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Fonseca M, Jarak I, Victor F, Domingues C, Veiga F, Figueiras A. Polymersomes as the Next Attractive Generation of Drug Delivery Systems: Definition, Synthesis and Applications. Materials (Basel) 2024; 17:319. [PMID: 38255485 PMCID: PMC10817611 DOI: 10.3390/ma17020319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Polymersomes are artificial nanoparticles formed by the self-assembly process of amphiphilic block copolymers composed of hydrophobic and hydrophilic blocks. They can encapsulate hydrophilic molecules in the aqueous core and hydrophobic molecules within the membrane. The composition of block copolymers can be tuned, enabling control of characteristics and properties of formed polymersomes and, thus, their application in areas such as drug delivery, diagnostics, or bioimaging. The preparation methods of polymersomes can also impact their characteristics and the preservation of the encapsulated drugs. Many methods have been described, including direct hydration, thin film hydration, electroporation, the pH-switch method, solvent shift method, single and double emulsion method, flash nanoprecipitation, and microfluidic synthesis. Considering polymersome structure and composition, there are several types of polymersomes including theranostic polymersomes, polymersomes decorated with targeting ligands for selective delivery, stimuli-responsive polymersomes, or porous polymersomes with multiple promising applications. Due to the shortcomings related to the stability, efficacy, and safety of some therapeutics in the human body, polymersomes as drug delivery systems have been good candidates to improve the quality of therapies against a wide range of diseases, including cancer. Chemotherapy and immunotherapy can be improved by using polymersomes to deliver the drugs, protecting and directing them to the exact site of action. Moreover, this approach is also promising for targeted delivery of biologics since they represent a class of drugs with poor stability and high susceptibility to in vivo clearance. However, the lack of a well-defined regulatory plan for polymersome formulations has hampered their follow-up to clinical trials and subsequent market entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Fonseca
- Univ. Coimbra, Laboratory of Drug Development and Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (M.F.); (I.J.); (C.D.); (F.V.)
| | - Ivana Jarak
- Univ. Coimbra, Laboratory of Drug Development and Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (M.F.); (I.J.); (C.D.); (F.V.)
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Francis Victor
- Department of Pharmacy, University Chenab Gujarat, Punjab 50700, Pakistan;
| | - Cátia Domingues
- Univ. Coimbra, Laboratory of Drug Development and Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (M.F.); (I.J.); (C.D.); (F.V.)
- Univ. Coimbra, REQUIMTE/LAQV, Group of Pharmaceutical Technology, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Univ. Coimbra, Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Francisco Veiga
- Univ. Coimbra, Laboratory of Drug Development and Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (M.F.); (I.J.); (C.D.); (F.V.)
- Univ. Coimbra, REQUIMTE/LAQV, Group of Pharmaceutical Technology, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Figueiras
- Univ. Coimbra, Laboratory of Drug Development and Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (M.F.); (I.J.); (C.D.); (F.V.)
- Univ. Coimbra, REQUIMTE/LAQV, Group of Pharmaceutical Technology, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
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Theis-Bröhl K, Saini A, Wolff M, Dura JA, Maranville BB, Borchers JA. Self-Assembly of Magnetic Nanoparticles in Ferrofluids on Different Templates Investigated by Neutron Reflectometry. Nanomaterials (Basel) 2020; 10:E1231. [PMID: 32599954 PMCID: PMC7353075 DOI: 10.3390/nano10061231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
In this article we review the process by which magnetite nanoparticles self-assemble onto solid surfaces. The focus is on neutron reflectometry studies providing information on the density and magnetization depth profiles of buried interfaces. Specific attention is given to the near-interface "wetting" layer and to examples of magnetite nanoparticles on a hydrophilic silicon crystal, one coated with (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane, and finally, one with a magnetic film with out-of-plane magnetization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Theis-Bröhl
- University of Applied Sciences Bremerhaven, An der Karlstadt 8, 27568 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Apurve Saini
- Department for Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Lägerhyddsvägen 1, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden; (A.S.); (M.W.)
| | - Max Wolff
- Department for Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Lägerhyddsvägen 1, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden; (A.S.); (M.W.)
| | - Joseph A. Dura
- NIST Center for Neutron Research, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-6102, USA; (J.A.D.); (B.B.M.); (J.A.B.)
| | - Brian B. Maranville
- NIST Center for Neutron Research, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-6102, USA; (J.A.D.); (B.B.M.); (J.A.B.)
| | - Julie A. Borchers
- NIST Center for Neutron Research, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-6102, USA; (J.A.D.); (B.B.M.); (J.A.B.)
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Tseng TW, Luo TT, Chiu HS, Wang CC, Lee GH, Sheu HS, Lu KL. Structural Transformations of Amino-Acid-Based Polymers: Syntheses and Structural Characterization. Polymers (Basel) 2018; 10:polym10040360. [PMID: 30966395 PMCID: PMC6414969 DOI: 10.3390/polym10040360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Revised: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A discrete complex [Zn(tpro)2(H2O)2] (1, Htpro = l-thioproline), and two structural isomers of coordination polymers, a 1D chain of [Zn(tpro)2]n (2) and a layered structure [Zn(tpro)2]n (3), were synthesized and characterized. The discrete complex 1 undergoes a temperature-driven structural transformation, leading to the formation of a 1D helical coordination polymer 2. Compound 3 is comprised of a 2D homochiral layer network with a (4,4) topology. These layers are mutually linked through hydrogen bonding interactions, resulting in the formation of a 3D network. When 1 is heated, it undergoes nearly complete conversion to the microcrystalline form, i.e., compound 2, which was confirmed by powder X-ray diffractions (PXRD). The carboxylate motifs could be activated after removing the coordinated water molecules by heating at temperatures of up to 150 °C, their orientations becoming distorted, after which, they attacked the activation sites of the Zn(II) centers, leading to the formation of a 1D helix. Moreover, a portion of the PXRD pattern of 1 was converted into the patterns corresponding to 2 and 3, and the ratio between 2 and 3 was precisely determined by the simulation study of in-situ synchrotron PXRD expriments. Consequently, such a 0D complex is capable of underdoing structural transformations and can be converted into 1D and/or 2D amino acid-based coordination polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tien-Wen Tseng
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
| | - Tzuoo-Tsair Luo
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
| | - Hsiao-Shan Chiu
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan.
- Department of Chemistry, Soochow University, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
| | - Chih-Chieh Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Soochow University, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
| | - Gene-Hsiang Lee
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
| | - Hwo-Shuenn Sheu
- National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan.
| | - Kuang-Lieh Lu
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan.
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Domínguez E, Heredia-Guerrero JA, Heredia A. Plant cutin genesis: unanswered questions. Trends Plant Sci 2015; 20:551-8. [PMID: 26115781 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2015.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Revised: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 05/23/2015] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The genesis of cutin, the main lipid polymer present in the biosphere, has remained elusive for many years. Recently, two main approaches have attempted to explain the process of cutin polymerization. One describes the existence of an acyltransferase cutin synthase enzyme that links activated monomers of cutin in the outer cell wall, while the other shows that plant cutin is the final result of an extracellular nonenzymatic self-assembly and polymerizing process of cutin monomers. In this opinion article, we explain both models and suggest that they could be pieces of a more complex biological scenario. We also highlight their different characteristics and current limitations, and suggest a potential synergism of both hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Domínguez
- IHSM-UMA-CSIC, Departamento de Mejora Genética y Biotecnología, E.E. La Mayora, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Algarrobo-Costa, E-29750 Málaga, Spain
| | | | - Antonio Heredia
- IHSM-UMA-CSIC, Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Universidad de Málaga, E-29071 Málaga, Spain.
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Samiey B, Cheng CH, Wu J. Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Polymers as Adsorbents for Removal of Heavy Metal Ions from Solutions: A Review. Materials (Basel) 2014; 7:673-726. [PMID: 28788483 PMCID: PMC5453072 DOI: 10.3390/ma7020673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2013] [Revised: 01/06/2014] [Accepted: 01/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Over the past decades, organic-inorganic hybrid polymers have been applied in different fields, including the adsorption of pollutants from wastewater and solid-state separations. In this review, firstly, these compounds are classified. These compounds are prepared by sol-gel method, self-assembly process (mesopores), assembling of nanobuilding blocks (e.g., layered or core-shell compounds) and as interpenetrating networks and hierarchically structures. Lastly, the adsorption characteristics of heavy metals of these materials, including different kinds of functional groups, selectivity of them for heavy metals, effect of pH and synthesis conditions on adsorption capacity, are studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babak Samiey
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Lorestan University, Khoramabad 68137-17133, Iran.
| | - Chil-Hung Cheng
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada.
| | - Jiangning Wu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada.
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