HPMA-based biodegradable hydrogels containing different forms of doxorubicin. Antitumor effects and biocompatibility

Hydrogel-based platforms for site-specific doxorubicin release in cancer therapy

Hydrogels are promising candidates for the delivery of therapeutics in the treatment of human cancers. Regarding to the biocomaptiiblity, high drug and encapsulation efficacy and adjustable physico-chemical features, the hydrogels have been widely utilized for the delivery of chemotherapy drugs. Doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the most common chemotherapy drugs used in cancer therapy through impairing topoisomerase II function and increasing oxidative damage. However, the tumor cells have developed resistance into DOX-mediated cytotoxic impacts, requiring the delivery systems to increase internalization and anti-cancer activity of this drug. The hydrogels can deliver DOX in a sustained manner to maximize its anti-cancer activity, improving cancer elimination and reduction in side effects and drug resistance. The natural-based hydrogels such as chitosan, alginate and gelatin hydrogels have shown favourable biocompatibility and degradability in DOX delivery for tumor suppression. The hydrogels are able to co-deliver DOX with other drugs or genes to enhance drug sensitivity and mediate polychemotherapy, synergistically suppressing cancer progression. The incorporation of nanoparticles in the structure of hydrogels can improve the sustained release of DOX and enhancing intracellular internalization, accelerating DOX's cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the stimuli-responsive hydrogels including pH-, redox- and thermo-sensitive platforms are able to improve the specific release of DOX at the tumor site. The DOX-loaded hydrogels can be further employed in the clinic for the treatment of cancer patients and improving efficacy of chemotherapy.

Poly(Hpma)-coated liposomes demonstrate prolonged circulation in mice

Surface modification of liposomes with amphiphilic flexible polymers significantly prolongs their circulation time in blood and reduces uptake by cells of the reticuloendothelial system (RES). Several polymers have already been shown to provide steric protection to liposomes. Still more polymers are expected to serve this purpose, thus broadening the variability of properties of long-circulating liposomes. Poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] (poly (HPMA)) seems to have some properties similar to polyethylene glycol (PEG), the most widely used polymer in liposome surface modification, including flexibility, hydrophilicity and low immunogenicity, which suggest that it may also function as an efficient steric protector of liposomes. Semitelechelic poly(HPMA) with single- or double-oleic acid hydrophobic terminus were synthesized and incorporated into the surface of liposomes composed of phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol. These poly(HPMA)-modified liposomes provided strong steric protection for liposomes, increasing their circulation time and decreasing liver accumulation in experimental mice. Poly(HPMA)-modified liposomes may become a useful addition to a family of long-circulating liposomes with potential to be used as a drug delivery system.

Strategies to overcome host immunity to adenovirus vectors in vaccine development

The first clinical evaluations of adenovirus (Ad)-based vectors for gene therapy were initiated in the mid-1990s and led to great anticipation for future utility. However, excitement surrounding gene therapy, particularly Ad-based therapy, was diminished upon the death of Jesse Gelsinger, and recent discouraging results from the HIV vaccine STEP trial have brought efficacy and safety issues to the forefront again. Even so, Ad vectors are still considered among the safest and most effective vaccine vectors. Innate and pre-existing immunity to Ad mediate much of the acute toxicities and reduced therapeutic efficacies observed following vaccination with this vector. Thus, innovative strategies must continue to be developed to reduce Ad-specific antigenicity and immune recognition. This review provides an overview and critique of the most promising strategies, including results from preclinical trials in mice and nonhuman primates, which aim to revive the future of Ad-based vaccines.

Increased Resistance of DNA Lipoplexes to Protein BindingIn Vitroby Surface-modification with a Multivalent Hydrophilic Polymer

The potential of cationic liposomes as DNA delivery vehicles for gene therapy is significantly limited by their instability upon systemic administration. Their strong positive charge induces non-specific binding of serum proteins and subsequent clearance from the circulation. This work investigates the ability of the multivalent reactive copolymer of poly[N-(2-hydroxypropopyl) methacrylamide], pHPMA (MA-GG-ONp) to shield lipoplexes from non-specific protein binding. The polymer was found to react with cationic liposome-DNA complexes (lipoplexes) in both an electrostatic and covalent manner to form an external polymer coat. Polymer coating resulted in an increase in lipoplex diameter (by up to 100 nm) that was proportional to the amount of polymer used, with a concomitant reduction in surface charge from strongly positive to neutral (from 30 to 0 mV). Polymer-coated lipoplexes exhibited increased stability to protein binding compared to untreated liposomes and reduced non-specific uptake into cells in vitro.

Direct, Controlled Synthesis of the Nonimmunogenic, Hydrophilic Polymer, Poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide) via RAFT in Aqueous Media

Poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide) (PHPMA) is a nonimmunogenic, neutral-hydrophilic polymer currently employed in the delivery of anticancer drugs. Herein, we report conditions that facilitate the direct, controlled RAFT polymerization of HPMA in aqueous media. We demonstrate that the use of 4-cyanopentanoic acid dithiobenzoate and 4,4'-azobis(4-cyanopentanoic acid) as the chain transfer agent (CTA) and initiating species, respectively, in the presence of an acetic acid buffer solution at 70 degrees C is a suitable condition leading to controlled polymerization. The "living" nature of these polymerizations is demonstrated via chain-extension of an HPMA macroCTA to yield the corresponding poly(HPMA-b-HPMA) "homopolymer".

Biocompatibility of implantable synthetic polymeric drug carriers: focus on brain biocompatibility

Numerous polymeric biomaterials are implanted each year in human bodies. Among them, drug delivery devices are potent novel powerful therapeutics for diseases which lack efficient treatments. Controlled release systems are in direct and sustained contact with the tissues, and some of them degrade in situ. Thus, both the material itself and its degradation products must be devoid of toxicity. The knowledge and understanding of the criteria and mechanisms determining the biocompatibility of biomaterials are therefore of great importance. The classical tissue response to a foreign material leads to the encapsulation of the implant, which may impair the drug diffusion in the surrounding tissue and/or cause implant failure. This tissue response depends on different factors, especially on the implantation site. Indeed, several organs possess a particular immunological status, which may reduce the inflammatory and immune reactions. Among them, the central nervous system is of particular interest, since many pathologies still need curative treatments. This review describes the classical foreign body reaction and exposes the particularities of the central nervous system response. The recent in vivo biocompatibility studies of implanted synthetic polymeric drug carriers are summarized in order to illustrate the behavior of different classes of polymers and the methodologies used to evaluate their tolerance.

Cytoplasmic delivery and nuclear targeting of synthetic macromolecules

Delivery of macromolecular drugs (e.g. antisense oligonucleotides, polymer-drug conjugates, etc.) designed to work in specific sites inside cells is complicated as macromolecules typically have access to fewer biological compartments than small molecules. To better understand the fate of macromolecules in cells and begin to alter that fate, we investigated the internalization and subcellular fate of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymers and HPMA copolymer-drug conjugates in Hep G2 and A2780 cells. The subcellular fate of fluorescently labeled polymers was monitored by confocal microscopy and subcellular fractionation. Initially, the HPMA copolymers and HPMA copolymer-drug conjugates were internalized by endocytosis and remained in endosomes/lysosomes. At longer incubation times (>8 h), small amounts of the HPMA copolymers were observed to enter the cytoplasm and accumulate in the nucleus of the cells. Nuclear accumulation was confirmed after cytoplasmic microinjection. Oligonucleotides conjugated via lysosomally degradable spacers entered into the cytoplasm and nucleus of the cells faster than the polymers. The effect of the subcellular location was correlated to the toxicity of the photosensitizer, mesochlorin e(6) (Mce(6))-HPMA copolymer conjugates. The plasma membrane and late endosomes were more sensitive to damage by Mce(6). Targeting the polymer conjugates to the nucleus with the nuclear localization sequence (NLS) as well as conjugating the Mce(6) via a degradable spacer increased cell adhesion and uptake, promoted their entry into the cytoplasm and nucleus of the cells, and increased their toxicity. To further promote entry of the polymers into the cytoplasm and nucleus of the cells, the protein transduction domain, Tat peptide, was conjugated to the HPMA copolymers. This resulted in high binding to the cell membrane, but also facilitated rapid (<5 min) entry of the macromolecules into the cytoplasm and nucleus of cells. These results will prove valuable in the future design of macromolecular therapeutics.

HPMA-hydrogels result in prolonged delivery of anticancer drugs and are a promising tool for the treatment of sensitive and multidrug resistant leukaemia

Treatment of an established BCL1 leukaemia in mice showed that the use of hydrogels is advantageous in comparison with free doxorubicin (DOX), partially due to the different pharmacokinetic profile of the drug release. Pharmacologically active concentrations ranging from 100 to 800 ng/ml were detectable in the bloodstream for more than 4 days when DOX-loaded hydrogels were implanted into mice. Animals treated with free DOX survived for 35 days, survival of hydrogel-DOX treated animals increased up to 60 days and long-term survivors were achieved, when the second hydrogel was implanted 2 weeks after the first one. Hydrogels containing vinblastine (VLB) were ineffective. N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) hydrogels were also used in combined therapy against multidrug resistant leukaemia P388-MDR to achieve a synergistic effect of both the cytostatic drug and chemosensitising agent. It was shown that when 4 times the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of free DOX was incorporated into HPMA-hydrogels, tumour volume was reduced by approximately 50% after implantation of the hydrogel containing DOX and cyclosporine A (CsA) and survival was slightly prolonged.

The cytoplasmic escape and nuclear accumulation of endocytosed and microinjected HPMA copolymers and a basic kinetic study in Hep G2 cells

The development of macromolecules as drugs and drug carriers requires knowledge of their fate in cells. To this end, we studied the internalization and subcellular Fate of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymers in Hep G2 (human hepatocellular carcinoma) cells. Semiquantitative fluorometry confirmed that galactose was an effective ligand for receptor-mediated endocytosis for Hep G2 cells. The rate of internalization of a galactose-targeted copolymer was almost 2 orders of magnitude larger than that of the nontargeted copolymer. Confocal fluorescent microscopy of both fixed and live cells revealed that the polymer entered the cells by endocytosis. After longer incubation times (typically >8 hours), polymer escaped from small vesicles and distributed throughout the cytoplasm and nuclei of the cells. Polymer that entered the cytoplasm tended to accumulate in the nucleus. Microinjection of the HPMA copolymers into cells' cytoplasm and nuclei indicated that the polymers partitioned to the nucleus. The data from fixed cells was confirmed by microscopy of live, viable cells. To examine the effect of the fluorescent dye on the intracellular fate, polymers with fluorescein, Oregon Green 488, Lissamine rhodamine B, and doxorubicin were tested; no significant differences were observed.