1
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Wan Y, Lin Y, Tan X, Gong L, Lei F, Wang C, Sun X, Du X, Zhang Z, Jiang J, Liu Z, Wang J, Zhou X, Wang S, Zhou X, Jing P, Zhong Z. Injectable Hydrogel To Deliver Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cells Preloaded with Azithromycin To Promote Spinal Cord Repair. ACS NANO 2024; 18:8934-8951. [PMID: 38483284 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c12402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury is a disease that causes severe damage to the central nervous system. Currently, there is no cure for spinal cord injury. Azithromycin is commonly used as an antibiotic, but it can also exert anti-inflammatory effects by down-regulating M1-type macrophage genes and up-regulating M2-type macrophage genes, which may make it effective for treating spinal cord injury. Bone mesenchymal stem cells possess tissue regenerative capabilities that may help promote the repair of the injured spinal cord. In this study, our objective was to explore the potential of promoting repair in the injured spinal cord by delivering bone mesenchymal stem cells that had internalized nanoparticles preloaded with azithromycin. To achieve this objective, we formulated azithromycin into nanoparticles along with a trans-activating transcriptional activator, which should enhance nanoparticle uptake by bone mesenchymal stem cells. These stem cells were then incorporated into an injectable hydrogel. The therapeutic effects of this formulation were analyzed in vitro using a mouse microglial cell line and a human neuroblastoma cell line, as well as in vivo using a rat model of spinal cord injury. The results showed that the formulation exhibited anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in vitro as well as therapeutic effects in vivo. These results highlight the potential of a hydrogel containing bone mesenchymal stem cells preloaded with azithromycin and trans-activating transcriptional activator to mitigate spinal cord injury and promote tissue repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Wan
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
- Ultrasound Medicine Department, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing 400030, China
| | - Yan Lin
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Xie Tan
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Lingyi Gong
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Fei Lei
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Changguang Wang
- DataRevive USA, LLC, 30 W Gude Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Xiaoduan Sun
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Xingjie Du
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Zhirong Zhang
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Jun Jiang
- Department of Thyroid and Vascular Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Zhongbing Liu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Jingxuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Xiaoling Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Shuzao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Xiangyu Zhou
- Department of Thyroid and Vascular Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Pei Jing
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Zhirong Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
- Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
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2
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Ulker D, Neal TJ, Crawford A, Armes SP. Thermoresponsive Poly( N, N'-dimethylacrylamide)-Based Diblock Copolymer Worm Gels via RAFT Solution Polymerization: Synthesis, Characterization, and Cell Biology Applications. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:4285-4302. [PMID: 37616242 PMCID: PMC10498450 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
RAFT solution polymerization is used to polymerize 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA). The resulting PHPMA precursor is then chain-extended using N,N'-dimethylacrylamide (DMAC) to produce a series of thermoresponsive PHPMA-PDMAC diblock copolymers. Such amphiphilic copolymers can be directly dispersed in ice-cold water and self-assembled at 20 °C to form spheres, worms, or vesicles depending on their copolymer composition. Construction of a pseudo-phase diagram is required to identify the pure worm phase, which corresponds to a rather narrow range of PDMAC DPs. Such worms form soft, free-standing gels in aqueous solution at around ambient temperature. Rheology studies confirm the thermoresponsive nature of such worms, which undergo a reversible worm-to-sphere on cooling below ambient temperature. This morphological transition leads to in situ degelation, and variable temperature 1H NMR studies indicate a higher degree of (partial) hydration for the weakly hydrophobic PHPMA chains at lower temperatures. The trithiocarbonate end-group located at the end of each PDMAC chain can be removed by treatment with excess hydrazine. The resulting terminal secondary thiol group can form disulfide bonds via coupling, which produces PHPMA-PDMAC-PHPMA triblock copolymer chains. Alternatively, this reactive thiol group can be used for conjugation reactions. A PHPMA141-PDMAC36 worm gel was used to store human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for up to three weeks at 37 °C. MSCs retrieved from this gel subsequently underwent proliferation and maintained their ability to differentiate into osteoblastic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damla Ulker
- Dainton
Building, Department of Chemistry, University
of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South
Yorkshire S3 7HF, UK
- Faculty
of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Basic Sciences, Near East University, Nicosia, Northern Cyprus TR-99138, Turkey
| | - Thomas J. Neal
- Dainton
Building, Department of Chemistry, University
of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South
Yorkshire S3 7HF, UK
| | - Aileen Crawford
- School
of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Claremont Crescent, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2TA, UK
| | - Steven P. Armes
- Dainton
Building, Department of Chemistry, University
of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South
Yorkshire S3 7HF, UK
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3
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Brotherton EE, Josland D, György C, Johnson EC, Chan DHH, Smallridge MJ, Armes SP. Histidine-Functionalized Diblock Copolymer Nanoparticles Exhibit Enhanced Adsorption onto Planar Stainless Steel. Macromol Rapid Commun 2023; 44:e2200903. [PMID: 36534428 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202200903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
RAFT aqueous emulsion polymerization of isopropylideneglycerol monomethacrylate (IPGMA) is used to prepare a series of PGEO5MA46 -PIPGMAy nanoparticles, where PGEO5MA is a hydrophilic methacrylic steric stabilizer block bearing pendent cis-diol groups. TEM studies confirm a spherical morphology while dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis indicated that the z-average particle diameter can be adjusted by varying the target degree of polymerization for the core-forming PIPGMA block. Periodate oxidation is used to convert the cis-diol groups on PGEO5MA46 -PIPGMA500 and PGEO5MA46 -PIPGMA1000 nanoparticles into the analogous aldehyde-functionalized nanoparticles, which are then reacted with histidine via reductive amination. In each case, the extent of functionalization is more than 99% as determined by 1 H NMR spectroscopy. Aqueous electrophoresis studies indicate that such derivatization converts initially neutral nanoparticles into zwitterionic nanoparticles with an isoelectric point at pH 7. DLS studies confirm that such histidine-derivatized nanoparticles remain colloidally stable over a wide pH range. A quartz crystal microbalance is employed at 25°C to assess the adsorption of both the cis-diol- and histidine-functionalized nanoparticles onto planar stainless steel at pH 6. The histidine-bearing nanoparticles adsorb much more strongly than their cis-diol counterparts. For the highest adsorbed amount of 70.5 mg m-2 , SEM indicates a fractional surface coverage of 0.23 for the adsorbed nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma E Brotherton
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Daniel Josland
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Csilla György
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Edwin C Johnson
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Derek H H Chan
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Mark J Smallridge
- GEO Specialty Chemicals, Hythe, Southampton, Hampshire, SO45 3ZG, UK
| | - Steven P Armes
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
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4
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Kim H, Yeow J, Najer A, Kit‐Anan W, Wang R, Rifaie‐Graham O, Thanapongpibul C, Stevens MM. Microliter Scale Synthesis of Luciferase-Encapsulated Polymersomes as Artificial Organelles for Optogenetic Modulation of Cardiomyocyte Beating. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2200239. [PMID: 35901502 PMCID: PMC9507352 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202200239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Constructing artificial systems that effectively replace or supplement natural biological machinery within cells is one of the fundamental challenges underpinning bioengineering. At the sub-cellular scale, artificial organelles (AOs) have significant potential as long-acting biomedical implants, mimicking native organelles by conducting intracellularly compartmentalized enzymatic actions. The potency of these AOs can be heightened when judiciously combined with genetic engineering, producing highly tailorable biohybrid cellular systems. Here, the authors present a cost-effective, microliter scale (10 µL) polymersome (PSome) synthesis based on polymerization-induced self-assembly for the in situ encapsulation of Gaussia luciferase (GLuc), as a model luminescent enzyme. These GLuc-loaded PSomes present ideal features of AOs including enhanced enzymatic resistance to thermal, proteolytic, and intracellular stresses. To demonstrate their biomodulation potential, the intracellular luminescence of GLuc-loaded PSomes is coupled to optogenetically engineered cardiomyocytes, allowing modulation of cardiac beating frequency through treatment with coelenterazine (CTZ) as the substrate for GLuc. The long-term intracellular stability of the luminescent AOs allows this cardiostimulatory phenomenon to be reinitiated with fresh CTZ even after 7 days in culture. This synergistic combination of organelle-mimicking synthetic materials with genetic engineering is therefore envisioned as a highly universal strategy for the generation of new biohybrid cellular systems displaying unique triggerable properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyemin Kim
- Department of MaterialsDepartment of Bioengineeringand Institute of Biomedical EngineeringImperial College LondonLondonSW7 2AZUK
| | - Jonathan Yeow
- Department of MaterialsDepartment of Bioengineeringand Institute of Biomedical EngineeringImperial College LondonLondonSW7 2AZUK
| | - Adrian Najer
- Department of MaterialsDepartment of Bioengineeringand Institute of Biomedical EngineeringImperial College LondonLondonSW7 2AZUK
| | - Worrapong Kit‐Anan
- Department of MaterialsDepartment of Bioengineeringand Institute of Biomedical EngineeringImperial College LondonLondonSW7 2AZUK
| | - Richard Wang
- Department of MaterialsDepartment of Bioengineeringand Institute of Biomedical EngineeringImperial College LondonLondonSW7 2AZUK
| | - Omar Rifaie‐Graham
- Department of MaterialsDepartment of Bioengineeringand Institute of Biomedical EngineeringImperial College LondonLondonSW7 2AZUK
| | - Chalaisorn Thanapongpibul
- Department of MaterialsDepartment of Bioengineeringand Institute of Biomedical EngineeringImperial College LondonLondonSW7 2AZUK
| | - Molly M. Stevens
- Department of MaterialsDepartment of Bioengineeringand Institute of Biomedical EngineeringImperial College LondonLondonSW7 2AZUK
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5
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Brotherton EE, Neal TJ, Kaldybekov DB, Smallridge MJ, Khutoryanskiy VV, Armes SP. Aldehyde-functional thermoresponsive diblock copolymer worm gels exhibit strong mucoadhesion. Chem Sci 2022; 13:6888-6898. [PMID: 35774174 PMCID: PMC9200053 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc02074b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
A series of thermoresponsive diblock copolymer worm gels is prepared via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) aqueous dispersion polymerization of 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate using a water-soluble methacrylic precursor bearing pendent cis-diol groups. Selective oxidation using an aqueous solution of sodium periodate affords the corresponding aldehyde-functional worm gels. The aldehyde groups are located within the steric stabilizer chains and the aldehyde content can be adjusted by varying the periodate/cis-diol molar ratio. These aldehyde-functional worm gels are evaluated in terms of their mucoadhesion performance with the aid of a fluorescence microscopy-based assay. Using porcine urinary bladder mucosa as a model substrate, we demonstrate that these worm gels offer a comparable degree of mucoadhesion to that afforded by chitosan, which is widely regarded to be a 'gold standard' positive control in this context. The optimum degree of aldehyde functionality is approximately 30%: lower degrees of functionalization lead to weaker mucoadhesion, whereas higher values compromise the desirable thermoresponsive behavior of these worm gels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma E Brotherton
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield Brook Hill Sheffield South Yorkshire S3 7HF UK
| | - Thomas J Neal
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield Brook Hill Sheffield South Yorkshire S3 7HF UK
| | - Daulet B Kaldybekov
- School of Pharmacy, University of Reading, Whiteknights PO Box 224, Reading Berkshire RG6 6DX UK
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Almaty 050040 Kazakhstan
| | | | - Vitaliy V Khutoryanskiy
- School of Pharmacy, University of Reading, Whiteknights PO Box 224, Reading Berkshire RG6 6DX UK
| | - Steven P Armes
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield Brook Hill Sheffield South Yorkshire S3 7HF UK
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6
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Wan J, Fan B, Thang SH. RAFT-mediated polymerization-induced self-assembly (RAFT-PISA): current status and future directions. Chem Sci 2022; 13:4192-4224. [PMID: 35509470 PMCID: PMC9006902 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc00762b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) combines polymerization and self-assembly in a single step with distinct efficiency that has set it apart from the conventional solution self-assembly processes. PISA holds great promise for large-scale production, not only because of its efficient process for producing nano/micro-particles with high solid content, but also thanks to the facile control over the particle size and morphology. Since its invention, many research groups around the world have developed new and creative approaches to broaden the scope of PISA initiations, morphologies and applications, etc. The growing interest in PISA is certainly reflected in the increasing number of publications over the past few years, and in this review, we aim to summarize these recent advances in the emerging aspects of RAFT-mediated PISA. These include (1) non-thermal initiation processes, such as photo-, enzyme-, redox- and ultrasound-initiation; the achievements of (2) high-order structures, (3) hybrid materials and (4) stimuli-responsive nano-objects by design and adopting new monomers and new processes; (5) the efforts in the realization of upscale production by utilization of high throughput technologies, and finally the (6) applications of current PISA nano-objects in different fields and (7) its future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wan
- School of Chemistry, Monash University Clayton VIC 3800 Australia
| | - Bo Fan
- School of Chemistry, Monash University Clayton VIC 3800 Australia
| | - San H Thang
- School of Chemistry, Monash University Clayton VIC 3800 Australia
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7
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Cumming J, Deane OJ, Armes SP. Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer Aqueous Dispersion Polymerization of 4-Hydroxybutyl Acrylate Produces Highly Thermoresponsive Diblock Copolymer Nano-Objects. Macromolecules 2022; 55:788-798. [PMID: 35431331 PMCID: PMC9007527 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c02431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) aqueous dispersion polymerization of 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA) using a poly(glycerol monomethacrylate) (PGMA) precursor is an important prototypical example of polymerization-induced self-assembly. 4-Hydroxybutyl acrylate (HBA) is a structural isomer of HPMA, but the former monomer exhibits appreciably higher aqueous solubility. For the two corresponding homopolymers, PHBA is more weakly hydrophobic than PHPMA. Moreover, PHBA has a significantly lower glass transition temperature (T g) so it exhibits much higher chain mobility than PHPMA at around ambient temperature. In view of these striking differences, we have examined the RAFT aqueous dispersion polymerization of HBA using a PGMA precursor with the aim of producing a series of PGMA57-300-PHBA100-1580 diblock copolymer nano-objects by systematic variation of the mean degree of polymerization of each block. A pseudo-phase diagram is constructed using transmission electron microscopy to assign the copolymer morphology after employing glutaraldehyde to cross-link the PHBA chains and hence prevent film formation during grid preparation. The thermoresponsive character of the as-synthesized linear nano-objects is explored using dynamic light scattering and temperature-dependent rheological measurements. Comparison with the analogous PGMA x -PHPMA y formulation is made where appropriate. In particular, we demonstrate that replacing the structure-directing PHPMA block with PHBA leads to significantly greater thermoresponsive behavior over a much wider range of diblock copolymer compositions. Given that PGMA-PHPMA worm gels can induce stasis in human stem cells (see Canton et al., ACS Central Science, 2016, 2, 65-74), our findings are likely to have implications for the design of next-generation PGMA-PHBA worm gels for cell biology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana
M. Cumming
- Dainton Building, Department
of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South
Yorkshire S3 7HF, UK
| | - Oliver J. Deane
- Dainton Building, Department
of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South
Yorkshire S3 7HF, UK
| | - Steven P. Armes
- Dainton Building, Department
of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South
Yorkshire S3 7HF, UK
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8
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Penfold NJW, Neal TJ, Plait C, Leigh AE, Chimonides G, Smallridge MJ, Armes SP. Reverse sequence polymerization-induced self-assembly in aqueous media: a counter-intuitive approach to sterically-stabilized diblock copolymer nano-objects. Polym Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d2py01064j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
A 500 nm charge-stabilized latex is converted into 40 nm sterically-stabilized nanoparticles via reverse sequence polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J. W. Penfold
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Thomas J. Neal
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Corentin Plait
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Andrew E. Leigh
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Gwen Chimonides
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
| | | | - Steven P. Armes
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 7HF, UK
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9
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Biswakarma D, Dey N, Bhattacharya S. A biocompatible hydrogel as a template for oxidative decomposition reactions: a chemodosimetric analysis and in vitro imaging of hypochlorite. Chem Sci 2022; 13:2286-2295. [PMID: 35310481 PMCID: PMC8864679 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc05424d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The self-assembly properties of new biocompatible, thermoreversible fluorescent hydrogels, composed of amino acid residues have been reported. A unique gel-to-sol transition is triggered by chemodosimetric interaction in the presence of hypochlorite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipen Biswakarma
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012, India
- Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Nilanjan Dey
- Department of Chemistry, BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Jawahar Nagar, Shameerpet Mandal, Hyderabad-500078, India
| | - Santanu Bhattacharya
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012, India
- School of Applied & Interdisciplinary Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata 700032, India
- Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India
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10
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Deane OJ, Jennings J, Armes SP. Shape-shifting thermoreversible diblock copolymer nano-objects via RAFT aqueous dispersion polymerization of 4-hydroxybutyl acrylate. Chem Sci 2021; 12:13719-13729. [PMID: 34760156 PMCID: PMC8549797 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc05022b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
2-Hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA) is a useful model monomer for understanding aqueous dispersion polymerization. 4-Hydroxybutyl acrylate (HBA) is an isomer of HPMA: it has appreciably higher aqueous solubility so its homopolymer is more weakly hydrophobic. Moreover, PHBA possesses a significantly lower glass transition temperature than PHPMA, which ensures greater chain mobility. The reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) aqueous dispersion polymerization of HBA using a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG113) precursor at 30 °C produces PEG113-PHBA200-700 diblock copolymer nano-objects. Using glutaraldehyde to crosslink the PHBA chains allows TEM studies, which reveal the formation of spheres, worms or vesicles under appropriate conditions. Interestingly, the partially hydrated highly mobile PHBA block enabled linear PEG113-PHBA x spheres, worms or vesicles to be reconstituted from freeze-dried powders on addition of water at 20 °C. Moreover, variable temperature 1H NMR studies indicated that the apparent degree of hydration of the PHBA block increases from 5% to 80% on heating from 0 °C to 60 °C indicating uniform plasticization. In contrast, the PHPMA x chains within PEG113-PHPMA x nano-objects become dehydrated on raising the temperature: this qualitative difference is highly counter-intuitive given that PHBA and PHPMA are isomers. The greater (partial) hydration of the PHBA block at higher temperature drives the morphological evolution of PEG113-PHBA260 spheres to form worms or vesicles, as judged by oscillatory rheology, dynamic light scattering, small-angle X-ray scattering and TEM studies. Finally, a variable temperature phase diagram is constructed for 15% w/w aqueous dispersions of eight PEG113-PHBA200-700 diblock copolymers. Notably, PEG113-PHBA350 can switch reversibly from spheres to worms to vesicles to lamellae during a thermal cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver J Deane
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield Brook Hill Sheffield South Yorkshire S3 7HF UK
| | - James Jennings
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield Brook Hill Sheffield South Yorkshire S3 7HF UK
| | - Steven P Armes
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield Brook Hill Sheffield South Yorkshire S3 7HF UK
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11
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Beattie DL, Mykhaylyk OO, Ryan AJ, Armes SP. Rational synthesis of novel biocompatible thermoresponsive block copolymer worm gels. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:5602-5612. [PMID: 33998622 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm00460c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
It is well known that reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) aqueous dispersion polymerization of 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA) enables the rational design of diblock copolymer worm gels. Moreover, such hydrogels can undergo degelation on cooling below ambient temperature as a result of a worm-to-sphere transition. However, only a subset of such block copolymer worms exhibit thermoresponsive behavior. For example, PMPC26-PHPMA280 worm gels prepared using a poly(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC26) precursor do not undergo degelation on cooling to 6 °C (see S. Sugihara et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2011, 133, 15707-15713). Informed by our recent studies (N. J. Warren et al., Macromolecules, 2018, 51, 8357-8371), we decided to reduce the mean degrees of polymerization of both the PMPC steric stabilizer block and the structure-directing PHPMA block when targeting a pure worm morphology. This rational approach reduces the hydrophobic character of the PHPMA block and hence introduces the desired thermoresponsive character, as evidenced by the worm-to-sphere transition (and concomitant degelation) that occurs on cooling a PMPC15-PHPMA150 worm gel from 40 °C to 6 °C. Moreover, worms are reconstituted on returning to 40 °C and the original gel modulus is restored. This augurs well for potential biomedical applications, which will be examined in due course. Finally, small-angle X-ray scattering studies indicated a scaling law exponent of 0.67 (≈2/3) for the relationship between the worm core cross-sectional diameter and the PHPMA DP for a series of PHPMA-based worms prepared using a range of steric stabilizer blocks, which is consistent with the strong segregation regime for such systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah L Beattie
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, UK.
| | - Oleksandr O Mykhaylyk
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, UK.
| | - Anthony J Ryan
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, UK.
| | - Steven P Armes
- Dainton Building, Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, UK.
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Manfredini N, Tomasoni M, Sponchioni M, Moscatelli D. Influence of the Polymer Microstructure over the Phase Separation of Thermo-Responsive Nanoparticles. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:1032. [PMID: 33810300 PMCID: PMC8037153 DOI: 10.3390/polym13071032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Thermo-responsive nanoparticles (NPs), i.e., colloids with a sharp and often reversible phase separation in response to thermal stimuli, are coming to the forefront due to their dynamic behavior, useful in applications ranging from biomedicine to advanced separations and smart optics. What is guiding the macroscopic behavior of these systems above their critical temperature is mainly the microstructure of the polymer chains of which these NPs are comprised. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the influence of the polymer properties over the thermal response is highly required to reproducibly target a specific behavior. In this study, we synthesized thermo-responsive NPs with different size, polymeric microstructure and hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) and investigated the role of these properties over their phase separation. We first synthesized four different thermo-responsive oligomers via Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) Polymerization of poly(ethylene glycol)methyl ether methacrylate. Then, exploiting the RAFT living character, we chain-extended these oligomers with butyl methacrylate obtaining a library of NPs. Finally, we investigated the NP thermo-responsive behavior, their physical state above the cloud point (Tcp) as well as their reversibility once the stimulus is removed. We concluded that the solid content plays a minor role compared to the relative length of the two blocks forming the polymer chains. In particular, the longer the stabilizer, the more favored the formation of a gel. At the same time, the reversibility is mainly achieved at high HLB, independently from the absolute lengths of the block copolymers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mattia Sponchioni
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, 20131 Milan, Italy; (N.M.); (M.T.); (D.M.)
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Sponchioni M, Manfredini N, Zanoni A, Scibona E, Morbidelli M, Moscatelli D. Readily Adsorbable Thermoresponsive Polymers for the Preparation of Smart Cell-Culturing Surfaces on Site. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2020; 6:5337-5345. [PMID: 33455282 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c01029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The efficacy of several cell therapy products is directly impacted by trypsinization, which can diminish the engrafting capacity of transplanted cells by cleaving cell surface receptors. Thermoresponsive surfaces can alleviate this drawback, enabling temperature-driven and enzyme-free cell harvesting. However, the production of thermoresponsive surfaces relies on dedicated and complex equipment, often involving protocols dependent on high surface activation energies that prevent the development of scalable and universal platforms. In this work, we developed thermoresponsive copolymers incorporating styrene units that enable the copolymer adsorption on tissue culture polystyrene surfaces from an alcoholic solution in a short time, regardless of the vessel size and geometry, and without any particular equipment. In this way, the procedure can be performed with minimal effort by the end user on any surface. The thermoresponsive copolymers were synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization, providing high control over the polymer microstructure, a key parameter for tuning its cloud point and architecture. Block copolymers comprising a thermoresponsive segment and a polystyrene block exhibited optimal adhesion on conventional cell culture surfaces and permitted a more efficient temperature-mediated harvesting of adipose-derived stromal cells and Chinese hamster ovary cells compared to their statistical counterparts. To expand the application of this polymer deposition protocol to serum-free cell culture, we also considered the polymer modification with the tripeptide arginine-glycine-aspartic acid, known to promote the cell adhesion to synthetic substrates. The incorporation of this peptide enabled the collection in serum-free conditions of intact cell sheets from surfaces prepared shortly before their usage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Sponchioni
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, 2013 Milano, Italy
| | - Nicolò Manfredini
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, 2013 Milano, Italy
| | - Arianna Zanoni
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, 2013 Milano, Italy
| | - Ernesto Scibona
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Massimo Morbidelli
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Davide Moscatelli
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, 2013 Milano, Italy
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György C, Hunter SJ, Girou C, Derry MJ, Armes SP. Synthesis of poly(stearyl methacrylate)-poly(2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate) diblock copolymer nanoparticles via RAFT dispersion polymerization of 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate in mineral oil. Polym Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1039/d0py00562b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
RAFT dispersion polymerization of 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate produces diblock copolymer spheres, worms or vesicles in mineral oil; the Pickering emulsifier performance of the spheres is examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Csilla György
- Dainton Building
- Department of Chemistry
- The University of Sheffield
- Sheffield
- UK
| | - Saul J. Hunter
- Dainton Building
- Department of Chemistry
- The University of Sheffield
- Sheffield
- UK
| | - Chloé Girou
- Dainton Building
- Department of Chemistry
- The University of Sheffield
- Sheffield
- UK
| | - Matthew J. Derry
- Dainton Building
- Department of Chemistry
- The University of Sheffield
- Sheffield
- UK
| | - Steven P. Armes
- Dainton Building
- Department of Chemistry
- The University of Sheffield
- Sheffield
- UK
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Romero-Azogil L, Penfold NJW, Armes SP. Tuning the hydroxyl functionality of block copolymer worm gels modulates their thermoresponsive behavior. Polym Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1039/d0py00834f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Partial replacement of a hydroxyl-functional steric stabilizer with a poly(ethylene glycol)-based stabilizer modulates the thermoresponsive behavior of block copolymer worm gels prepared via aqueous polymerization-induced self-assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Romero-Azogil
- Departamento de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica
- Facultad de Farmacia
- Universidad de Sevilla
- 41012 Sevilla
- Spain
| | | | - Steven P. Armes
- Department of Chemistry
- Dainton Building
- University of Sheffield
- Brook Hill
- Sheffield
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Parkinson S, Knox ST, Bourne RA, Warren NJ. Rapid production of block copolymer nano-objects via continuous-flow ultrafast RAFT dispersion polymerisation. Polym Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1039/d0py00276c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Continuous-flow reactors are exploited for conducting ultrafast RAFT dispersion polymerisation for the preparation of diblock copolymer nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Parkinson
- School of Chemical and Process Engineering
- University of Leeds
- Leeds
- UK
| | - Stephen T. Knox
- School of Chemical and Process Engineering
- University of Leeds
- Leeds
- UK
| | - Richard A. Bourne
- School of Chemical and Process Engineering
- University of Leeds
- Leeds
- UK
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