Poly(ethylene glycol): protein-repulsive or albumin-compatible?

Designing the Surface Chemistry of Inorganic Nanocrystals for Cancer Imaging and Therapy

Inorganic nanocrystals, such as gold, iron oxide and semiconductor quantum dots, offer promising prospects for cancer diagnostics, imaging and therapy, due to their specific plasmonic, magnetic or fluorescent properties. The organic coating, or surface ligands, of these nanoparticles ensures their colloidal stability in complex biological fluids and enables their functionalization with targeting functions. It also controls the interactions of the nanoparticle with biomolecules in their environment. It therefore plays a crucial role in determining nanoparticle biodistribution and, ultimately, the imaging or therapeutic efficiency. This review summarizes the various strategies used to develop optimal surface chemistries for the in vivo preclinical and clinical application of inorganic nanocrystals. It discusses the current understanding of the influence of the nanoparticle surface chemistry on its colloidal stability, interaction with proteins, biodistribution and tumor uptake, and the requirements to develop an optimal surface chemistry.

Engineering PEGylated Polyester Nanoparticles to Reduce Complement-Mediated Infusion Reaction

Translation of intravenously administered nanomaterials to the clinic is limited due to adverse infusion reactions. While these reactions are infrequent, with up to 10% prone to experiencing infusion reactions, the reactions can be severe and life-threatening. One of the innate immune pathways, the complement activation pathway, plays a significant role in mediating this response. Nanoparticle surface properties are a relevant design feature, as they control the blood proteins the nanoparticles interact with and allow the nanoparticles to evade the immune reaction. PEGylation of nanosurfaces is critical in improving the blood circulation of nanoparticles and reducing opsonization. Our goal was to understand whether modifying the surface architecture by varying the PEG density and architecture can impact the complement response in vitro. We utilized block copolymers of poly(lactic acid)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) prepared with poly(ethylene glycol) macroinitiators of molecular weights 3400 and 5000 Da. Tracking the complement biomarker C5a, we monitored the impact of changing PEGylation of the nanoparticles. We also investigated how the changing PEG length on the nanoparticle surface impacts further strengthening the stealth properties. Lastly, we determined which cytokines change upon blood incubation with nanoparticles in vitro to understand the extent to which inflammation may occur and the crosstalk between the complement and immune responses. Increasing PEGylation reduced the generation of complement-mediated anaphylatoxin C5a in vitro, with 5000 Da PEG more effectively reducing levels of C5a generated compared to 3400 Da PEG. The insights gathered regarding the impact of PEG density and PEG chain length would be critical in developing stealth nanoparticles that do not lead to infusion reactions upon intravenous administration.

Nonspecific Binding-Fundamental Concepts and Consequences for Biosensing Applications

Nature achieves differentiation of specific and nonspecific binding in molecular interactions through precise control of biomolecules in space and time. Artificial systems such as biosensors that rely on distinguishing specific molecular binding events in a sea of nonspecific interactions have struggled to overcome this issue. Despite the numerous technological advancements in biosensor technologies, nonspecific binding has remained a critical bottleneck due to the lack of a fundamental understanding of the phenomenon. To date, the identity, cause, and influence of nonspecific binding remain topics of debate within the scientific community. In this review, we discuss the evolution of the concept of nonspecific binding over the past five decades based upon the thermodynamic, intermolecular, and structural perspectives to provide classification frameworks for biomolecular interactions. Further, we introduce various theoretical models that predict the expected behavior of biosensors in physiologically relevant environments to calculate the theoretical detection limit and to optimize sensor performance. We conclude by discussing existing practical approaches to tackle the nonspecific binding challenge in vitro for biosensing platforms and how we can both address and harness nonspecific interactions for in vivo systems.

Mechanistic Understanding From Molecular Dynamics Simulation in Pharmaceutical Research 1: Drug Delivery

In this review, we outline the growing role that molecular dynamics simulation is able to play as a design tool in drug delivery. We cover both the pharmaceutical and computational backgrounds, in a pedagogical fashion, as this review is designed to be equally accessible to pharmaceutical researchers interested in what this new computational tool is capable of and experts in molecular modeling who wish to pursue pharmaceutical applications as a context for their research. The field has become too broad for us to concisely describe all work that has been carried out; many comprehensive reviews on subtopics of this area are cited. We discuss the insight molecular dynamics modeling has provided in dissolution and solubility, however, the majority of the discussion is focused on nanomedicine: the development of nanoscale drug delivery vehicles. Here we focus on three areas where molecular dynamics modeling has had a particularly strong impact: (1) behavior in the bloodstream and protective polymer corona, (2) Drug loading and controlled release, and (3) Nanoparticle interaction with both model and biological membranes. We conclude with some thoughts on the role that molecular dynamics simulation can grow to play in the development of new drug delivery systems.

Impeded Molecular Reorganization by Polyethylene Glycol Conjugation Revealed by X-ray Reflectivity and Diffraction Measurements

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) coatings have been widely applied in pharmaceutical and biomedical systems to prevent nonspecific protein absorption, increase vesicle blood circulation time, and sustain drug release. This study systematically investigated the planar interfacial organization of phospholipid monolayers containing various amounts of PEG conjugations before and after enzyme-catalyzed degradation of the lipids using X-ray reflectivity and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction techniques. Results showed that attaching PEG to the headgroup of the lipids up to 15 mol % had limited effects on molecular packing of the lipid monolayers in the condensed phase at the gas-liquid interface and negligible effects on the enzyme adsorption to the interface. After enzyme-catalyzed degradation, equimolar fatty acids and lyso PC were generated. The fatty acids together with the subphase Ca²⁺ self-assembled into highly organized multilayer domains at the interface. The X-ray measurements unambiguously revealed that the densely packed PEG markedly hindered microphase separation and formation of the palmitic acid-Ca²⁺ complexes.

Nanoparticle technology and stem cell therapy team up against neurodegenerative disorders

The convergence of nanoparticles and stem cell therapy holds great promise for the study, diagnosis, and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. Researchers aim to harness the power of nanoparticles to regulate cellular microenvironment, improve the efficiency of cell and drug delivery to the brain, and enhance the survival of stem cell transplants. Understanding the various properties of different nanoparticles is key to applying them to clinical therapies; the many distinct types of nanoparticles offer unique capacities for medical imaging, diagnosis, and treatment of neurodegeneration disorders. In this review we introduce the biology of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's Disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and discuss the potentials and shortcomings of metal, silica, lipid-based, polymeric, and hydrogel nanoparticles for diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. We then provide an overview of current strategies in stem cell therapies and how they can be combined with nanotechnology to improve clinical outcomes.

The Role of Ligands in the Chemical Synthesis and Applications of Inorganic Nanoparticles

The design of nanoparticles is critical for their efficient use in many applications ranging from biomedicine to sensing and energy. While shape and size are responsible for the properties of the inorganic nanoparticle core, the choice of ligands is of utmost importance for the colloidal stability and function of the nanoparticles. Moreover, the selection of ligands employed in nanoparticle synthesis can determine their final size and shape. Ligands added after nanoparticle synthesis infer both new properties as well as provide enhanced colloidal stability. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review on the role of the ligands with respect to the nanoparticle morphology, stability, and function. We analyze the interaction of nanoparticle surface and ligands with different chemical groups, the types of bonding, the final dispersibility of ligand-coated nanoparticles in complex media, their reactivity, and their performance in biomedicine, photodetectors, photovoltaic devices, light-emitting devices, sensors, memory devices, thermoelectric applications, and catalysis.

A Mild Method for Surface-Grafting PEG Onto Segmented Poly(Ester-Urethane) Film with High Grafting Density for Biomedical Purpose

In the paper, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was grafted on the surface of poly(ester-urethane) (SPEU) film with high grafting density for biomedical purposes. The PEG-surface-grafted SPEU (SPEU-PEG) was prepared by a three-step chemical treatment under mild-reaction conditions. Firstly, the SPEU film surface was treated with 1,6-hexanediisocyanate to introduce -NCO groups on the surface with high density (5.28 × 10-7 mol/cm²) by allophanate reaction; subsequently, the -NCO groups attached to SPEU surface were coupled with one of -NH₂ groups of tris(2-aminoethyl)amine via condensation reaction to immobilize -NH₂ on the surface; finally, PEG with different molecular weight was grafted on the SPEU surface through Michael addition between terminal C = C bond of monoallyloxy PEG and -NH₂ group on the film surface. The chemical structure and modified surface were characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and water contact angle. The SPEU-PEGs displaying much lower water contact angles (23.9⁻21.8°) than SPEU (80.5°) indicated that the hydrophilic PEG chains improved the surface hydrophilicity significantly. The SPEU-PEG films possessed outstanding mechanical properties with strain at break of 866⁻884% and ultimate stress of 35.5⁻36.4 MPa, which were slightly lower than those of parent film, verifying that the chemical treatments had minimum deterioration on the mechanical properties of the substrate. The bovine serum albumin adsorption and platelet adhesion tests revealed that SPEU-PEGs had improved resistance to protein adsorption (3.02⁻2.78 μg/cm²) and possessed good resistance to platelet adhesion (781⁻697 per mm²), indicating good surface hemocompatibility. In addition, due to the high grafting density, the molecular weight of surface-grafted PEG had marginal effect on the surface hydrophilicity and hemocompatibility.

Engineered nanomaterials and human health: Part 1. Preparation, functionalization and characterization (IUPAC Technical Report)

Nanotechnology is a rapidly evolving field, as evidenced by the large number of publications on the synthesis, characterization, and biological/environmental effects of new nano-sized materials. The unique, size-dependent properties of nanomaterials have been exploited in a diverse range of applications and in many examples of nano-enabled consumer products. In this account we focus on Engineered Nanomaterials (ENM), a class of deliberately designed and constructed nano-sized materials. Due to the large volume of publications, we separated the preparation and characterisation of ENM from applications and toxicity into two interconnected documents. Part 1 summarizes nanomaterial terminology and provides an overview of the best practices for their preparation, surface functionalization, and analytical characterization. Part 2 (this issue, Pure Appl. Chem. 2018; 90(8): 1325–1356) focuses on ENM that are used in products that are expected to come in close contact with consumers. It reviews nanomaterials used in therapeutics, diagnostics, and consumer goods and summarizes current nanotoxicology challenges and the current state of nanomaterial regulation, providing insight on the growing public debate on whether the environmental and social costs of nanotechnology outweigh its potential benefits.

Biodistribution, Clearance, and Long-Term Fate of Clinically Relevant Nanomaterials

Realization of the immense potential of nanomaterials for biomedical applications will require a thorough understanding of how they interact with cells, tissues, and organs. There is evidence that, depending on their physicochemical properties and subsequent interactions, nanomaterials are indeed taken up by cells. However, the subsequent release and/or intracellular degradation of the materials, transfer to other cells, and/or translocation across tissue barriers are still poorly understood. The involvement of these cellular clearance mechanisms strongly influences the long-term fate of used nanomaterials, especially if one also considers repeated exposure. Several nanomaterials, such as liposomes and iron oxide, gold, or silica nanoparticles, are already approved by the American Food and Drug Administration for clinical trials; however, there is still a huge gap of knowledge concerning their fate in the body. Herein, clinically relevant nanomaterials, their possible modes of exposure, as well as the biological barriers they must overcome to be effective are reviewed. Furthermore, the biodistribution and kinetics of nanomaterials and their modes of clearance are discussed, knowledge of the long-term fates of a selection of nanomaterials is summarized, and the critical points that must be considered for future research are addressed.

Synthesis of a novel biomedical poly(ester urethane) based on aliphatic uniform-size diisocyanate and the blood compatibility of PEG-grafted surfaces

The purpose of this study is to offer a novel kind of polyurethane with improved surface blood compatibility for long-term implant biomaterials. In this work, the aliphatic poly(ester-urethane) (PEU) with uniform-size hard segments was prepared and the PEU surface was grafted with hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The PEU was obtained by chain-extension of poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) with isocyanate-terminated urethane triblock. Free amino groups were introduced onto the surface of PEU film via aminolysis with hexamethylenediamine, and then the NH₂-grafted PEU surfaces (PEU-NH₂) were reacted with isocyanate-terminated monomethoxyl PEG (MPEG-NCO) to obtain the PEG-grafted PEU surfaces (PEU-PEG). Analysis by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography were performed to confirm the chemical structures of the chain extender, PCL, PEU, and PEU-PEG. Additionally, the influence of aminolysis on the physical-mechanical properties of PEU films was investigated. Two glass transition temperatures and a broad endothermic peak were observed in the differential scanning calorimetry curves of PEU, which demonstrated a microphase-separated and semicrystalline structure, respectively. The PEU-PEG film exhibited excellent mechanical properties with an ultimate stress of ∼39 MPa and an elongation at break of ∼1190%, which was slightly lower than that of PEU, indicating that the aminolysis has little influence on the tensile properties. Evaluation of the blood compatibility of the films by bovine serum albumin adsorption and the platelet adhesion test revealed that the PEG-grafted surface had improved resistance to protein adsorption and excellent resistance to platelet adhesion. In vitro degradation tests showed that the PEU-PEG film could maintain its mechanical properties for more than six months and only lost ∼25% weight after 18 months. Due to the excellent mechanical properties, good blood compatibility and slow degradability, this novel kind of polyurethane hold significant promise for long-term implant biomaterials, especially soft tissue augmentation and regeneration.

Binding of human serum albumin to PEGylated liposomes: insights into binding numbers and dynamics by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

Liposomes for medical applications are often administered by intravenous injection. Once in the bloodstream, the liposomes are covered with a "protein corona", which impacts the behavior and eventual fate of the liposomes. Currently, many aspects of the liposomal protein corona are not well understood. For example, there is generally a lack of knowledge about the liposome binding affinities and dynamics of common types of blood plasma proteins. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is a powerful experimental technique that potentially can provide such knowledge. In this study, we have used FCS to investigate the binding of human serum albumin (HSA) to standard types of PEGylated fluid-phase liposomes (consisting of DOPC and DOPE-PEG2k) and PEGylated gel-phase liposomes (consisting of DSPC and DSPE-PEG2k) with various PEG chain surface densities. We detected no significant binding of HSA to the PEGylated fluid-phase liposomes. In contrast, we found that HSA bound tightly to the PEGylated gel-phase liposomes, although only a low number of HSA molecules could be accommodated per liposome. Overall, we believe that our data provides a useful benchmark for other researchers interested in studying the liposomal protein corona.

Proteomic Profiling of a Biomimetic Drug Delivery Platform

Current delivery platforms are typically designed for prolonged circulation that favors superior accumulation of the payload in the targeted tissue. The design of efficient surface modifications determines both a longer circulation time and targeting abilities of particles. The optimization of synthesis protocols to efficiently combine targeting molecules and elements that allow for an increased circulation time can be challenging and almost impossible when several functional elements are needed. On the other hand, in the last decade, the development of bioinspired technologies was proposed as a new approach with which to increase particle safety, biocompatibility and targeting, while maintaining the synthesis protocols simple and reproducible. Recently, we developed a new drug delivery system inspired by the biology of immune cells called leukolike vector (LLV) and formed by a nanoporous silicon core and a shell derived from the leucocyte cell membrane. The goal of this study is to investigate the protein content of the LLV. Here we report the proteomic profiling of the LLV and demonstrate that our approach can be used to modify the surface of synthetic particles with more than 150 leukocyte membrane associated proteins that determine particle safety, circulation time and targeting abilities towards inflamed endothelium.

Design of liposomal formulations for cell targeting

Liposomes have gained extensive attention as carriers for a wide range of drugs due to being both nontoxic and biodegradable as they are composed of substances naturally occurring in biological membranes. Active targeting for cells has explored specific modification of the liposome surface by functionalizing it with specific targeting ligands in order to increase accumulation and intracellular uptake into target cells. None of the Food and Drug Administration-licensed liposomes or lipid nanoparticles are coated with ligands or target moieties to delivery for homing drugs to target tissues, cells or subcellular organelles. Targeted therapies (with or without controlled drug release) are an emerging and relevant research area. Despite of the numerous liposomes reviews published in the last decades, this area is in constant development. Updates urgently needed to integrate new advances in targeted liposomes research. This review highlights the evolution of liposomes from passive to active targeting and challenges in the development of targeted liposomes for specific therapies.

Complement activation as a bioequivalence issue relevant to the development of generic liposomes and other nanoparticulate drugs

Liposomes are known to activate the complement (C) system, which can lead in vivo to a hypersensitivity syndrome called C activation-related pseudoallergy (CARPA). CARPA has been getting increasing attention as a safety risk of i.v. therapy with liposomes, whose testing is now recommended in bioequivalence evaluations of generic liposomal drug candidates. This review highlights the adverse consequences of C activation, the unique symptoms of CARPA triggered by essentially all i.v. administered liposomal drugs, and the various features of vesicles influencing this adverse immune effect. For the case of Doxil, we also address the mechanism of C activation and the opsonization vs. long circulation (stealth) paradox. In reviewing the methods of assessing C activation and CARPA, we delineate the most sensitive porcine model and an algorithm for stepwise evaluation of the CARPA risk of i.v. liposomes, which are proposed for standardization for preclinical toxicology evaluation of liposomal and other nanoparticulate drug candidates.

Investigation of the interaction between poly(ethylene glycol) and protein molecules using low field nuclear magnetic resonance

A comprehensive insight into the interaction between proteins and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is crucial to understand the behavior of PEG, which is widely used in pharmaceutical and medical applications. Although PEG is believed to be an excellent material to resist non-specific protein adsorption, there is a lack of quantitative information about the interactions between proteins and PEG. In this paper the interactions of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme (LYZ) with different molecular weight (MW) PEGs were investigated through the T2 relaxation time of PEGs measured by low field nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The integrated signal intensity of PEGs was quantified under various conditions from the concentrations and MWs of PEG, and ionic strength of solutions, as well as the molar ratios of PEG to protein. The results show that a large number of PEG molecules could associate with protein molecules with association constants in the range ~10(4)-10(5) M(-1). The association constant is insensitive to the ionic strength change in the physiological range and the lowest associate constant occurs at the medium MW PEG with protein. This suggests that the interaction between PEG and protein molecules might not be negligible in investigations of the resistance to non-specific protein adsorption. Long chain PEG coatings might cause modest protein adsorption, which could interfere with any weak specific interaction between ligand and receptor. Thus, it is necessary to reconsider the popular accepted method of protecting nanoparticles (NP) in blood with long chain PEG coatings since these NPs might be surrounded by a layer of weakly adsorbed plasma protein in the circulatory system.

Enzyme recycling in a simultaneous and separate saccharification and fermentation of corn stover: a comparison between the effect of polymeric micelles of surfactants and polypeptides

The efficacy of enzyme recycling in simultaneous (SSF) and separate (SHF) saccharification and fermentation of corn stover was evaluated with the use of novel enzyme stabilizers of casein, Tween20 and polymeric micelles (PMs) of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-casein and PEG-Tween20. Amphiphiles were added to maximize the percentage of enzyme remaining in fermented liquor that could be recycled twice back into the process. With no additive, in SHF the ethanol yield was declined by 64.0% and 80.0% after the first and second recycling, respectively. Application of PMs of PEG-casein in one cycle of SHF significantly improved the theoretical ethanol yield from 0.49 ± 0.00 to 0.91 ± 0.00 g/g compared to when only casein (0.66 ± 0.00 g/g), Tween 20 (0.53 ± 0.00 g/g) and Tween 20-PEG (0.77 ± 0.08 g/g) were used. PMs of PEG-Tween and PEG-casein also improved enzyme recycling, such that the ethanol yield was improved by 50% and 108% beyond that obtained with Tween and casein, respectively.

Biocompatibility of engineered nanoparticles for drug delivery

The rapid advancement of nanotechnology has raised the possibility of using engineered nanoparticles that interact within biological environments for treatment of diseases. Nanoparticles interacting with cells and the extracellular environment can trigger a sequence of biological effects. These effects largely depend on the dynamic physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles, which determine the biocompatibility and efficacy of the intended outcomes. Understanding the mechanisms behind these different outcomes will allow prediction of the relationship between nanostructures and their interactions with the biological milieu. At present, almost no standard biocompatibility evaluation criteria have been established, in particular for nanoparticles used in drug delivery systems. Therefore, an appropriate safety guideline of nanoparticles on human health with assessable endpoints is needed. In this review, we discuss the data existing in the literature regarding biocompatibility of nanoparticles for drug delivery applications. We also review the various types of nanoparticles used in drug delivery systems while addressing new challenges and research directions. Presenting the aforementioned information will aid in getting one step closer to formulating compatibility criteria for biological systems under exposure to different nanoparticles.

Analysis of immediate stress mechanisms upon injection of polymeric micelles and related colloidal drug carriers: implications on drug targeting

Polymeric micelles are ideal carriers for solubilization and targeting applications using hydrophobic drugs. Stability of colloidal aggregates upon injection into the bloodstream is mandatory to maintain the drugs' targeting potential and to influence pharmacokinetics. In this review we analyzed and discussed the most relevant stress mechanisms that polymeric micelles and related colloidal carriers encounter upon injection, including (1) dilution, (2) interactions with blood components, and (3) immunological responses of the body. In detail we analyzed the opsonin-dysopsonin hypothesis that points at a connection between a particles' protein-corona and its tissue accumulation by the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. In the established theory, size is seen as a necessary condition to reach nanoparticle accumulation in disease modified tissue. There is, however, mounting evidence of other sufficient conditions (e.g., particle charge, receptor recognition of proteins adsorbed onto particle surfaces) triggering nanoparticle extravasation by active mechanisms. In conclusion, the analyzed stress mechanisms are directly responsible for in vivo success or failure of the site-specific delivery with colloidal carrier systems.

Impact of membrane fluidity on steric stabilization by lipopolymers

In this work, the impact of lipid lateral mobility on the steric interaction between membranes containing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) functionalized lipids was investigated using the surface force apparatus. The force-distance profiles show the presence of electrostatic and steric repulsion that arise from the presence of negatively charged PEG functionalized lipids. Fluid-phase bilayers have high lateral diffusion relative to gel-phase bilayers; however, a quantitative comparison of the interaction forces between membranes in these two different phase states demonstrates a reduced rate of diffusion in the fluid phase for the PEG-lipids under constrained geometries. Thus, the amount of polymer in the contact zone can be modulated and is reduced with fluid membranes; however, complete exclusion was not achieved. As a result, the steric repulsion afforded by PEG chains or binding affinity of ligated PEG chains can only be modestly tailored by the phase state of the liposome.

Modification of polyurethane surface with an antithrombin-heparin complex for blood contact: influence of molecular weight of polyethylene oxide used as a linker/spacer

Polyurethane (PU) was modified using isocyanate chemistry to graft polyethylene oxide (PEO) of various molecular weights (range 300-4600). An antithrombin-heparin (ATH) covalent complex was subsequently attached to the free PEO chain ends, which had been functionalized with N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) groups. Surfaces were characterized by water contact angle and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to confirm the modifications. Adsorption of fibrinogen from buffer was found to decrease by ~80% for the PEO-modified surfaces compared to the unmodified PU. The surfaces with ATH attached to the distal chain end of the grafted PEO were equally protein resistant, and when the data were normalized to the ATH surface density, PEO in the lower MW range showed greater protein resistance. Western blots of proteins eluted from the surfaces after plasma contact confirmed these trends. The uptake of ATH on the PEO-modified surfaces was greatest for the PEO of lower MW (300 and 600), and antithrombin binding from plasma (an indicator of heparin anticoagulant activity) was highest for these same surfaces. The PEO-ATH- and PEO-modified surfaces also showed low platelet adhesion from flowing whole blood. It is concluded that for the PEO-ATH surfaces, PEO in the low MW range, specifically MW 600, may be optimal for achieving an appropriate balance between resistance to nonspecific protein adsorption and the ability to take up ATH and bind antithrombin in subsequent blood contact.

An in vitro assay based on surface plasmon resonance to predict the in vivo circulation kinetics of liposomes

The adsorption of blood proteins onto liposomes and other colloidal particles is an important process influencing the circulation time. Proteins adsorbed to the surface of liposomes can mediate recognition of the liposomes by macrophages of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) facilitating their clearance from the circulation. Coating liposomes with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) decreases the blood clearance considerably, most likely due to reduced protein adsorption and/or liposome aggregation. By using the relation between clearance and protein binding, the present study introduces an in vitro assay measuring interactions of liposomes with proteins to predict their blood clearance in vivo. Such assay is valuable since it limits time and costs, and importantly reduces the number of animals required for pharmacokinetic investigations of new formulations. In the current study, Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and fluorescence Single Particle Tracking (fSPT) were used to study liposome-protein interactions and blood induced liposome aggregation in vitro. By means of SPR the interactions between proteins and liposomes coated with PEG of different molecular weights and at different densities (PEG(2000) in 2.5%, 5% and 7%; PEG(5000) in 0.5%, 1.5% and 2.5%), were measured for several plasma proteins: human serum albumin (HSA), apolipoprotein E (ApoE), α2-macroglobulin (α2-M), β2-glycoprotein (β2-G) and fibronectin (Fn). Liposomes coated with PEG interacted less with all proteins, an effect which increased with the PEG surface density. In parallel, fSPT analysis showed that the exposure of liposomes to full blood did not change the liposome size, indicating that aggregation is not a strong attributive factor in the clearance of these liposomes. In addition, the SPR measurements of the interactions between liposomes and proteins were correlated with the blood clearance of the liposomes. For each protein, the degree of protein-liposome interaction as determined by SPR showed a moderate to strong positive correlation with the clearance of the liposome type.

Liposome Opsonization

Adsorption of serum proteins to the liposomal surface plays a critical role in the clearance of liposomes from the blood circulation. In this review, we will discuss the role of the liposomal opsonins proposed so far in liposome clearance. Additional, related topics that will be addressed are the cell-surface receptors that might be involved in liposome elimination from the blood compartment and the effect of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) modification on prevention of liposome opsonization.

Protein-flexible chain polymer interactions to explain protein partition in aqueous two-phase systems and the protein–polyelectrolyte complex formation

Complexes formation between two model proteins (catalase and chymotrypsin) and polyelectrolytes (polyvinyl sulphonate and polyacrilic acid) and a non-charged flexible chain polymer (PCF) as polyethylene propylene oxide (molecular mass 8400) was studied by a spectroscopy technique combination: UV absorption, fluorescence emission and circular dichroism. All the polymers increase the protein surface hydrophobicity (S(0)) parameter value as a proof of the modification of the protein surface exposed to the solvent. Chymotrypsin showed an increase in its biological activity in polymer presence, which suggests a change in the superficial microenvironment. The decrease in the biological activity of catalase might be due to a competition between the polymer and the substrate. This result agrees with the polymer effect on the catalase superficial hydrophobic area. It was found that, when flexible chain polymers increase protein stability and the enzymatic activity they could be used to isolate this enzyme without inducing loss of protein enzymatic activity. Our findings suggest that the interactions are dependent on the protein physico-chemical parameters such as: isoelectric pH, hydrophobic surface area, etc.

Vesicle size and stability of biomimetic liposomes from 3'-sulfo-Lewis a (SuLea) containing glycolipids

We report on the use of a natural Lewis type saccharide ligand, 3'-sulfo-Lewis a (SuLe(a)) for glycocalyx-mimetic surface modification of liposomes. Two SuLe(a)-containing glycolipids, monovalent SuLe(a)-lipid and trivalent SuLe(a) (TSuLe(a))-lipid, were synthesized, and used with 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC) and cholesterol to prepare unilaminar vesicles (ULVs) by a freeze-thaw and extrusion method. The effects of the glycolipid concentrations and the pore sizes of extrusion membranes on vesicle size and stability were investigated by photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS). Glycoliposomes, with 5% SuLe(a)- or TSuLe(a)-lipids obtained by 50 nm extrusion, had 25-30% more vesicles less than 100 nm in diameter compared with the 100 nm extrusion. TSuLe(a)-liposomes always produced larger vesicle size than SuLe(a)-liposomes, which we attribute to the larger TSuLe(a) headgroup. Both SuLe(a)- and TSuLe(a)-liposomes increased their vesicle size with increasing glycolipid concentration from 5% to 15%, and demonstrated good stability at room temperature for over 1 month. Further increasing the glycolipid concentration to 20% resulted in large vesicle aggregation after 5 days for TSuLe(a)-liposomes, while the SuLe(a)-liposomes remained stable for 10 days. SuLe(a)- and TSuLe(a)-liposomes with 15% glycolipids demonstrated better stability due to the electrostatic effect from the negatively charged SuLe(a) and TSuLe(a) headgroups. The results indicate that the biomimetic liposomes with SuLe(a)- and TSuLe(a)-lipids with 5 to 15% incorporation are sufficiently stable for the potential applications in targeted drug delivery.

Calorimetric investigation of the protein-flexible chain polymer interactions and its relationship with protein partition in aqueous two-phase systems

The binding of polyethyleneglycol of molecular mass 1000, 3300 and 6000 and polyethylene-propylene oxide (molecular mass 8400) to lysozyme and ovoalbumin was measured by isothermal calorimetric titration. A binding process was found to be associated with a saturation effect, which suggests a protein-polymer interaction. The proteins showed an affinity for the polymers in the order of 10(2)M(-1) and it decreased with the increase in the polymer molecular mass. The number of polymer molecules bound per protein molecule varied from 0.01 to 0.2 for polyethyleneglycol 1000, 3300 and polyethylene-polypolypropylene oxide 8400, while for polyethyleneglycol 6000 such number got closer to the unity. The enthalpic change associated with the binding was positive in the order of 1 kcal/mol for lysozyme, while ovoalbumin showed values around 2-3 kcal/mol. Entropic changes were also positive with values around 17-20 e.u. for ovoalbumin and 1-7 e.u. for lysozyme. The heat associated with the protein transfer from a buffer to a medium containing the polymer or the salt (a process similar to protein partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems) was obtained. These results allow the direct calculation of the enthalpic change associated with a protein partition process in aqueous two-phase systems without applying the van'tHoff equation. In this way, it is possible to calculate the associated true heat when the protein is transferred from the bottom to the top phase.

Size-selective protein adsorption to polystyrene surfaces by self-assembled grafted poly(ethylene glycols) with varied chain lengths

We report about the surface modification of polystyrene (PSt) with photoreactive alpha-4-azidobenzoyl-omega-methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)s (ABMPEG) of three different molecular weights (MWs of approximately 2, approximately 5, and approximately 10 kg/mol) and with two poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(propylene glycol) triblock copolymers (PEG-PPG-PEG) of about identical PEG/PPG ratio (80/20, w/w) and MW(PEG) of approximately 3 and approximately 6 kg/mol, all via adsorption from aqueous solutions. For ABMPEGs, an additional UV irradiation was used for photografting to the PSt. Contact angle (CA) and atomic force microscopy data revealed pronounced differences of the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity and topography of the surfaces as a function of PEG type and concentration used for the modification. In all cases, an incomplete coverage of the PSt was observed even after modification at the highest solution concentrations (10 g/L). However, clear differences were seen between PEG-PPG-PEGs and ABMPEGs; only for the latter was a nanoscale-ordered interphase structure with an influence of MW(PEG) on the PEG density observed; after modification at the same solution concentrations, the density was significantly higher for lower MW(PEG). The adsorption of three proteins, myoglobin (Mgb), bovine serum albumin (BSA), and fibrinogen to the various surfaces was analyzed by surface plasmon resonance. Pronounced differences between the two PEG types with respect to the reduction of protein adsorption were found. At high, but still incomplete, surface coverage and similar CA, the shielding of ABMPEG layers toward the adsorption of Mgb and BSA was much more efficient; e.g., the adsorbed Mgb mass relative to that of unmodified PSt was reduced to 10% for ABMPEG 2 kg/mol while for both PEG-PPG-PEGs the Mgb mass was still around 100%. In addition, for the ABMPEG layers an effect of MW(PEG) on adsorbed protein mass-decrease with decreasing MW-could be confirmed; and the highest Mgb/BSA selectivities were also observed. A "two-dimensional molecular sieving", based on PEG molecules having a nanoscale order at the hydrophobic substrate polymer surface has been proposed, and the main prerequisites were the use of PEG conjugates which are suitable for an "end-on" grafting (e.g., ABMPEGs), the use of suitable (not too high) concentrations for the surface modification via adsorption/self-assembly, optionally the photografting on the substrate (possible only for ABMPEG), and presumably, a washing step to remove the excess of unbound PEGs. The results of this study also strongly support the hypothesis that the biocompatibility of hydrophobic materials can be very much improved by PEG modifications at surface coverages that are incomplete but have an ordered layer structure controlled by the size and steric interactions of surface-bound PEGs.

Polyethylene oxide surfaces of variable chain density by chemisorption of PEO-thiol on gold: adsorption of proteins from plasma studied by radiolabelling and immunoblotting

The mechanisms involved in the inhibition of protein adsorption by polyethylene oxide (PEO) are not completely understood, but it is believed that PEO chain length, chain density and chain conformation all play a role. In this work, surfaces formed by chemisorption of PEO-thiol to gold were investigated: the effects of PEO chain density, chain length (600, 750, 2000 and 5000 MW) and end-group (-OH, -OCH3) on protein adsorption from plasma are reported. Similar to previous single protein adsorption studies (L.D. Unsworth et al., Langmuir 2005;21:1036-41) it was found that, of the different surfaces investigated, PEO layers formed from solutions near the cloud point adsorbed the lowest amount of fibrinogen from plasma. Layers of hydroxyl-terminated PEO of MW 600 formed under these low solubility conditions showed almost complete suppression (versus controls) of the Vroman effect, with 20+/-1 ng/cm2 adsorbed fibrinogen at the Vroman peak and 6.7+/-0.6 ng/cm2 at higher plasma concentration. By comparison, Vroman peak adsorption was 70+/-20 and 50+/-3 ng/cm2, respectively, for 750-OCH3 and 2000-OCH3 layers formed under low solubility conditions; adsorption on these surfaces at higher plasma concentration was 16+/-9 and 12+/-3 ng/cm2. Thus in addition to the effect of solution conditions noted previously, the results of this study also suggest a chain end group effect which inhibits fibrinogen adsorption to, and/or facilitates displacement from, hydroxyl terminated PEO layers. Fibrinogen adsorption from plasma was not significantly different for surfaces prepared with PEO of molecular weight 750 and 2000 when the chain density was the same ( approximately 0.5 chains/nm2) supporting the conclusion that chain density may be the key property for suppression of protein adsorption. The proteins eluted from the surfaces after contact with plasma were investigated by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. A number of proteins were detected on the various surfaces including fibrinogen, albumin, C3 and apolipoprotein A-I. The blot responses were zero or weak for all four proteins of the contact system; some complement activation was observed on all of the surfaces studied.

Protein Adsorption on Oligo(ethylene glycol)-Terminated Alkanethiolate Self-Assembled Monolayers: The Molecular Basis for Nonfouling Behavior

A study of protein resistance of oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG), HS(CH2)11(OCH2CH2)nOH (n = 2, 4, and 6), self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on Au(111) surfaces is presented here. Hydroxyl-terminated OEG-SAMs are chosen to avoid the hydrophobic effect observed with methyl-terminated OEG-SAMs, particularly at high packing densities. The structure of the OEG-SAM surfaces is controlled by adjusting the assembly solvent. These SAMs were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Protein adsorption on these surfaces was investigated by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). OEG-SAMs assembled from mixed ethanol and water solutions show higher packing density on gold than those from pure ethanol solution. For EG2OH- and EG4OH-SAMs, proteins (i.e., fibrinogen and lysozyme) adsorb more on the densely packed SAMs prepared from mixed ethanol and water solutions, while EG6OH-SAMs generally resist protein adsorption regardless of the assembly solvent used.

Long-circulating DNA-complexed biodegradable multiblock copolymers for gene delivery: degradation profiles and evidence of dysopsonization

Biodegradable cationic polymers have become promising alternatives to traditional polycationic gene delivery systems in which the high charge densities of high molecular weight polymers contribute significantly to cellular toxicities. Previous research has shown that biodegradable, multiblock copolymers (MBC), PEG-PLL-g-16% His, are efficient gene carriers with negligible cellular toxicities. The present research was designed to characterize the polymer degradation as well as to determine the biodistribution of the MBC after systemic administration. Polymer degradation was performed in buffer as a function of pH, in serum and within polymer/pDNA complexes. The MBC exhibited exponential decay with a half-life (t1/2) of approximately 14 min at pH 9.0, approximately 5 h at pH 7.4 and approximately 2 h in serum. However, there was little or no degradation observed at pH 4.0 and the MBC within the complexes degraded between 4 and 8 h in serum. Biodistribution data performed with fluorescently labeled polymer and pDNA revealed that intact complexes remained in the blood up to 3 days, which was also reflected in the organs as a function of time. Therefore, the cumulative data suggest that PEG may be sterically stabilizing complexes in vivo via dysopsonization in which serum proteins mask the complexes from elements of the reticuloendothelial system (RES).