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Perera KDC, Boiani SM, Vasta AK, Messenger KJ, Delva S, Menon JU. Development and characterization of a novel poly( N-isopropylacrylamide)-based thermoresponsive photoink and its applications in DLP bioprinting. J Mater Chem B 2024; 12:9767-9779. [PMID: 39230440 PMCID: PMC11373533 DOI: 10.1039/d4tb00682h] [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: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
The field of 3-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has significantly expanded capabilities in producing precision-engineered hydrogel constructs, and recent years have seen the development of various stimuli-responsive bio- and photoinks. There is, however, a distinct lack of digital light processing (DLP)-compatible photoinks with thermoresponsivity. To remedy this, this work focuses on formulating and optimizing a versatile ink for DLP printing of thermoresponsive hydrogels, with numerous potential applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and adjacent biomedical fields. Photoink optimization was carried out using a multifactorial study design. The optimized photoink yielded crosslinked hydrogels with strong variations in hydrophobicity (contact angles of 44.4° LCST), indicating marked thermoresponsivity. Mechanical- and rheological characterization of the printed hydrogels showed significant changes above the LCST: storage- and loss moduli both increased and loss tangent and compressive modulus decreased above this temperature (P ≤ 0.01). The highly cytocompatible hydrogel microwell arrays yielded both single- and multilayer spheroids with human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and HeLa cells successfully. Evaluation of the release of encapsulated model macro- (bovine serum albumin, BSA) and small molecule (rhodamine B) drugs in a buffer solution showed an interestingly inverted thermoresponsive release profile with >80% release at room temperature and about 50-60% release above the gels' LCST. All told, the optimized ink holds great promise for multiple biomedical applications including precise and high-resolution fabrication of complex tissue structures, development of smart drug delivery systems and 3D cell culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalindu D C Perera
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA.
| | - Sophia M Boiani
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Alexandra K Vasta
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Katherine J Messenger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Sabrina Delva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Jyothi U Menon
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
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Agnihotri P, Dheer D, Sangwan A, Chandran VC, Mavlankar NA, Hooda G, Patra D, Pal A. Design of multi-responsive and actuating microgels toward on-demand drug release. NANOSCALE 2024. [PMID: 39344960 DOI: 10.1039/d4nr02728k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2024]
Abstract
Multifunctional colloidal microgels that exhibit stimuli-responsive behaviour and excellent biocompatibility have attracted particular attention for developing functional compartmentalized networks. Herein, a series of stimuli-responsive microgels (M0, M1, and M2) were designed through the copolymerization of di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (DEGMA) and methacrylic acid (MAA) monomers using hydroxy ethyl methacrylate-coupled azobenzene (HEMA-Az) and ethylene glycol dimetharylate (EGDMA) as crosslinkers. The behaviour of the microgels in response to temperature, pH, and light was thoroughly investigated using spectroscopic, microscopic, and light-scattering techniques. Interestingly, the microgels deswelled with an increase in temperature, decrease in pH, and under the irradiation of UV light. Such a reversible swelling/deswelling behaviour was exploited for microgel M2, which showed better photoactuation at pH 5 with a higher fluid pumping velocity. The actuating microgel M2 was optimized for loading the drug ciprofloxacin (Cf) to study its release at different temperature, pH, and light conditions. Microgel M2 exhibited photoresponsive Cf release at pH 5 and 37 °C, demonstrating its potential for application in on-demand drug release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanshi Agnihotri
- Chemical Biology Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Sector 81, Mohali 140306, Punjab, India.
| | - Divya Dheer
- Chemical Biology Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Sector 81, Mohali 140306, Punjab, India.
- Chitkara University School of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Baddi 174103, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Anvi Sangwan
- Energy and Environment Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Sector 81, Mohali 140306, Punjab, India.
| | - Vysakh C Chandran
- Chemical Biology Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Sector 81, Mohali 140306, Punjab, India.
| | - Nimisha A Mavlankar
- Chemical Biology Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Sector 81, Mohali 140306, Punjab, India.
| | - Gunjan Hooda
- Chemical Biology Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Sector 81, Mohali 140306, Punjab, India.
| | - Debabrata Patra
- Energy and Environment Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Sector 81, Mohali 140306, Punjab, India.
| | - Asish Pal
- Chemical Biology Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Sector 81, Mohali 140306, Punjab, India.
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Pérez-Chávez NA, Albesa AG, Longo GS. Investigating the Impact of Network Functionalization on Protein Adsorption to Polymer Nanogels. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:371-380. [PMID: 38156604 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c07283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
This study explores the impact of network functionalization and chemical composition on the pH-responsive behavior of polymer nanogels and their adsorption of proteins. Using a thermodynamic theory informed by a molecular model, this work evaluates the interactions of three proteins with varying isoelectric points (insulin, myoglobin, and cytochrome c) and pH-responsive nanogels based on methacrylic acid or allylamine motifs. Three different functionalization strategies are considered, with pH-responsive segments distributed randomly, at the center, or on the surface of the polymer network. Our results show that the spatial distribution of functional units affects both the nanogels' mechanical response to pH changes and the level and localization of adsorbed proteins. The dependence of protein adsorption on the salt concentration is also investigated, with the conclusion that it is best to encapsulate proteins at low salt concentrations and aim for release at high salt concentrations. These results provide valuable information for the design of pH-responsive nanogels as vehicles for protein encapsulation, transport, and administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Néstor A Pérez-Chávez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas, Teóricas y Aplicadas (INIFTA), UNLP-CONICET, diag. 113 & calle 64, La Plata B1906ZAA, Argentina
| | - Alberto G Albesa
- Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas, Teóricas y Aplicadas (INIFTA), UNLP-CONICET, diag. 113 & calle 64, La Plata B1906ZAA, Argentina
| | - Gabriel S Longo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas, Teóricas y Aplicadas (INIFTA), UNLP-CONICET, diag. 113 & calle 64, La Plata B1906ZAA, Argentina
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Chen S, Nie ZQ, Zhu FD, Yang CT, Yang JM, He JN, Liu XQ, Zhang J, Zhao Y. Facile Fabrication of Dual-Activatable Gastrointestinal-Based Nanocarriers for Safe Delivery and Controlled Release of Methotrexate. Chempluschem 2023; 88:e202300387. [PMID: 37728035 DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202300387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Colon cancer is emerging as one of the most common cancers worldwide, ranking in the top three in morbidity and mortality. Oral methotrexate (MTX) has been employed as a first-line treatment for various cancers, such as colon, breast, and lung cancer. However, the complexity and particularity of the gastrointestinal microenvironment and the limitations of MTX itself, including severe adverse effects and instability, are the main obstacles to the safe delivery of MTX to colon tumor sites. Herein, an innovative oral administrated anticancer therapeutic MTX@Am7CD/SDS NPs equipped with both pH and temperature sensitivity, which could effectively prevent MTX@Am7CD/SDS NPs from being degraded in the acidic environment mimicking the stomach and small intestine, thus harboring the potential to accumulate at the site of colon lesions and further release intestinal drug under mild conditions. In cellular assays, compared with free MTX, MTX@Am7CD/SDS NPs showed a favorable tumor inhibition effect on three tumor cell lines, as well as excellent cell uptake and apoptosis-inducing effect on SW480 cells. Therefore, this work provides a feasible solution for the safe use of MTX in the treatment of colon cancer and even other intestinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Chen
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, 650500, P. R. China
| | - Zheng-Quan Nie
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, 650500, P. R. China
| | - Fang-Dao Zhu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, 650500, P. R. China
| | - Cui-Ting Yang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, 650500, P. R. China
| | - Jian-Mei Yang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, 650500, P. R. China
| | - Jun-Nan He
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, 650500, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Qing Liu
- Shenzhen Kewode Technology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, 518028, P. R. China
| | - Jin Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, 650500, P. R. China
| | - Yan Zhao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, 650500, P. R. China
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Balafouti A, Pispas S. Hyperbranched Copolymers of Methacrylic Acid and Lauryl Methacrylate H-P(MAA-co-LMA): Synthetic Aspects and Interactions with Biorelevant Compounds. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15041198. [PMID: 37111683 PMCID: PMC10140914 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15041198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The synthesis of novel copolymers using one-step reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) copolymerization of biocompatible methacrylic acid (MAA), lauryl methacrylate (LMA), and difunctional ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as a branching agent is reported. The obtained amphiphilic hyperbranched H-P(MAA-co-LMA) copolymers are molecularly characterized by size exclusion chromatography (SEC), FTIR, and 1H-NMR spectroscopy, and subsequently investigated in terms of their self-assembly behavior in aqueous media. The formation of nanoaggregates of varying size, mass, and homogeneity, depending on the copolymer composition and solution conditions such as concentration or pH variation, is demonstrated by light scattering and spectroscopic techniques. Furthermore, drug encapsulation properties are studied by incorporating the low bioavailability drug, curcumin, in the nano-aggregate hydrophobic domains, which can also act as a bioimaging agent. The interaction of polyelectrolyte MAA units with model proteins is described to examine protein complexation capacity relevant to enzyme immobilization strategies, as well as explore copolymer self-assembly in simulated physiological media. The results confirm that these copolymer nanosystems could provide competent biocarriers for imaging and drug or protein delivery/enzyme immobilization applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Balafouti
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Ave., 11635 Athens, Greece
| | - Stergios Pispas
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Ave., 11635 Athens, Greece
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Altam AA, Zhu L, Wang W, Yagoub H, Yang S. Stability improvement of carboxymethyl cellulose/chitosan complex beads by thermal treatment. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 223:1278-1286. [PMID: 36379283 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.11.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and chitosan (CHI) are two well-known natural polymer derivatives, as such the CMC@CHI complex beads fulfill many requirements for bio-related and safety-required applications. However, poor mechanical properties of CMC@CHI beads hinder their applications. We managed to improve the beads stability by a simple thermal treatment during the bead preparation. The effects of temperature, changing from 25 °C to 75 °C, on the stability of the formed beads were investigated. The morphology, diameter, shell thickness and structure of the beads treated at different temperature were analyzed using SEM, XPS and FTIR. The mechanical test and swelling experiments showed that the thermal treatment enhanced the bead's ability to withstand pressure and swelling. The beads treated at 75 °C showed the best pressure resistance, while the beads treated at 55 °C exhibited the highest swelling capability without losing integrity. This method is convenient to implement, not only improves the stability, but also controls the swelling capacity and mechanical properties of the beads, which are important for their potential applications in adsorption and controlled release. More importantly, this work offered insights on the effects of thermal treatment on the complexation process of the two polysaccharide molecular chains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali A Altam
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Center for Advanced Low-dimension Materials, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Liping Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Center for Advanced Low-dimension Materials, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
| | - Weijie Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Center for Advanced Low-dimension Materials, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Hajo Yagoub
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Center for Advanced Low-dimension Materials, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Shuguang Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Center for Advanced Low-dimension Materials, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
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Structure and Dynamics of Inhomogeneities in Aqueous Solutions of Graft Copolymers of N-Isopropylacrylamide with Lactide (P(NIPAM-graft-PLA)) by Spin Probe EPR Spectroscopy. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14214746. [DOI: 10.3390/polym14214746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Coil-to-globule transition and dynamics of inhomogeneities in aqueous solutions of graft copolymers of NIPAM with different content of oligolactide groups were studied using spin probe continuous wave EPR spectroscopy. The technique of the suppressing of TEMPO as spin probe by spin exchange with Cu2+ ions was applied. This approach allowed us to detect individual EPR spectra of the probe in collapsed globules and estimate its magnetic and dynamic parameters reliably. The formation of inhomogeneities at temperatures lower than the volume phase transition temperature measured via transmission, and differential scanning calorimetry was fixed. An increase in oligolactide content in copolymers leads to the formation of looser globules, allowing for the exchange of the probe molecules between the globules and the external solution.
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Singh N, Aery S, Juneja S, Kumari L, Lone MS, Dar AA, Pawar SV, Mehta SK, Dan A. Chitosan Hydrogels with Embedded Thermo- and pH-Responsive Microgels as a Potential Carrier for Controlled Release of Drugs. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2022; 5:3487-3499. [PMID: 35729496 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We report a promising strategy based on chitosan (CS) hydrogels and dual temperature- and pH-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-methacrylic acid) (PNIPAM-co-MAA) microgels to facilitate release of a model drug, moxifloxacin (MFX). In this protocol, first, the microgels were prepared using a free radical copolymerization method, and subsequently, these carboxyl-group-rich soft particles were incorporated inside the hydrogel matrix using an EDC-NHS amidation method. Interestingly, the resulting microgel-embedded hydrogel composites (MG-HG) acting as a double barrier system largely reduced the drug release rate and prolonged the delivery time for up to 68 h, which was significantly longer than that obtained using microgels or hydrogels alone (20 h). On account of the dual-responsive features of the embedded microgels and the variation of water-solubility of drug molecules as a function of pH, MFX could be released in a controllable manner by regulating the temperature and pH of the delivery medium. The release kinetics followed a Korsmeyer-Peppas model, and the drug delivery mechanism was described by Fickian diffusion. Both the gel precursors and the hydrogel composites exhibited low cytotoxicity against mammalian cell lines (HeLa and HEK-293) and no deleterious hemolytic activity up to a certain higher concentration, indicating excellent biocompatibility of the materials. Thus, the unprecedented combination of modularity of physical properties caused by soft particle entrapment, unique macromolecular architecture, biocompatibility, and the general utility of the stimuli-responsive polymers offers a great promise to use these composite materials in drug delivery applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirbhai Singh
- Department of Chemistry & Centre for Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University - Chandigarh, Sector 14, Chandigarh - 160014, India
| | - Shikha Aery
- Department of Chemistry & Centre for Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University - Chandigarh, Sector 14, Chandigarh - 160014, India
| | - Smayira Juneja
- Department of Chemistry & Centre for Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University - Chandigarh, Sector 14, Chandigarh - 160014, India
| | - Laxmi Kumari
- University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University - Chandigarh, Sector 14, Chandigarh - 160014, India
| | - Mohd Sajid Lone
- Physical Chemistry Section, Department of Chemistry, University of Kashmir, Srinagar - 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Aijaz Ahmad Dar
- Physical Chemistry Section, Department of Chemistry, University of Kashmir, Srinagar - 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Sandip V Pawar
- University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University - Chandigarh, Sector 14, Chandigarh - 160014, India
| | - Surinder K Mehta
- Department of Chemistry & Centre for Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University - Chandigarh, Sector 14, Chandigarh - 160014, India
| | - Abhijit Dan
- Department of Chemistry & Centre for Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University - Chandigarh, Sector 14, Chandigarh - 160014, India
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