid (HA). The growth behavior of the film and the main driving forces inducing the formation of an LbL film on the cells are investigated. Col self-assembles via electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions; therefore, the Col-based film on the cells grows laterally rather than volumetrically. For the film construction conditions, the ionic density and chain conformation of the polymers change, resulting in mainly hydrophobic interactions. Additional interactions, such as hydrophobic interactions and biological recognition between the substrate and building blocks, also exist and tightly stabilize the films on the cells. The Col/HA film shows an even distribution on the cell surface as the extracellular matrix, and it activates proliferation and the cytoprotective signaling pathway under harsh conditions, resulting in the focal adhesion kinase signaling pathway and low lactate dehydrogenase release. Therefore, information for film construction on cells is beneficial to understand the effectiveness of an LbL film for cells.

Preparation and in vitro/vivo evaluation of folate-conjugated pluronic F87-PLGA/TPGS mixed nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery

AIM

Folate-conjugated Pluronic F87-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) block copolymer (FA-F87-PLGA) was synthesized to encapsulate anticancer drug Paclitaxel (PTX) for targeted drug delivery. To further improve the curative effect, D-α-tocopheryl poly(ethylene glycol) 1000 succinate (TPGS or Vitamin E TPGS) was added to form FA-F87-PLGA/TPGS mixed NPs.

METHODS

FA-F87-PLGA was synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization and the structure was characterized. PTX-loaded nanoparticles were prepared with the nanoprecipitation method. The physicochemical characteristics were studied to determine the appropriate dose ratio of the FA-F87-PLGA to TPGS. The cytotoxicity against Ovarian Cancer Cells (OVCAR-3) was determined by MTT assay. The Area-Under-the Curve (AUC) and half-life were measured in the vivo pharmacokinetic studies.

RESULTS

Based on the optimization of particle size and embedding rate of PTX-loaded mixed NPs, the appropriate dosage ratio of FA-F87-PLGA to TPGS was finally determined to be 5:3. According to in vitro release studies, the cumulative release rate of PTX-loaded FA-F87-PLGA/TPGS mixed NPs was 92.04%, which was higher than that of nanoparticles without TPGS. The cytotoxicity studies showed that the IC50 value of PTX-loaded FA-F87-PLGA/TPGS decreased by 75.4 times and 19.7 times after 72 h treatment compared with free PTX injections and PTX-loaded FA-F87-PLGA NPs, respectively. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies indicated that FA-F87-PLGA/TPGS mixed NPs had a longer drug metabolism time and a larger Area-Under-the-Curve (AUC) compared with free PTX injections.

CONCLUSION

FA-F87-PLGA/TPGS mixed NPs are potential candidates for targeted drug delivery systems.

Programmed BMP-2 release from biphasic calcium phosphates for optimal bone regeneration

This study aimed to fabricate a multi-layered biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) platform for programmed bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) release, which means to block the initial burst release and promote releasing during the differentiation phase of osteogenic cells. And it is to confirm in vivo whether this platform has osteogenic inductivity even when extremely low doses of BMP-2 are loaded compared to the conventional soaking method. Our strategy consisted of preparing a multilayer coating on BCP to minimize the contact between BMP-2 and BCP and allow the loading of BMP-2. The multilayer, which is surface-modified on BCP, is composed of an organosilicate and a natural polymer-based layer-by-layer (LbL) film. We applied (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) as an organosilicate was used for amine-functionalized BCP and (collagen/heparin)₅ film was used to delay and sustain BMP-2 release. The coated multilayer not only reduced the initial burst release by more than 50% but also loaded more BMP-2. For in vivo experiment, histomorphometric analysis, it was observed that the BCP platform loaded with extremely low concentration BMP-2 (0.01 mg/ml) induced a significantly larger amount of new bones at 8 weeks compared to the conventional soaking method in the rabbit calvarium onlay graft model.

Gelatin nanoparticles transport DNA probes for detection and imaging of telomerase and microRNA in living cells

Telomerase and microRNA (miRNA) are biomarkers closely related to tumors. Simultaneous detection of both markers can improve accuracy and reliability of early diagnosis. Based on the mechanism of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), two fluorescent DNA probes were designed for telomerase and miRNA-21. The probes were wrapped by gelatin through electrostatic interaction to form nanoparticles. After that, we synthesized molecularly imprinted coating of transferrin on the surface of gelatin nanoparticles, which can avoid the immune stress response and macrophage phagocytosis to help gelatin nanoparticles enter into the cells smoothly through endocytosis. Following with the degradation of gelatin in the cells, DNA probes were released to react with telomerase and miRNA-21 and lead to the change of the fluorescence signal. Thereby the simultaneous imaging of telomerase and miRNA-21 were successfully achieved in HeLa cells and HepG2 cells. The proposed strategy shows the simultaneous imaging for different biological markers with DNA probes by preventing them from being hydrolyzed with nucleases before the determination and achieves reliable method for early diagnosis of cancer.

Studies on the Drug Loading and Release Profiles of Degradable Chitosan-Based Multilayer Films for Anticancer Treatment

This study demonstrates the possibility of developing a rapidly degradable chitosan-based multilayer film for controlled drug release. The chitosan (CHI)-based multilayer nanofilms were prepared with three different types of anions, hyaluronic acid (HA), alginic acid (ALG) and tannic acid (TA). Taking advantage of the Layer-by-Layer (LBL) assembly, each multilayer film has different morphology, porosity and thickness depending on their ionic density, molecular structure and the polymer functionality of the building blocks. We loaded drug models such as doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX), fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and ovalbumin (Ova) into multilayer films and analyzed the drug loading and release profiles in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) buffer with the same osmolarity and temperature as the human body. Despite the rapid degradation of the multilayer film in a high pH and salt solution, the drug release profile can be controlled by increasing the functional group density, which results in interaction with the drug. In particular, the abundant carboxylate groups in the CHI/HA film increased the loading amount of DOX and decreased rapid drug release. The TA interaction with DOX via electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction showed a sustained drug release profile. These results serve as principles for fabricating a tailored multilayer film for drug delivery application.

Layered self-assemblies for controlled drug delivery: A translational overview

Self-assembly is a prominent phenomenon observed in nature. Inspired by this thermodynamically favorable approach, several natural and synthetic materials have been investigated to develop functional systems for various biomedical applications, including drug delivery. Furthermore, layered self-assembled systems provide added advantages of tunability and multifunctionality which are crucial for controlled and targeted drug release. Layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition has emerged as one of the most popular, well-established techniques for tailoring such layered self-assemblies. This review aims to provide a brief overview of drug delivery applications using LbL deposition, along with a discussion of associated scalability challenges, technological innovations to overcome them, and prospects for commercial translation of this versatile technique. Additionally, alternative self-assembly techniques such as metal-phenolic networks (MPNs) and Liesegang rings are also reviewed in the context of their recent utilization for controlled drug delivery. Blending the sophistication of these self-assembly phenomena with material science and technological advances can provide a powerful tool to develop smart drug carriers in a scalable manner.

Developing regulatory property of gelatin-tannic acid multilayer films for coating-based nitric oxide gas delivery system

To utilize potentials of nitric oxide (NO) gas in anti-bacterial, anticancer, wound healing applications, numerous studies have been conducted to develop a NO delivery system in the past few decades. Even though a coating method and film types are essential to apply in biomedical device coating from previous NO delivery systems, release control from the coating system is still challenging. In this study, we introduced a multilayered polymeric coating system to overcome the uncontrollable NO release kinetics of film systems. We used biocompatible gelatin and tannic acid to construct a rough, porous structured film based on the layer-by-layer self-assembly method. The multilayered polymeric structure facilitated the controlled amount of NO release from (Gel/TA)n film and showed burst release in early period owing to their large surface area from the rough, porous structure. We synthesized the proton-responsive NO donor, N-diazeniumdiolate (NONOates), into the (Gel/TA)n film through a chemical reaction under high pressure NO gas. NO release profile was analyzed by a real-time NO analysis machine (NOA 280i). Then, the NO-releasing (Gel/TA)n film was tested its toxicity against human dermal fibroblast cells and bactericidal effects against Staphylococcus aureus.

Preparation of Targeted Lignin⁻Based Hollow Nanoparticles for the Delivery of Doxorubicin

Due to their exceptional absorption capacity, biodegradability, and non-toxicity, nanoparticles (NPs) from lignin have emerged as vehicles for inorganic particles and drug molecules. However, the method for preparing targeted lignin particles is still complex and lacks sufficient research. Herein, a succinct strategy was proposed for the preparation of targeted lignin-based drug delivery NPs to load Doxorubicin Hydrochloride (DOX). The lignin hollow NPs (LHNPs) were used as a platform for the preparation of targeted delivery material by incorporating magnetic NPs and folic acid (FA) via layer-by-layer self-assembling. The results showed that the surface of LHNPs was covered uniformly by Fe₃O₄ NPs and grafted with folic acid. The folic-magnetic-functionalized lignin hollow NPs (FA-MLHNPs) could respond to magnetic field and folic acid receptors. In addition, the targeting performance of the FA-MLHNPs increased the cellular uptake of NPs in the case of HeLa cells. This research not only supported the modified NPs platform as a highly efficient nano-delivery method but also provided a facile approach to utilize renewable lignin biomaterials.